Enthusiast Rig

[ep10]

Hey guys,

 

I'm a huge a Linus Tech Tips fan and find his videos extremely informative and entertaining so I'm long overdue signing up on this forum. Let me just start out by saying that I am not a hard head and open to advice and suggestions.

 

I'm planning on building a new rig and it really is a dream rig of mine so I hope I'll be able to get help and perhaps pointers if any compatibility issues arise. Budget really isn't an issue so we can set that factor aside. These are the proposed specs of my rig that I'm nicknaming, Colossus (Okay, you can laugh but I like the name haha ). 

 

COLOSSUS SYSTEM SPECS

 

Processor: Intel Core i9 7980XE

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme

Memory: G-Skill Trident Z RGB 3200Mhz CL14 (64GB)

Graphics Card: NVIDIA Titan V (or Upcoming NVIDIA Volta 20-series gaming cards)

Add-In Card(s): Gigabyte GC-Alpine Ridge

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X62 / Corsair Hydro Series™ H150i PRO RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler

Case: Corsair Obsidian 900D Super Tower

PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2, 80+ TITANIUM (1600W)

Storage Devices:-

01: Intel® Optane™ SSD 900P Series (480GB) (OS drive)

02: Samsung SSD 960 PRO NVMe M.2 (2TB)

03: Samsung SSD 860 PRO 2.5-inch SATA III (4TB)

04: WD Gold Enterprise Class HDD (12TB, 256MB cache)

 

Here's my first question and I apologize if it sounds silly but will there be any compatibility issues with the Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3 card and the ASUS mobo? I'm assuming manufacturer is irrelevant as long as the motherboard has the relevant PCIe slot for it.

 

Any other feedback will be greatly appreciated.

 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

1 minute ago, ep10 said:

Here's my first question and I apologize if it sounds silly but will there be any compatibility issues with the Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3 card and the ASUS mobo? I'm assuming manufacturer is irrelevant as long as the motherboard has the relevant PCIe slot for it.

 

Any other feedback will be greatly appreciated.

The Gigabyte GC-Alpine Ridge seems like a proprietary add-in card for Gigabyte boards. In fact, only a handful of their boards seem to be compatible with this card. Full details here:

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GC-ALPINE-RIDGE-rev-10#ov

[ep10]

Hey BlueChinchilla, thanks for the reply. 

 

Aww nuts. I was hoping that wasn't the case. It appears that ASUS's Thunderbolt EX 3 is only compatible up to the Rampage V Extreme. Any ideas on Thunderbolt 3 add-in cards that would be compatible with the Rampage VI Extreme?

 

Awesome nickname btw haha. I'd love to see a video of that.

[Konrad_K]

If you are going to spend so much anyway, isn't it better to get then new Obsidian 1000D? Btw, that psu is way overkill. Step down to an 850 watt.

[ep10]

21 minutes ago, Konrad Kwasniewski said:

If you are going to spend so much anyway, isn't it better to get then new Obsidian 1000D? Btw, that psu is way overkill. Step down to an 850 watt.

1000D? I wasn't aware of that model. Let me check it out. 

 

I really appreciate that suggestion Konrad. Do you mind me asking what the downside is to using a higher wattage PSU as opposed to the 850W you suggested? Apart from the price

 

I should probably also mention that I was planning to, other than the AiO CPU cooler, air cool the entire system so I'll be fitting every fan slot in the case with Corsair ML120s and ML140s. And this probably isn't a big deal but I'm thinking of adding a USB 3.1 front panel as well.

 

Awesome rig you have btw.

[Streetguru]

44 minutes ago, ep10 said:

 

Pretty sure you're trolling

 

but you probably want a 1950X and a Core X9 case

[ep10]

Why would you think I'm trolling? I'm asking a legitimate question and I am looking for advice on this build.

 

The X9 case looks pretty good. I understand the 900D was ideally made for builders who want to liquid cool their systems but I'm a fan of Corsair and their cases. I'll look into the Thermaltake case as well but the aesthetics of the 900D/1000D appeal to me more.

 

Well, I wasn't thinking of building a Threadripper system but I suppose it can be given some thought. I'd just have to change the mobo to the ROG Zenith Extreme but I think I'll stick with team blue for this build.

 

 

 

 

[Streetguru]

8 minutes ago, ep10 said:

 

You have a new account and are asking about a $10,000 budget PC, although as a Side Note I also need a 1950X system for 4K OBS recording

The Threadripper system is just easier to cool, as you can get the sweet TR4 Enermax 360 AIO for it, and it's soldered, doesn't need to be delidded for the best thermals, and won't draw 1000W(literally) with an OC lol

The Core X9 is just a well designed case for HEDT systems IMO, tons of room for cooling options
 

If you just want the best of the best get a Case Labs case maybe
 

 

[ep10]

Granted, I'm a new user here. It doesn't mean I'm alien to computer builds or don't have the budget for it. I'm being very serious but I understand how the misunderstanding could have happened.

 

Wait, why would any processor be delidded to get better cooling? That's not something I've ever done in past builds nor have I seen or heard anyone do it. I wouldn't dare delid a Core i9 extreme to get effective cooling. Isn't there a risk that the die would get exposed to contamination or dust? Is there a downside?

 

Frankly, I could easily convert that rig to a Threadripper system although if I did, I might consider changing the graphics card to the XFX RX Vega 64 liquid cooled....just to keep an AMD theme...I'm weird that way...sorry. I'd probably go for the new Corsair H150i to cool Threadripper.

 

Again, I'm still in the planning stages.

[Konrad_K]

45 minutes ago, ep10 said:

1000D? I wasn't aware of that model. Let me check it out. 

 

I really appreciate that suggestion Konrad. Do you mind me asking what the downside is to using a higher wattage PSU as opposed to the 850W you suggested? Apart from the price

 

I should probably also mention that I was planning to, other than the AiO CPU cooler, air cool the entire system so I'll be fitting every fan slot in the case with Corsair ML120s and ML140s. And this probably isn't a big deal but I'm thinking of adding a USB 3.1 front panel as well.

 

Awesome rig you have btw.

Thanks. 1000D was just presented a couple of years ago. High wattage PSU's, aside from price also are phisically larger, they take up more space. 850 watts is more than enough for any SLI build, and the extra isn't really worth it.

[ep10]

1 minute ago, Konrad Kwasniewski said:

Thanks. 1000D was just presented a couple of years ago. High wattage PSU's, aside from price also are phisically larger, they take up more space. 850 watts is more than enough for any SLI build, and the extra isn't really worth it.

Oh. Well, that's something I didn't consider. What if I played it safe and let's say I got a 1000W PSU? 

 

Good point on the space saving as well. Would there be any issues on power delivery or perhaps electrically overloading the components of the system if the wattage is way over than what you need? Again, my apologies if my question sounds dumb.

[Konrad_K]

2 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Oh. Well, that's something I didn't consider. What if I played it safe and let's say I got a 1000W PSU? 

 

Good point on the space saving as well. Would there be any issues on power delivery or perhaps electrically overloading the components of the system if the wattage is way over than what you need? Again, my apologies if my question sounds dumb.

Nope, the extra wattage will be just left unused.

[ep10]

Wow, okay. Thanks Konrad. That really helps man. I tried looking online for the 1000D but it seems to only be available on some European based e-commerce sites. Can't find it on Newegg =/

 

And Corsair's website doesn't even officially list it...the heck.

[Damascus]

31 minutes ago, ep10 said:

The X9 case looks pretty good. I understand the 900D

Both have very low build quality for what you're paying.  Get a lian li or caselabs if you want something that's actually high end.

 

13 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Wait, why would any processor be delidded to get better cooling? That's not something I've ever done in past builds nor have I seen or heard anyone do it. I wouldn't dare delid a Core i9 extreme to get effective cooling. Isn't there a risk that the die would get exposed to contamination or dust? Is there a downside?

X299 cpus have horrid thermal transfer on the stock IHS, you see about 20c better temps after a delid.

 

15 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Frankly, I could easily convert that rig to a Threadripper system although if I did, I might consider changing the graphics card to the XFX RX Vega 64 liquid cooled....just to keep an AMD theme...I'm weird that way...sorry. I'd probably go for the new Corsair H150i to cool Threadripper.

nope, wouldn't do that.  The 7980xe is better in every way and the titan v is like 40% faster.

7 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Good point on the space saving as well. Would there be any issues on power delivery or perhaps electrically overloading the components of the system if the wattage is way over than what you need? Again, my apologies if my question sounds dumb.

Nope, if you run a 100w system on a 2000w psu the worst that will happen is the fan will never need to turn on.

[ep10]

Hey Damascus. Thanks for the response. Is Corsair really that poor on quality? That's surprising. Appreciate the info though. Was just looking at some CaseLabs cases and DAMN lol. They got some pretty epic looking ones. I'll take a little more time to look into these but Corsair seems to have a generally good opinion about their cases. I suppose I should do more research.

 

I never considered delidding but from what I understand, wouldn't that be more beneficial if the CPU was being consistently overclocked?

 

Right, from the reviews I've read, it seems the like 7980XE is still ahead of the 1950X in quite a few areas and I did prefer the Titan V anyway.

 

Appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

[Damascus]

15 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Hey Damascus. Thanks for the response. Is Corsair really that poor on quality? That's surprising. Appreciate the info though. Was just looking at some CaseLabs cases and DAMN lol. They got some pretty epic looking ones. I'll take a little more time to look into these but Corsair seems to have a generally good opinion about their cases. I suppose I should do more research.

Corsair isn't bad for a mainstream company but the build quality doesn't really go up with their top end cases.  The 570x is actually better constructed than the 900D for example.  If you get one of the all aluminum lian li or caselabs beauties you'll understand what I mean.

15 minutes ago, ep10 said:

I never considered delidding but from what I understand, wouldn't that be more beneficial if the CPU was being consistently overclocked?

Yep, it's certainly not a requirement.  You can buy them pre-delidded from silicon lottery if you want to have no risk.

15 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Right, from the reviews I've read, it seems the like 7980XE is still ahead of the 1950X in quite a few areas and I did prefer the Titan V anyway.

Yup, it's got 2 more cores, a full ghz more clock speed headroom and 3 generations worth of ipc gains over threadripper.  Double the cost but hey.

15 minutes ago, ep10 said:

Appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

No prob

[Streetguru]

9 hours ago, ep10 said:

new Corsair H150i to cool Threadripper.

You need to get a TR4 specific cooler, because the chip is larger than normal chips, and the dies are spread out, so it's far better if you contact the entire chip

The 18 core intel chip can be faster, but threadripper is going to end up being more practical to keep cool while under load, and if you do a custom loop for looks you end up with a huge water block.

[Damascus]

33 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

can be

*is always*

 

Other than mining the 18 core capable of 5ghz will always beat the 16 core capable of 4ghz

[Streetguru]

2 minutes ago, Damascus said:

*is always*

 

Other than mining the 18 core capable of 5ghz will always beat the 16 core capable of 4ghz

And how would one cool the 18 core at 5ghz? It's a matter of practicality, while it will generally be faster with an OC, it's a lot easier to deal with the heat generated by the 1950X vs the i9 7980xe as far as I can tell, and the TR chip is half the price, not that it matters here.

[brob]

17 hours ago, ep10 said:

Hey BlueChinchilla, thanks for the reply. 

 

Aww nuts. I was hoping that wasn't the case. It appears that ASUS's Thunderbolt EX 3 is only compatible up to the Rampage V Extreme. Any ideas on Thunderbolt 3 add-in cards that would be compatible with the Rampage VI Extreme?

 

Awesome nickname btw haha. I'd love to see a video of that.

Have you considered going with the X299-Deluxe instead? It comes with a Thunderbolt 3 card and cable.

 

If you are fixed on the Rampage VI Extreme, I believe https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessory/ThunderboltEX-3/ is the part you need. Newegg.com has a listing for the part, https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UG4T52078&cm_re=asus_thunderboltex_3_card-_-2CF-000F-00002-_-Product.

 

I would suggest using pcpartpicker.com to assemble the build list. The tool will keep a running total of maximum power draw based on manufacturers' specs. Often one can use the search function to locate hard to find parts. Otherwise, one can enter custom parts, although their power requirements will not be added.

 

Have you considered Seasonic's new Prime Ultra Titanium, Prime Ultra Platinum, or Prime Titanium psu? All have a 12 year warranty. If a smaller size psu is desired, the Focus Plus Gold series goes up to 1000W and has a 10 year warranty.

[ep10]

Hi Brob. Thanks for the response.=)

 

Is the Thunderbolt EX 3 compatible with the Rampage VI Extreme? It didn't list that model in specs which is why I'm asking and yeah, I did have my eye on this mobo. I'd really like a Thunderbolt 3 port in my system. If Gigabyte hadn't made the Alpine Ridge AiC proprietary with their boards, I would have opted for that.

 

Hmm, I haven't actually heard of Seasonic PSUs to be honest. The ones I'm mainly aware off are PSUs from EVGA, Cooler Master and Corsair mainly. I guess size of the PSU isn't a big deal. I just want to ensure my rig gets adequate power and the PSU is a reliable and high quality product. 

[brob]

1 hour ago, ep10 said:

Hi Brob. Thanks for the response.=)

 

Is the Thunderbolt EX 3 compatible with the Rampage VI Extreme? It didn't list that model in specs which is why I'm asking and yeah, I did have my eye on this mobo. I'd really like a Thunderbolt 3 port in my system. If Gigabyte hadn't made the Alpine Ridge AiC proprietary with their boards, I would have opted for that.

 

Hmm, I haven't actually heard of Seasonic PSUs to be honest. The ones I'm mainly aware off are PSUs from EVGA, Cooler Master and Corsair mainly. I guess size of the PSU isn't a big deal. I just want to ensure my rig gets adequate power and the PSU is a reliable and high quality product. 

As far as I know Asus only has one model of ThunderboltEX 3 card. But it wouldn't hurt to send Asus an email. They are usually pretty good at answering.

 

Seasonic is one of the best manufacturers of psu. Companies like EVGA, Cooler Master, and Corsair do not actually make psu. They contract with OEMs like Seasonic, Superflower, and a number of others to build their psu.

[lee32uk]

What is this pc going to be used for ? Not many consumers will need the power of an 18 core cpu.

[ep10]

Well, it's a dream PC build. From a practical standpoint, you're right but...I really want that processor lol.