2020 New Desktop Build Work Log for a Dual system

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marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
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Gotha Florida
Build’s Name: Ettin (AKA The Two-Headed Giant)

Build one:
Operating System/ Storage Platform: Windows 10 pro
CPU: Ryzen 9 3900x
Motherboard: Gigabyte x570 Aorus Master
Chassis: Phanteks Enthoo 719
Drives: 2 of Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 128GB (4 x 32GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600
Add-in Cards: MSI 2080 ti video card
Power Supply: Phanteks Revolt X PH-P1200PS 80PLUS Platinum,
Other Bits: Fractal Design Celsius S36 Blackout 360mm Silent High Performance Slim Expandable All-In-One CPU Liquid / Water Cooler

Usage Profile:
This system will be my daily driver system. It will split time between work functions and gaming.


Build two:
Operating System/ Storage Platform: Windows 10 pro
CPU: Ryzen 5 3400G
Motherboard: Gigabyte x570 Aorus pro wifi
Chassis: Within the same case as build one - Phanteks Enthoo 719
Drives: TBD
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600
Add-in Cards:
Power Supply: Using the same psu as build one - Phanteks Revolt X PH-P1200PS 80PLUS Platinum,
Other Bits:

Usage Profile:
This system will be used as media station and possibly capture box for online streaming of games.


Overview: I had the bug to upgrade from my laptop to a desktop since I have room now to expand. I wanted to build a dual system as i thought that would be a cool feature to have. Still getting parts in, but here are a few shots for now.

20200721_123604.jpg
20200721_124114.jpg
 
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marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
1,532
288
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Gotha Florida
Benchmarks
Using this sections to track benchmarks, etc.

System 1
Stock system - mem at 3600 - stock cpu cooler​

PassMark - GPU just test 750 ti card​
system1-passmark.JPG
Single m.2 drive - CDM 6.0.x​
20200723_004307.jpg
System 2
Stock system - mem at 2100 ( still playing with getting higher rates)- stock cpu cooler​
PassMark - Standard ssd, no video card, mem at 2100​

System Overclocked - 8-11-20​
Memory @ 3200 16-18-18-38 at 1.35V​
CPU Ratio 40 @ 1.35V​
Cinebench r20 - 1927 score​
Notes: With Wraith air cooler on. Holds 4 GHZ all cores with max temp of 66C​
 
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marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
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Gotha Florida
So i spent a few hours last night working on the build. here are a few pictures.

Shot of the PSU - seems solid. Hope build quality is there since it made by Seasonic for Phanteks .
20200721_211229.jpg

I really like the color of the case. They did a nice job with finish as well, no sharp edges, etc.
20200721_212241.jpg20200721_212246.jpg


Shot of the Motherboard before installing. The MB seems solid. they have a back plate on it and it has a good weight to it.
Doesn't seem like it flex at all. It has the typical am4 socket so i need to be careful with removing the HSF as i heard it can pull cpu out of the socket.
20200721_215044.jpg

Shots of the board installed and running. I used the included HSF since my AIO is stuck in transit.
20200721_222307.jpg20200721_222315.jpg20200721_231958.jpg20200721_235329.jpg


I was able to install Win 10 OS as part of my testing. I did end up setting up the two M.2 drives in Raid using AMD built in raid software. Below is CDM benchmark. Not too shabby :)
20200722_004102.jpg


Overall impression so far with my limited time playing with it running. Its fast. In general it comes off feeling faster then my laptop (spec in signature) which is impressive. I also was able to get the memory to run at 3600 speeds just using the xmp profile. I have not had time to play with Over clocking yet. which will probably wait till I have AIO and more fans installed.
 

marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
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Gotha Florida
So i still need to figure out where the 360mm Rad will be installed. I have three options, top of case, side of case and front of case.
Any suggestion on placement? I am thinking top of case with fans pushing air up and out of case. If you have a suggestion, let me know why you think another location would be better.

Next i need to order some case fans. This case can hold like 15 total. Right now the only fans i will have is the three on the AIO. I am thinking about three 120 or 140 fans in front, and one 140 fan in the rear. Not sure i need side fans. Let me know your thoughts on fan needs.

Finally i need to determine fans, i would like to keep to black/grey look. if you have suggestions let me know.

Update - i decided on getting 5 of these fans for now.
Noctua NF-P14s redux-1200 PWM, Quiet Fan, 4-Pin, 1200 RPM (140mm, Grey)
 
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marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
1,532
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Gotha Florida
I got new parts in yesterday.
20200723_145832.jpg

So i installed the second system based on the mitx motherboard.
20200723_163841.jpg20200723_170550.jpg20200723_170554.jpg20200723_230409.jpg

The mini itx board is so small, kind of the point. It doesnt have all the features of its big bro in system one. But it works for 2nd system due to having video outputs to work with ryzen 5 3400g. I decided to use the wraith cooler that came with the ryzen 9 cpu on it. It does fit. but i found it blocks access to the pci slots on the case. For now, not an issue but when i get a card for capturing, ill need a new solution. i have the pcie expansion cable recommended for the case for when that day comes. the Wraith cooler keeps the cpu around 63C on prime95 loads.

The mitx as configured averages about 50-60 watts using Kwat meter at the wall. The other system is off and no other fans running.

On System 1, i installed the Fractal AIO 360mm cooler. I'm not sure if i will keep it on top or not. IT was a pita to install and i scratched up the cooper cold plate trying to fit it on the amd mounts. I eventual got it on. I used Noctua NT-H2 paste on the cpu, first time, so see how that works.
So far running prime 95 on stock CPU levels, the ryzen 9 3900x maxes out at 74C with fans running at 100%. I have the case in my server room which is at a min 10 degs hotter then the rest of the house, so most likely the temps will drop when running in office setting. I also dont know if the paste needs time to cure, etc.
20200723_180533.jpg20200723_180540.jpg

I am waiting for vertical pcie expansion to install my 2080 ti card. I figured it look nicer that way and probably have better cooling. I will add 3 140mm fans to front of the case, one 140mm to rear and one on 140mm on the bottom for air.

more to come as i keep working on the build.
 
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marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
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Gotha Florida
So have most of the components installed. I added the 4 140mm fans to the case. I set of rgb led strips that aren't over the top. And finally the mount for GPU. I did most of the cable management in the back of the case as well.

Rear with cable management and 3 ssd drives that i had left over which i am using for the second system OS. i have them in Raid 0 which is good enough performance for now.
20200725_231605.jpg

Here is front with new fans, gpu mount and rgb lights
20200727_123635.jpg20200727_123641.jpg20200727_123651.jpg20200727_123743.jpg


I like the color scheme of this build.
 

marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
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288
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Gotha Florida
So I finished building out the System. I decided to go with non raid setup, with my testing of storage i didnt really the increase in sequential reads/write worth it. So i setup first 1 TB drive for windows and programs, VM images ,etc. The second 1TB drive is for Game install.

First pic is of the video card side mounted. It looks good that way. I also installed 2 small fans on each m.2 drive and the card big enough to hid the fans and such. I run the fans around 40% to keep them low noise.
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Here is the case on my desk. I have a led strip on the back of my desk, the case is not producing all that light. The light in the case is pretty low key, it more of a highlighting vs a blinding disco ball.
20200810_090151.jpg20200810_090216.jpg

So far i keep the fans on lowest setting and it pc virtually quiet all the time. Under gaming the fans do pick up. I think idle temps are fine for noise levels. What do you guys think?
temps.png

I haven't played with OC much, and keep the CPU stock and just using the memory xmp profile. Right now it is fast enough and i need it to be stable for work reasons.
 

marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
1,532
288
83
Gotha Florida
Just a side note - i was trying to use amd SVM on my second system and it crashed in windows on boot, so i set all defaults and it still did it. Found out if you install Gigabyte's app center it install easy tune service that hates SVM and crashes. I uninstall the app center and run VMs now.
 

marcoi

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Apr 6, 2013
1,532
288
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Gotha Florida
8/17/20 Update: I added a AIO watercooler for system2. I wanted to open up the pcie slot for future capture card. Here is updated pictures.
20200813_211011.jpg

20200813_211017.jpg

CPU now idles around 25C and never gets hotter then 65C under prime95 loads.
In the second pic you can see the pcie slot expander.

So far both systems have been really stable. I decided to re-paste my system 1 cpu, as i noticed when i took off the air cooler from system 2 that the past didnt spread well. i was using Noctua NT-H2 paste. When i repasted both CPU i used a speading tool to make sure the cpu was coated evenly.

CPU temps on the system 1 are better now, i still keep the settings of the AIO on the lowest fan speed to minimize noise since i also use the system for my job and im constantly on the phone. Temps average around 50C idle and under 80C with prime testing while keeping the fans on lowest settings.

So i setup my two boxes for streaming to twitch. On system 1 with 3900x, i play my games, currently on dell 38W monitor so the resolution is 3840x1600. I do have a hdtv 4k that i play on but i haven't streamed using that yet. Also on system 1 - i am using OBS with NDI took plugin. So i am streaming the screen via network to the second system. I use OBS on system one to resize the image from 3840x1600 to 1920x800 as well.

On system 2 i am using Streamlabs OBS with the NDI display as input. I am streaming out 1920x1080 at 60 fps with good results.

Again so far happy with the build.