Workstation Upgrade: Thread the Ripper

[Fetchez La Vache]

I have recently done some work for a client to use for demonstrating their new technology at Siggraph this weekend. The client agreed to pay me for my work in hardware as this meant less hassle with declaring the extra income and meant my employer was happy for me to do the work in my spare time.

The basis of the workstation will be a new Threadripper CPU motherboard, RAM and m.2 SSD. I will be carrying over some of the components from my current workstation (https://forum.overclock3d.net/showpost.php?p=943257&postcount=29) but am undecided on a new case and choice of motherboard which will also affect the choise of case.

SO far the build will look like this:

CPU - Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
RAM - 64Gb Gskill 3200Mhz
m.2 SSD - 512Gb Samsung 960 Pro
GPU 1 - Radeon Pro Duo
GPU 2 - Radeon Pro SSG
PSU Corsair Hx1000i

I'm torn between the Asus X399 Zenith Board, which means I will have to get a case that supports E-ATX motherboard, or an ATX X399 mobo (liking the look of either the MSI or the ASRock Fatality) and getting another Fractal Define C.

E-ATX case wise I'm considering a Corsair 400C, or possibly a 460x, though I wont be doing any LED fans so the extra expense of TG is a bit of a waste.

I'd ideally like to wait for motherboard reviews but would be grateful for feedback on case choice.

 

[AlienALX]

Ideally you want one of the larger Enthoos for a rig like that.

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Ideally you want one of the larger Enthoos for a rig like that.

Yeah, I'm considering an Enthoo, but they are showing their age now and have loads of room for water cooling that I'm unlikely to do. Just seems like a bit of a waste. Plus I prefer more compact builds.

The InWin 303 also looks quite interesting as it looks like it will support both ATX and E-ATX. I also considered a LianLi PC-011WXC but its too large as my workstation is positioned in an open pedestal that is part of my desk which is on castors so I can re-position it in my office to sit on a sofa bed or use my rowing machine.

 

[Avet]

400C is a beautiful case. Personally i would go with Corsair for that build. Get it in white and lighten up your desk. You have Phanteks Eclipse P400, Anidees Ai-Crystal, that are similar in size. I am not sold on In-Win's airflow. You will have a lot of heat in that system.

 

[tinytomlogan]

I use the 400C for my workstation....

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Yeah, I've gone back and watched both your setup video and you 400C review again. I'd get rid of the PSU cover too, I also think the SSD caddy is pretty ineligant and even though it wouldn't be on display I would know it is there and I wouldn't be happy with it. I really am torn between this and another Define C where my only compromise would be the size of motherboard.

I use the 400C for my workstation....

 

[AlienALX]

Pah, you clearly need one of these !

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Oh look, my client. The work I did for them may appear on their youtube channel at some point.

Pah, you clearly need one of these !

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Well I think this seals it.....

https://twitter.com/FractalJosh/status/892022696824983552

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Parts from AMD finally arrived after much chasing. As they sent an MSI M/B the case will likely be a Define C, though I have seen an excellent deal on a NZXT S340 Elite for £75 on Ebuyer with free delivery so I'm very tempted by that.

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Another addition....

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Tested the FE. Had a nightmare of time with the Open CL drivers till AMD sent me an internal set of Vega Pro drivers. Renders fine in 3DS Max now. I'm going to miss the ProDuo though, cool, silent and still quite a bit faster than the FE. 4Gb Vram is the only downside.

32Gb of memory arrived, I found a decent deal at CCL with the sticks coming in at £275 for a quad channel 3200Mhz kit.

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

All built, BIOS updated with RAM running at 3200Mhz straight away. Just got to do something about the colour of that Noctua fan so I've bought some black and blue Vinyl dye - Fan and rubber mounts in black, frame in blue.

Next additions will be a 960 Evo m.2 drive with an EK heatsink (I don't like the MSI m.2 covers) so i can move one of the SSDs into the system my kids and I build out of the spare/leftover parts from my old workstation. Another Vega Fronteir edition will also be added at some point too.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

Glad to see the memory running at the rated speeds just with a BIOS update.

 

[Dicehunter]

Very nice, All AMD goodness ^_^

 

[Korreborg]

Very nice build. And yes, that fan need some work If they just made them black, they would see TONS of fans.

And you need cable combs on the GPU as well

 

[AlienALX]

Dying fans does not work. Either paint or buy a blue fan IMO.

 

[Fetchez La Vache]

Glad to see the memory running at the rated speeds just with a BIOS update.

Not loving the BIOS UI though in comparison to my old Gigabyte board.

Very nice build. And yes, that fan need some work If they just made them black, they would see TONS of fans.

And you need cable combs on the GPU as well

Dying fans does not work. Either paint or buy a blue fan IMO.

Just going to get a Chromax NF A15 instead once they are on sale over here.
Cable combs are on the list too, I have 4mm ones i used on some extensions I used but the Bitfenix cables i have here need 3mm, I'll also replace the 24pin bitfenix ones I've used too.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

Very nice build. And yes, that fan need some work If they just made them black, they would see TONS of fans.

And you need cable combs on the GPU as well

Ha! You posted this just before you posted the news about black Noctua fans.

 

[AlienALX]

Yeah I would buy a Chromax fan. Seriously dying fans is almost impossible and they look awful. I see guys trying to dye mag wheels from BMX (plastic nylon stuff) and it just looks hideous.