New i7 build - How's it look?

[bbzoe]

Hey guys, here is my build so far. I was hoping to keep it around 1k, but ended up missing that mark . I'm going to go back through it now and make sure everything is compatible so let me know if you see anything that isn't. Also please let me know if you think something else would work better with it. This is my first build so please send all the advice you have. Oh yeah, I'm running two 22" monitors 1920x1080.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Today hopefully
BUDGET RANGE: 1k but I'm not getting in trouble at the 1.3k price, but hopefully no higher
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, net, excel, word.

 

[tecmo34]

Better motherboard combo with your OS: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro and Win 7 Home 64-bit

Better hard drive (faster and larger) at the same price with Promo Code: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

Equally as good of RAM, at a cheaper price: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600

 

[mgrzTX]

Better motherboard combo with your OS: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro and Win 7 Home 64-bit

Better hard drive (faster and larger) at the same price with Promo Code: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

Equally as good of RAM, at a cheaper price: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600

Along the lines of Tecmo's recommendations here's a full list of something similar, but probably better.

Keep the same CPU/H50 combo

Go with Tecmo's Mobo and an Asus GTX 460 Combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.494672

Go with Tecmo's Ram in Combo with an 850 W Corsair Silver certified PSU, pretty good deal here.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492823

Same case in Combo w/ the Windows 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437504.11-129-058

Go with Tecmo's HDD and keep the same DVD drive.

Total comes out to 1247$ on Newegg including shipping, which I believe is cheaper than your original configuration, and IMO get's you a better Ram, Mobo, HDD, and probably a better PSU for cheaper. Same case, OS, DVD drive, CPU, and cooler. Equivalent GPU.

Another thing to consider is a slightly cheaper CPU and slightly better GPU to run your dual monitors. For example

You could go with the i7-760 in staid of the 870 and get a 5850/5870/GTX470 or something in that price range and stay near 1300 or well below depending upon the GPU.

 

[bbzoe]

Any reason why you guys like the ASUS mobo more than the GIGABYTE? If I don't ever do SLI is the gigabyte better or is the asus still the better pick there?

 

[mgrzTX]

Personally I just seem to have had better luck with ASUS boards, but their both plenty good. Here's a couple reviews, it seems the only difference is the ASUS board is a little easier to deal with and less complex.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/gigabyte_p55aud6_p55aud4p/

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/asus_p7p55d_premium_pro/