1st Gaming Rig Build, need suggestions

I posted a previous build on these forums but then I had to study for finals (which I kicked butt at) and I also had a few different choices in parts so here goes:

XtremeGear / CoolerMaster RC-1000 Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower Case

Newegg.com - EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 130W Quad-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

3X
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
(2 for Raid 0, and one for Data storage)

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, cUL, TUV, NEMKO, BSMI, FCC - Power Supplies

2X
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners

2X
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
in SLI


The reason I choose to go for a QX9650 is because I am not familiar with overclocking as I have had this pos Dell for 8 years now. So in that regard, I will be running this system at stock for the first 3 weeks or so before I start tinkering with overclocking...maybe longer.

Now for my RAM selection, if I'm running at stock speeds would pc8500 be a better choice?

I know my PSU is overkill, however I want this system to be highly upgradeable.

Going with Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower because the Dell I have now is LOUD and I hate it.

What cooling fans, heatsinks, thermal paste/grease, should I go with? I'm not savvy on cooling setups and my tower will have multiple spots for fans (they come with fans but I heard they aren't good quality).

I have a $3k budget for this system.

Any suggestions?


Thanks.

I would recommnd dropping the Q9650 to a Q9450. Stick with the 45nm cpu. It runs very cool (mine is currently @ 25 C and I just got done playing BF2). Use the $600 difference to get a good internal DVD/blue-ray drive or liquid cooling.

I don't know much about the case you chose but I do know the case below is excellent if you are using air cooling and you are going to OC. I use the mid-tower but I have been told by reliable sources (which means I am guessing) that the full-tower is much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129043

CPU air cooling:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134

Thermal Paste: I bought the highest rated since I know less than nothing about thermal paste and really did not want to do any research.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007