My i7 build - Any suggestions?

[carnage_0070]

Almost 1/2 way through getting the pieces for my new computer. Anyone have any suggestions for the pieces I haven't gotten yet? Especially regarding the Video Cards or Memory.

Already bought:

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Microcenter total: $120.00

Intel Core i7 920 2.66Ghz
Microcenter total: $131.40

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active power supply
Buy.com total: $230.48

Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler
Buy.com total: $63.23

ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Nugadgets.com total: $244.00

Still have left to get:

OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Zipzoomfly.com $89.99

Dual -- Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com $74.99

Dual -- SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Newegg.com $199.00

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
Newegg.com $25.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Newegg.com $99.00

 

[fullmetall]

You seem pretty set there dude, very nice build, +1.

 

[aevm]

You're already doing just fine IMO.

There's a $205 Sapphire HD 4890 at Newegg, if you prefer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830

as well as a factory overclocked HD 4890 for $240.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102831

You could buy this RAM:
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

It saves you $5 and you get a free Flash drive and you have a single package to wait for (no more zipzoomfly).

The WD 1TB Caviar Black at $100 is better bang for the buck than the WD 640GB Caviar Black at $75. Same disk, except 3 platters instead of 2. You pay 33% more and get 50% more room.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284&Tpk=wd1001fals

 

[aevm]

Or just buy the same OCZ Platinum but from newegg. Save $10, get the free Flash drive, and again just one package to pick up.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

 

[Kill@dor]

Dayum!!! Sick build...pure envy

 

[carnage_0070]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys!

I've already been debating between the 640GB and the 1TB WD drives. hmmm probably will end up going with the 1TB even though it will be another $50.

The 4890's are really tempting but I'm not very excited about having the sound of 2 hairdryers coming out of my computer. I was going with the 4870 vapor-x cards because they are cool and quite not to mention also great cards themselves. Still haven't decided completely on the video cards.

As far as the memory goes I'm pretty set on the OCZ 6gb platinum kit...and I'll probably end up going up to 12gb in a month or two. The latency is better with the platinum 7-7-7-24 compared to the gold with 8-8-8-24.

Any other thoughts on the video cards?

 

[Kill@dor]

Err...you probably won't need 12GBs RAM. You won't even hit 6GBs...

Take your time and research cards. I was just looking at the reviews today for x2 GTX275's vs GTX295 on toms...its interesting. But i have to admit the 4890's are on top right now...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-sli,2298.html

With 1TB drives, you can get one with a 32MB cache which is good for a decent price.

 

[fullmetall]

The 4870s will be fine for your liking but, a 4890 oc'd as far as they go, compare very close to a gtx 285 or better.

6gb is all you'll need.

And for the 1tb drive, wd black would be the fastest.

 

[tecmo34]

Carnage_0070 - Check your price on the Microcenter Core i7 920 price. It is $229.99 ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727&utm_source=mcol&utm_medium=leader_bnr&utm_campaign=hmpg_intel_ci7_051109 ). The $120 is what you save over the original cost.

CM V8 is a good CPU heatsink but to save you additional money, I would look at XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 ) . It has served me well so far.

 

[carnage_0070]

Sorry yeah I put the wrong price. I actually picked up the i7 for 231.40 from microcenter awhile ago.

Already bought the V8 too! Can't wait to get it attached to the motherboard once it comes in the mail.