AMD TR 3970x - CGI Simulation Workstation Build

[thomasym]

Hi all,

 

Newbie to the forum here (although I've been a reader/lurker for years). I would like to ask some help with a build I'm putting together for work (freelance). I have a sufficient PSU laying around somewhere and an old titan black (a gpu is not really important for my work).

 

The system will be used for work 9hours a day 5 days a week, however also be rendering or simulating on full load for 3-12 hours a day 5 days a week. I expect to be playing some casual games on the weekends.

 

Here's what I put together thus far. The 3970x is a no-brainer and 64gb ram is the minimum if not 128gb. I'm still insecure about the cooling solution (air won't be sufficient due to the long periods or render and simulation time, custom looping is kinda iffy, so it would be awesome if an AiO works). Any other recommendations such as a case (I have no clue what case to pick, other than that it needs to fit a big radiator) is super welcome!

 

 

CPU: AMD Threadripper 3970X 3.7 GHz 32-Core Processor

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X72 Liquid CPU Cooler

Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming ATX sTRX4 Motherboard

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory 

Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX Titan Black 6 GB Video Card 

 

Note: I'm in EU so local prices are different from the big webstores

[Zando_]

What PSU exactly? @Den-Fi Just got his 3970X, they can pull some serious wattage under all core load with PBO. 

[Guest]

I'd be extremely careful with PSU. That thing is hungry.

You're going to want a full coverage cooler. The Asetek coolers don't really cut it.

The ML360 TR4 from Cool Master does a good job. I have one on my 2950X.

Really wish Enermax hadn't totally screwed the LiqTech II TR4. I'm using a re-filled one on my 3970X that doesn't have the corrosion problems since I changed the coolant.

 

(Asetek coverage... or lack thereof. The thing won't overheat, but boot will be limited)

[thomasym]

53 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

I'd be extremely careful with PSU. That thing is hungry.

You're going to want a full coverage cooler. The Asetek coolers don't really cut it.

The ML360 TR4 from Cool Master does a good job. I have one on my 2950X.

Really wish Enermax hadn't totally screwed the LiqTech II TR4. I'm using a re-filled one on my 3970X that doesn't have the corrosion problems since I changed the coolant.

 

(Asetek coverage... or lack thereof. The thing won't overheat, but boot will be limited)

Thanks for the reply!

The PSU is a 700 watt cooler master (don't know what type it is, I'd have to look it up).

Is the NZXT an Asetek type or something? I saw the 62x in several reviews (since AMD apparently shipped them with it). I will look up that ML360 one!

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, thomasym said:

Thanks for the reply!

The PSU is a 700 watt cooler master (don't know what type it is, I'd have to look it up).

Is the NZXT an Asetek type or something? I saw the 62x in several reviews (since AMD apparently shipped them with it). I will look up that TR4 one!

Yeah, the NZXT is Asetek, so it will not have full coverage.

I'd check the model # of that cooler master and make sure it's a good one. Every brand has duds.

 

 

My 3970X/2080 Ti combo hit 750 when I was rendering w/ CPU & GPU.

[thomasym]

10 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

Yeah, the NZXT is Asetek, so it will not have full coverage.

I'd check the model # of that cooler master and make sure it's a good one. Every brand has duds.

 

 

My 3970X/2080 Ti combo hit 750 when I was rendering w/ CPU & GPU.

That's very useful info, I think it may be just fine since I won't have full load on both at the same time. But when I upgrade the GPU I will definitely have to upgrade the PSU as well. Although I realize walking that line might not be a wise choice.

 

I saw some posts saying the nh u14s tr4 outperforms the ML360, but that's for older threadrippers so I doubt it is still accurate.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, thomasym said:

That's very useful info, I think it may be just fine since I won't have full load on both at the same time. But when I upgrade the GPU I will definitely have to upgrade the PSU as well. Although I realize walking that line might not be a wise choice.

 

I saw some posts saying the nh u14s tr4 outperforms the ML360, but that's for older threadrippers so I doubt it is still accurate.

There's 16 more cores to cool, so I have my doubts that that will translate to the 3970X. You'll probably be fine if you're not planning to 4.1GHz all call PBO.

[thomasym]

19 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

There's 16 more cores to cool, so I have my doubts that that will translate to the 3970X. You'll probably be fine if you're not planning to 4.1GHz all call PBO.

As long as it can run baseclock for long periods of time without any issues it is fine.

[Guest]

Just now, thomasym said:

As long as it can run baseclock for long periods of time without any issues it is fine.

Yeah. I had a 120 Asetek AIO on it just to see what it'd look like and it never dipped below base clock. Temps were actually pretty decent. So if you're after air reliability, the Noctua or the DRP4 TR4 should be fine.

[thomasym]

4 hours ago, Den-Fi said:

Yeah. I had a 120 Asetek AIO on it just to see what it'd look like and it never dipped below base clock. Temps were actually pretty decent. So if you're after air reliability, the Noctua or the DRP4 TR4 should be fine.

Actually I only just found out the IceGiant ProSiphon Elite will already release spring 2020. It's so promising! I think I'll just hang on and run with one of the relatively cheap, but capable air coolers and see what the ProSiphon does when released. Thanks so much for the tips.