Instructions for 4x GPU PC build

[smicha]

Wow thanks guys this is some great info!

I've been away for work a few days so haven't managed to jump on this thread yet, so sorry for the late response.

I personally thought the Xeons wouldn't really benefit me in anyway given the slower clock speeds, still unsure that it's the best route. How would they perform CPU rendering, which I will have to do if the project requires it.

Thanks again guys!

CPU rendering in C4D? Xeons beats i7 all the way. Even 6950X with 10 cores is slower than 2x 2640v4. Now imagine 2x2699v4 with 44 cores, 88 threads for 7k EUR .... i7 may only compete with a single 10-12 cored Xeon but 2 Xeons smashes i7. If you want to game a little ... i7 may be better

[mikeadamwood]

Thanks for the advice buddy!

I will be gaming on it occasionally, don't want to rule it out.

I'm confused at the slower clock speed to more cores..Is it best to have say a 3.5ghz 6core as opposed to a 4.0ghz Quad core, what makes the most difference in rendering? Pretty sure C4D and most CPU renderers only use one core? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers.

[rappet]

Thanks for the advice buddy!

I will be gaming on it occasionally, don't want to rule it out.

I'm confused at the slower clock speed to more cores..Is it best to have say a 3.5ghz 6core as opposed to a 4.0ghz Quad core, what makes the most difference in rendering? Pretty sure C4D and most CPU renderers only use one core? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers.

Hi,

It seems it is not so obvious to determine the optimal hardware for OctaneRender when looking at the CPU.
What would be better CPU config for Octane user?
a dual Xeon versus a single i7?
i7 cores have higher frequency.
According to Paul (face_off) "the plugin will extract all the geometry from ArchiCAD in a single thread, load that info into Octane in a single thread, but then Voxelize the data using multiple threads."
So, for that one thread an i7 core can be more interesting then two Xeons.
but xeon can have a dual cpu and many more threads for other tasks that has to be done.

And ofcours your 3d-modelling software may or may not make use of multithreading and therefor xeons versus i7 can be placed in different perspective.
For me as an ArchiCAD user it is important to have a high single core clockspeed, because for important tasks in ArchiCAD it is single core only.

When we are talking about optimal hardware config it is different for slaves.
According to Paul "The slave is being sent the Octane NodeGraph - so yes, a lot of the hard work has already been done."

For those who want to see more (replies)... A while ago started a thread like this in ArchiCAD forum:
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=56127
the link to the this post (link above) shows images of threads used while doing calculations.. might be interesting to read. You find one image here too.

Cheers,

[mikeadamwood]

Interesting information there Rappet.

I think sometimes people forget that we will use these workstations for more than just Octane. I have some projects that require me to use Cinema 4D cell shading sketch and toon, I have uses for physical render also. Not all my projects will see the Octane workflow, but wherever I can it will be my go to once I get the proper system, hell im serious enough to switch OS to take advantage of it. I don't think it's a one glove fits all renderer yet like a lot of CPU renderers are, so we are forced to use them for certain styles.

I will probably meet in the middle with the i7 6 core 3.5ghz.

I've spoken to friend of a friend PC builder and he's recomended this system...

Corsair Air 540 Cube Case – Black
Intel Core i7-6850K CPU, 6 Cores, 3.6 - 3.8GHz
Asus X99-E WS/USB 3.1 Motherboard
Corsair Hydro H75 CPU Cooler
2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Graphics Card
4x 8GB CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX 3000MHz DDR4
256GB Samsung SM961 M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive
Corsair RM1000x 80 PLUS Gold 1000W PSU

With the ability to add another GPU later..

This is definitely in my budget and not sure if he understood my particular needs..should I ignore his advice?

[smicha]

Corsair Air 540 Cube Case – Black - not good for 3, 4 gpus -poor ventilation
Intel Core i7-6850K CPU, 6 Cores, 3.6 - 3.8GHz
Asus X99-E WS/USB 3.1 Motherboard - avoid it - I RMAd 3 of them - look at Tutor's post on Asus.
Corsair Hydro H75 CPU Cooler
2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Graphics Card - 2 only? If you want to expand to 3, 4 you get heat transfer
4x 8GB CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX 3000MHz DDR4 - leads into troubles above base clock. LPX 2133, 2400 are fine but get 16GB sticks. Why wasting space?
256GB Samsung SM961 M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive - what for? a simple SSD for a system and another for working files is easier solution
Corsair RM1000x 80 PLUS Gold 1000W PSU - 2 gpu ok, no more than that . Never save on PSU. Did this guy even check how many power cables it has?

Some people have gaming machines with 2 gpus and they think that their choice is the best. I did many mistakes in machine building. Don't replicate them.


With the ability to add another GPU later.. - with these these specs you will not, or gets into troubles

This is definitely in my budget and not sure if he understood my particular needs..should I ignore his advice - get asrock ws e if x99 is your point and 2 hybrids top be ready to expand to 4 gpus - hybrids or water only. Don't listen to folks that claim that 4 gpus are fine on air - they don'y know what they loose. Ask people who moved from air to water (hybrids at least) what they say about it.

Something about temps
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/thre ... 183/page-2

[FrankPooleFloating]

Yes Mike, above all else, get those hybrids bro.

And I'd go with Thermaltake Core X9. Lookee these fan configs:

Front: 3 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm or 2 x 200mm
Top: 8 x 120mm or 6 x 140mm or 2 x 200mm
Rear: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm
Bottom: 3 x 120mm
Left / Right Side: 4 x 120mm or 3 x 140mm

[mikeadamwood]

Sorry guys I didn't realise the GPU didn't have the water-cool part...It suppose to read '2x MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB SEAHAWK X Water-cooled', which are a lot easier to get hold of here in the UK than the EVGA Hybrids for some reason.

I did think that about the case to be honest, I will probably go for the Thermaltake Core X9 ATX Desktop Case which some one recommended previously.

I partly feel like i'm going round in circles, might have to be after christmas now when I start ordering the parts

[smicha]

X5 will be fine for 4 hybrids.

[smicha]

BTW I use X9 for 7 watercooled gpu with 3x480 rads. Unless you don't think about 7 gpus and want save some space X5 will be fine