Notice that I said "If video-playback is the only concern". Hence, in situations where the only desired function is the play-back of a DVD, alternate programs offer no benefit over WMA. As long as WMA can play the DVD, then there's no problem if other features are not included.BluRayHiDef

You have 8 logicalcores, but only 4 physicalcores. With hyper-threading you have the performance of roughly 5 or 6 cores.

A little google searching suggests checking the PCI latency by using this tool.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951

It suggests making sure all devices get an equal share of the latency. Make sure you update the audio drivers.

It could be a power noise problem. I've had problems with crackling in cheap USB powered speakers whenever I moved my mouse.

HD Tune - Free hard drive read performance benchmark tool.

3DMark Vantage - Free trial, tests both GPU and CPU. Can only run once, though you can register multiple times for multiple keys for multiple runes.

PCMark Vantage - Free trial like 3DMark Vantage. Tests consumer scenarios like productivity tasks. Also has CPU, GPU and HDD tests.

CineBENCH 11.5 - Multi-core/thread capable CPU benchmark as well as GPU performance on OpenGL.

X3: Terran Conflict

Lost Planet 2

Unigine Heaven 2.1

There are no vehicles in FallOut New Vegas. You will have to find a mod to have a vehicle. There is fast travel though, so there really isn't a need for a vehicle.

http://store.steampowered.com/about/

And I quote

"Hunting for patches and downloading from unorganized web sites is so twentieth-century. On Steam, your games stay up-to-date by themselves. No hassles."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(software)#Client_functionality

And I quote

"Once patchesfor a user's installed software have been uploaded to Steam, they are applied the next time the user logs in or launches a game. Once a patch has been applied, it cannot be removed unless a patch is released which reverses the previous one. Individual games can be set to only update when requested by the user. Steam requires that games be fully patched before they can be played, however."

I could have sworn that I had saw a GTX 460 X2 on Newegg already, but now I can't seem to find it.

[QUOTE="kilerchese"]

I personally love the Antec LanBoy cases.

They got it in Blue/Black and Yellow/Black.

Fightingfan

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/antecs_lanboy_air_one_cool_looking_chassis

"Other features include 11 total drive bays, CPU cut-out, support for graphics cards exceeding 15 inches, three USB ports (including a single USB 3.0 port), and a bunch of parts to move around and customize."

The video card will go in BETWEEN the drive racks.

Look at the video at 6:10.

http://www.3dgameman.com/reviews/1181/antec-lanboy-air-case

I'd recommend the Phantom as well. It looks sleek and very different from your typical rectangular-shaped cases out there.

Assuming you're looking for a sleeker look, some other ones you could look at too are the Silverstone RV01 or RV02 (I use the RV02, and I absolutely adore it), the Cooler Master ATCS 840, and, if you don't mind the smaller size of a mid-tower, the Corsair 600T.

ravenguard90