Need some guidance with my parts for new PC

I'm going to be building a new PC soon (aiming for approximately 1500-1600; have 360 so far) and I have chosen my parts. However in the last little while I've started to have some doubts with the parts I have picked and just need some clarification.

Here are my parts and links to them repectively

Motherboard - ASUS Rampage II GENE
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=022355&cid=MBD.303


Case NZXT Lexa Blackline - Red
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=014853&cid=CAS.664


PSU - Cooler Master Ultimate Circuit Protection 700W SLI
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=022756&cid=PSU.731


Video Card - GTX 285
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=021141&cid=VDC.243.390


CPU - Corei7 2.66 Ghz
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020622&cid=CPU.840


RAM 4GB
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018495&cid=RAM.346.218


Hard Drive At least 1 of these. 1.5 TB
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019453&cid=HD.443.877

Alienware TactX Mouse and Keyboard
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=gen&cat=prod&k=alienware&rpp=12&p=1&subcat=2999%2f4000&rf=all&nk=f&sort=K&ira=False&~srd=False&ipsys=False&advsrch=False&~ck=anav

Okay, now here are my problems/questions/concerns.

1. The case I'm getting says its 8800 GTX compatible, does this mean that it might be cramped if I try and put in a GTX 285? From what I have heard the 285 is a BIG card, so I want to make sure I have room for it all inside the case. The case I can change, the card I will not.

2. The RAM I'm getting is at 2000mHz, but the CPU says it supports DDR3-1066. Does this mean the 2000mHz RAM wont work? Or will be underclocked?

3. This one I'm not sure about. I was talking about my PC plans with my friend and telling him what parts I'm getting. He recently built his and asked me if I was getting 3 sticks of RAM. I said no its a 2GB x 2 kit. He told me that because its DDR3 RAM and it goes into DDR3 slots on the mobo that it only works in 3's. Is this true or does he not know what he is talking about?

Any other concerns or problems wiith my planned setup that you guys can find would be appreciated! :)

First, get 6 or 3 gigabytes of RAM as you are limiting that CPUs potential with 4 or 8 (I7 uses triple channel memory), or get an equivalent AMD solution. Second, if you are going with Intel, it seems that ATI performs better on them... Even if it doesn't, 285 is now an overpriced card. Get 5850 for nearly the same price and better performance.

Good luck.

Slig0

Thanks for the reply. I would prefer to stick with an Nvidia card, as they have always worked for me and I've had horrible experiences with ATI cards in the past. Is there an alternative to the 285 that isn't overpriced? (Something better then a 260)

Also, with regards to the RAM, That makes sense that 6 or 3gb would be good as it is triple channel. However, will DDR3 2000mHz RAM co-operate with an i7? I ask this because the DDR3 2000 is only $132 for 4gb, whereas the only 3 kits for 1066 are about 20-300 more then the DDR3 2000, and are only available in 4 gb or 12

Here are the 1066 kits available to me

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=RAM.346.950

Here is the kit I was looking at

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018495&cid=RAM.346.218

If needed I can always grab another 2gb stick equivalent to the kit I was planning on getting.

[QUOTE="Too_tight_shoes"]Deffintely keep the I7 but I would highly recommend DX11 ATI card, also I've used a ati 9600pro,X800XT,X1950pro and now my HD 4890 and had no problems what so ever. Thats like saying a girl played me Im never going to go for a girl again...?!Slig0

Why "definitely" keep the I7? Both are great choices, it comes down to his preference and what he does, and from what I've seen he is not a professional in video editing and decoding so he would benefit from the saved money.

EDIT: Edited for spelling.

Lol, wow this thread sort of exploded.... I got my question solved on another forum, thanks for answering it though..... ;) As for what everyone else was bringing up, I could honestly care less about the Phenom 2. I'll admit its a decent deal but as shown in my first post I already had my components picked out. i7 is a good processor for a good price and thats why I'm getting it. As for the "get an ATI card" short answer is No. Long answer is No, I will not get an ATI card. I've used Nvidia for years and everytime I tried and ATI card it didnt work for crap compared to the Nvidia card. ATI cannot write a driver to save their lives. The cards themselves are good, but their drivers blowAndrewwelton

It was on us to recommend a better CPU for what you do, and if you couldn't care less it is a bit rude for us who tried to help. You basically asked a question: "I want an I7 920, an nVidia GTX285 and everything I listed above and I will not change my mind, what do you recommend?". You are getting:

1. An overpriced nVidia GPU instead of an ATI one because you had bad experience in the past... Well, I had bad a experience with an AMD Duron and now I have an AMD Phenom II and it works flawlessly.

2. You didn't state clearly what will you be doing on this PC. I7 920 is a good CPU for the price for certain things, but if you don't do rendering or something like that it is pointless to get it. And you should care about Phenom II because you are buying and it is in your interest to buy a fast, reliable CPU. We were trying to help by pointing out you will do better with it for gaming. Oh well...

Honestly, I don't care what will you be getting as you are nobody to me, but I really wanted to help you and didn't have a reason to recommend bad components to you.

So long.