Please help with components selection of my new build

[anandtechreader]

Anandtech still tests motherboards the way I mentioned above (circuit, build, component inspection), the problem is they just don't review many motherboards anymore, and when they do the board has been out for a long time. For motherboard reviews I count on actual user's reviews/thoughts, and I also read the review if it's available at Hardware Canucks and Tweaktown (crazy amount of ads there). However, they both do an excellent job on in-depth reviews of motherboards.

Here is one for the Fatal1ty X399: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...9-professional-gaming-motherboard-review.html

One for the X399 Taichi: https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/8...hreadripper-tr4-motherboard-review/index.html

Thanks. I go for the Threadripper and Enermax 360 TR4 then. Know when Threadripper 2 will be out? As I recall, AMD promised that it will be compatible with the current X399 motherboards.

I know a guy succeed in install linux on a Fatal1ty system. Need to check about the Taichi.

 

[Markfw]

Thanks. I go for the Threadripper and Enermax 360 TR4 then. Know when Threadripper 2 will be out? As I recall, AMD promised that it will be compatible with the current X399 motherboards.

I know a guy succeed in install linux on a Fatal1ty system. Need to check about the Taichi.

3 of my 4 TR systems run dual-boot linux mint 18.3 and win 10

 

[dlerious]

Another problem is that over 30 years ago, we could rely on good reviews from professional magazines such as Byte Magazine, PC Magazine, etc. These days, there are too many reviews on the internet and youtube. I have not heard of the name of most of these sources. Can't tell the validity and reliability of those reviews.

Us and Them already mentioned Anandtech. For Youtube, I kind of like Gamers Nexus for getting down at the hardware level and Hardware Unboxed for benchmarking. I still look for multiple sources to compare.

 

[dlerious]

Am I correct that even the Threadripper has 64 lanes, no motherboard can offer more than 2 GPUs running concurrently at top x16 speed?

If memory serves, most motherboard manufacturers have 2 x16 and 2 x8 leaving 16 lanes, which are x4 for the chipset and 3 x4 for m.2.

 

[anandtechreader]

3 of my 4 TR systems run dual-boot linux mint 18.3 and win 10

Thanks. So, it should be compatible with Ubuntu Linux? For Hackintosh, I read that the more Intel made components in the moterboard the higher the chance the system could be turned into a Hackintosh. Eventually, I want to triple-boot (Windows, Ubuntu Linux and Mac OS).

About the RAM... I don't know if Intel will have Cascade Lake out this year or postpone to next year due to the 10nm delay. I don't know which platform I will be using next year. Is there any RAM Kit that is compatible with both AMD and Intel platforms? On the G.Skill website, they have a separate product line for AMD. In case I want 64GB RAM (16GBx4), which kits do you recommend? Is Trident Z RGB 3200C14 the best one?

 

[Markfw]

Thanks. So, it should be compatible with Ubuntu Linux? For Hackintosh, I read that the more Intel made components in the moterboard the higher the chance the system could be turned into a Hackintosh. Eventually, I want to triple-boot (Windows, Ubuntu Linux and Mac OS).

About the RAM... I don't know if Intel will have Cascade Lake out this year or postpone to next year due to the 10nm delay. I don't know which platform I will be using next year. Is there any RAM Kit that is compatible with both AMD and Intel platforms? On the G.Skill website, they have a separate product line for AMD. In case I want 64GB RAM (16GBx4), which kits do you recommend? Is Trident Z RGB 3200C14 the best one?

See my post above with the 16x4 link. It will work with Intel and AMD

 

[anandtechreader]

See my post above with the 16x4 link. It will work with Intel and AMD

Thanks. Do you mean this one?

G.SKILL TridentZ Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZ

Does the following RGB version work on both Intel and AMD platforms as well?

G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZR

 

[whm1974]

OP, how much is your budget?

 

[anandtechreader]

Maybe about 4K. It is for professional research work.

For these X399 motherboards especially the Taichi, are those lanes assignments hard-wired? For example, will the speed of the two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots drop if I use 3, rather then 1, NMVe m.2 slots? For this system, is the Samsung EVO 960 NVMe m.2 SSD sufficiently fast enough?

 

[Markfw]

Thanks. Do you mean this one?

G.SKILL TridentZ Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZ

Does the following RGB version work on both Intel and AMD platforms as well?

G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZR

Possibly, without the link its hard to tell. But RGB memory has caused problems in the past. I see this is for work, so why the need for RGB ?

 

[anandtechreader]

Possibly, without the link its hard to tell. But RGB memory has caused problems in the past. I see this is for work, so why the need for RGB ?

https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c14q-64gtzr

I think it is kind of cute but sometimes I may want to turn it off. It depends on the situation.

G.Skill mentioned that I can turn off the LEDs if I like. Not sure if it can be done when I am running Ubuntu Linux.

 

[anandtechreader]

From the internet, it seems that the LEDs of the RGB version (https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c14q-64gtzr) sometimes do not work. Besides that, are there other problems in using it on the Taichi X399 and other AMD/Intel platform?

Just to reconfirm before ordering. Am I correct that even G.Skill and Asrock do not list the G.SKILL TridentZ Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZ and the RGB version in their QVL, it will work at 3200MHz by just choosing this speed in the BIOS? From the net, it seems that depending on luck, if one gets the Trident Z with Samsung B-Die, then one could make it run above 2933mHz. Is there any way to make sure that I will get the RAM with Samsung B-Die?


About two weeks ago, G.Skill told me the following:

"Due to the Threadripper platform being a new and different architecture, please consider our Flare X series memory for best memory compatibility on your Threadripper platform. We recommend DDR4-2400MHz and DDR4-2133MHz in total kit capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

If you wish to use DDR4-3200MHz, the max supported capacity that we have tested on your Threadripper platform is 32GB(8GBx4) and we would suggest [Flare X] F4-3200C14Q-32GFX. Please check the link above to see if your Threadripper system has listed DDR4-3200MHz models.

Please also note that the stability of running at DDR-4 3200MHz will depend on the capability of your CPU, so a highly selective CPU is required."

I asked them what is mean by "highly selective CPU", they just told me to contact CPU vendors.

The Threadripper only has three versions. Does that mean the less expensive 1900X may not work?

 

[dlerious]

From the internet, it seems that the LEDs of the RGB version (https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c14q-64gtzr) sometimes do not work. Besides that, are there other problems in using it on the Taichi X399 and other AMD/Intel platform?

Just to reconfirm before ordering. Am I correct that even G.Skill and Asrock do not list the G.SKILL TridentZ Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14Q-64GTZ and the RGB version in their QVL, it will work at 3200MHz by just choosing this speed in the BIOS? From the net, it seems that depending on luck, if one gets the Trident Z with Samsung B-Die, then one could make it run above 2933mHz. Is there any way to make sure that I will get the RAM with Samsung B-Die?


About two weeks ago, G.Skill told me the following:

"Due to the Threadripper platform being a new and different architecture, please consider our Flare X series memory for best memory compatibility on your Threadripper platform. We recommend DDR4-2400MHz and DDR4-2133MHz in total kit capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

If you wish to use DDR4-3200MHz, the max supported capacity that we have tested on your Threadripper platform is 32GB(8GBx4) and we would suggest [Flare X] F4-3200C14Q-32GFX. Please check the link above to see if your Threadripper system has listed DDR4-3200MHz models.

Please also note that the stability of running at DDR-4 3200MHz will depend on the capability of your CPU, so a highly selective CPU is required."

I asked them what is mean by "highly selective CPU", they just told me to contact CPU vendors.

The Threadripper only has three versions. Does that mean the less expensive 1900X may not work?

That's a little odd. They have 64GB and 128GB kits at 2933 for FlareX. Both the Zenith Extreme and Taichi are listed in QVL.https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-2933c14q2-128gfx

 

[whm1974]

That's a little odd. They have 64GB and 128GB kits at 2933 for FlareX. Both the Zenith Extreme and Taichi are listed in QVL.https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-2933c14q2-128gfx

Isn't 32GB of memory on the low side for what the OP wants/needs to do?

 

[Markfw]

I have the 4x8 gig version of this on 5 of my AMD Ryzen boxes, 4 of them threadrippers. These will work fine.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232208

 

[anandtechreader]

Isn't 32GB of memory on the low side for what the OP wants/needs to do?

You are right. I need at least 32GB. 64GB is more appropriate for the time being.

 

[anandtechreader]

I have the 4x8 gig version of this on 5 of my AMD Ryzen boxes, 4 of them threadrippers. These will work fine.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232208

Thanks Markfw. Do you recommend me to stay away from the RGB version? I can get the RGB 64GB Kit locally. If I get the one you use, I need to import from the USA which will result in higher cost.

 

[dlerious]

Isn't 32GB of memory on the low side for what the OP wants/needs to do?

That's why I linked to the 128GB kit and also checked 2 64GB kits (8x8GB and 4x16).

 

[Markfw]

Thanks Markfw. Do you recommend me to stay away from the RGB version? I can get the RGB 64GB Kit locally. If I get the one you use, I need to import from the USA which will result in higher cost.

sorry, yes, stay away from RGB

 

[anandtechreader]

sorry, yes, stay away from RGB

Thank you very much for the warning. It seems that the RGB version has other issues besides the LEDs not turning on. Some kind of programs wrote to the memory and broke the RAM?

One colleague mentioned that I could have compatibility issues if I do not use Intel CPUs. In case of going for Intel CPU, which one is a step down from the i9-7900X? Is it the i7-8700K? Ideally less expensive but can support two GPU running concurrently at x16x16.

 

[richaron]

Thank you very much for the warning. It seems that the RGB version has other issues besides the LEDs not turning on. Some kind of programs wrote to the memory and broke the RAM?

One colleague mentioned that I could have compatibility issues if I do not use Intel CPUs. In case of going for Intel CPU, which one is a step down from the i9-7900X? Is it the i7-8700K? Ideally less expensive but can support two GPU running concurrently at x16x16.

Compatibility with what? This is a technical forum so technical details might be appropriate.

I know from first hand experience plenty of people in the "scientific computing" field just regurgitate whatever dogma they've heard on the grapevine. I would be very surprised if their claims have any merit, but I would be willing to listen to details.

For the record I'm running this kit of 64GB ECC which may be more in in keeping with a "pro" build and could be an option worth considering. It's "slow" compared to non-ECC, but worked out of the box with my 1700. And I could bump it up to "3000MHz" with default CL17 timings first test with a little more voltage (1.2 -> 1.35V, but I haven't even tried to optimise it)*. So I suspect it's pretty well supported for a dual rank DIMM with nothing near it on the QVL. And I also suspect first gen Ryzen/TR might be much better supported overall than any reviews from last year would imply.

*Not that I'd push someone to overclock on a workstation build. But OP seems happy to consider RAM over the officially supported speeds so I'm just throwing out options..

Edit: Also OP, I assure you there are just as many ECC zealots as intel zealots in the scientific computing field (though I'd bet more say ECC is needed). So I did want to make sure you've seen ECC as an option.

 

[richaron]

nvm

 

[anandtechreader]

I heard that some scientific software libraries were developed to take advantage of some special instructions only available on Intel CPU. The software check the CPU and if it is not from Intel, they intentionally execute in a less efficient way to slow down the executions on purpose. Sounds like a very evil practice to keep people using Intel.

 

[richaron]

I heard that some scientific software libraries were developed to take advantage of some special instructions only available on Intel CPU. The software check the CPU and if it is not from Intel, they intentionally execute in a less efficient way to slow down the executions on purpose. Sounds like a very evil practice to keep people using Intel.

Sure, some code extensions might have only worked with intel CPUs in the past. And this is the sort of thinking which leads to less informed people giving you "wisdom" from something they heard years ago. That's why I was asking for specifics, since I'm pretty sure modern AMD CPUs should have all the required extensions.

That's why I'm asking for specifics.

 

[anandtechreader]

Sure, some code extensions might have only worked with intel CPUs in the past. And this is the sort of thinking which leads to less informed people giving you "wisdom" from something they heard years ago. That's why I was asking for specifics, since I'm pretty sure modern AMD CPUs should have all the required extensions.

That's why I'm asking for specifics.

I am still trying to get more info. I don't think the Threadripper has AVX-512 or MKL support that some software are optimized for. If the Threadripper 2 has such support, that would be the best.