Advice on i7 Build - Components Mixing w/ Barebones

[galushales]

I'd like to get some input on this i7 950 I am looking at piecing together -- I have modified a workstation in the past by swapping out drives, graphics cards, RAM, etc but NEVER built one from scratch.
So, this is why I am looking at a "bare-bones" rig from eBay then adding the rest of the goodies. I guess for the last decade-ish our company has bought the system & Ive not had to do a complete build.

Assume I have nothing more than a monitor, keyboard, mouse & speakers...
SOMEDAY, I'd like to get a RAID-O setup and a Bluray on this, so wanna keep that in mind.
So... Here is what I have...

Parts Preferences: Compatible with i7 processor
Budget Range: under 2K
System Usage: 3DS Max, Syntheyes, After Effects (Adobe CS5 Suite)
Parts Not Needed: Monitor
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: New Egg
Country of Origin: USA

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BAREBONES on eBay (FREE shipping) INCLUDES (for $969):

CPU: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz (Quad Core) 8000K
GPU: ASUS Rampage III GENE X58, DDR3, SLI & Cross Fire, SATA3, GB LAN, USB 3.0, iEEE
FAN: Coolmaster V6, 6 Copper Heat Pipes, Dual Cooler CPU fan
CASE: COOLER MASTER HAF-922 black, front USB & eSATA
PSU: CORSAIR 750W ultra quiet ATX Power Supply, SLI & X-Fire Ready
NETWORK CARD: (ONBOARD) NETWORK ADAPTOR (ETHERNET)
SOUND CARD: (ONBOARD) REALTEK HD DIGITAL AUDIO

------------------------------------------
THE rest (from NeEgg) (totalling $801)

MEMORY: ($179.99 + $6 SHIPPING)
CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model HX3X12G1600C9 G
Item#: N82E16820145235

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145235&cm_re=ram-_-20-145-235-_-Product


GRAPHICS CARD: ($234)

DIAMOND 5870PE51G Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103084


OS – Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM ($99)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7_64-_-32-116-754-_-Product

HARDDRIVES:
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($169)
***Is this WD VelociRaptor something that would be beneficial if getting RAID setup in future with the WD drive below? Or should I simply get TWO of the same WD drive below now?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322&cm_re=Western_Digital_VelociRaptor_300GB_SATA_II_16MB-_-22-136-322-_-Product

Western Digital Caviar Black WDBAAZ0010HNC-NRSN 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ($95)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136786

OPTICAL:
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD±RW SuperMulti Drive - OEM ($18)
***Will Add BluRay later)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216&Tpk=GH22NS50

1)Thoughts on this? Is this a wise $1700 spent on a workstation for my purpose?
2)Are there any components that seem too llittle / too much /not compatible with this setup?
3)Am I missing anything ... other than total knowledge here?
4)Thank you VERY MUCH in advance!

I COULD still be saving about $150 or so if I built from scratch -- but honestly I am not sure I trust myself with some of these components.

 

[galushales]

BTW - I attempted to do some extensive looking around the forums to see what others were saying about various components etc. that may pertain to this build... Hope it helped...
thx!

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-X58-Extreme-CrossFireX-Motherboard/dp/B000T9PP8E/ref=sr_1_2?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1297388736&sr=1-2 $164.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASRock X58 Extreme Core i7 / Intel X58/ DDR3/ Quad CrossFireX & Quad SLI/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-950BOX&title=Intel-Core-i7-Processor-i7-950-3-06GHz-8MB-LGA1366-CPU-Retail Combo Price: $337.98 Free Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-950 3.06GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail
Samsung SpinPoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226096 $129.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 998770

or this memory....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231358 $169.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL

Then there is always this combo down below....

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-950BOX&title=Intel-Core-i7-Processor-i7-950-3-06GHz-8MB-LGA1366-CPU-Retail Combo Price Combo Price: $579.97 Free Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-950 3.06GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail
Asus P6X58D-E Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB SATA3 7200rpm 64MB Hard Drive

Feel like over clocking ? Then try this down below...

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-MUGENB&title=Scythe-SCMG-2100-MUGEN-2-Rev-B-5-Heat-Pipes-CPU-Cooler $33.99
Scythe SCMG-2100 MUGEN-2 Rev.B 5 Heat Pipes CPU Cooler $33.99

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-MX2&title=ARCTIC-COOLING-MX-2-Thermal-Compound $5.99 Free Shipping
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - MX-2 (4G)

And imo I would go with an NVIDIA card (CUDA )

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125341 $109.99 - $89.99 after mail-in rebate card FREE SHIPPING
GIGABYTE GV-N450OC-1GI GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

 

[galushales]

thanks for the info -- I certainly think the RAM being (3 X 4GB) for the same price as the (6 X 2GB) is better suited for adding more RAM later. Id need to check specs on the NVIDIA card to make sure all is tested to its fullest with 3DS Max 2011.

Unfortunately, because I "Plan" to start with a barebones eBay setup for the CPU/GPU, the combo deal wont apply to this rig. I am Just trying to avoid that part of the build since that is foreign to me -- shouldnt be, but it is.
I'll look at this closer in a bit...

 

[Why_Me]

thanks for the info -- I certainly think the RAM being (3 X 4GB) for the same price as the (6 X 2GB) is better suited for adding more RAM later. Id need to check specs on the NVIDIA card to make sure all is tested to its fullest with 3DS Max 2011.

Unfortunately, because I "Plan" to start with a barebones eBay setup for the CPU/GPU, the combo deal wont apply to this rig. I am Just trying to avoid that part of the build since that is foreign to me -- shouldnt be, but it is.
I'll look at this closer in a bit...

For what your doing NVIDIA would be the only way to go imo

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/physx_dcc_plugins.html

http://news.developer.nvidia.com/2010/01/physx-plugin-for-3ds-max-v201-now-available.html

http://developer.nvidia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3990

"PhysX Plug-in for 3ds Max v2.01 now available!"

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/physx_downloads.html

btw...why get the "barebones kit" from ebay when you can get cheaper elsewhere ? It's like burning $$$ for nothing...