Feedback/Suggestions for Programming/IT build....

[TechGod]

@brob @TechGod @Streetguru

Well, an interesting turn of events just transpired. I just read an email that informed me - my work will be proving a laptop for the network security course that starts in Jan. So, maybe I won't really be needing to do this build if they are providing a laptop that can do the virtual machines. I'm not gonna lie, part of the reason I was planning this build was because I want a bad ass Intel build, but I also wanted to make sure that the system I would be using could easily handle the workload. I guess if my current rig will suffice for my programming needs then I will probably save the money for something else (maybe a watercooling loop so I can OC...). My current set up is:

CPU: AMD FX-6350 Black Edition

RAM: 16GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer 1866

Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer

OS SSD: 180GB Intel 530 Series m.2 (Maybe upgrade to the Samsung 950 or 951?) (I have other additional drives as mass storage)

GPUs: 2x Sapphire R9 280 Dual-X OC Edition

PSU: EVGA 1050GS

 

Will that system be able to handle the code compiling and running one or two VMs comfortably? (I'm asking because, since I'm new to the IT/programmer field, I really have no idea what kind of performance is needed for these tasks.)

One or two VMs only? I think that CPU needs to go(upgrade to an i5 and maybeeeee upgrade the SSD but that seems more than enough. 

[DevilishBooster]

One or two VMs only? I think that CPU needs to go(upgrade to an i5 and maybeeeee upgrade the SSD but that seems more than enough. 

With the Black November sale, maybe I can pick up an i5 and mobo for cheap....

[TechGod]

With the Black November sale, maybe I can pick up an i5 and mobo for cheap....

Do you see yourself overclocking the build? 

[DevilishBooster]

Do you see yourself overclocking the build? 

Yes, I want to OC. I just haven't been able to yet because I couldn't afford the watercooling loop before. If I don't build a dedicated rig for programming, then I'll definitely be trying to get the watercooling stuff instead (although I doubt there will be much on sale for the holidays).

[TechGod]

Yes, I want to OC. I just haven't been able to yet because I couldn't afford the watercooling loop before. If I don't build a dedicated rig for programming, then I'll definitely be trying to get the watercooling stuff instead (although I doubt there will be much on sale for the holidays).

Then don't cheap out on a good Zxxx board:P Go for one that has great reviews. Do you think you'll be going Skylake or Haswell? Personally, just my opinion, getting Skylake with DDR4 would be a good idea...

[brob]

@brob @TechGod @Streetguru

Well, an interesting turn of events just transpired. I just read an email that informed me - my work will be proving a laptop for the network security course that starts in Jan. So, maybe I won't really be needing to do this build if they are providing a laptop that can do the virtual machines. I'm not gonna lie, part of the reason I was planning this build was because I want a bad ass Intel build, but I also wanted to make sure that the system I would be using could easily handle the workload. I guess if my current rig will suffice for my programming needs then I will probably save the money for something else (maybe a watercooling loop so I can OC...). My current set up is:

CPU: AMD FX-6350 Black Edition

RAM: 16GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer 1866

Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer

OS SSD: 180GB Intel 530 Series m.2 (Maybe upgrade to the Samsung 950 or 951?) (I have other additional drives as mass storage)

GPUs: 2x Sapphire R9 280 Dual-X OC Edition

PSU: EVGA 1050GS

 

Will that system be able to handle the code compiling and running one or two VMs comfortably? (I'm asking because, since I'm new to the IT/programmer field, I really have no idea what kind of performance is needed for these tasks.)

 

Always nice when someone else helps with the bills.

 

Your system should be fine for programming. But that depends a bit on the development environment you will be using.

 

VMs are a more complicated issue. One can concurrently run a number of them provided there is sufficient memory and they are not doing much. Get them calculating pi, OTH and a cpu can get gobbled up real fast.

[DevilishBooster]

Always nice when someone else helps with the bills.

 

Your system should be fine for programming. But that depends a bit on the development environment you will be using.

 

VMs are a more complicated issue. One can concurrently run a number of them provided there is sufficient memory and they are not doing much. Get them calculating pi, OTH and a cpu can get gobbled up real fast.

The VMs workload is mostly for the network security course I'll be taking where we will be running a number of virtual machines at once to help learn how to network them all together, as well as learning basic network hacking. I don't think I'll be using VMs that often outside of the class, maybe one or two here or there. Most of the programming that I'll be doing should require VMs (Raspberry Pi's, Arduinos, etc.)

[DevilishBooster]

Always nice when someone else helps with the bills.

 

Your system should be fine for programming. But that depends a bit on the development environment you will be using.

 

VMs are a more complicated issue. One can concurrently run a number of them provided there is sufficient memory and they are not doing much. Get them calculating pi, OTH and a cpu can get gobbled up real fast.

Or are VMs required for writing code? (I genuinely don't know)

[TechGod]

Or are VMs required for writing code? (I genuinely don't know)

I don't think so....I use Xcode on my Mac and I haven't had to fire up a VM...it depends on the language you're gonna use really. What is it?

[DevilishBooster]

I don't think so....I use Xcode on my Mac and I haven't had to fire up a VM...it depends on the language you're gonna use really. What is it?

For starters I'll just be working with Python and Java (Raspberry Pi's and Arduinos). I have courses lined up for learning C languages, and I'm working on web design. I didn't think that I need VMs for the programming I'll be doing.

[TechGod]

For starters I'll just be working with Python and Java (Raspberry Pi's and Arduinos). I have courses lined up for learning C languages, and I'm working on web design. I didn't think that I need VMs for the programming I'll be doing.

No way. I briefly used JEdit and the Python compiler thingy back when I had a MBP with 4GB of RAM and it ran fine!

[Streetguru]

@brob @TechGod @Streetguru

Just get a solid 4k display for better productivity, maybe upgrade to something like a lower end i5 4460 cpu/motherboard to lessen any bottleneck on your 280s

The wasabi mango is a bit better for gaming since you can run it 120Hz 1080p as well

 

[DevilishBooster]

Just get a solid 4k display for better productivity, maybe upgrade to something like a lower end i5 4460 cpu/motherboard to lessen any bottleneck on your 280s

Do you really think the CPU is bottlenecking the GCs that bad? I started with just one 280 when I first built the system, and even with adding in the second card I thought it was a pretty good match-up considering its a 6 core 3.9GHZ chip, and I would think that a slight OC once I get the watercooling loop should fix any kind of bottleneck.

I did just get 3D Mark on Steam yesterday and I ran all the tests and I got the 'Brawn' badge - "Your GPU is ready to rumble, but your CPU doesn't want to play."

[TechGod]

Do you really think the CPU is bottlenecking the GCs that bad? I started with just one 280 when I first built the system, and even with adding in the second card I thought it was a pretty good match-up considering its a 6 core 3.9GHZ chip, and I would think that a slight OC once I get the watercooling loop should fix any kind of bottleneck.

I did just get 3D Mark on Steam yesterday and I ran all the tests and I got the 'Brawn' badge - "Your GPU is ready to rumble, but your CPU doesn't want to play."

Yes...AMD CPUs at the moment kinda suck...hard.

[DevilishBooster]

Yes...AMD CPUs at the moment kinda suck...hard.

I haven't had any real issues with it so far. Sure it may be a bit warmer than an Intel chip, but I really didn't have much budget to work with when I first built the system last Nov, and I got a good deal on the CPU with the Black November sale. I guess with my work providing a computer for the networking course I'll just have to watch NewEgg to see if any decent Intel chip gets a price slash, otherwise I'll just wait for an Intel build and I'll do the watercooling loop for this one.

[brob]

Or are VMs required for writing code? (I genuinely don't know)

 

Typically one only uses a VM where there is a need to run code in a contained and defined environment.

[Streetguru]

Do you really think the CPU is bottlenecking the GCs that bad? I started with just one 280 when I first built the system, and even with adding in the second card I thought it was a pretty good match-up

It's not something you can really fix with an overclock, the investment for high end air or a 240m radiator isn't worth it. It won't bottleneck for the most part and get playable frame rates, you could just do a bit better with the i5 overall, since it's faster per core

Course if you're doing the whole run a lot of VMs thing, then ya that's about AMD's only strong suit

[DevilishBooster]

@brob @Streetguru

I've been 'hmm'ing and 'huh'ing over this the last few days.
 

If I buy a 6600K and mobo with DDR3 support, and then pair those with the 16GB of RAM and dual R9 280s that I have, will that work well enough for compiling code and rending some video until I can afford a bad-ass i7 system? I'm looking at possibly starting to do some YouTube videos, but they won't be super huge and whenever I would be rendering a video it would be "pushing go" when I leave for work in the morning or go to bed at night, and then checking on it when I get home from work or up in the morning.

 

I have a coworker that has a YouTube channel - he shoots in 1080p60fps, and he said that when he goes to render a 25-30 minute video it usually takes an hour, hour and a half at most - and he's using an old HP i7 2000 series system. If just replacing my CPU and mobo with an Intel pair will that work enough for me to do basic programming and video rendering? (Just a reminder, I don't have to really worry about running virtual machines anymore because my work is going to be providing a laptop for that course). I'm really hoping that I can get away with just buying a CPU and mobo because that I can definitely budget for.

[brob]

@brob @Streetguru

I've been 'hmm'ing and 'huh'ing over this the last few days.

 

If I buy a 6600K and mobo with DDR3 support, and then pair those with the 16GB of RAM and dual R9 280s that I have, will that work well enough for compiling code and rending some video until I can afford a bad-ass i7 system? I'm looking at possibly starting to do some YouTube videos, but they won't be super huge and whenever I would be rendering a video it would be "pushing go" when I leave for work in the morning or go to bed at night, and then checking on it when I get home from work or up in the morning.

 

I have a coworker that has a YouTube channel - he shoots in 1080p60fps, and he said that when he goes to render a 25-30 minute video it usually takes an hour, hour and a half at most - and he's using an old HP i7 2000 series system. If just replacing my CPU and mobo with an Intel pair will that work enough for me to do basic programming and video rendering? (Just a reminder, I don't have to really worry about running virtual machines anymore because my work is going to be providing a laptop for that course). I'm really hoping that I can get away with just buying a CPU and mobo because that I can definitely budget for.

 

That works.

[Streetguru]

@brob @Streetguru

I believe you need low voltage DDR3 memory for it to work properly with skylake so you can't just move your RAM really, if you just want a solid overall PC, and you're going to doing a bit of rendering and gaming, then you can't really go wrong with an AM3+ 8 core if you're looking to save money, an 8320e + ASrock 970m MicroATX board is only going to run you around $200 USD

http://wccftech.com/skylake-does-not-support-ddr3-damage-ddr3l-only/

[DevilishBooster]

I believe you need low voltage DDR3 memory for it to work properly with skylake so you can't just move your RAM really, if you just want a solid overall PC, and you're going to doing a bit of rendering and gaming, then you can't really go wrong with an AM3+ 8 core if you're looking to save money, an 8320e + ASrock 970m MicroATX board is only going to run you around $200 USD

http://wccftech.com/skylake-does-not-support-ddr3-damage-ddr3l-only/

None of the mobos that I've been looking at on NewEgg say anything about needing low voltage RAM, they all just say DDR3.

If an AMD 8 core really will work just fine then I don't need to worry about getting a new mobo because I have the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer. I'll just save money and get an 8-core and a bigger AIO watercooler for it. I would have gone with that right away, but I've gotten the impression from the PC community that, if you want to have a computer than can do any kind of heavy work load, it has to be Intel. If I can just keep with AMD then it makes my life a lot easier.

[Streetguru]

None of the mobos that I've been looking at on NewEgg say anything about needing low voltage RAM, they all just say DDR3.

Only time you really need to upgrade is when your PC can't do what you need it to do anymore