Second build critiques please...

[jgoff14]

This will be a second build but will actually be the primary system. I am going all out so let me know if there is a better brand of product that you would recommend. I am pretty pleased with the components but wonder about brand quality and reliability. I'll save you the time for looking at links and put it here:

Case: Azza Hurrican 2000 I already have one and really like it so I'll do another. $114.99 w/$20.00 MIR

Motherboard: MSI Big Bang-XPower again have one and like it. $264.99 w/$30.00 MIR

CPU: Core i7 980x No problems with my 920 but seems like a good choice? $999.99

CPU Cooler: Corsair H50. Didn't know here but had trouble on the egg finding something 'bigger'. $79.99

GPUs: (2) EVGA GTX580s & (1) PNY GTX460 OC $499.99 & $189.99 w/ MIR respectively.

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series AX1200 80+ gold. Recommendations? $279.99 w/MIR

SSD: (2) Crucial RealSSD 300 128GB SATA III raid 0. $264.99


Optical: (2) LITE-ON 12X Blu-ray Burner. $112.99


RAM: GSKILL Ripjaws PC3 12800 24gb kit. $389.99


As I mentioned this will replace my current system which will now become an available system for my friend when he's over to play SC2 and such. I know a bunch of people will say 24gb of ram is too much but I want the 24gb so just recommendations on brand/model. I like my SSD I have now (355MB/s read 140MB/s write) but is there any faster? There weren't when I bought it the first time. I can't think of anything I forgot so fill me in if there is something I missed. Would this be the time to go with a 1500w PSU? I don't want ANY PROBLEMS here.

 

[Aastii]

I would do a sandy bridge build instead, they walk all over socket 1366 setups, even the 980x. You can only (only ) have 16GB memory though:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128465

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231429

Video cards: 2 x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130587

Physx Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130596

SSD: 2 x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148362

Power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139014

CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

Bluray R/W drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118050

I would also put in another case recommendation for the Corsair 800D:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001

If you would prefer no side panel, get the 700D instead, it is the same case, just with no side window and without hot swappable hard drives. It seems that the 800D is actually cheaper over there though, so would really be the better option...

Also, the GTX560's are coming out in a few days, so waiting and using one of those for Physx instead may be a better choice, and also the 595's are aparently around the corner too, which will be much better card than the GTX580, as it is a multi-GPU card. It will take over the most powerful card title from the 5970.

Another thing to point out, in a few months the socket 1366 replacement will be coming, which will most probably be beating he 1155 CPUs easily. They are still completely necessary, but you may enjoy the better performance

 

[jgoff14]

I was planning on building another system when the 595s and the i7 9xx replacements were out but last I saw the new 8 core processors were scheduled for late 11? I suppose the 595s should be out soon and I plan to replace my 2 295s with them for directx11 compatibility. If it is sooner that the x58 replacements come out I may wait and not build two systems this year. Is there any word on what to expect? Still triple channel memory, any talks of quad? What about processors, less heat, and power are big talks, are there big plans in performance increase (like more than 30%)? Thanks for the input its always good to know when the new stuff is coming. I haven't spent much time searching but I haven't found many new posts like newer than November/December so was just going with what was available.