Mid level gaming system critique

[Taplar]

Putting together specs for a system build. My second time to build a desktop from scratch. Read up a lot about which parts gamers like the best and went from there. Looking for critique to see if there are any tweaks anyone would suggest on it, or if there are any mistakes I have made, but have not spotted.

Overclocking: Yes, where I can myself.
SLI: Yes, 2-SLI

PC Part Picker: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cTtT

Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
Model #: BX80623I52500K

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Model #: P8Z77-V LK

Video Card(x2): EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Model #: 012-P3-1570-AR

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED, 1x 140mm rear, 1x 230mm top, and 1x 230mm side
Model #: RC-932-KKN5-GP

RAM(x4): G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9S-8GXM
Model #: F3-1600C9S-8GXM

Hard Drive (OS): Kingston HyperX 3K SH103S3/90G 2.5" 90GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (Stand-Alone Drive)
Model #: SH103S3/90G

Hard Drive (Storage): Seagate SV35.5 ST1000VX000 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #: ST1000VX000

CD/DVD R/W: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Model #: DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS

Blueray R: LITE-ON Black Internal 12X Blu-ray Combo SATA Model ihes112-04 - OEM
Model #: ihes112-04

Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower XT TPX-1275M 1275W ATX 12V 2.3 & SSI EPS 12V 2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Model #: TPX-1275M

 

[TheBigTroll]

this performs better and is cheaper

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cTzq

 

[TheBigTroll]

1275w is suitable for 4 way SLI which isnt possible on this platform with single gpu cards.

a 670 does better than sli 570 and uses much less power

 

[manofchalk]

i5-3570k instead of the 2500k. Newer technology is better. Goes better with the Z77 board you have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Why two cards in SLI instead of a single card? A single GTX670 will easily run modern games at ultra settings at 1080p. It will work out cheaper as well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423

You do not need 32GB of RAM. Not even 16, only 8GB. This kit will be fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

1275W is Veeeeeeery overkill. You only need 600W for a single card rig, and you would still have good headroom to overclock. This is only 650W because 600W PSU's tend to be barren of features and good efficiencies.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

If you want to overclock, get aftermarket cooling. The Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO is the budget cooler to get.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

This HDD is newer and much cheaper. Same specs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

And just like that I saved you a ton of cash and you'v got a better performing, well balanced rig for it. Its good that you came to us to check it.

 

[Taplar]

Thank you for the input. Still looking over most of it.

I went with the power supply in the list as at some point I had plugged everything into a power calculator to see the size of psu I would need, then bumped it up a little as I didn't know how much power consumption would increase with OCing in general.

The i5-3570k being an Ivy Bridge, as I understand it, is better than a Sandy Bridge at base setting however Sandy can be OCed to come close or match the speed of an Ivy and that OCing a Sandy generates less heat slower than if you OCed an Ivy the same amount. Or is your assertion that even if this is true the performance gained from the OCed Ivy would be greater than the OCed Sandy and the heat can be managed with the aftermarket cooler?

And just FYI, I was planning on doing 2-SLI simply because I have yet to have a SLI rig and I'm kinda jones'ing to play with one to see the massive FPS, But your saying the 670 card will out perform the SLI 570. So I'm assuming if I were to go SLI 670 it would have an even higher capacity?

Also 32 GB was just me maxing out the board so I wouldn't have to worry with it later. I see in the examples of 8GB being enough that they use 2x4GB rather than 1x8GB. Is there a reason for this? Increased access due too two sticks rather than one?

Again, thank you for the input. I know enough to build a system, but not all the more information of how to fine tune. Just enough to be dangerous,

 

[TheBigTroll]

ivy bridge is better than sandy bridge. you are right about overclocking the sandy bridge chips but you will have to hit 4.5+ghz to get the performance of a ivy bridge at 4.2ghz

on most platforms, memory is designed to be ran in 2 stick configurations as thats how it works. single sticks work but it will be slow

the 670 does the same job as the 570 SLI but using less power. if you go SLI gtx670s, its certainly overkill for a 1080p monitor

 

[Taplar]

Cool, alright. What about the aftermarket cooling? What about liquid cooling vs a fan, such as: CORSAIR H40 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler

Worth it?

 

[TheBigTroll]

the hyper 212 is much better than the h40 or the h60

 

[Taplar]

Best answer selected by Taplar.

 

[Taplar]

Thanks for all the help. Wish I could select multiple best answers, . In the end this is what I'm going to roll with. Ordered the case today.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/d8ar

Pulling two 8GB sticks to start with. Also backed down the power supply a little, but left it at 1000W as calculator for SLI 670 with other addons I might get one day calculated to be around 977W.