New Workstation - Suggestions ?

[RobSteady]

Will this work?
Space between last card and PSU?
Or maybe a bigger chassis? -> http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-a75/
Enough power with 1500W?
Which mainboard to get the best performance?

Glimpse?

[smicha]

1500W is enough, even if the lowest card is Titan Z. Octane will draw with such config about 1200W, although while heavy gaming may more.

I have enermax - good psu but better to go with corsair AX1500i. Enermax has not that silent fan and terrible cables.

The case is too small IMO. There should be more airflow inside. Carsair 900D? Case-labs SMH10, STH10,...?
I had lian li - way too expensive for what you get. Although the material is 100% alloy you can feel some flex on its construction. It is too thin IMO, small spacing for cable management. Since I have case labs there is no other case that is even close. So for about 200$ you can get pretty decent corsair case or spend more (600$) for case labs.

Motherboard - Gigabyte X99 UD4 is just enough for 250$ - no need to pay extra money for fancier mobo - spend it on case, very good case.

[RobSteady]

Thanks smicha.
What about this mobo?
http://www.alternate.de/html/product/in ... =mainboard

I really would like to avoid Enermax since I had one psu fail, but the config tool (see below) says I can't use the Corsair (the selected gpu's need a seperated 12V circuit)

As for the chassis, I know the inner values count but the Lian Li's look so good and decent.
Corsair...mmhh. This one? Do I really need 12 fans? I like it quiet
http://www.alternate.de/html/product/in ... ame=pccase

But this one should be ok?
http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-a75/

Since I want to order from these guys I'm limited to what is possible with this configuration tool:
http://www.alternate.de/PC-Konfigurator

[glimpse]

Agree with Smicha here: 1500W will be enough. But cables matter, not for aesthetics, the way You can bend them, tidy things up. Corsairs 1500AXi might cost a bit more, but have better cables, higher efficiency, passive mode..-silence will be overwhelmed by GPUs under load, so we don't take that it barely spins under full load (50%)

as for case, the PC-7H is too small..it has only 8 expansion slots, so it's too little for 9slot (3x2+3) card configuration. Pluss I really dislike their drive cages..-they cut airflow too much..& even if You pick the bigger case that You've provide link..- You might end up having problems..'cos Your cards start throttling down..-airflow matters..

You don't have too much choose from Corsair too..2 cases that could hold such configuration 750D & 900D - they are not perfect though..too..but for the price You're arguably going to get anything better. (seems corsair marketing team knows what they are doing - that's the reason so many boutique shops & moders adopting their cases).

I really haven't looked at that big cases, so sorry here, could not recommend something - but we can take a look =) have some really good people on my contact list who have way more competence than me..- just dropped a tweet for Dimitry from HardwareCanucks probably one of the best case reviewers =)

Case-Labs is family own business that has quality second to none & You can configure these cases like You wish, every case is build by order, they don't have any stock & it's completely custom (check their website). It cost a fortune, but You get what You pay for! =)

as said, airflow matters - three Titans will throw air out, but Z circle half of it's TDP inside - if You don't want those cards to loose performance (basically 'cos they sit in so close proximity) You better put huge amount of fresh air..Pluss positive pressure to force air out of the case..

last but not least, motherboard, If You're looking for CPU intensive workloads X99 might be an option. Paired with two higher-end CPUs (not 5820k as it has only 28 lanes, other two has 40 lanes)..so if You need raw power, then go with it..

But if You building a rig mostly for GPU work, OCed Quad core + Z97 would fit better (& cost less, not only for CPU, mobo, but also DDR3 RAM, instead of costly DDR4), just get PLX capable board to be able to provide enough lanes (8x+8x+8x+8x).. as without PLX You'll end up 8x+4x+4x(gen3) +4x(gen2) - I don't think it would be wise idea.. - actually not so long ago Gigabyte has some sort of promotion for it's black series cards =) buy One & get upgrade later for free =) - seems a reasonable investment =)

the question remains, how onboard PLX react to the one inside Z ? =) need to do some homework on that topic..- well think it's enough - some thoughs might help You out, other might mess Your head, but at least You've got something to process in a while =)


addition:

* A75 should be enough to house, but that hdd bracket.. I would cut away ..it shouldn't be there..
** as for airflow, simply get good fans - they will pay of, first in terms of acoustic performance & secondly in terms of GPU performance - if You have enough airflow, GPUs will not throttle down.. =)
*** GA-Z97X-Gaming GT has PLX PEX 8747 chip (& so it is capable providing х8+х8+х8+х8).. but as mention before, curious how these two PLX chips going to react =)..

[smicha]

This forum is a miracle for any who asks questions, and Glimpse is its jewel

Some more words:
1. I almost forgot about Z97 - yes - the one you sent sounds perfect. DDR3 support also matters and cheaper cpus...
2. You may encounter some problems while connecting chassis cables under Titan Z - sometimes plastic pins (at the end of chassis cables) are too long. This issue was asked many times. So first connect the cables and then try to insert the lowest gpu.
3. Power draw around 1000W+ means heat, serious heat dissipated. I literally have my convector off and there is 5-10C outside and when I turn Octane on I must open a window. Man, it gets hot in my room with 4x gpus. If your case is ventilated not enough you encounter slowdowns of your gpus. And with this tight setup (where gpus are so close) you'll reach temp limit quickly, fans noise may become an issue. I also bought lianli because they look so good. You'll like them on air cooling. Just take into account what Glimpse says.
4. Just an idea - what if you sell your 2x titans and for the money you'll get another titan Z and have greater spacing between 2x Titans Z. You'll run them at 1000mhz on air, not something like 800mhz at current setup. Let's calculate what you loose at current setup:
2x titans = 5376 cuda cores at 800-860mhz
1x black = 2880 cuda cores at 800-860mhz
1x Z = 5760 cuda cores at lets say 900-1000 due to its lowest/coolest position.
Overall you have: (5376+2880)*0.8 + 5760*0.9 = 11788.8

With 2x Titans Z with 2-slot distance you have their full power on air, i.e., 1000mhz and they score 4x2880*1=11520.
In relative numbers: 11520/11788.8 = 0.977 so have 2% slower machine, but fans will run at 60% of their power, will be cooler and quieter.

5. If you are about to get your stuff in Germany caseking is one of the greatest seller there (and in Europe).

[RobSteady]

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys!

So I will loose the performance of one card with a tight setup?

Here are possible new scenarios - With the config-tool I can't use the Corsair PSU...
If you like you could build a suggestion-config here:
http://www.alternate.de/html/configurat ... =pcBuilder

[smicha]

BE quiet is a great PSU, but for 2xZs 1000W is not enough - go with 1200W.

I don't get what you cannot go with corsair 1500?

The space between black and Z is not possible in the second scenario.

[dive]

there is no way you can run 2x CPU (not sure if you wanted to do this) with 4xGPU's of that high end.

I currently run a 4930K with OC to 4.4ghz and 4 titan blacks and I can monitor power levels topping out at about 1250w and they get HOT, prob should have got an even bigger case (using a cosmos 2)

so even with 1 cpu and 3xtitans (or titan black) plus a titan Z you will be cutting closer to 1500. You'll probably be fine but that is something to consider because you Titan z draws around 375 if i remember correctly.

Titans and Titan blacks draw 250w.

[RobSteady]

I don't get what you cannot go with corsair 1500?

It says I need a seperated 12V circuit; I have no idea what that means...

there is no way you can run 2x CPU

I don't know where you got this from I only need one 4790


So the final conclusion is:
3 x Titan + 1 x Titan Z = critical heat generation, even with big cases and performance loss of almost one card.
2 x Titan Z sounds stress-free.

One last question:
2 x Titan + 1 x Titan Z ? Could work too? And what PSU would you recommend?

[glimpse]

I don't get what you cannot go with corsair 1500?
.

don't get what's wrong with Corsair's PSU either, as "12V power is to 125A, which can be delivered over a single rail or split upon multiple rails with custom OCP points via their software." - Platimax from Enermax don't give more (but it does offer better value..), but here are some thoughts from me =)

Recomended numbers:
GeForce GTX TITAN Z - 42A,
GeForce GTX TITAN Black - 38A,

in reality Titans Z & B need less, especially in Octane, if not overclocked.. but if You combine recommended numbers they are over the edge..but as I understand those Amps are for system, not for card.

Best would be not to run on the edge if You look for headache-free time ahead =) I'd say couple of Z in good ventilated case, power supply of 1500w would be ideal.. or simply, get Your self a better mobo to space out 3cards with gaps, like Rappet have done this was latelly adopted by Alienware for their Area 51 just without Z..-

If You still want to run 3xB+Z, we'll, I'd be ready for surprises & take upfront a case that could house dual power supplies..- though I'd still try good 1500W (as some of them can handle peaks of 1650W)..as I have a feeling it should work considering power draw while Octane is under full load =)

The space between black and Z is not possible in the second scenario.

it definitely fits, but their configuration tools is not reflecting proper proportions/perspective.. Z will be very close to PSU, though..=) even if Z has 3slot bracket, but the card itself is 2.5 slot high..