Planned new build

I forgot to mention that I already have the processor, which is an Intel i7 950.

looks fine, make sure you get a quality PSU for that GTX580

The Intel® Core™ i7-950 supports memory in a triple channel configuration. You have selected memory in a duo channel configuration. For best performance you want to be looking at 3 or 6 sticks of memory.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

^+1
To use 3 sticks of RAM and run them on triple channel mode...  

Thanks. I ordered an Antec 750W PSU, and I replaced the case with a Antec SOLO II.

Thanks for point that out. I am correcting my order.

J

I switched it out for 3x4...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

My MB has 6 open slots, so if I want to add an addition 12GB later, I can.

Cheers,
J

Good news! I finished my new build and everything works great!

Based on some of the feedback here, my modified list of components included the following:

CPU -- Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950

Case -- Antec Sonata Series SOLO II Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Mainboard -- MSI X58A-GD45 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Video Card -- MSI N580GTX Lightning GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Power Supply -- High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Memory -- CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model CMX12GX3M3A2000C9

SSD -- OCZ Vertex 3 – MAX IOPS Edition VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HDD -- Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Monitor -- ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD

DVD burner -- ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

OS -- Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

extra case fan -- Antec TrueQuiet 120

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As usual, the most challening part of the build was routing the cables, but I spent a little time planning that out and thinking about the internal layout, so it wasn't too difficult.

The PSU I chose is semi-modular. My next build (for my wife, actually) will be 100 percent modular.

Antec's 120mm fans are ultra quiet, but they don't seem to move a lot of air, even on max. All in all, six fans are spinning inside; one in the PSU, two in the case, one over the CPU heatsink, and two on the video card.

To make loading Windows on the SSD easier, I tried some advice I learned on an install video. After I had everything connected, I disconnected the HDD sata3 data input, then installed Windows. Since nothing but the 240GB SSD was detected, no worries! Then, after Windows was installed and running, I connected the HDD, finished tying off my cables, and closed the case up.

It all works great!

Thanks for the good advice here in the forum!

Joseph