high-end upgradeable config. advice needed

[merlin_the_fish]

Dear all,

I mostly use my computer for statistical processing and I use software that needs a lot of RAM. I also play games, sometimes.

I would like to build a high-end desktop that allow me to add RAM as needed, up to 64gb. For now, I only need 32gb :lol:. After having done some research, this is the list of items I have selected. I would really appreciate any comment/recommendation about this config.

In particular, I do not know which motherboard and RAM I should buy. I guess I need to have DDR4, since I want to be able to upgrade up to 64gb.

Thanks!

• 
  Samsung 850 Pro 1 TB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7KE1T0BW)
  
  Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB GDDR5 DVI-I/DVI-D/HDMI/DP Dual-X with Boost and OC version PCI-Express Graphics Card 11217-04-20G
  
  ASUS VG248QE 24-inch LED-lit Monitor 144Hz refresh rate 1ms pixel response time & 3D capable
  
  Intel Core i7-4790K Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) (BX80646I74790K)
  
  Noctua NH-U12 S for Intel LGA 2011,1156,1155,1150 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/3+,FM1/2 Sockets, U Type, 5 Heatpipe,120mm CPU Cooler Cooling
  
  Cooler Master HAF X - Full Tower Computer Case with High Airflow Windowed Side Panel and USB 3.0
  
  Asus 24x DVD-RW Serial-ATA Internal OEM Optical Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)
  
  Cooler Master V850 - Fully Modular 850W 80 PLUS Gold PSU with Silent 135mm FDB Fan (SLI/CrossFire Ready)

 

[geofelt]

There is only one llga1150 motherboard that I can find that supports more than 32gb.
This one supports 64gb.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130689
Otherwise, you need to be looking at a lga2011 motherboard. They will be more expensive.

You should probably look at a lga2011-v3 X99 motherboard like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157542
It will need DDR4 ram.
and a haswell-E 6 core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117402

 

[merlin_the_fish]

thank you Geofelt.
So actually I think I would be better off (financially speaking) by buying the MSI LGA 1150 motherboard you suggested and the i7 4790k, right?

Also, DD3 is so much cheaper.

What do you think? My config makes sense now? Thanks!

 

[mniasfreemag]

If you are doing a lot of statistical work you will benefit a lot from lga 2011/lga 2011-v3 processors. If you do not want to invest in DDR4 RAM, you can see if the older xeons fit your needs like an intel xeon e5-2620 V2 or Intel Xeon e5 2620 V2. Both of then are 6 core processors and can handle upto 768 GB of DDR3 memory. They also can use ECC memory, which may or may not be important for you depending on the type of simulations you preform.

 

[geofelt]

Whatever you do, consider buying your ultimate ram configuration up front.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.

It comes down to budget and what your needs are.
A i7-4790K is a very competent cpu and 32gb would seem like a reasonable amount unless you have very special needs.
Whatever you buy now will look old in 2 years.
Buy what you need now.

 

[merlin_the_fish]

Hello everyone,

I have been thinking about your nice comments, and I will be buying a 32 gb config with the i7 4790k chip ;-) (thanks geofelt)

Just to be sure, and if you have some time, could you tell me if you see any incompatibility in the following config? I dont want to make a mistake with such a large budget involved! I plan to use win 8.1 64bit PRO

Many thanks!!


Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 Overclocked 4GB GDDR5 PCiE Video Graphics Card GV-N970WF3OC-4GD

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

Corsair Dominator Platinum 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 2133 MHz (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory (CMD32GX3M4A2133C9)

Samsung 850 Pro 1 TB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7KE1T0BW)

ASUS MAXIMUS VII HERO Z97 ATX DDR3 2600 LGA 1150 Motherboards MAXIMUS VII HERO

Intel Core i7-4790K Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz) (BX80646I74790K)

Cooler Master HAF X - Full Tower Computer Case with High Airflow Windowed Side Panel and USB 3.0 b

Cooler Master V850 - Fully Modular 850W 80 PLUS Gold PSU with Silent 135mm FDB Fan (SLI/CrossFire Ready)

Asus 24x DVD-RW Serial-ATA Internal OEM Optical Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)

ASUS VG248QE 24-inch LED-lit Monitor 144Hz refresh rate 1ms pixel response time & 3D capable

Many thanks!!!!

 

[geofelt]

Looks ok to me.
Perhaps the only issue might be the ram.
The current Intel cpu's have an excellent integrated ram controller. It is able to keep the cpu fed with data from any speed ram.

The difference in real application performance or FPS between the fastest and slowest ram is on the order of 1-3%.

Synthetic benchmark differences will be impressive, but are largely irrelevant in the real world.

Fancy heat spreaders are mostly marketing too.

In fact tall heat spreaders are a negative because they can impact some cpu coolers.
Only if you are seeking record level overclocks should you consider faster ram or better latencies.

Read this Anandtech article on haswell memory scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7364/memory-scaling-on-haswell

Your evo will work, but you might have to orient the fan on the slightly less efficient pull side or raise the fan a bit to clear the het spreaders.
The vengeance heat spreaders can, I think, be removed, but that defeats one of their benefits.

Vengeance has a LP low profile version, and G.skil has the ares low profile versions.

I bought 2400 ram, but don't think I got much value.
It turns out that running ram at 1.65v which is needed for higher speeds lowers the potential overclock of a haswell cpu.
Doing it again, I think 1.5v 1866 ram is about the sweet spot. Cas9 if you can.