Instructions for 4x GPU PC build

[mikeadamwood]

So after spending around $1500 on a Bizonbox with a GTX 980ti I realised Mac was not the ecosystem I wanted to be a part of anymore. Given that I'd originally spent ALOT on maxing out the iMac in the first place then having to throw down a hell of a lot more to make a Frankenstein of a machine. Not to mention my iMac is currently in for repair just because the fan stopped working, so that's 7 days without a workstation! So I've decided to sell my mac!

I could build a system myself but I'd prefer for warranty and repairs to be taken care of by someone who knows what their doing.

So I have explained my needs to a local shop who used to build all my pcs years ago before I moved to mac, they market themselves as specialising in PC gaming rigs.

See attached the system they quoted me *note 3 GPUs are quoted because I have a GTX 980ti already as an eGPU.

- Firstly are these decent specs for £2480(roughly $3000)

- Is the 980ti a decent card to multi GPU as my eGPU gets extremely hot. It does have an impressive amount of cuda cores for the cost, but I've noticed octane slows right down when my card gets hot.

- to build on the last comment, is liquid cooling necessary when your rendering an animation if your render times are a few days? The heat of my eGPU is concerning sometimes, but the poor thing is working alone so might be the reason.

- I've told them about Octane and GPU rendering but they are used to building SLI setups so are their any specific instructions I need to give them for the best performance with Octane.

If you have any advice or improvements to this system it would greatly help in building the best system I can within my current budget.

Thanks in advance!

[Phantom107]

The GPUs will get super hot and start to be very loud and/or throttle, I would advise getting hybrids: http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.as ... P4-1996-KR

Also I don't think that CPU is cost effective at all... most 3D apps only use 1 thead, so the multicore potential of that CPU is not used at all. It's a lot better to get something like a i7 4790K and go 4+ GHz.

[mikeadamwood]

Thanks for he reply Phantom!

Ok so I've had a look and it seems these cards are a lot more expensive than the standard GTX 980ti here on the UK. Does the attached fan just provide additional cooling and how are these placed in the case if you have more than one of them?

Would it be beneficial to just start with 2 of these cards and add more later, instead of getting 4 of the ASUS GTX 980ti's?

Thanks again.

[FrankPooleFloating]

Mike, first of all, you really, really should build this beast yourself, if at all possible. There are plenty of blokes around here happy to help if you get in a jam.

If you can DIY, you can probably go high-end on everything, with no skimping whatsoever, and possibly end up with some dough left in your pocket at the end...

There are plenty of cases out there that can do four hybrids plus a CLC (closed loop cooler) on CPU too, with room to spare for other fans (intake)... Corsair 900D, a bunch by Fractal Design. Hell, even mine could accommodate five 120mm rads easily and a couple intakes.. I just haven't needed to go to 4 hybrids yet, but am ready when the time comes. My NZXT H630 was like $160 or something...

Hybrids rock. You never need worry about temps. The fans you are asking about are attached to a 120mm radiator (hybrids are liquid cooled, to be clear.. but no worries bro.. it's safe), which heat is expelled from. A 980Ti Hybrid in Octane will likely be around 50­° or so under full load. Here in US, one can get a used 980Ti on eBay for around $400 currently.. obviously, you can save quite a bit if we are talking about multiple hybrids. Another thing to keep in mind, right after xmas is a kick-ass time to pick up used GPUs on eBay, Craigslist, etc, when spoiled brats who get Santa to leave the latest/greatest under the tree start to unload them.

Welcome to Octane bro.

[mikeadamwood]

Thanks Frank I'm definitely considering it.

I think my main problem is getting certain parts here in the UK, from my research the 980ti Hybrid isn't being stocked anywhere in the U.K. ATM...I might get in contact with over clockers see if they can get hold of any, but I'm very open to second hand if it's going to save me a few pennies.

I might build the initial system then pick up some second hand cards after Christmas if your theory of the spoilt brats applies to the UK too, let's hope so. They are popping up on eBay at a pretty decent price.

Thanks a lot for the info on the Hybrids, they sound awesome and clearly it's what's needed with Octane after my eGPU gets stupid hot.

Hopefully I can keep throw thread alive with some updates.

[FrankPooleFloating]

Great! Glad I could be of some help. 1080Ti must be coming very soon. Of course, they are going to be pricey... but I'm fairly certain that many who bought 780s, 980s, were pissed they didn't hold out for Ti, when those came out right after...

Be sure to look at everyone's hardware in their sigs, whenever you are here.. and maybe you can pm folks about their mobos, cases etc. Or better yet, maybe Glimpse or smicha (et al) can just spit out a shopping list for you. Those guys, and a couple others, I would take their recommendations as gospel.

[mikeadamwood]

I may build the system then buy second hand 980ti Evga hybrids every few months.

Take a look at this system http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Q6kxnQ

I got this from a US part picker list so the GPUs and CPU cooler are missing but I will get them somehow.

One question I have is if I was to have 4x GTX hybrids how would I fit the 4 liquid cooling fans, would they just need to be mounted to the inside anywhere I could find room? Struggling to see how they would all fit neatly..

[FrankPooleFloating]

Guys? Mike needs a perfect case for four hybrids and a cpu clc... CaseLabs seem kinda expensive, as is Corsair 900D... anything else that would accommodate five 120mm rads and some intakes, for less? NZXT apparently discontinued my H630... Thermaltake CORE W100 looks pretty decent, and has tons of fan spaces, for $290. Those any good?

Mike, it would help to know if you are planning all SSDs and no internal optical drives. SSDs take up so little room (can be mounted against walls etc) and when you yank drive bays from front of case, this frees up three to four more 120mm fan/rad positions, depending on case. Most good full towers have at least three up top, three in front, two at bottom, and one in back. Some have way more.

[mikeadamwood]

Nah won't be needing any optical drives I've lived happily without for nearly 2 years with my iMac. I was going to have an SSD to put my OS and most common apps on and have a 2tb hard drive, after all this will be my main workstation so I want to get it right. I think pure solid state storage will be abit costly, considering the rough cost at the moment is looking to be around $3500, and then I need to get a display, mouse and keyboard but can think about that later.

Main issue for me currently is buying the correct case to future proof the amount of space I will need for 4 hybrids.

I'd like to say Frank thanks so much for your continued support, means a lot!

[mikeadamwood]

Frank I've just managed to find your case (I think)

http://www.box.co.uk/NZXT_H630_Silent_U ... GwodubMNLA

If that's the case then damn that's cheaper than any I've been looking at...