Anyway to improve this build - cheaper or more efficient

The CPU (LGA 1155) definitely won't work with the motherboard (LGA 1366).

Nice catch. Any recommendations for a motherboard with similar features that would work with the CPU?

What features do you need? Note that LGA 1155 motherboards only have 4 memory slots; therefore you'll have to select a different memory kit.

Check the specs of the following motherboards in the same price range:

- ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
- GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD7-B3
- ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3

Ill i'm really looking for is intermediate performance here as this will be my development machine uses for programming/designing apps preferably on Linux. And i definitly need to get a new ram set 4 slots because this is the best processor for price that ive seen so far.

If you won't be using it for gaming and you don't a requirement for multiple GPUs, then why select a very expensive motherboard? There are great $200 motherboards like the ASRock P67 EXTREME4, ASUS P8P67 DELUXE, ASUS P8Z68-V PRO, etc.

I would like to dual boot with windows and do some gaming when i'm not programming but keep the suggestions coming. At this point in time i'm still considering   Thanks for the help so far. So other than getting a compatible motherboard and and cpu and making sure i have 4 sticks of ram instead of 6 *which after reading the descriptions on the products i see, what else do you think?

To keep costs down while optimizing for your needs, if you can wait, get a AMD Bulldozer x6, if you can't wait AMD Phenom II x6 1100T BE.

You will normally save 200-300 on cpu and mobo alone over an Intel, with a small performance hit, the money saved can go on more memory, SSD's or a better GPU to take the work load of the cpu when designing.

Cool. when is the bulldozer coming out? I would like to get this pc up and running before i have to do projects for school and such which would be around late september.