Looking for 500 series board with dual GPU support

[Zwolin]

Hi,

 

I want to build new PC based on Ryzen 5000 CPU, but I'm having trouble deciding what MOBO to buy.

The key feature I'm interested in is having 2 x16 PCIe slots connected to CPU in 8+8 configuration. I want to be able to install a second GPU and have it run background tasks while I game (so I don't care about combining their power via SLI or CF).

 

I also don't care (you can convince me otherwise) about extra x570 fast storage options, so B550 is fine.

It seems that the only B550 MOBO that supports that feature is a STRIX E Gaming, while x570 boards are usually (excluding ASUS PRO) 75$ more expensive (in Poland), and besides aforementioned ASUS PRO following options are within 100PLN (25$) of each other Taichi, AORUS ULTRA, MSI UNIFY, AORUS PRO, STRIX F GAMING with E GAMING for +20$ for essentially WIFI - which is nice but not needed for me.

 

Any recommendations?

Cheers,

MZ

 

PS. Friendly BIOS is a big +, since I want to try some overclocking.

 

CLARIFICATION: 

second GPU will have nothing to do with gaming, I have specific tasks that can be done on GPU (ML)

edit: IF my lovely wife decides she wants a gaming machine I might tinker with this build to set up VMs and run 2 separate systems on the same CPU with dedicated GPUs, but this is secondary, ney, tertiary consideration.

[Alex Atkin UK]

6 minutes ago, Zwolin said:

I want to be able to install a second GPU and have it run background tasks while I game (so I don't care about combining their power via SLI or CF).

What do you mean by background tasks?

[Grabhanem]

What background tasks are you planning on running on the second GPU? Most things aren't going to work how you're thinking, and don't have an impact on framerate anyway.

[Zwolin]

Just now, Alex Atkin UK said:

What do you mean by background tasks?

TensorFlow <- CUDA accelerated Machine Learning

[Jurrunio]

no one makes x8/x8 connection possible without trying to add SLI support, in other words you're looking at SLI supporting boards even if SLI isnt your intention

 

For overclocking, MSI is the best f you want to try different memory configurations rather than the common 2x8gb and 2x16gb (since their boards tends to be better optimized in those cases). BIOS design wise, Asus and MSI are the best because Gigabyte and Asrock tends to not put options where you expected. For example, FCLK option in Gigabyte BIOS is neither in CPU overclocking or memory overclocking sections, instead under AMD CBS -> XFR Enhancement.

 

 

[Zwolin]

On 11/4/2020 at 8:35 PM, Jurrunio said:

no one makes x8/x8 connection possible without trying to add SLI support, in other words you're looking at SLI supporting boards even if SLI isnt your intention

 

For overclocking, MSI is the best f you want to try different memory configurations rather than the common 2x8gb and 2x16gb (since their boards tends to be better optimized in those cases). BIOS design wise, Asus and MSI are the best because Gigabyte and Asrock tends to not put options where you expected. For example, FCLK option in Gigabyte BIOS is neither in CPU overclocking or memory overclocking sections, instead under AMD CBS -> XFR Enhancement.

 

 

 

What about ASRock B550 Taichi, B550 AORUS MASTER and B550 VISION D?

Non of these list SLI support but have x8/x8 combination

[Jurrunio]

34 minutes ago, Zwolin said:

 

What about ASRock B550 Taichi, B550 AORUS MASTER and B550 VISION D?

Non of these list SLI support but have x8/x8 combination

Oddballs

 

I dont understand why either, if you're going to populate the board with the necessary PCIe lane switches for x8/x8 you might as well pay Nvidia a bit for SLI cert.

[Zwolin]

37 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

Oddballs

 

I dont understand why either, if you're going to populate the board with the necessary PCIe lane switches for x8/x8 you might as well pay Nvidia a bit for SLI cert.

Maybe they don't want to interfere with the segmentation? If suddenly B550 with SLI start showing up it might lower the volume of X570... 

Besides, SLI is dead for gamers, and if you are paying for a workstation that actually needs it than these boards aren't for you (at least that's my feeling)

[Jurrunio]

56 minutes ago, Zwolin said:

Maybe they don't want to interfere with the segmentation? If suddenly B550 with SLI start showing up it might lower the volume of X570... 

Besides, SLI is dead for gamers, and if you are paying for a workstation that actually needs it than these boards aren't for you (at least that's my feeling)

Back then the Taichi and Master are $300 boards, so they arent going to outcompete with X570 to those who do care about SLI. Even today they arent cheaper than SLI capable x570 boards.

 

Vision D is more of a half workstation board, so its overclocking capability is... worse. Like an Aorus Pro rather than the Master.

[Zwolin]

Ok, thanks a lot.

 

MSI X570 UNIFY it is.