PC build review for Octane/C4D/X-Particles..$2500

[bdavey311]

Hi all,

Getting into Cinema 4D/X-Particles with Octane. Which 980 GTX ti should I choose? I've been reading to get the EVGA hybrid for cooling but not sure what's recommended for multiple GPU's. I can swing that if it will make a difference. Any advice is greatly appreciated. This machine will also be used for After Effects and Premiere but not my main focus for this setup. Thank you!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($369.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X99-SLI ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($198.94 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.77 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($649.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($649.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Phantom 530 (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($114.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.88 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Cougar Turbine 120 (4-Pack) 60.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($29.50 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair CO-9050017-BLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($15.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2562.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-10 23:10 EDT-0400

[prehabitat]

I'd recommend (in order of importance)

-Get a proper 4x 8gb Kit (ie quad channel tested) rather than two dual-channel kits. It's likely to work. I've used selfmatched(or non-factory matched) corsair DIMM's & achieved 10% overclocks... But safest bet is buy a matched quad kit.
-pretty sure the x99 has an M.2 pcie storage slot? (The mATX ones I've looked at do); can be between 2-10 times faster than a regular SSD depending on what capacity you get and what you use it for
-I recommend the 'Be Quiet' fans

Hybrid coolers would be good too; but only if you can swing it with the above

[bdavey311]

-Get a proper 4x 8gb Kit (ie quad channel tested) rather than two dual-channel kits. It's likely to work. I've used selfmatched(or non-factory matched) corsair DIMM's & achieved 10% overclocks... But safest bet is buy a matched quad kit.

Sounds good. Makes sense.

-pretty sure the x99 has an M.2 pcie storage slot? (The mATX ones I've looked at do); can be between 2-10 times faster than a regular SSD depending on what capacity you get and what you use it for

Haha not sure I follow. I'm using the SSD for OS/programs. Is there something else I can do with the SSD?

-I recommend the 'Be Quiet' fans

Will do!

Besides what you listed above everything else should be ok? Weighing options for doing the Hybrid GPU to keep it cool if you think it's worth it.

[FahadA92]

-Get a proper 4x 8gb Kit (ie quad channel tested) rather than two dual-channel kits. It's likely to work. I've used selfmatched(or non-factory matched) corsair DIMM's & achieved 10% overclocks... But safest bet is buy a matched quad kit.

Sounds good. Makes sense.

-pretty sure the x99 has an M.2 pcie storage slot? (The mATX ones I've looked at do); can be between 2-10 times faster than a regular SSD depending on what capacity you get and what you use it for

Haha not sure I follow. I'm using the SSD for OS/programs. Is there something else I can do with the SSD?

-I recommend the 'Be Quiet' fans

Will do!

Besides what you listed above everything else should be ok? Weighing options for doing the Hybrid GPU to keep it cool if you think it's worth it.

M2 is an interface/type of SSD. They look like ram sticks. Here is a link explaining them http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/ ... -next-ssd/

[bdavey311]

I hadn 't heard of that before. Very interesting. Looks like the Motherboard has 1 SATA Express slot. Would that be it? http://prntscr.com/aqro18

[prehabitat]

Your GA-X99-SLI ATX LGA2011 motherboard has two M.2 connectors here:

(note: I have just put a box around the M.2 spec callout image from the motherboard link you provided)
see this for (maybe) a better description: http://www.computershopper.com/feature/ ... ves-tested

I don't have a bootable M.2 (due to my old motherboard) - I had to get a PCIE riser card to hold my M.2 - but you could definitely boot to yours with your new X99 motherboard...
OS/Programs and even current project files/assets are the perfect use for the extra speed of an M.2; just like how you used your SSD; but faster.

You could even get 2; and split them as follows:
1. OS (alot of data in/out used mainly at boot, then not much after), Programs (a lot of data in/out used mainly at program load, then not much after) + Pagefile used when your computer runs out of RAM
2. Current Project FIle(s) and your current assets.

I have about 60gb of 3D assets, stock image library and my current project files on my M.2 (+ also download folder there; which makes extracting/installing FAST)
my 'normal' SSD has OS/Programs/Pagefile/Documents (office stuff)
My storage drives hold all the long-term stuff, and low-bandwidth stuff; ie HD video can stream at a fraction of old mechanical HDD speed, so no reason to have it on an SSD/M.2 unless editing the video.

[prehabitat]

Besides what you listed above everything else should be ok? Weighing options for doing the Hybrid GPU to keep it cool if you think it's worth it.

This depends: do you feel comfortable overclocking your GPUs?

If 'YES' then get the Hybrids. if 'NO' then don't.

Overclocking GPU's usually becomes thermal limited pretty quickly (this sometimes includes 'stock' boost clock rates to a varying degree; depending on how good your case airflow is & if you're using reference cooler which exhausts air out of case)