Please critique my 3500 Boxing Day Build!

Hi Umbrage... Welcome to the forums.

That is a dynamite build and excellent for driving your monitors and games.  I would however consider another case other than the 550D.  It is a real nice looking and very quiet case, but it comes with less cooling performance than others.  It is usually picked for either the clean looks or quiet.   For quiet, it stays quiet if the top and side acoustic panels remain on to deaden the sound.  With the 240mm rad mounted under the top, the top cover will have to remain off. 

The advantage of the top mounted 240mm rad is that it does increase case airflow.   Your sli 980ti Strix need good airflow.  The Strix cards dump most of their heat directly into the case and not out the back like single fan reference cards.  With the closed case design of the 550D you might see the cards, especially the top one, get into the 80's and maybe 90 C.  A bit toasty.  

The advantage of the 550d is that is does allow for the side panel to come off and up to 2x 140mm fans mounted there to help a lot with cooling if needed. 

As is the 550D has just average cooling, but there are options if your willing to do away with its quiet performance.

The Apollo 760T , Air 540 or Velox would be better choices in my opinion for sli Strix, but I can't say the 550 D won't handle it.  

Will the 550D work?  Probably and DS does test it, but others have seen their graphic cards get warmer than most like.  Still safe, but warmer and they might clock down a little after a certain temp.

I would change the HDD to the WD Black.  Better reliability and longer warranty.

NIce build and as-is it will rock.  A different case would be my suggestion, but up to you of course.

Good luck and hope this helps.  


Edited by bprat22 - 25 Dec 2015 at 6:12am

My pleasure.  

Let us know how it goes.