Would like a little advice on a possible 3xs build please

[Simon|OmNeh]

Hi there, I'm thinking of ordering this system in the coming weeks but I can't quite decide.
Anyway the specs I want are;

System Overview

Custom Coloured Cases: *No Custom Colour Required*
Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D **
Motherboard X58: Asus P6X58D-E - USB3 and SATA 6GB s Support
CPU: Intel i7 950 Quad Core 3.06Ghz 4.8GT s QPI 8Mb Cache
CPU Coolers: Corsair Cooling H70 Hydro Performance - Not suitable for Silverstone TJ07
Overclocking: Your choice of an Intel i7 professionally overclocked by our 3XS engineers to 4Ghz
Memory - Selecting 12Gb of memory may limit Overclock!: 6GB (3x2GB) Corsair Dominator GT DDR3 PC3-16000 (2000) CAS 8
NVIDIA Graphics - Multi GPU SLI Options Available: 1536Mb Asus GTX 480 700Mhz GPU 480 Cores 3696Mhz GDDR5, 2 selected
ATI Graphics - Multi GPU Crossfire Options Available: *No ATI VGA Card Required* (NVIDIA Required)
VGA Water-cooling Option - Includes Reservoir Pump Radiator & GPU Block (Selected Cases **): Water Cooled Graphics Card x 2
Power Supply Unit: 1000W Corsair HX Series Modular (Dual GTX 480s or 5970s Cards)
System Drives 3GB s: *Drive Not Required - Using 6GB s or SSD See Below*
System Drives 6GB s: 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black SATA 6Gb s 64MB Cache
Solid State Drives: 64GB Crucial RealSSD C300 6GB s Read 355MB s Write 70MB s
Storage Hard drives: 2TB Western Digital Caviar Green 64MB Cache, 2 selected
Optical Drive 1 - DVD Blu Ray: LG CH10LS20 - 8x Blu-Ray Reader & DVDRW
Optical Drive 2 - DVD Blu Ray: *DVD Writer Not Required*
Floppy Drive Flash Card Readers & Writers: Scan AK-ICR10 Multi Card Reader with 2.5" Sata Support
Sound Card: *Sound Card Not Required Use On Board Sound*
Gaming Network Card: *Use On Board Network Port*
Internal External (USB) Wireless Adaptors: *Wireless Adaptor Not Required*
Case Cooling Fans: 120mm Akasa Apache Black Ultra Silent Fan, 5 selected
Lighting Effects: Sharkoon 4" Blue CCFL 2in1 Kit
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - OEM
Software - Acronis True Image 2010 complete back-up software. : A hidden partition is created & a complete system image is produced. Giving you the option to reset it back to factory defaults should you need to. The software also lets you create scheduled backups.
Software - Application: Microsoft Office 2007 - 60 Day Trial
Software - DVD Blu Ray Decoding: *DVD Blu Ray Decoding Software Not Required*
Software - Security: *No Software Required*
Software - Hottest PC Games: *No Software Required*
TFT Monitor: 26" iiyama E2607WS-B1 Black Widescreen LCD 1920x1200 4000:1
NVIDIA 3D Vision TFT Monitor - Requires NVIDIA Graphics Card: *NVIDIA 3D Vision Not Required*
Gaming Keyboard : Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
Gaming Mouse Option: Razer Mamba Wireless Wired Gaming Mouse - 5600dpi
Gaming Mouse Mat: *Gaming Mouse Mat Not Required*
Speakers: Logitech X-540 5.1 Speaker System
Headphones: *Gaming Headphones Not Required*
Extended Warranty: Standard 3XS System Warranty - 2 Years (1st Year Onsite 2nd Year Return to Base)
Delivery & Setup Options: 3XS System Delivery - Our Technician will contact you & arrange a convenient time prior to delivery then your system will be delivered direct to your door.

In total it costs:

£3,479.25 inc VAT
£2,961.06 ex VAT
Base Price: £150.00
Your PC: £2,961.06
VAT: £518.19
Buy now pay July 2011 after a 10% deposit
36 months @ £113.67 after 10% deposit
48 months @ £92.47 after 10% deposit


So what do you all think, what would you change etc. I can't go above £3,500. Also, would you go water cooling with the dual 480's, or will air cool surfice? As for the cards and water cooling it's over £1,000.

Also when you look at The cyclone fort the same setup, the water cooling is only £175, so I'm wondering why it's almost 3 times the cost of my build (3XS SLI 480 OC - Custom Series), as the water cooling for both GPU's is £499. Also on the cyclone you get your 480's OC as well, as I'm spening, or potentially going to spend £3,500 will I get my 480's OC as well or will that come at a price?

Anyway, any input good or bad is welcome.



Thanks in advance

[gary2112]

Hi there .to be honest I would not go for water cooling this is only my option ,,as I did have water cooling on 2 460,s in sli .but the problem for me personally is the maintenance after you have water cooling as you have to change the water once a year .all so sometimes you can get air in the pipes and you have to sway the pc from side to side .all so I would question ,480,s as they run very hot ,,,for me I would wait till the new ati 6870,s are out or see what the new 580,s are like ,,the rest of your system is really good.
This is what I,m having build at the moment
1 *No Custom Colour Required*
1 Asus Sabertooth TUF - Cerm!x Heatsinks - USB3 & SATA6 Support!
1 Intel i7 930, Quad Core, 2.8 GHz, 4.8GT/s QPI, 8MB Cache
1 Corsair Cooling H50-1 Hydro Performance - Not suitable for Silverstone TJ07
1 Your choice of an Intel i7 professionally overclocked by our 3XS engineers to 4Ghz
1 12GB (3x4GB) Corsair Dominator, DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600), CAS 9
1 *No NVIDIA VGA Card Required* (ATI Required)
2 1Gb XFX HD 5870, 850Mhz GPU, 1600 SPs, 4800MHz GDDR5
1 850W Corsair HX Series Modular (Dual Graphics Cards)
1 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache
1 *Sata 6GB/s Hard Drive Not Required*
2 120GB Corsair Force, Sandforce SSD, Read 285MB/s Write 275MB/s
1 *Storage Hard Drive Not Required*
1 LG CH10LS20 - 8x Blu-Ray Reader & DVDRW
1 *DVD Writer Not Required*
1 Scan AK-ICR10 Multi Card Reader with 2.5" Sata Support
1 Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional - PCI-E (x1)
1 *Use On Board Network Port*
1 *Wireless Adaptor Not Required*
1 *After Market Fans Not Required - Use Fans Included with Case*
1 *Lighting Effects Not Required*
1 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit - OEM
1 A hidden partition is created & a complete system image is produced. Giving you the option to reset it back to factory defaults should you need to. The software also lets you create scheduled backups.
1 Microsoft Office 2007 - 60 Day Trial
1 *DVD / Blu Ray Decoding Software Not Required*
1 *No Software Required*
1 *No Software Required*
1 *Monitor Not Required*
1 *NVIDIA 3D Vision Not Required*
1 *Gaming Keyboard Not Required*
1 *Gaming Mouse Not Required*
1 *Gaming Mouse Mat Not Required*
1 *Speakers Not Required*
1 *Gaming Headphones Not Required*
1 Standard 3XS System Warranty - 2 Years (1st Year Onsite / 2nd Year Return to Base)
1 3XS System Delivery & Setup - Same as above plus all packaging removed, keyboard, mouse and monitor connected and powered on to the desktop to ensure all is ok.

Scan Finance Price

Net Total £2,037.80
V.A.T £356.62
Total £2,394.42