My X99 Rig

[Bigdaddy5414]

Not exactly a build log as it is a finished product now, but I suppose new things are constantly being added or upgraded. This particular system started off in March of 2013 with an AMD FX-8350 and an Asrock board but that only lasted for a couple of weeks. An Asus Maximus V Formula and a 3770K replaced in right away as I wasn't happy with the performance out of it. Other components consisted of a Corsair H100i cooler, 2X8GB G.skill 1866 DDR3 memory and a pair of Radeon 7950's in crossfire. A XFX Pro 850 black edition powered it all, and a pair of OCZ Vector 128GB drives in RAID0 for the main storage. There also were (2) 3TB mechanical Seagate drives for storage and a single Western Digital Green 1 TB from several years past. Everything went inside of the NZXT Switch 810 chasis. A BenQ 27" 1080P monitor was also purchased to replace 22" 1680X1050 Gateway monitor.

 

This stayed the same up until the end of the year (2013) when I upgraded from the single Benq 1080P screen to triple 1440P screens. They are Qnix QX2710LED models from Korea with the Samsung panels inside of them. All three are the multi-input models, not just the DVI. The stands were junk, but I put them all on a single stand that wraps around and mounts them all up with their VESA mounts. 7680X1440 was way above the 7950's heads in terms of gaming. So I switched out the pair of AMD cards for two Asus DirectCU II GTX 780's early this year (2014). It was definitely quite the upgrade. A Corsair M95 mouse also replaced my Logitech G5 from 10 years ago. Still rocking with the G15 keyboard though.

 

This is a picture from when it was still at my house. In May 2014 I moved my computer business from my home into a storefront. Now everything is at the store.

 

 

Things then got changed up again recently within the last couple of weeks. Most of the tower portion is new again, with the exception of the chasis and H100i cooler, for now.

 

Current Specifications:

• Intel 5820K @ 4.6 GHz
• Asus Rampage V Extreme
• 4X4GB G.SKill 2400 DDR4
• (3) Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980's @ 1525 MHz
• EVGA Supernova 1300G2
• (2) OCZ Vector 150 120GB RAID 0
• Corsair H100i
• NZXT Switch 810
• Corsair M95
• Logitech G15
• (3) Qnix QX2710 1440P

 

All the new stuff started off with one of the OCZ Vector drives dying and having to send it in for an RMA. They replaced it and right when I went to redo the RAID again with the replacement drive, the second one took a crap on me. So then that one was replaced as well! I knew I should have gotten Samsung's 840 Pros at the time, but these were on a nice sale the day of ordering.

 

I kind of fell out of the loop for a little while and just started searching again one day for the latest and greatest and saw X99 had been released. Well I purchased a Gigabyte X99 Gaming G1 WiFi board and the 5820K. The board has issues working with my two 780's. It would randomly initialize the top or bottom card however it felt like upon turning on, messing with my SLI settings upon Windows booting every other time. After a few days it got worse and I could not even get into the UEFI with two cards installed, one had to be removed. Even the card with no monitors plugged in, would get initialized first half the time. In the UEFI I specified which one to initialize but obviouslt the setting did not care what I had specified. I got Newegg to do in-store credit for a refund on the board as it was a replacement only policy, but they made an exception for being a 10 year customer. I purchaed the Rampage V Extreme and once I got that all set up and running good, the Gigabyte went back. The UPS man just picked it up this week. So now waiting to get my refund processed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think it was just last week the three Gaming G1 GTX 980's arrived. They certainly are a beefy card, but I have a complaint with them as well. They are too damn big, and I am forced not to use the rigid 3-way SLI bridge with my Rampage V Extreme, or the Gigabyte board for that matter. The spacing is exactly the same. The cards are pulled in so tight, the fans touch the neighboring card and can not move! I didn't realize it at first and started Folding@Home and saw the temps hit 92C and throttling way down to 600MHz on the core. Turns out only 1 of 3 fans was able to spin on the top card, the one furthest away from the bridge. The middle card 2 of 3 fans could spin. And the bottom one obviously no issues as their is nothing below it. So I have three flexible bridges rigged up on there to make it work. Not sure what Gigabyte was thinking with the thickness of these but I am not too happy. I would have just bought reference cards if I wanted to water cool them, but it seem to be the only option with these one blocks are released, or remove the backplates so they slim down. Other then that they are running great at 1525 MHz on the cores and have been Folding a lot. Each one puts out about 325 - 350K PPD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am currently debating on putting a 4k screen in place of my middle monitor but that may bug the crap out of me having non-matching screens, and especially non-matching desktop resolutions when moving things between them. I can be weird like that.

 

Another idea that has come accross is a new chassis, something like a Corsair 900D to do water cooling comfortably. I also must note, I never have done any water cooling out of all the builds I have done. Also, options like Case Labs or Mountain Mods have been brought up, but I can't see spending $600+ on a chasis that looks so plain. At least in pictures I see on the internet. Maybe in person that would be a different story, but I doubt that would happen lol.

 

You may notice in the specs that there is barely any storage. That is because it is all in another room at the shop in the server rack. Pretty much everything I do is over the network, including game installs. I made a thread for that as well http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/237976-the-server-room/

 

PC Part Picker: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/bigdaddy5414/saved/mFCCmG

[FireFox]

That looks pretty sweet and a hell of a lot of money sunk into it, if it was my system I'd stick in the Core i7-5960X just for the hell of it and those do look like beefy cards. That is one thing I noticed about both of my GTX 780 Lightnings

[LemonSpice]

i think a better case is in order what is your case budget

[Interfectorem]

Good god....

[Aniallation]

1300W is way overkill for this

[Bigdaddy5414]

That looks pretty sweet and a hell of a lot of money sunk into it, if it was my system I'd stick in the Core i7-5960X just for the hell of it and those do look like beefy cards. That is one thing I noticed about both of my GTX 780 Lightnings

 I can't see spending $1050 on a CPU lol. Believe me I debated over it for an entire week. The most I ever spent on a processor was $650 back in 2005 on an AMD Athlon X2 4800+ still working to this day!

 

i think a better case is in order what is your case budget

The 900D looks nice, I actually have an 800D sitting here empty but it's pretty much the same size as the Switch 810 when putting them side by side. Are Case Labs really worth it?

 

1300W is way overkill for this

 You are correct, I had an 850 and I figured that was borderline. Turns out Folding@Home is drawing 700 from the wall all maxed out. It was only $125 after the rebate so why not.

[Bigdaddy5414]

That's pretty cool beans, OP. You must be an internet zillionaire. Do you have KFC gravy hot tubs with McDonald's french fries, giant private aquariums, a personal zoo, and the largest crappy beer supply in the northern hemisphere?

LOL business has been doing very well for me. I do computer repair (including laptop ins and outs), builds, phones, web hosting, all that stuff. Got big enough this year to open up a store front back in May. I only have my customers to thank!

[LemonSpice]

 I can't see spending $1050 on a CPU lol. Believe me I debated over it for an entire week. The most I ever spent on a processor was $650 back in 2005 on an AMD Athlon X2 4800+ still working to this day!

 

The 900D looks nice, I actually have an 800D sitting here empty but it's pretty much the same size as the Switch 810 when putting them side by side. Are Case Labs really worth it?

 

 You are correct, I had an 850 and I figured that was borderline. Turns out Folding@Home is drawing 700 from the wall all maxed out. It was only $125 after the rebate so why not.

case labs big thing is make it as you want they are modular and made on order so they are high quality and you can cal them to customize it

[clarkmcc]

Where the heck are you getting this money bro.

[MasterRaceFanBoy]

what do you do for a living?

[Bigdaddy5414]

I am self employed, I get my money fixing peoples computers, to build my own computers 

[ltguy]

Ah the switch 810. Hope you have a handtruck to move it around

[Bigdaddy5414]

Ah the switch 810. Hope you have a handtruck to move it around

 

Its very lightweight compared to the equipment in my server rack 

[That Random Cat]

Dayyyuuuum, this rig is just w.o.w... Also, what camera are you using?

[ViruZ_HUN]

Looks very good!

 

Very good work OP!

[Optimumz]

Amazing build, I love the look of the black cables, can I ask are the black cables stock on the evga psu? And what psu specfically is that or did I just miss it?

[Norman_the_Owl]

You mean to tell me you impulse bought X99 and 3x 980s?

[RJSX1]

You mean to tell me you impulse bought X99 and 3x 980s?

Yes, yes he did. Btw nice build even though its completely over kill.

 

Outskirts of Ghettoville NJ, almost the same place.

[Bigdaddy5414]

Dayyyuuuum, this rig is just w.o.w... Also, what camera are you using?

 

That is a Canon 70D and a Tamron 60mm 1:1 macro lens. I use that one for more then just macro shots as you can see.

Amazing build, I love the look of the black cables, can I ask are the black cables stock on the evga psu? And what psu specfically is that or did I just miss it?

It's all stock cables on the EVGA Supernova 1300G2. After rebate it was very cheap and warrantied 10 years.

[RJSX1]

 

That is a Canon 70D and a Tamron 60mm 1:1 macro lens. I use that one for more then just macro shots as you can see.

It's all stock cables on the EVGA Supernova 1300G2. After rebate it was very cheap and warrantied 10 years.

You should benchmark your system

[Bigdaddy5414]

You should benchmark your system

I have done Firestrike and the Tomb Raider one. But that is about it.

[OhhTee]

The Phantek Enthoo Primo is a great case. Plenty of room to watercool.

[sci.fi.man]

great build is great. but is those cards aren't get too hot when you're stack 3 of them on SLI mode and overclocked that high while using air-cooling solution?  :huh:

[Bigdaddy5414]

great build is great. but is those cards aren't get too hot when you're stack 3 of them on SLI mode and overclocked that high while using air-cooling solution?  :huh:

970 and 980 run much cooler then previous generations.

[Jimstah87]

And in 2 months those gfx cards will be outdated, enjoy it while it lasts...