PC for virtualisation and gaming

[Speedbird]

Hello.

 

This PC originally started as a gaming rig, but when I got interested in virtual machines, this build changed a lot. It will be used for virtualisation in Hyper-V or VMWare Workstation and for gaming (mostly Dort 3, Project CARS, TF2, CS:GO, The Crew, and Microsoft Flight Simulator). So, what do you think of this? Any suggestions or criticism?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 Evo 43.1 CFM CPU Cooler  (Purchased)
Motherboard: MSI CSM-Q87M-E43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  (Purchased)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX200 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card  ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 804 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $933.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-27 09:59 EDT-0400

 

The OS will be Windows 10 Pro, will buy a copy when it comes out. And I might replace the kit of memory that I haven't bought yet with a single 8GB DIMM.

[ZetZet]

why that mobo  :blink:

[Speedbird]

why that mobo  :blink:

Best Q87 board I found.

[ZetZet]

Best Q87 board I found.

do you need q87 for some reason? vPro?

[Speedbird]

do you need q87 for some reason? vPro?

Virtualisation for Direct I/O (VT-d) is what I need. Allows a VM to gain exclusive access to hardware resources, such as GPU. I'm planning to have VMs using the iGPU. And vPro is nice too.

[ZetZet]

Virtualisation for Direct I/O (VT-d) is what I need. Allows a VM to gain exclusive access to hardware resources, such as GPU. I'm planning to have VMs using the iGPU. And vPro is nice too.

all good then, just 1231 v3 has no igpu.

[samcool55]

If you won't run it 24/7 you can get a normal i7 for it.

 

edit: for example a i7-4790 probably has everything you need.

It doesn't has the extended validation compared to a xeon, but i have never seen virtualisation issues with it.

It has support for vPro and VT-d so that's all good.

[Speedbird]

all good then, just 1231 v3 has no igpu.

It doesn't? Okay, guess I'll have to to use my GT330 then.

[Speedbird]

If you won't run it 24/7 you can get a normal i7 for it.

i7 is too expensive.

[Ketcchup]

I'd pay a little extra for the ASUS Q87M-E/CSM, 3+1 VRM will give more durability. MSI usually uses bad quality VRMs in their mobos, so using a 2+1 uncooled setup with bad qualtiy VRMs gives me nightmares.

[Ben.]

[samcool55]

i7 is too expensive.

Tbh i'm very suprised that cpu is so cheap.

I mean, it's actually an i7 with extended validation and some more support here and there, and it's cheaper, almost as cheap as an i5.

Just get that cpu, i'm not sure why it's so cheap, but it's a flippin bargin.

[Guest]

The build is great overall in fact it's somewhat like my own future build

[Ketcchup]

 

 

The Xeon is totally compatible. I can't say anything about the case, never looked for small cases as I don't like them.

[Speedbird]

It is compatible. Check MSI's site.

[Speedbird]

Tbh i'm very suprised that cpu is so cheap.

I mean, it's actually an i7 with extended validation and some more support here and there, and it's cheaper, almost as cheap as an i5.

Just get that cpu, i'm not sure why it's so cheap, but it's a flippin bargin.

It costs 290 euros here,  don't pay attention to PCPP pricing. It costs more than an i5.

[samcool55]

It costs 290 euros here,  don't pay attention to PCPP pricing. It costs more than an i5.

That changes of course the situation D:

Anyway, the cpu is fine then.