with your help this is what I came up with

[donjonson]

Here is what I came up with from your suggestions. I am concerned about the mobo. Do you think it is worth spending a little extra for a better one. I am planning to overclock the cpu. If so which mobo do you recommend? Thanks I appreciate your comments! also .. am I forgetting anything? what about a good cooler for the cpu?

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz
$279.99

MSI X58 Pro LGA 1366 Motherboard
$189.99

2X CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
(8Gb total) $158.00

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB 512-bit
$274.99

Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$79.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
$99.99

Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply with Three 12V Rails - Retail
$99.99

Grand Total: $1,182.94 + shipping

what do you think?

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I'm curious if your 8GB dual-channel setup will be lower performing than a 3x2GB triple-channel setup (provided you don't force disk-paging). Are you running programs that will use all that RAM?

I'm thinking of buying that same MSI board, but have my eye on the Gigabyte UD4P as the next step up if I decide I have the budget for it.

The Corsair 650TX is $99.99 with a $25 mail-in-rebate at newegg, if you're into MIRs.

 

[zerocool84]

If you don't really need 8GB than try this 6GB and it's triple channel for a lot cheaper too.

G.SKILL 6GB 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 $104.99

 

[GLeeM]

Did you see this ram at the Hot Deals forum? I don't know enough to recommend it but it looks like a good deal.

How high of an OC are you hoping for?
People might need to know this to make a recommendation on mobo and CPU cooler.