Id look at MB reviews. You dont need 3 X SLI. The asus P6t or whatever is used a lot.

Yur on the right track with I7 (920) and X58 though.

Use Win 7, 64 bit.

Get 6-12G ram.

Get Video Card with lots of ram (1G plus) (one), nvidia based is a bit better I think.

Maybe Raptor HD, maybe not ...

yur gtg.

I use thermaltake Big Typhoon but they have newer now. I use video cards with heat pipes and mount a 13cm fan above that.