The Standard Components are Cast, the Machined Steel Rods are far stronger and are H-Section, which makes them ALOT less likely to bend.

IMO, Steel Rods are as far as you would need to go. Mine still has a Standard Crank.

If you intend to use Standard Rods, thats fine, but anyone that puts a CVH engine together for more than 200bhp and doesn't use ARP Conrod Bolts is silly!! Mine still had Standard Rods at 250bhp (not that I would encourage it!!)