CPU/Motherboard (&/ new GPU) for GPU passthrough

[dlf]

-Budget & Location: Would $800 be enough? And USA

- What is your intended use for this build? The more details the better.

*Able to pass a second GPU through to a virtual machine of Windows 7 (or Windows 8.1/10) to play Windows games on a Linux distro. And when I can/feel like it, playing games that are on Linux (steam/gog) or through WINE/Playonlinux . . . Folding@home, browsing the net, watch videos.

 

If gaming, what kind of performance are you looking for? (Screen resolution, FPS, game settings)

* Resolution: 1080p *perhaps* up to 4k (at some point?)  
* FPS - Up to or around 60, since I only have 60 hz monitors.  
* It'd be nice to play at (or near) the highest settings as if I was playing natively on Windows

 

My current parts list:

CPU: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i73770k]Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url]

Motherboard: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77xud5hwb]Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB ATX LGA1155 Motherboard[/url]

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (x2)

Storage: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdx120gg25]Sandisk Extreme 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url]

Storage: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam]Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url]

Storage: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001]Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url]

Storage: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st3000dm001]Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url]

Video Card: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ax79703gbd52dhv3]PowerColor Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card[/url]

Case: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc942kkn1]Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case[/url]

Power Supply: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ssr550rm]SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url]

Optical Drive: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas]Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer[/url]

Optical Drive: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-wh14ns40]LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer[/url]

Operating System: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-glc00182]Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (32/64-bit)[/url]

Operating System: What ever Linux distro works . . . . . . . .

Monitor: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-pb278q]Asus PB278Q 60Hz 27.0" Monitor[/url]

Monitor: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-monitor-22mp55hqp]LG 22MP55HQ-P 60Hz 22.0" Monitor[/url]

Keyboard: [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-keyboard-jqd00001]Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard[/url]

 

Though probably not needed it could be nice to have a little more max RAM headroom (current is 32 GB), also if possible sticking with DDR3 (since I already have it). Oh and NO overclocking at all - I live in one of the hottest states (during summer) I don't need the extra heat, nor we exactly get cold winters (as Philip of PCPP could tell you)

[2FA]

You will need Devil's Canyon or newer for a CPU. Any decent motherboard that doesn't take too much of the budget. You will likely want a Nvidia GPU as their drivers are miles ahead of AMD's on Linux.

[2FA]

Something like this?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($96.74 @ Newegg) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($308.98 @ Newegg) 
Total: $725.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-21 00:56 EDT-0400

 

 

Also what do you do that requires so much RAM? Linux will likely use 2GB at most while using the VM and the most RAM I have used while gaming was 10GB.

[2FA]

Also, there is very good support from the Arch Linux community. I don't know how experience you are with Linux but I wouldn't recommend Arch unless you are rather experienced. Debian is likely a better path.

[Streetguru]

59 minutes ago, dlf said:

 

Wait you want to try and game on linux and windows with like 2GPUs? So you don't have to switch?

 

Anyways I'd probably suggest that you just start with an X99 based PC if you plan to do a lot of CPU intensive stuff and virtualization work. Then later on add the other things possibly RAM first, probably after selling your CPU/Motherboard/RAM

This way you have a better base to build your PC on, unless saving up is an issue I guess, but it wouldn't be much over your budget to start with X99

 

1000W PSU is for the 2 mid-high end GPU option later on, if you're just running 2 mid range GPUs you'd be fine with like an 850W unless you want the headroom

 

and you're probably going to want an AMD GPU for your virtualization as Nvidia produces a Code 43 error when you try to virtualize their non quadro cards, but there's an easy fix I hear.

and ya AMD lags behind on linux for now.

 

The quark series seems to be fairly solid

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=435
 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/84spxr
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/84spxr/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($369.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Directron)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4/3.1 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($228.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $821.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-21 01:40 EDT-0400

[dlf]

I guess I should also consider what will change in another 3+ years (terms of tech), stick with motherboards that support of DDR3 (now) or move on to DDR4, and have a much higher limit of RAM I could use . . . Also I'm certain I'm not going to get 2 discrete GPU's (like 390 & or a 980), one of the GPU's can and probably should be integrated and have one large discrete card.