Needing component advice.

So I will be undertaking a personal build around tax time next year. This has really gotten to be an obsession and I'm getting pretty scared. I don't care though, to me, I personally have all I want, and this is what I want to spend my life doing. Same reason people rebuild cars and mod cars, paint, draw, build furniture, play instruments, or collect things.

I want you all to critique the components of my next build. Be as harsh as you want. The reason being, if I'm going to spend 4+ grand on this thing, I'd like some second opinions and options. If you have a suggestion, please explain. A computer case isn't an option for this build, I will be integrating this system into a work desk, like some mods out there. If that fails then I'm thinking NZXT Switch would be the best option. I won't spoil the suprise; you'll just have to stay tuned till spring.


Basic layout

Platform- X79 RIVE with 3930k with EK mobo water blocks and supremacy (could go z77 sabertooth with 3770k if I can't afford. Six cores, extra PCI and memory slots are hard to turn down though)
PSU- Seasonic 1000w Platinum (Johnny Guru highly recommended this)
HDD- Seagate Barracuda 2TB (as video/pic/documentation storage)
SDD- Intel 520 240GB (boot drive)
VGA- SLI'd EVGA GTX 680 SC+ Signature 2 with EK FC680 blocks (I've seen reviews that have it out running AsusDC2 Top + I love the backplate) Thoughts about upcoming 8970?
Memory- can't make up my mind, I'm drifting towards the fastest Corsair Dominator, but I've heard all good things about G.Skill.

Monitors *dependent on how much desk cost to build
I like the viewsonic V3D231 that I have; I'll probably just get two more to complete the 3D Surround set up. I am not partial to selling the viewsonic and getting some active 3D monitors. I am preferring passive at the moment, since it looks fine to me, most cost effective and comfortable.

Watercooling setup

*Pump- any D5 liang pump
*Rad- Aquacomputer Airplex Revo 420/360
Fittings- Monsoon
Tubing- ??? most likely tygon Primochil Advanced*edit
Coolant- Distilled with Kill coil
*Res- ??? *ek dual spin bay (I like Frozen Q, but I'm really trying to get far far away from childish looking systems and cases)

*depending on what's left financially, would like to have a dual water system (one just for cpu and mobo, second for graphics cards)

I welcome your thoughts and advice! Thanks
Edited by Arock5504 - 11/9/12 at 10:44am

Yes sir. Thanks for the reply. I'm going to be taking some advanced welding and CNC classes in the spring semester, hopefully I can incorporate some of that in the design of the desk. All I have right now is my trusty dremel and 12v drill. Someday I'll have Tony Starks work room.

Been hearing horrible things about tygon leeching like crazy within a couple of days. Primochill just released their advanced line... hopefully they stay good.

Thanks for the recommendations Pat!

I hadn't considered alphacool yet. I went with airplex revo just because of the reviews and temps on skinneelabs. Airplex destroyed the competition. I will definitely look into these blocks though. I know EK has had some rough internal problems for a while, but I can't ignore the stellar temps and reviews they have been getting.

I like the flow on that alphacool for sure, it's almost unbelievable. Looking at the reviews, it suffers minimally if you don't push through with fans at high rpm. Nonetheless, it performs magnificently. Thanks for the links, been looking into these blocks and rads big time now.

Next stage of planning my build is budget cuts... and asking the question: what is too much?

Okay, so this will be a two seperate loop build. One loop cooling the GPU cards, and the other cooling the mobo and 3930k. Is the rad size I chose for the mobo and processor overkill? Would a slim 360 or 420 rad do the trick? I plan on overclocking hopefully to 5ghz... if I can get there stably. If I'm seeing temps like 80+cels at load to stay at 5ghz... I won't do it. Not that it's too hot, but I'd like to get some life out of this computer and will start pushing it to it's uncomfortable limits when I feel it's time to start saving up for an upgrade. So what I imagine is 4.5-4.75ghz at around high 60's, is the goal. If I can achieve this on a slim cheaper 360 rad, so be it... it'll give me space and money to play with. Thoughts?

Im thinking SP120's on the rads for push pull; I like Noctua but I just hate the look and not looking to customize fans right now; Scythe is looking like a potential candidate also. Hopefully with a good enough rad, i'd be able to turn off the fans while idle. It'll be around 150 for the 12 fans(SP120) for (2)360 rads. Fittings... Im guessing this will come down to how manageable I want this to be. I'm trying to avoid as many right angles as possible, but cramming a bunch of tubes in there isn't what I want to do either. The price of fittings are outrageous... I never thought I would spend more than 50-75 bucks for fittings... now it's looking more like 150-175 (I might have to hide some barbs and ties to save some money). Pumps, I guess I'll go with (2) d5's unless I stumble upon something better. I really don't know the differencences as far as strong, vario, and standard... but I still have time before I have make my decision.