Thank you, Rich =D  Am hoping someone can tell me about what Vue uses as far as memory on video cards - why spend more money on something it won't tap into?  I chose the Alienware for two reasons - it comes with the liquid cooling system, and I've wanted one FOREVER. LOL.

The overclocking only worries me some - I had overclocked two of my computers one time before (back before I started doing graphics stuff - trying to get it to work a little better for Everquest... again, long long ago LOL) - and i never really had an issue with it, but I didn't push it to the max.  The overclocking on this isn't the "most" they can do with the system - more like somewhere towards the bottom of the food chain.  I do NOT get an option for NO overclocking... there's two sets of options:  Overclocked only, and Unlocked & Overclocked.  I went with the "best" option of the simple overclocked one as it had the I7 and not the I5 core.  I have NO idea what the "unlocked" means... and as much as I love Dell's little "help me choose" button - it doesn't really explain it, either.  I figure a factory overclocked system is better than my nutty self trying to overclock something (the knowledge on how to safely do this is loooong gone outta my brain)

If a single Video card would work, I'll do that - then I can get the Bose Speakers (j/k LOL).  

 

For the Video cards I have the following options:

Single Card:

1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6870 (adds nothing to the cost)

3GB GDDR5 NVIDIA®GeForce® GTX 590 (adds 500$ to the total)

4GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6990 (adds $600 to the total) 

Dual:

Dual 1.5GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 450 - SLI® Enabled [the one I chose]

Dual 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6870 [Add $250.00]

Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6950 [Add $500.00]

 

Kinda see why I went with the dual now?  LOL. Even if Vue only accesses half of the total 3GB of video memory, wouldn't that leave the rest available if I happen to be... say... running poser or photoshop at the same time?

And I chose the 1year "omg, i screwed everything up" warranty... protects against stupidity... spilling liquids, dropping things, even power surges (and stupid housemate's turning off the light switch that controls the outlets in this room).  

If, however, my assumption about the extra video card memory is wrong... I can ... no, wait, i WANT that 1.5GB there!  so, it's gonna be the Dual, cus i am NOT paying $500 MORE for the next "step up" in a single card LOL.  I just really want to know how this card and Vue get along.  I only want to pay extra if Vue really hates what I chose and wants, say, the single 3GB one (winces), or the dual HD6870's.  I'd have to lower the amount of Ram I've stuffed into the Alienhead (whimper).  As I said, I do have to stick to a certain budget (the first one I "built" ended up being almost $5,500 and hubby said NO, try again).. and, if I want to upgrade Vue to 9.5I... I gotta keep this reasonable.

I am SOOOO tech-unsavvy.  I have tried looking at things on places like you mentioned, and I swear, my head explodes.  My last computer was designed & built by my brother, but he has since put his foot down and said "NO MORE WINDOWS MACHINES".  BLAH.  He went Mac and refuses to go back.  However, I have this... ability... to "break" computers (thus the extra warranty - when i break them, its always within the first year)... He swore up and down I couldn't hurt his precious Mac... yet, I fried it - in two months.  (oops).  

So, am keeping my fingers crossed... and hoping the options I want are good ones... 

Thanks again =D

~meli

Rarer than a hairy egg and madder than a box of frogs....

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