Multi VM VR Rig

[Renard Thatch]

First post, be gentle.

 

The Goal: To build a machine capable of running two VR setups while streaming to twitch in full 1080p simultaneously with little to no fame loss while not over-provisioning hardware.
 

Assumptions

• User has 1Gb internet, bandwidth is not an issue.
• User wants ability to overclock or all core boost to the processors maximum rated speed even if it's only rated to do so on a small number of cores.
• Build will be liquid cooled appropriately for the hardware selected.
• User has two Valve Index VR headsets.
• User wants the ability to utilize the PC for video editing when not in its duel use configuration.

 

I've never done this before, I've built a number of machines for gaming with custom water cooling loops and I've built a number of servers with UnRaid. This ask came to me recently and has the potential to net me some money and originally I had planned to do this with a 3950x and two 2080 GPUs but Intel's 9900k has issues with dropped frames and game streaming at 1080p and the 3900x does not. If i split a 3950x into two VMs with 7/14 cores/threads a piece, leaving 2/4 for UnRaid I'm probably going to run into the same issues.

 

That said, with the recent review embargo lift on the Intel and AMD HEDT chips i'm wondering which would be better for what I have in mind. The Core i9-10980XE or the 3960x with 18 and 24 cores respectively...

 

More Context: The customer threw money at me and said I could keep the remainder which is my incentive for not going all out on this build and getting a 3970x and a bunch of other bells and whistles. It just needs to do what they asked and do it well...

[Roswell]

You probably shouldn't be taking money for something this complex if you don't know what you're doing.

 

Further, the customer is obviously not going to be able to maintain this, even if you manage to do it. It's going to be a nightmare.

 

Just grab one of those cases that supports two builds inside. Easy Peasy, achieves literally the same thing for less.

[Renard Thatch]

8 minutes ago, Vitamanic said:

You probably shouldn't be taking money for something this complex if you don't know what you're doing.

 

Further, the customer is obviously not going to be able to maintain this, even if you manage to do it. It's going to be a nightmare.

 

Just grab one of those cases that supports two builds inside. Easy Peasy, achieves literally the same thing for less.

Probably should have mentioned they told me to build it on a wall mounted P7 case... 

[Roswell]

10 minutes ago, Renard Thatch said:

Probably should have mentioned they told me to build it on a wall mounted P7 case... 

Just imagine having to go to their house and spending hours dismounting it when something inevitably needs troubleshooting... And then having to remount it! Then you'll need to have to figure out where studs are behind their wall to support the weight, etc.

 

All of that aside, the first hurdle that comes to mind is simply not having enough room on a board for two GPUs and two capture cards, cause 7 cores with virtualized overhead is definitely not enough to stream 1080p in software with acceptable quality in modern titles without significant performance impacts.

[Renard Thatch]

11 minutes ago, Vitamanic said:

Just imagine having to go to their house and spending hours dismounting it when something inevitably needs troubleshooting... And then having to remount it! Then you'll need to have to figure out where studs are behind their wall to support the weight, etc.

 

All of that aside, the first hurdle that comes to mind is simply not having enough room on a board for two GPUs and two capture cards, cause 7 cores with virtualized overhead is definitely not enough to stream 1080p in software with acceptable quality in modern titles without significant performance impacts.

I mean, I use to be a tradesman and I switched to info sec early in my life so basic house stuff isn't a problem for me. (Just like mounting a TV) As for troubleshooting it I'm fine with that for these people, they're friends that are throwing me a needed bone and I love building PCs. 

 

That said yeah... I was pitching the 3950x because that was the only thing that made sense at the time but it's looking like the 3960x is the better option because even if I do go with the i9-10980XE that's just one extra core per VM and kind of puts me in the same spot.

 

I mean, I guess what I was looking for was someone to tell me that I'm wrong and that what I knew wouldn't work would actually be enough so I could pocket some more cash...