Build PC with 2 NVIDIA cards

[hungson10791]

Hi all,

I need to build a computer to do a huge amount of scientific computation for my academic work. I don't play games. Thanks to my school and NVIDIA support, I have 2 NVIDIA cards: Geforce GTX 680 and GTX Titan Z. I also have a monitor already. A more experienced guy in my field advised me to use Intel 2011 socket and Ivy Bridge CPU to make use of 40 PCIe lanes. So, I will buy Intel Core i7-4820K. Can you guys give me suggestions on other components to buy with price and/or where to buy them (including the i7 - 4820K)?
It's likely that I'll have to buy these components with my own money, which unfortunately I don't have much. So, I can only afford components with reasonable prices.
Your advice is really appreciated. Thank you very much in advance

 

[royfrosty]

If you are on budget i don't think it is right to go for a 2011 socket. Cause it will cost you a bomb.

 

[simon45op]

Hi all,

I need to build a computer to do a huge amount of scientific computation for my academic work. I don't play games. Thanks to my school and NVIDIA support, I have 2 NVIDIA cards: Geforce GTX 680 and GTX Titan Z. I also have a monitor already. A more experienced guy in my field advised me to use Intel 2011 socket and Ivy Bridge CPU to make use of 40 PCIe lanes. So, I will buy Intel Core i7-4820K. Can you guys give me suggestions on other components to buy with price and/or where to buy them (including the i7 - 4820K)?
It's likely that I'll have to buy these components with my own money, which unfortunately I don't have much. So, I can only afford components with reasonable prices.
Your advice is really appreciated. Thank you very much in advance

Intel i7- 4820k will only give 28 PCIE-lanes. intel i7-5930k , 5960k then will give you 40 PCIE-lanes

 

[hungson10791]

Supporting for 40 PCIe lane is crucial for my application so I have to go for it even if it's expensive.

If you are on budget i don't think it is right to go for a 2011 socket. Cause it will cost you a bomb.

 

[hungson10791]

That's strange. I checked the official Intel page for the processor and it states that Max # of PCI Express Lanes is 40 (Sorry, the forum doesn't allow me to post the link here) . Can you tell me why Intel i7- 4820k will only give 28 PCIE-lanes?

Intel i7- 4820k will only give 28 PCIE-lanes. intel i7-5930k , 5960k then will give you 40 PCIE-lanes

 

[hungson10791]

If you guys have other suggestions on what motherboard, PSU and cooling unit, etc... to buy, please let me know. Many thanks!

 

[Assault]

I7-4820k has 40 pci-e lanes, its the new 5820k that has 28 la..

 

[simon45op]

I7-4820k has 40 pci-e lanes, its the new 5820k that has 28 la..

paiseh. keep thinking he wanted an x99 although i typed 4820k.

 

[Alternative X]

CPU+ Mobo: MSI X79A-GD45 + i7 4820K (819)
RAM: 4X G.SKILL PC 12800/1600MHZ DDR3 CL11 VALUE RAM (8GB) (408)
SSD: CRUCIAL MX100 256GB (162)
HDD: TOSHIBA 1TB 7200RPM (69)
DVD-RW: LG 24X DVD-RW SATA OEM (25)
PSU: SUPERFLOWER LEADEX 1000w PLATINUM (299)
Case: CORSAIR 400R (138)
OS: WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL (180)
CPU Cooler: CM HYPER 212X (57)

Total cost: $2157

Buy at PC Themes, #04-15, and ask for discounts. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, go to PC Care & Solution at #02-32 and ask Nigel to help you assemble for a fee.

Notes:

1) 32GB RAM is included to help with number crunching.

2) As Windows 7 Home Premium has a RAM cap of 16GB, Windows 7 Professional is used instead.

3) Not sure how much space is needed for your calculations, please remember to upsize your HDD according to your needs.

4) This build allows for the possibility of adding another GPU for more number crunching ability, but must remember to upsize the PSU.

5) Is the school paying for the power bill? If so, can consider the Thermaltake Toughpower XT 1475W 80+ Gold PSU for $429 at Infinity or the Enermax Platimax 1500W 80+ Platinum PSU for $389 at Cybermind so that you can add another high end GPU into the system if you can somehow manage to beg/borrow/steal one.

6) As LGA2011 CPUs do not come with a cooler, an aftermarket CPU cooler is added to the build.

 

[hungson10791]

CPU+ Mobo: MSI X79A-GD45 + i7 4820K (819)
RAM: 4X G.SKILL PC 12800/1600MHZ DDR3 CL11 VALUE RAM (8GB) (408)
SSD: CRUCIAL MX100 256GB (162)
HDD: TOSHIBA 1TB 7200RPM (69)
DVD-RW: LG 24X DVD-RW SATA OEM (25)
PSU: SUPERFLOWER LEADEX 1000w PLATINUM (299)
Case: CORSAIR 400R (138)
OS: WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL (180)

Total cost: $2100

Buy at PC Themes, #04-15, and ask for discounts. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, go to PC Care & Solution at #02-32 and ask Nigel to help you assemble for a fee.

Notes:

1) 32GB RAM is included to help with number crunching.

2) As Windows 7 Home Premium has a RAM cap of 16GB, Windows 7 Professional is used instead.

3) Not sure how much space is needed for your calculations, please remember to upsize your HDD according to your needs.

4) This build allows for the possibility of adding another GPU for more number crunching ability, but must remember to upsize the PSU.

5) Is the school paying for the power bill? If so, can consider the Thermaltake Toughpower XT 1475W 80+ Gold PSU for $429 at Infinity or the Enermax Platimax 1500W 80+ Platinum PSU for $389 at Cybermind so that you can add another high end GPU into the system if you can somehow manage to beg/borrow/steal one.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Yes, the school pays the power bill so yeah, I'll probably go for one of the two power sources you suggested. I have one question. As the Corsair 400R case already has 3 built-in fans, should I buy another cooling system? These cards can get quite hot.

 

[Alternative X]

Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Yes, the school pays the power bill so yeah, I'll probably go for one of the two power sources you suggested. I have one question. As the Corsair 400R case already has 3 built-in fans, should I buy another cooling system? These cards can get quite hot.

You can either buy additional case fans and set up a negative pressure configuration for maximum cooling (Do remember to dust the insides of the case regularly as a negative pressure configuration is a surefire way to get lots of dust into the case.) and/or use MSI Afterburner to crank up the fan speed on the GPU.

I have also added an aftermarket CPU cooler into the build as I forgot that LGA 2011 CPUs do not come with a bundled CPU cooler.

 

[hungson10791]

You can either buy additional case fans and set up a negative pressure configuration for maximum cooling (Do remember to dust the insides of the case regularly as a negative pressure configuration is a surefire way to get lots of dust into the case.) and/or use MSI Afterburner to crank up the fan speed on the GPU.

I have also added an aftermarket CPU cooler into the build as I forgot that LGA 2011 CPUs do not come with a bundled CPU cooler.

Thanks a lot again for your very helpful answer. I really appreciate it.

 

[gold_eagle36]

isn't PSU: SUPERFLOWER LEADEX 1000w PLATINUM (299) abit overkill

 

[gaoxing84]

isn't PSU: SUPERFLOWER LEADEX 1000w PLATINUM (299) abit overkill

For future upgrade?

 

[shadow84]

Titan Z and 680 can mix together?

 

[Yureak]

Why is hes looking for number crunching is he going for Ivy Bridge E and not Haswell E?

 

[hungson10791]

For future upgrade?

Yes, that's right. In the future, I might have to buy/request for another card.

 

[hungson10791]

Titan Z and 680 can mix together?

I'm not an authority in this but for the type of scientific computation I'm doing, more experienced guys told me it's OK to mix these two.

 

[hungson10791]

Why is hes looking for number crunching is he going for Ivy Bridge E and not Haswell E?

I need support for 40 PCIe lanes. It's very likely that I have to buy the components with my own money so I have to choose the cheaper one because I don't have much to spend.

 

[hungson10791]

Hi guys,
Thank you all for your advice and suggestion, especially to Alternative X for his very detailed and helpful build. I really appreciate all your help.