New build, tips/help appreciated

[lancelol]

I want to build a new system using the core i7.

case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160)

power supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007)

mobo: ASUS Rampage II extreme

CPU: Intel Core i7 940 2.93 GHz

Graphics: 2x XFX GeForce GTX 280
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150326)

RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400)
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145206)

Harddrive: 2x Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136039)

Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019)

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493)

NIC: Killer NIC K1 Gaming Network Card
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833342002)


Questions:
Would the creative card be a good choice, I've heard mixed reviews about the card. I'm mainly using it for gaming, if you have a better alternative (under 200 dollars), that would be helpful.

I've heard mixed review about the killer network card, is it really a waste of money?

Thanks for reading.

 

[antiacid]

if you are dead set on this type of build, you'll need to switch a couple of things:
you want 3x 2gig sticks for i7.
Also, you most likely won't see the difference with the Killer NIC and the on-board sound will give you equivalent results for games.

If you were more into movies/music (listening to music is different than having music play in the background), then perhaps getting a xonar sound card would be a better investment. With the new drivers, xonar cards outperform the audigy ones.

I'd go for a single velociraptor 300gig sata2 instead of 2x 150gig. I'm pretty sure that it would be more reliable than raid0, faster and more silent / less heat.

Oh, 280gtx SLI is great if you play on a 24inch and up but don't bother if you don't.

 

[lancelol]

Will corsair sell 3 x 2 GB sticks when the i7 comes out? so far all i found on newegg are 2 x 2 GB and 2 x 1 GB.

Also, the soundcard is mainly for playing games.

 

[antiacid]

as far as I know, you can buy unmatched sticks of the same brand / speed / size and it'll be just fine.

 

[craige4u]

as far as I know, you can buy unmatched sticks of the same brand / speed / size and it'll be just fine.

Is that true, guyz what u all say?

 

[antiacid]

craige4u: matched sticks are basically pairs of sticks coming out right after one another on the factory line. Sometimes they'll be tested together to see that they both work but then the big difference is in the packaging. It's been the case since the early days of DDR

 

[coleman]

2x gtx 280, like antiacid said, only go this if you are using high resolutions

 

[dirtmountain]

All the major memory firms are already shipping 1x3 and 2x3 DDR3 for the i7 release and prices have started dropping a bit. By the time it's released you should have no problem buying the sets. Corsair is shown as being out of stock, but it probably just hasn't arrived

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225