Build Advice - Quad 1080ti Octane Slave in a Core X9 Tweet

[colekush]

Hello!

I've decided to build a dedicated Octane Slave with four 1080ti Hybrids in a Thermaltake Core X9 case. I will only be using this for Octane rendering - not as a workstation, and so I am hoping to save component costs as much as possible with that in mind. I also want the ability to expand as my current project and budget progresses.

I've never built anything beyond a dual GPU workstation before so this a new process for me. Below is my current parts list for the build. Does anyone have any advice or see any red flags or areas where I could improve / save costs?

CASE - Thermaltake Core X9
MOBO - EVGA X99 FTW LGA 2011-v3
CPU - Intel Core i7-6850K 6-Core Processor
CPU COOLER - Corsair H100i v2 Liquid CPU Cooler
GPU - 4x EVGA 1080 Ti SC2 Hybrid
PSU - EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 1600W 80+ Gold
RAM - 32GB (2x16) Crucial Ballistix Sport DDR4
HD - 275GB Crucial SSD (OS) + 4TB Seagate BarraCuda Sata III (for storing image renders synced with Dropbox)
OS - Windows 10 (or Win7 if I need access to more vram)

I would appreciate any thoughts here, thanks!

[FrankPooleFloating]

I think X9 comes with one 200mm fan in front. I would definitely get a second one. 200mm fans are damn quiet, and move a nice chunk of air. By the way, is this going to be in the same room as you? If so, you could upgrade all the rad fans. Stock fans are not too shabby, but you could do better.. with some Noctuas, Be Quiets, or, if on a budget, maybe Quiet Edition Corsair SP120s (static pressure). I haven't done this myself, and you may need to research and see if you'd need to tweak wiring setup (3pin to 4pin etc). Correct me if I am wrong gents.

[colekush]

Thanks for the tip - I will grab another!

Also, since this will just be used as a slave, is a 40-lane processor necessary?
or could I use the 28-lane i7-6800k?

[FrankPooleFloating]

I personally think that 40 lanes is worth the couple hundred more... But others are more qualified than myself to give a solid answer, where slaves are concerned.

[Phantom107]

I think the 6-core GPU is a complete waste of money. Good quad-GPU boards have a PLX chip which adds available lanes: http://www.gigabyte.co.nl/Motherboard/G ... -rev-10#kf

Better yet, for a render slave you are probably better off looking into a ryzen chip, dunno about the motherboards on those though.

[pegot]

Better yet, for a render slave you are probably better off looking into a ryzen chip, dunno about the motherboards on those though.

I was considering Ryzen for a recently completed build but at the time I didn't find any motherboards that supported more than three GPU's. Maybe that's changed now.