3D Generalist Workstation Monster Final Decision Guidance

[Crispiis]

 

Hello I am a 3D Generalist - C4D, Redshift, After Effects, Premiere, adobe suite etc.
USA Based

I am looking to build a PC and I have 2 build in mind and just need final guidance on which one to pull the trigger on.

I already have the 2 12 GB 3080s so I basically just need to purchase the rest of the machine. My main reason for wanting 2 GPUs was to maximize rendering power/speed since Redshift is a GPU based renderer. 

Thank you for your guidance.

Option A



Option B

[RONOTHAN##]

I'd go for an Option C - 5950X plus something like a B550 Taichi. It'll be the cheapest option, it'll perform better than the x299 route, and it won't have the early adopter issues of DDR5 (the alder lake ddr5 controller is pretty terrible, especially with 4 Dimms). Basically if you need 128GB of RAM, you want DDR4, and since there aren't any LGA 1700 boards with x8/x8 support and DDR4 you're best option is the 5950X. 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nvJdxs

 

This system is what you should get. 

Edited July 4, 2022 by RONOTHAN##

[brob]

From the Asus support purchasing notes for the Z690 Creator

 

"Please ensure all memory modules are from a single validated kit. Do not combine DIMMs from multiple kits—even if they are the same make and model. Mixing and matching DIMMs can result in failure to boot and compatibility cannot be guaranteed."

 

The motherboard memory QVL does not list a single 128GB DDR5 kit. 

 

If you want the i9-12900K DDR5 build, you will have to settle for 64GB of memory.

 

The i9-10920X architecture is a bit long in the tooth. There are rumours that Alder Lake-X HEDT CPU will be announced in the coming months.

[RONOTHAN##]

10 minutes ago, brob said:

The motherboard memory QVL does not list a single 128GB DDR5 kit. 

I'd extend this to every Z690 board, there is not a single one I've found, high end to low end, that has actually managed to QVL 128GB of RAM, the boards only theoretically support it. 

 

11 minutes ago, brob said:

If you want the i9-12900K DDR5 build, you will have to settle for 64GB of memory.

*at this current time. There are 64GB DIMMs currently in the pipeline that should hopefully be released to the public within the next couple months, so while 128GB of RAM today in a 4x32GB configuration will suck, a 2x64GB configuration will likely be fine. 

[GeorgeMKane]

3 hours ago, RONOTHAN## said:

I'd go for an Option C - 5950X plus something like a B550 Taichi. It'll be the cheapest option, it'll perform better than the x299 route, and it won't have the early adopter issues of DDR5 (the alder lake ddr5 controller is pretty terrible, especially with 4 Dimms). Basically if you need 128GB of RAM, you want DDR4, and since there aren't any LGA 1700 boards with x8/x8 support and DDR4 you're best option is the 5950X. 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nvJdxs

 

This system is what you should get. 

I adjusted it a bit, to go for the RGB RAM that OP originally wanted (although 1 or 2 of those may be hard to see with the NH-D15). Also went for way more case fans and the 5000D Airflow case.  

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nNnvbK

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor  ($548.89 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler  ($109.95 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: MSI MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 128 GB (4 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory  ($559.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($239.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($239.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 12GB LHR 12 GB GAMING OC Video Card  ($882.53 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 12GB LHR 12 GB GAMING OC Video Card  ($882.53 @ Amazon) 
Case: Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW ATX Mid Tower Case  ($164.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 1600 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($399.99 @ EVGA) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL120 43.25 CFM 120 mm Fan  ($29.99 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL140 51.5 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack  ($85.99 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL140 51.5 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack  ($85.99 @ Amazon) 
Custom: CORSAIR iCUE Commander CORE XT, Digital Fan Speed and RGB Lighting Controller  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
$4515.80

[RONOTHAN##]

1 minute ago, GeorgeMKane said:

I adjusted it a bit, to go for the RGB RAM that OP originally wanted (although 1 or 2 of those may be hard to see with the NH-D15). Also went for way more case fans and the 5000D Airflow case.  

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nNnvbK

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor  ($548.89 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler  ($109.95 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: MSI MAG X570S TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 128 GB (4 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory  ($559.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($239.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($239.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 12GB LHR 12 GB GAMING OC Video Card  ($882.53 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 12GB LHR 12 GB GAMING OC Video Card  ($882.53 @ Amazon) 
Case: Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW ATX Mid Tower Case  ($164.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 1600 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($399.99 @ EVGA) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL120 43.25 CFM 120 mm Fan  ($29.99 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL140 51.5 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack  ($85.99 @ Amazon) 
Case Fan: Corsair LL140 51.5 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack  ($85.99 @ Amazon) 
Custom: CORSAIR iCUE Commander CORE XT, Digital Fan Speed and RGB Lighting Controller  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
$4515.80

I mean, this is a workstation, and for a workstation I would argue RGB is the least important thing. Plus the Ryzen memory controller really hates running 4x32GB. It'll run 3200MHz pretty easy, but getting much more than that requires you get lucky with a good board and a good CPU. It's not worth the extra $100 to get a system where XMP likely won't even work. Still, if you really want RGB, you could go for Kingston Fury Renegade RGB, a 3200MHz CL16 kit is $15 more than the Ripjaws kit. 

 

Also, the X570S Tomahawk won't work for this system, it's a board that doesn't have x8/x8 support. I will admit, a B550 Taichi also won't work since it only has 1 Gen 4 slot and this system needs 2 (forgot OP needed this until just now), but the X570 Taichi is close enough in price (currently $224) and would actually work for this system (has x8/x8 so both GPUs will have full bandwidth and has 3 Gen 4 SSD slots). It's really hard to justify a board that costs more than the Taichi series on AM4, they do basically everything you could realistically want them to for relatively cheap. They've got the occasional quirks (my X570 Taichi isn't particularly good at memory overclocking, for example, and installing any M.2 drive requires removing the GPU), but the BIOS layout is fairly intuitive (it's better than Gigabyte's), they're built really well, have a very solid VRM, have almost every feature you could possibly need under the sun (8 SATA ports, 3 M.2 slots, solid rear IO, POST code, BIOS Flashback, rear mount clear CMOS, only thing I personally want is dual BIOS), and it's rock solid stable. Basically, if you're building a high end AM4 system, get the B550 Taichi, and if you need 2+ gen 4 SSDs, get the X570 Taichi, anything more expensive unless you live in a weird market where those boards don't exist is likely a waste. 

 

The reason I went with the Meshify 2 is because it was the case OP picked out. It's a pretty good case (albeit a bit expensive, but for a system that costs $4k that's not really the biggest deal in the world) and I assumed he liked the look of it, so I just left it. If you want to add fans to it, fine, but the LL140s are a pretty mediocre fan to add. IMO, if you're gonna be spending that kind of money on a fan, you better be getting something Noctua since they'll actually preform better (the LL140s are just average for performance) and be quieter while doing so. The Arctic P14s will perform better than the LL140s while being 1/4 the price, and if you're gonna be spending that kind of money on fans you can get full Noctua A14s or something along those lines instead with some RGB strips to go along with it. 

 

Also, the SuperNOVA 1600 80+ Platinum unit makes no sense, the Titanium unit is better in every way and costs the same amount. Might as well get the better one. 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/v29zk9