I see one mistake--you should NOT order 4 GB of ram. This system uses DDR3, not DDR2. As such, you are better off using your ram in multiples of 3, not multiples of 2. If this is two 2gb then fine--add another 2 GB. However, if it is 4 1 GB, then do NOT open it and get 2 GB x 3 or x 2 so you can add 2 GB later.

If you read the 920 reviews, you will take about a 30% hit in memory speed with this configuration.

I also was looking at the Phenom 940, but the i7 920 was like 5700 on the ratings, while the 940 was 3500--a MASSIVE difference. So, as loyal as I have been with AMD (I live in Austin, TX), I went with Intel.

You don't mention your video card. I had an ATI x800 AGP and I couldn't use it--had to go with a PCI Express (ATI 4760 - good mix of speed (for when I use apps that utilize the GPU), but it doesn't require power so it is lower voltage).

How are you going to cool this thing. If you use the stock cooler, you should be at about 76 degrees with all cores loaded (it becomes unstable around 92). I am not going to overclock mine (stability is THE most important thing to me), but if you do even slightly--be prepared for a different cooler.

Either use the massive one that comes with the 965 intel, or go water cooled (which is what I do-fully loaded it tops at 61 degrees).

Also, check your power supply.

Oh, and I went with Vista 64. I turned this machine into a dedicated video machine so almost all my apps are Sony and I've only had mild incompatabilities (I use an Audigy 2z and it only has a basic Vista 64 drive--but I can't get surround sound (no EAX application)). Everything else worked fine (all other drivers, etc.). iTunes (latest) for Vista 64 is buggy.

So far, so good. REALLY, REALLY super fast!! (compared to an AMD 64 dual 4200)