Proposed gaming build, your thoughts please

[Schrup]

I've been stewing on this for a week & have decided to bite the bullet & go ahead & order all my components in the next couple of days. The IT guy at work built my last machine over 2 years ago & I wasn't pleased with the results, so I'm going to start building my own from now on. Here's my list.

I'm starting with a Ultra X3 1000 watt modular PSU.
http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=97&pPath=632&productID=632

Case: NZXT TEMPEST
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018

Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

Do I need a retention bracket?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

Thermal compound: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

Motherboard: MSI P7N SLI Platinum LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130159

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194

Video Card:EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370

Hard Discs from my old machine:2XWD Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10000 RPM 8MB Cache in RAID 0
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822144160

Sound Card from my old machine: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102178

Operating System: MS Vista Home Basic SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116483

This totals about $1250 without shipping & I hope I don't have to pay tax. After I get all of my $100 worth of rebates, I plan to get another matching video card & a 24" monitor to finish it off. This build is a big stretch for my budget, but I want the best bang for my buck. I'll probably upgrade my HDs as soon as one of them dies. Am I overlooking anything?

 

[crazywheels]

you might as well get vista home premium 64, your machine will be able to handle it

 

[pcgamer12]

PSU is overkill, you can get away with less power even for SLI. $299 for a 1KW PSU is a lot. Try to get a something like 650W or 750W for less than $100 after rebates. I'd recommend a Intel X38 board and CF 4850 or get a 4870. You should also wait for R700 to be released and check that out before you build. Anandtech has a preview of it already with benchmarks on Crysis, Age of Conan, Race Driver: GRID, and Oblivion.

 

[Schrup]

you might as well get vista home premium 64, your machine will be able to handle it

Thanks for the heads up, I'll get it for the extra $20.

PSU is overkill, you can get away with less power even for SLI. $299 for a 1KW PSU is a lot. Try to get a something like 650W or 750W for less than $100 after rebates. I'd recommend a Intel X38 board and CF 4850 or get a 4870. You should also wait for R700 to be released and check that out before you build. Anandtech has a preview of it already with benchmarks on Crysis, Age of Conan, Race Driver: GRID, and Oblivion.

I'm not taking any chances with my PSU, I think a cheap 650 watt PSU pushing 2 260GTXs, an OCed Quad core & 2 Raptors might be a stretch. Besides, I found the one I want for $240.

I can't spend $1k on video cards, so the R700 won't work for me. I chose the 260GTX over the 4870 because of the higher memory, overclocking ability, better drivers, & they're the same price now.