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1. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
ECBowen Oct 26, 2012 10:08 AM (in response to El_Plates)Can you link where the 600 series Kepler cards still have performance hits with Blender? I cant find any since June.
Eric
ADK
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2. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
John T Smith Oct 26, 2012 10:31 AM (in response to El_Plates)>Windows 7 Professional? or Ultimate?
As far as I know (check Microsoft to verify) Ultimate is aimed at the work group market, in that it contains components designed to help "central IT" manage computers
Win7 64bit Pro should be all you need
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3. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Alex - DV411 Oct 26, 2012 4:15 PM (in response to John T Smith)As far as I know (check Microsoft to verify) Ultimate is aimed at the work group market, in that it contains components designed to help "central IT" manage computers
Win7 64bit Pro should be all you need
Agree about Win7 Pro being sufficient in most cases....
(Always thought of the "Pro" being the "workgroup" edition - domain joining, RDS, etc. Ultimate adds bitlocker encryption, some enterprise features (shared with "Enterprise" edition: BranchCache, DirectAccess for mobile, AppLocker) and some virtualization features: VDI and the ability to boot from VHD (love that one).
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4. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Oct 27, 2012 3:42 AM (in response to ECBowen)Since posting this discussion I have discovered that Blender v2.64 was released earlier this month, and 2.64 has (claimed) support for GTX 600 series cards.
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Release_Notes/2.64/Cycles
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Release_Notes/2.64/Cycles I'm yet to find any benchmark results which demonstrate 600 series cards working successfully with any Blender version.
A GTX 580 might be the safer bet for Blender, until more information becomes available.
My foremost concern is choosing a suitable motherboard for CS6, then building from there.
This is one Motherboard I'm considering-
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/48140-z77-extreme9
That Z-77 EXTREME 9 has plenty of SATA ports, which I assume I'll require plenty of.
Is that board a good choice ?
Here's a RAM kit I'm considering-
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/47921-cmd32gx3m4a1600c9
I have no idea whether this kit is a good match for the above motherboard,or not.
The latency figures are different to other 32GB kits listed. I don't know if that could be a problem for compatibility or not.
@John. Thanks for that info. I'll look into it.
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5. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
ECBowen Oct 29, 2012 6:50 AM (in response to El_Plates)I saw several Forum Posts listing the 660TI or the 670 video cards with Blender. When the Kepler cards first released several applications with GPU acceleration had issues with them that were not there with the Fermi cards. Those applications have since updated and are now running fine. I would really just look at the Kepler cards at this point.
Eric
ADK
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6. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Oct 30, 2012 5:04 AM (in response to ECBowen)I'm warming to the Kelper cards, and we'll probably have no choice soon as the GTX 580 cards disappear from stores.
Some of the 670 cards (see link) have 4GB of memory. I assume more is better in that department when it comes to processes that use OpenGL.http://www.mwave.com.au/sku-42051273-Gigabyte_GeForce_GTX_670_OC_Video_Card_GDDR5_4GB_256_ bit_GPU_980MHz_Boost_1058MH
I'm also warming to the idea of building a socket 2011 based PC instead of a 1155 system , after taking a look at some of the cheaper motherboards in the X79 lineup.
This one seems ok to me. I don't know precisely what features I should be looking for in a board.
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7. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
ECBowen Oct 30, 2012 6:32 AM (in response to El_Plates)The 4GB frame buffer versus 2 gives you room for the Hardware MPE engine to evolve and use more ram on the GPU. That is the card we normally recommend.
Eric
ADK -
8. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Nov 1, 2012 4:16 AM (in response to ECBowen)Thank you, Eric. Looks like I'll be buying that card. Now all I need to sort out (for hardware) is which motherboard and CPU cooling to choose.
That ASUS P9X79 PRO appears to be good value.
I need enough space on the board for that 3 slot video card, plus a one slot sound card.
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9. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Harm Millaard Nov 1, 2012 4:59 AM (in response to El_Plates)From the looks of it, there is sufficient space for those two boards, although I wonder why you need a separate sound card. Note that there is no FW connection and only a single NIC.
If VRAM is depleted (when you use large image size material), hardware MPE acceleration is stopped rather ungracefully and you are reverted to software mode only. Keep that in mind when choosing the 2 GB or 4 GB version.
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10. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Nov 1, 2012 7:50 PM (in response to Harm Millaard)I see what you mean by the lack of connection types on the P9X79 PRO. I'd be little worse off with the standard ASUS P9X79. How essential is it to have FW and more than one NIC ? I'm not sure why some boards have two. What is the benefit of having more than one?
Keeping the price down is essential, but if I choose a motherboard that lacks a good range of connections it will limit future upgrade possibilities. My budget is tight. That necessitates compromise when choosing components. That's something I'm weighing up. If I can find a P9X79 WS on sale, I'll buy it. Extra SATA ports would be beneficial; allowing me to run an internal backup drive instead of an external drive for backups.
Which X79 boards support a Raid card like what you installed in Harm's Monster ? Would a ASUS P9X79 DELUXE properly support Raid cards like a WS does? Having that option would be useful for future upgrades.
The separate sound card (already purchased) is to add RCA terminals for audio capture and playback. May as well use the card, unless it causes problems. http://www.mwave.com.au/sku-40020083-Creative_Sound_Blaster_X_Fi_Titanium_HD_Sound_Card_70 SB127000000
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11. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Alan Craven Nov 2, 2012 12:13 AM (in response to El_Plates)The Soundblaster may not be a good idea. The drivers for windows 7 were not that good, and I had various problems which were solved by replacing the card with an external Focusrite Saffire 6 USB
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12. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Harm Millaard Nov 2, 2012 1:59 AM (in response to El_Plates)How essential is it to have FW and more than one NIC ? I'm not sure why some boards have two. What is the benefit of having more than one?
FW is essential if you still capture from tape based cameras, such as DV or HDV or even older tape based material like Hi-8 or VHS over an ADVC device. Having two NIC's is only relevant if the workstation is connected to a switch or server by network cable. In that case both NIC's can be used, either as a fail-safe connection or as 'teamed' connections, effectively doubling the network speed from 1 Gb to 2 Gb.
Every board that has a free PCIe 8x slot can accept a dedicated raid controller like I used in my Monster. Effectively that are all X79 boards.
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13. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
JEShort01 Nov 2, 2012 4:36 AM (in response to El_Plates)Like Alan, I would suggest against putting any Creative Sound Blaster card in a Premiere Pro PC. For years they have always been popular sound cards and for years they have been plagued with various issues that are not good for video and / or audio editing rigs (driver issues, lip-sync, etc.).
Jim
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14. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Nov 3, 2012 8:03 PM (in response to Harm Millaard)Thank you again, Harm. That information has made choosing a motherboard much easier. Those connectors aren't essential for me. The FW wouldn't be utilized on this system. Duel NIC's might be useful in the near future, when this LAN receives an upgrade.
If it were up to me, there'd be a network attached server installed. I can't see even that level of network sophistication ever happening here, so a P9X79 PRO should do.
Now all I need to choose are the Fans, Dust Filters, Card Reader, and the PSU.
What temperatures does your CPU typically run at with that Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 cooler, when under sustained load?
And what are considered acceptable temperatures for sustained workloads?
P.S. Sorry I've been dragging my questions out. This is my first build, and it's been a steep learning curve. You, and many other members of this Hardware Forum have taught me a great deal. That guidance is appreciated
@Jim and Alan. Thank you both for that information. Is it worth installing the card to see if this particular unit will function ok, or is not worth the trouble? I'll probably be using Windows 8 professional. I don't know if there'll be drivers available. I purchased said sound card one year ago.
If the Soundblaster card causes problems, I'll remove it.
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15. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Harm Millaard Nov 3, 2012 10:33 PM (in response to El_Plates)My CPU @ 4.6 GHz has an idle temp of around 40° C, with the disks around 22° C with an ambient temperature of 20° C. I still have to check what that turns out at under sustained load. I will report those figures when the last wrinkles are ironed out and I have finished the 'Tuning Win8' page.
Meanwhile, you can start reading here http://ppbm7.com/index.php/intro-part-1 and then continue though all the other pages. You may find something of interest there for your build.
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16. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Cocovanna Nov 4, 2012 1:42 AM (in response to Harm Millaard)IIRC you chose a Noctua NH-D14 cooler, right? Looking forward to see what temp, you'll get under load. I've managed to keep core temps around 68-72 with AIDA64 and a little lower with Prime95. Required a bit of fan tuning, though
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17. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
El_Plates Nov 4, 2012 1:57 AM (in response to Harm Millaard)I've been reading your blogs about planning and building a NLE system. It's a helpful resource.
It's from reading that I was alerted to the need for additional dust filters.
Also there, I see you've demonstrated a power supply calculator. I'll google it.
I have a question about the many fans you mention. Are they all for the case , or did you also replace the stock fans on the NH-D14?
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18. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Harm Millaard Nov 4, 2012 1:01 AM (in response to Cocovanna)Slight correction, Speccy mentions around 40° C, but the Asus Monitor mentions 36° C when idle. I'll test the load temps and let you know.
I did not change the Noctua CPU cooler fans, all the fans I added were for front, side, top and rear mounting. I did replace the standard Chenbro fans with Noctua fans and reversed the mounting, as documented on the site.
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19. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Cocovanna Nov 4, 2012 1:01 AM (in response to Harm Millaard)When I fire up my system with heavy load, the chip temp reported from ASUS is significantly lower than core temps from e.g. AIDA64 (and it's the chip temp. that controls the fans)
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20. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Harm Millaard Nov 4, 2012 1:49 AM (in response to Cocovanna)Running the Prime95-64 Torture test for some time with 12 workers, the CPU temps varied between 68° - 72° C, depending on the test and with an ambient temp of 21.5° C. So somewhat similar to your results, but maybe in a slightly more crowed case, with 30 SATA connections in use and running @ 4.6 GHz/DDR3-2155/GPU @1136 clock & 1575 MHz memory.
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21. Re: Need Help choosing components for new build.
Cocovanna Nov 4, 2012 3:13 AM (in response to Harm Millaard)Slightly crowded maybe, but also a little bigger ;-)




