Need pros advices for a DeepLearning setup

[Akira29]

Hi guys!

 

This is my first post on this forum and english is not my native language so...sorry in advance for my mistakes!

 

I'd like to build a deep learning setup and the last time I built a PC was like...ten year ago! So I need advices from pros this time!

 

Here are my criterias:

• My budget is around 3000€
• My PC parts must be deliverable in Europe (so I can't use america only websites to buy my components)
• I want this setup to be evolutive: I'm ok with changing my RAM and/or GPUS in the future, but I want to keep my motherboard/cpu as long as possible. I know that CPU and motherboards are the less evolutive parts in a PC (since CPU sockets are always changing)...so it should be the most durable and/or evolutive parts. I thought Threadripper could be a good idea, plz let me know what you think about it.
• DeepLearning will be the main usage of the computer...so Nvidia GPU is mandatory. I can start with one GPU only for now and add more later.
• Again, DL is the main usage...gaming is a plus, not a requirement
• This computer will mainly run on Linux (if not exclusively)
• It should be overclockable
• I'd like to go on watercooling, but with the less maintenance as possible
• I'd like to have a M2 SSD storage
• I already have a case and it's not transparent...so all the RGB stuffs are not required (but I don't mind if there are some)

 

 

I know that's a lot of criterias, but I wanted to be as precise as possible to let you see what I'm looking for.

 

Many thanks to you guys and let me know if you need more information!

 

[GoldenLag]

just FYI. the threadripper plattform - TR4 is getting CPUs untill 2020. therefore there is no need to change the mobo.

[Radium_Angel]

27 minutes ago, Akira29 said:

Many thanks to you guys

As a ML/RNN/DL fan myself, let me help a bit. The CPU is not important, much less being overclockable. Doesn't affect anything at all, the GFX card is where all the work is done, specifically nVidia cards have all the fun software. I've used ATI cards in the past to do RNN work on, and while they will work, it's a monumental pain to get them set up and working with software that really was designed with nVidia cards in mind.

 

Debian based distro is where you want to be, I'm not aware of RNN/ML/DL software that's not Debian cased, I use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, but 16.04 LTS works fine as well. I've read mixed results with 18.xx

[GoldenLag]

7 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

As a ML/RNN/DL fan myself, let me help a bit. The CPU is not important, much less being overclockable. Doesn't affect anything at all, the GFX card is where all the work is done, specifically nVidia cards have all the fun software. I've used ATI cards in the past to do RNN work on, and while they will work, it's a monumental pain to get them set up and working with software that really was designed with nVidia cards in mind.

 

Debian based distro is where you want to be, I'm not aware of RNN/ML/DL software that's not Debian cased, I use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, but 16.04 LTS works fine as well. I've read mixed results with 18.xx

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Threadripper 1900X 3.8GHz 8-Core Processor  (€277.94 @ Mindfactory) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-U14S TR4-SP3 140.2 CFM CPU Cooler  (€79.90 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte - X399 DESIGNARE EX ATX TR4 Motherboard  (€381.95 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LED 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  (€282.55 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  (€141.99 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Storage: Crucial - MX500 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (€178.89 @ Alternate) 
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (€93.39 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Video Card: Palit - GeForce RTX 2080 8GB GamingPro OC Video Card  (€827.99 @ Mindfactory) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic - PRIME Platinum 1300W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (€257.83 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Total: €2522.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-02 13:22 CEST+0200

 

for future refrence. would you use something similar to this? the TR4 socket with the 1900x just to have access to the PCI lanes it offers

[Radium_Angel]

1 hour ago, GoldenLag said:

for future refrence. would you use something similar to this?

Honestly?

No. While I"m a big fan of AMD, I use Intel gear for all my ML work. It's been my *limited* experience that Intel CPUs give me less issues (I've tried it both ways, nVidia/Intel and AMD/ATI and had better results with the Intel/nVidia combo) with my work.

All the same, the field is wide open, and my experience may not reflect your area of interest. What is it you are looking to study/learn/research/etc?

[GoldenLag]

10 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

What is it you are looking to study/learn/research/etc?

I am just wanna know if someone were to ask again a similar question to what the OP asked.

 

Ik of the issues you speak of, but as far as ive managed to find the issues have been rektified later after launch of Zen

[Akira29]

Hi guys and thank you for helping me!

 

I knew that CPU was not that important for DL, but I thought about going to threadripper because of the number of pcie lanes.

In the future, I will surely add new GPUs to my machine...so, the more PCIe lanes, the better! ...except if I use NVLink maybe? I don't know!!

 

And about the distro, yeah, for sure, it will be debian based (what else anyway)!!

I thought of ubuntu, maybe mint, but I'm not sure that mint will fit well with tensorflow.

 

Thanks again!

[brob]

Do you know the case model? Otherwise, is it ATX and what are its gpu length and cpu cooler height restrictions?

[Akira29]

1 minute ago, brob said:

Do you know the case model? Otherwise, is it ATX and what are its gpu length and cpu cooler height restrictions? 

I don't remind  exactly, I can check when I'll be back home and tell you....but I'm 100% sure it's an ATX.

 

About GPU size, I don't know (to be honest, I thought thay had a standard size).

 

For CPU cooling, I'd like an "easy to use water cooling", like this one. I hate huge CPU coolers that makes me fear to break my motherboard.

[brob]

The case is an important component. In addition to being able to house a 240mm radiator, the case will have to have excellent airflow if it is going to house up to three gpu.

 

I'd suggest going with an Intel HEDT (high-end desktop) platform. Something along the following lines.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7820X 3.6GHz 8-Core Processor  (€616.02 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (€120.84 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME X299-DELUXE ATX LGA2066 Motherboard  (€399.99 @ ARLT) 
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws 4 series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory  (€294.99 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 1.0TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  (€269.99 @ Amazon Deutschland) 
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card  (€1249.00) 
Power Supply: Corsair - HX Platinum 1200W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (€177.99 @ Mindfactory) 
Total: €3128.82
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-02 16:42 CEST+0200

[Radium_Angel]

2 hours ago, Akira29 said:

Hi guys and thank you for helping me!

 

I knew that CPU was not that important for DL, but I thought about going to threadripper because of the number of pcie lanes.

In the future, I will surely add new GPUs to my machine...so, the more PCIe lanes, the better! ...except if I use NVLink maybe? I don't know!!

 

And about the distro, yeah, for sure, it will be debian based (what else anyway)!!

I thought of ubuntu, maybe mint, but I'm not sure that mint will fit well with tensorflow.

 

Thanks again!

I gave Mint a swing and a miss. TF was also a real pain to set up.

I mean, I did get it up and running, but with Ubuntu it was one and done, Mint took days to fix the bugs.

[Akira29]

13 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

I gave Mint a swing and a miss. TF was also a real pain to set up.

I mean, I did get it up and running, but with Ubuntu it was one and done, Mint took days to fix the bugs. 

Ok, so it will definitely be Ubuntu! Thanks!