Suggested pairings for new CPU

[AverageGamer]

Just looking for some experienced opinions. I've built a few PCs for myself, but it has been a few years. I recently obtained a http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=37148&processor=i7-940&spec-codes=SLBCK at a good price and I'm looking to buy a good motherboard for it and some ram.

I do game and will be using my 8800GT from another computer for the foreseeable future (until I can afford more upgrades).

Would 6GB DDR3 be sufficient? What kind of performace gain does triple channel offer? Would 4GB be sufficient?

I was thinking of these two choices for mobo/ram.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131641

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231225

Looking to stay around that price range (lower is better, but not sacrificing quality).

Any input or suggestions would be appreciated .

 

[0roo0roo]

wouldn't worry about it too much, it would always be the 8800 holding you back, not the rest of the system, its quite old.

 

[AverageGamer]

What would be a justifiable upgrade?

 

[0roo0roo]

depends what you use it for, unless you need 6gb of ram and do a lot of encoding its a horribly mismatched system. the video card is generations older than the cpu. those are high end components you are picking for the rest of the system. cheaper stuff so you could buy a better video card, or simply buying that and a better video card would be the better solution. an 8800gt doesn't justify much at all.

 

[AverageGamer]

Sorry, I was referring specifically to the video card. You bring up good points, I'll just be upgrading that later on (a few months later).