First Build, can someone look over it?

[poisonskittles2]

This is my first build ever and I just want to have someone look it over.
Feel free to offer suggestions.

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226152
(I know 120GB is low, its mostly for startup and games, I have a 2.5TB external already)

This is built on a $650 budget.
Biggest concern is making sure the CPU and MOBO are compatible.
Didn't include OS because I can get one free from school. (Win 7 x64 if it matters)

 

[FinneousPJ]

Yup they're compatible

 

[mad2]

This is my first build ever and I just want to have someone look it over.
Feel free to offer suggestions.

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL120GB-DX 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226152
(I know 120GB is low, its mostly for startup and games, I have a 2.5TB external already)

This is built on a $650 budget.
Biggest concern is making sure the CPU and MOBO are compatible.
Didn't include OS because I can get one free from school. (Win 7 x64 if it matters)

Here's a slightly changed build that will give much better gaming performance...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8Q9H

 

[chimera201]

the CPU has support for 1066-1333MHz memory.
So the Ripjaws will clock down to 1333 even if it has 1600MHz

 

[mad2]

the CPU has support for 1066-1333MHz memory.
So the Ripjaws will clock down to 1333 even if it has 1600MHz

Ya i always put 1600 since its kind of the standard..if anything it can be used in the future since the price is almost the same

 

[z_4]

Are you planning on gaming?? If yes then look for intel based solution. Here's an Intel based suggestion which includes a more powerful GPU. Have a look:

CPU & Optical Drive: $194- i5-2400 & Samsung

Motherboard: & RAM: $94- Asrock H61M & Corsair 8GB (has USB 3.0 & SATA
6Gb/s support)

PSU & Case: $81- CM GX450 & CM Elite 430

SSD: $60- Mushkin Enhanced Cllisto 64GB

GPU: $240- XFX Radeon 7850

Total(Excluding Rebates): 669 USD

Rebates: $10

If this goes overbudget.
Drop the GPU XFX Radeon 6950 worth $230. Save $10.
Or Drop even further to 560Ti worth $210 or Radeon 6870 worth $170. That should save money to get a HDD, though you can get an SSD but its not recommended.

 

[geofelt]

Z-4 ^ has given you some good advice.
For gaming, today, there are no amd cpu chips that beat out intel at any price point.
Read this article:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html

That said, the real engine of gaming is the graphics card, so spend your funds there.
Here is the equivalent article for gaming graphics cards. Pick your price point:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html