New at building computers - Need Recommendations for high-end gaming build

[andoh]

Case: COOLER MASTER Storm Scout
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196&cm_re=Storm_Scout-_-11-119-196-_-Produc)

PSU: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010)

Motherboard: Sabertooth x58
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665&cm_re=Sabertooth_x58-_-13-131-665-_-Produc)

CPU: Intel Core i7-950
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211&cm_re=Core_i7-950-_-19-115-211-_-Product)

CPU Cooler: CORSAIR CWCH50-1 High Performance CPU Cooler
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181010&Tpk=CORSAIR%20CWCH50-1%20High%20Performance%20CPU%20Cooler)

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series (2 x 2GB) x 2; 8GB total (Is this compatible w/ mobo?)
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&Item=N82E16820231277)

Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130552&cm_re=NVIDIA_GeForce_GTX_480-_-14-130-552-_-Product)

Sound card: Never bought one before. Recommendations?

Hard Drive(s): SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=HD103SJ-_-22-152-185-_-Product)

Optical Drive(s): Sony Optiarc Black
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039&cm_re=Sony_Optiarc_Black-_-27-118-039-_-Product)

Monitor: Acer X223W
Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145&cm_re=Acer_X223W-_-24-009-145-_-Product)

Speakers: Nothing good yet.

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate

Total Price: $1400 (Not including monitor, speakers, & operating systems)

Budget: $1500 +/- $100

- Will probably not utilize SLI
- Will be overclocking CPU

What do you guys think? Tell me if you need any more information :)

[RickyTick]

This is very similar to the High End Builds I recommended in this thread.
http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?3368-Build-Recommendations-High-End

[andoh]

Oh wow that's awesome. What can you tell me about the ram I have listed and yours? I'm not too sure with the compatibility of it and such.

[RickyTick]

The ram you have listed is the wrong kind. With the X58 motherboard, you need triple channel ram. You would typically get 6gb (3x2gb). The G.Skill PI series is very nice, plus they just recently had a price drop to somewhere around $120.

[andoh]

Oh I see. How do you tell which RAM is compatible with what motherboard?

[andoh]

Nevermind, I just failed to read and pay close attention. I looked at your recommendation (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-231-247&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo) and this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225&cm_re=Triple_Channel_Kit_Desktop_Memory-_-20-231-225-_-Product). They have different Cas latency and timing, but I have no idea what those mean. Do you think you can explain it to me a bit?

[RickyTick]

The lower the number the better. I wish I were smart enough to be able to explain CAS latency and timing. You'll just have to google it and do a little reading. :)

[andoh]

haha alright that's cool. aside from my RAM, does anything else from my setup catch your eye ricky?

[RickyTick]

Oh yeah, ditch that GTX480 and go with the GTX570.

And this is a better hard drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

[andoh]

Nice catch on the video card. I found a nice a review (http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nvidia_geforce_gtx_570_review/) on the 570 comparing it to the 480. For the hdds, I used passmark.com to compare them and it seems the Spinpoint F3 receives a better score. What's your thoughts on determining hdds?

[The Wise Monkey]

The lower the number the better. I wish I were smart enough to be able to explain CAS latency and timing. You'll just have to google it and do a little reading. :)

It just so happens that a certain someone has already done something similar...

http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?2279-standard-vs-Ballistix-memory&p=12486#post12486

:)

[RickyTick]

Well hello stranger. Been missing you around here.

[The Wise Monkey]

Well, I've been lurking for a while - busy at work, and lots of other things going on. Plus you seem to be handling everything so well! :)

[andoh]

thanks for the all the input so far guys