Critique new build.

[RabidDeathGnome]

So, I've decided to go big on my next build. I'm going to be reusing some of my older parts, so any which I've already bought will have bought next to it. I'm open to buying new parts and selling the older ones though if it's really necessary. Will be almost entirely for gaming. Minus some university tasks (nothing technical, write ups/reports/essays).

There are a few things I'm undecided on the specific product and would like some pointers. Anything I've already bought will be in bold, anything I'm undecided on is in italics.

Case: TJ07
Mobo: MSI P67A-GD53 (B3)
CPU: i5 2500k
RAM: Probably cheapest 1600mhz DDR3. Most likely CAS9
GPU: GTX 570 or 6970
PSU: 650w Xigmatek modular - Bought
HDD: 640gb Samsung F1 - Bought
Fan controller: Sunbeam four channel - bought
5.25" bays: Quiet drive for HDD, DVD drive - Both bought
SSD: 30GB for the OS (undecided)
Water: MCP655, MicroRes, MCR220, 1/2" tubes & Apogee GT. Add in quad rad (undecided), replace the res with a cylindrical multi option res + new CPU/GPU block (undecided). Each rad will have the appropriate number of 1650rpm yates.
Extras: Powder coated internals (black) on case, powder coated custom mid plate to tidy up, side window and top window.
Rad holder for the quad/double rad in the bottom of the case. Possibly get some more powder coated metal to tidy up the side of the 5.25" bays so they're covered. Similar to this & this minus the screens. Individually sleeve each cable in black.
Black compression fittings and clear tubings with dark blue liquid.

Kind of tempted to add in some light blue cathods + an on/off switch but we'll see. Problem is I don't want it to be really bright. I might even look into adding the blue cathods but having both windows tinted. Thoughts?

[kalniel]

RAM: just make sure it's 1.5V to avoid problems. We went for corsair XM3 1600 cas 9 1.5v edition and it's a good match and plenty quick. Vengeance is their newer take on the same kind of stuff, which has XMP so it's easy to set up (not that the other stuff isn't also easy - its a choice between going into bios and enabling XMP or going into bios and changing mem frequency to 1600, nothing else needed to be changed). The XM3 is low profile though which I prefer, though corsair have just launched some new low profile vengeance as well.

GPU: They're both good cards. IMHO the 6970 is the faster card outright by a margin, however certain titles favour certain vendors so check if your favourite game is a particular nvidia favourite.

SSD: 30GB for the OS will require you keep a close check on things and put documents etc on another drive. IMHO this sized SSD is better used as a cache on X68 motherboards. For an OS drive I'd go to ~60GB (40 min. probably) to allow you to use default locations for My Documents, which means you'll have less compatibility issues with programs expecting them in default locations.

Other comments: I presume you've chosen the MSI for the future CF/SLI option (or PCI SSD I guess). Not a bad call at all though I do like Asus' UEFI.

[RabidDeathGnome]

RAM: just make sure it's 1.5V to avoid problems. We went for corsair XM3 1600 cas 9 1.5v edition and it's a good match and plenty quick. Vengeance is their newer take on the same kind of stuff, which has XMP so it's easy to set up (not that the other stuff isn't also easy - its a choice between going into bios and enabling XMP or going into bios and changing mem frequency to 1600, nothing else needed to be changed). The XM3 is low profile though which I prefer, though corsair have just launched some new low profile vengeance as well.

GPU: They're both good cards. IMHO the 6970 is the faster card outright by a margin, however certain titles favour certain vendors so check if your favourite game is a particular nvidia favourite.

SSD: 30GB for the OS will require you keep a close check on things and put documents etc on another drive. IMHO this sized SSD is better used as a cache on X68 motherboards. For an OS drive I'd go to ~60GB (40 min. probably) to allow you to use default locations for My Documents, which means you'll have less compatibility issues with programs expecting them in default locations.

Other comments: I presume you've chosen the MSI for the future CF/SLI option (or PCI SSD I guess). Not a bad call at all though I do like Asus' UEFI.

Alright, cheers for the req on the RAM. I'll read some more benchies on the GPUs and get a 64GB SSD instead. That way I can keep my documents on there which sounds like a good plan. You are correct about the future upgrade on the mobo. I also went for it as in reviews the chipset stays really cool. Since I'm going to have almost no case flow this was a big factor. Lets me over clock with out having to add case fans.