Build Review - Gaming + Deep Learning System

[shmoo]

Hey all,

My last build was back in 2012, and at this point I'm due for a new system. I'm getting into the thick of a Ph.D. program right now where I'm doing a lot of systems bio modeling using deep learning algorithms, so I'm looking for something I can use to play around with similar algorithms on my own time (kaggle competitions etc) while also using this as an excuse to build a damn good gaming pc.

I'll go over my build below. Please let me know what you think, if anything I'm saying is wrong, if you'd suggest a different part, see a bottleneck etc... Thanks

Purchase Date: ASAP!

Budget Range: Up to $4,000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: GPU computing, followed closely by gaming.

Overclocking: Nope

SLI: Yep!

Resolution: 4K

Here's my pcpartspicker link to what I'm thinking of going with right now:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/xThb6X

Of note:

i7 6850: It's important that I have all GPU's (2 of them) running at pci x16, and this means an X99 chipset with a cpu that has 40 pcie lanes. This CPU meets these specifications and offers a lot of value for what it is.

Noctua - NH-U14S: While this is a higher-than-usual wattage cpu by today's standards, I won't be OC'ing, and this is a pretty damn powerful cooler. I thought about closed loop liquid, seems to be a bit more pricy and there's more stuff that can break.

ASRock - X99 Taichi: Pretty nice board. I don't need a super-powerful gaming board, but I do need an X99 board with room for 2 big GPU's. This board has 2 M.2 slots, which is surprisingly hard to find on X99 boards. This board also comes with a high bandwidth sli bridge, also uncommon from what I've seen. Hoping it's reliable.

G.Skill - Trident Z 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3333 Memory: Ram. Fast, decent price.

Samsung - 960 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive: Super-fast M.2 drive. I plan to install linux on this drive and use it for deep learning models. Data transfer rate is important, as I'm constantly shuffling data from SSD to RAM to GPU and back.

Intel - 600p Series 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive: Will install windows on this and use it for gaming mostly - good value for money. I don't need super speed here, and this has good reviews.

Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB AORUS Video Card (2-Way SLI): 1080 ti's are awesome, and they have great vram + memory bandwidth, which is of upmost importance for me. These versions seem to have very good coolers, good factory overclocks, good prices, and I've had good experiences w/Gigabyte in the past.

 

[shmoo]

Don't put games on your SSD, even if you have the extra space it's silly imo if they're AAA titles, it only improves loading times, and most games are fine with that.
The Killer LAN chip is good, but other options are still very solid.
I believe this is the best list for you.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($397.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! - Dark Rock 3 67.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($65.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock - X99 Taichi ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($218.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LED 64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($459.99 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($479.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($479.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Toshiba - X300 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($191.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB SC Black Edition Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($719.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB SC Black Edition Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($719.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair - Carbide 400Q ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Corsair)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - X Series 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $3942.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-13 08:32 EDT-0400

Cool. Everybody's recommending 64gb of ram. Any reason in particular? Does it just seem appropriate for a system at this price point? I don't see any need for greater than 32. I'd go 64 if I had 3-4 gpus for sure.

I do need 6850k or higher, 6800k only has 28 pcie lanes. That cpu cooler is getting a lot of recommendations, I'll have to check it out. Storage is a bit more than I need atm.

I've heard that EVGA's SC series are just reference boards with big coolers, and that this isn't true of higher level EVGA's, and the gigabyte cards I've chosen. Does everybody have very strong feelings about EVGA > Gigabyte?

@shmoo

I'm considering a similar build with the i7-6850 and X99 Taichi for similar purposes (but planning to add GPUs and perhaps fast SSDs later). Did you ever complete this build? How is your experience? Did you have the issue with having to upgrade BIOS on the Taichi MB using a different processor (which PCPartPicker warns about)? Or any other issues with the build? Your experience might help me out. Thanks.

Hey I ended up going with this:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4mPwvV

One of the main reasons I went with the GB mobo was because it allows sli in the first and third pcie sockets, so you get 4 slots of spacing. I really didn't like the idea of 3 slot spacing with a 2.5 slot gpu, especially since it's non reference. Just be careful about the molex connector on the bottom of the board. If you're not working with a very big case (im not...), you'll need one of these http://www.frozencpu.com/products/19936/cab-1524/4-Pin_Molex_to_90_Degree_SATA_Power_Adapter.html.

GB motherboards are also held in pretty high regard from a quality point of view, and although this one didn't have wifi, I just installed a gigabyte wifi card, which uses an intel wifi chip. BTW install the intel drivers for the wifi chips, not the gigabyte drivers if you find yourself in that situation --- Headache!

The Silverstone ft05 is a dream, although building in it can be a bit traumatic. It's really much easier to just use 1 3.5" drive, since the PSU mostly extends into that space. Not a problem these days with high capacity and cloud backup services. I was very limited with PSU's too, that EVGA is the shortest 1000w unit that I could get which is gold rated. People will claim it's (the case) pricy, but remember it comes with a little over $50 in fans, it's very well made, and you'd need to get very, very loud expensive 140mm fans to get the flow of those 180mm air penetrators on MEDIUM.

What Lucky said below about Threadripper is true - but you will probably end up spending at least $300 more (assuming 8 core threadripper) seeing as the i7-6850k is only $360 now, and x399 motherboards are going to set you back at least $350. Really just depends on your needs.

 

[ar1111]

Hey I ended up going with this:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4mPwvV

One of the main reasons I went with the GB mobo was because it allows sli in the first and third pcie sockets, so you get 4 slots of spacing. I really didn't like the idea of 3 slot spacing with a 2.5 slot gpu, especially since it's non reference. Just be careful about the molex connector on the bottom of the board. If you're not working with a very big case (im not...), you'll need one of these http://www.frozencpu.com/products/19936/cab-1524/4-Pin_Molex_to_90_Degree_SATA_Power_Adapter.html.

GB motherboards are also held in pretty high regard from a quality point of view, and although this one didn't have wifi, I just installed a gigabyte wifi card, which uses an intel wifi chip. BTW install the intel drivers for the wifi chips, not the gigabyte drivers if you find yourself in that situation --- Headache!

The Silverstone ft05 is a dream, although building in it can be a bit traumatic. It's really much easier to just use 1 3.5" drive, since the PSU mostly extends into that space. Not a problem these days with high capacity and cloud backup services. I was very limited with PSU's too, that EVGA is the shortest 1000w unit that I could get which is gold rated. People will claim it's (the case) pricy, but remember it comes with a little over $50 in fans, it's very well made, and you'd need to get very, very loud expensive 140mm fans to get the flow of those 180mm air penetrators on MEDIUM.

What Lucky said below about Threadripper is true - but you will probably end up spending at least $300 more (assuming 8 core threadripper) seeing as the i7-6850k is only $360 now, and x399 motherboards are going to set you back at least $350. Really just depends on your needs.

Thanks. I'm planning to use one of the larger Fractal Design Define cases, so hopefully space will not be an issue. Very helpful note about the GB mobo slot spacing.

I thought I had my config almost figured out, but the Threadripper definitely looks interesting.

 

[Chugalug_]

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