[thephilosophizer]

If you want to spend the money and want the performance look at dell xps and alienware (also dell but some different options). With the dell xps M1730 you can get dual 9800m gt's for less than $2K. That is some serious performance.
Alienwares also have some pretty intense performance though they come at a higher cost have a look around.
In either case I would invest some of the savings over what you listed above in some extended warranty/damage protection type stuff, got to protect your invest and all.