Theory builds
I'd like some help working up an unreasonable maximum and a reasonable maximum PC build. For reference, I considered my current PC at the time it was built a "reasonable maximum:"
DFI LP DK X58
Core i7 920
12GB RAM
Dual Radeon 6950s
Vertex 2 (currently Vertex 3)
It's not exactly an ideal time for an upgrade, in my view, but I'd like to get an idea what's available so I can plan accordingly. (Any upcoming roadmap plans - new GPUs, new processors, etc. - would be helpful information as well to determine if I should hold off for a bit.)
Some guidelines, then:
I'd like a noticeable increase in graphics performance, but do not want to go above 2 cards, except perhaps in the unreasonable maximum build. I do want a hefty amount of memory, and I enjoy nifty things, so if you've got a board in mind with neat features, suggest it. I run triple monitors (and the monitors may be part of the build change, though I imagine I'm going with a set of 2440w), so the graphics will need to be nice and and handle that, but assume that the rest of my peripherals are accounted for. Really looking for a core set: mobo, proc, RAM, graphics, sound if it's compelling, heatsink, case, main HDD. No price ceilings, so if you manage to make your reasonable max $8k, good for you, but your unreasonable max better damn well be $20k. :P
So: hit me with your best shot!
DFI LP DK X58
Core i7 920
12GB RAM
Dual Radeon 6950s
Vertex 2 (currently Vertex 3)
It's not exactly an ideal time for an upgrade, in my view, but I'd like to get an idea what's available so I can plan accordingly. (Any upcoming roadmap plans - new GPUs, new processors, etc. - would be helpful information as well to determine if I should hold off for a bit.)
Some guidelines, then:
I'd like a noticeable increase in graphics performance, but do not want to go above 2 cards, except perhaps in the unreasonable maximum build. I do want a hefty amount of memory, and I enjoy nifty things, so if you've got a board in mind with neat features, suggest it. I run triple monitors (and the monitors may be part of the build change, though I imagine I'm going with a set of 2440w), so the graphics will need to be nice and and handle that, but assume that the rest of my peripherals are accounted for. Really looking for a core set: mobo, proc, RAM, graphics, sound if it's compelling, heatsink, case, main HDD. No price ceilings, so if you manage to make your reasonable max $8k, good for you, but your unreasonable max better damn well be $20k. :P
So: hit me with your best shot!
0
Comments
Gigabyte z77 something something with at least 2xPCIe 3.0 8x
2x 7970 GHz Editions
8GB RAM+ (PC3-1600 is fine)
Whatever SSD that's fast, your budget does support PCIe SSDs
Your case of choice (I recommend Corsair 650D)
One of the double-120mm water cooling loops, which dovetails nicely with the supporting area at the top of the 650D
Seagate Barracuda or WD Caviar Black
You could step up your CPU choice with Intel 3960k (six cores, Intel's fastest chip) and the x79 chipset, again from Gigabyte. THat has quad-channel RAM, so you'd need 4 DIMMS of whatever, 2GB or 4GB.
For sound, the Asus Xonar Essence STX.
It doesn't get any faster. Add more monitors with your budget.
CPU: 2x Xeon E5-2687W
Motherboard: ASUS Z9PE-D8 WS
RAM: CORSAIR Dominator Platinum 64GB (8x8GB) DDR3-2133 CL9
GPU: 4x AMD FirePro W9000 6GB
OS SSD: OCZ Vector 512GB
Data SSD: 2x OCZ Vector 512GB in RAID 0
Heatsink: 2x Corsair Hydro H100i
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower 1500W
Case: Lian Li PC-D8000
Display: 6x HP ZR30W
Display mounts: 2x ERGOTRON triple display stands
Total cost (before shipping): $29,019.77
$4500 ish for parts + $600-800 for watercooling if that is your fancy
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xV44
Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core
Noctua NH-D14 SE2011
Asus Rampage IV Formula ATX LGA2011
G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1866
Seagate Constellation ES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM
OCZ Vertex 4 512GB 2.5" SSD
Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB
Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB
NZXT Switch 810 (White) ATX Full Tower
Cooler Master 850W ATX12V / EPS12V
LG BH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer
3x HP ZR2440w 24.0"
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)
Thought with two Crossfire connectors you could do quad.
Memotech MTX 512
Dragon North Peregrine (Generation VI) (yes there are five preceding designs, all built, all similar.)
CPU: 4x Intel Xeon E5-4640 (2.4GHz, 4C/8T, 20MB) - - $10,900 ($2,725 each)
Motherboard: Supermicro X9QR7-TF - $1,500 (wrong model, but you get the idea.)
RAM: 512GB as 16x32GB Hynix HMT84GR7MMR4A 32GB - $1,239 each
GPU: 6x AMD FirePro W7000 in 3x2 / Independent - $4,518 ($753 each)
Primary Disk: 2x Hitachi UltraStar 15K600 300GB SAS in RAID1 - $350
Data Feed A: 8x Micron P400E 200GB SSD - $2,600 ($325 each)
Data Feed B: 8x Micron P400E 200GB SSD - $2,600 ($325 each)
Cooling: Custom Watercooled based on Koolance ERM-3K3UC - $2,500
Chassis: Custom Engineered - $3,750
Power Supply: Zippy/EMACS M1W4-5CH0V0H N+1 3800W customized - $1,200
Remote Console System, 4 strand fiber for 6x DVI-D + PS/2 + 4x USB2.0 - $2,000
Total: $51,742.
By the way, that's a total of 512GB of DRAM, 24GB of GDDR5, effective ZBuffer of 48GB, 2.4TB of feed at ~2GB/sec.
"Yes, this bitch will run Crysis. In Eyefinity. While you're mining Bitcoins."
ASUS P9X79 Deluxe
Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme
Gainward GeForce GTX 690
Corsair Dominator GT DDR3 1866Mhz 32GB
Win 7 Pro 64bit
A bit on the fence about SSD, heard mixed reviews, but a 1TB WD VelociRaptor will suit me just fine.
Case and cooling as appropriate.
Cooler Master Silent Pro 1200W
ROCCAT Isku FX
OCZ Behemoth
Anyhow, had to find it...
Dragon 22sv:
CPU: Intel i7-3820 (3.6GHz, 6C/12T, 10MB)
MB: Gigabyte GA-X79S-UP5-WIFI (it's actually a C602 - much more reliable than all the recalled X79 boards.)
Chassis: Corsair 800D (considering swap to 900D)
RAM: 32GB Mushkin in 2 x 16GB(4x4) 993995 kits
SSD: Crucial m4 256GB
Disk: 4x Western Digital RE4 1TB in RAID5
Video: XFX Radeon HD7970 3GB "Double D" (the quiet one.)
Sound: HT Omega eClaro
PSU: Corsair AX860i
Optical: Pioneer BDR-207MBK BDxl
Display: 3x HP ZR2440w
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OEM
Keyboard: Ducky DK9008G2
Mouse: SteelSeries World of Warcraft Wireless
Cooling: Noctua NH-D14
Total: $4,171.63
Would much rather have a smaller RAID5, but 1TB's the most reasonable at this point, relatively speaking. (Even 750GB drives give you slightly over 2TB usable in RAID5.)
Right now, I'm toying with:
Core i7 3770K
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H
MSI HD7970 Lightning BE x2
Vertex 4 256GB
Corsair Dominator 2x8GB (x2) 1866 RAM
I originally wasn't interested in WC given my lack of space to do anything interesting with it (like my old WC lanbox), but the 650D + dual rad is intriguing. Probably wouldn't put it on the graphics cards, which perhaps ironically would be the loudest parts, wouldn't they? Given that, any significant bonus over just doing a Noctua air-cooling route? Or would WCing the cards and leaving the processor on air be a silly alternative?
I would say that WCing the cards would be many times more expensive than the CPU, and a poor allocation of funds if you don't intend to aggressively overclock the GPUs. As it stands, the 7970 Lightnings are pretty quiet. You might also consider the Sapphire 7970 6GB Toxic and the Asus ROG-branded 7970, too, which are even quieter and/or even higher performance.
Also I see your Corsair, but you may be able to get less expensive RAM of quality with G.SKILL or Kingston.
The full article is here. I've changed the layout a bit and switched to compression fittings, but the important bits are still the same.
One piece of advice: decide whether you want to liquid cool the GPUs before you purchase them. If you decide to do it, make absolutely certain the GPUs use a reference layout. Otherwise it'll be nearly impossible to find water blocks for them. Gotta match it down to the exact model number too. I have a Gigabyte board that I though was a reference design. I was off by one character in the model. Turns out the one I got isn't a reference design. Can't find a block for it.
choiceconveniencenecessity, but I'll hunt around.I suppose the H100 is conveniently made precisely to fit the 650D? I'm further intrigued, though I've been wary of boxed offerings over self-assembled kits. I'll keep poking around.
My thanks to you all. Keep 'em coming.
http://www.corsair.com/900d
Are you planning to overclock at all?
Regarding OC, probably at least a little, like I did with the 920.