So i'm hoping to finally join the ranks of Quanta Windmill owners.
I know the last year or so i've seemed a little waffly, asking alot of diverse questions in different directions, and not yet jumping on deals offered by others - cash wasn't yet available during the struggle to get into college. This time finaid should exceed immediate bills. I'm looking to buy in hopefully in Feb-Mar of 2018. I'm looking to pay around $1200-2000 for computer upgrades between now and August which I hope to have an extended lifespan (not future proof but future ready) lasting me all through college and actually into grad school even if RAM/GPU upgrades (or even CPU) are needed by then. I'm drawn to Quanta Windmill's massive RAM capacity and expecting I only need to plan around known needs to keep it useful into the early 2020's.
However this 1.2k-2k is not for one computer but was planned for the basic components of 3 TO 6 workstations built with cross compatible hardware - I need multiple seats within that budget. Including because both my GF and me are in video/graphic design, a friend who wants to code who just needs a PC to learn on, wanting backup hardware including at an out of town location we all visit and are tired of hauling computers carefully over slippery winter ice fearing a drop, etc etc etc.
More than 6 could even happen if the board ends up usable for midrange gaming (have a deal with someone that if I can build them an affordable PC on this hardware for that I get a little side cash for future builds... which will then buy more hardware for me) or I can use it for an always on NAS server by throwing an SAS card in there and such and the power use isn't too obscene.
Definate uses the system will see - heavy Adobe CC use (mostly Premiere for 4k and 6k video, probably 8k later, also After Effects), Davinci Resolve, 3D Studio Max/Maya, I dont code but one station is for someone who will - on Unity/UE4 for VR headset stuff as we want to go into game development. (no Windows Mixed Reality yet/i'm aware that requires Haswell) Those are the important demanding uses anyways. I hope to also learn about ESX/other virtualization because it sounds incredibly useful to know for the future. I expect 64-128gb per workstation and it's primarily low used RAM costs that are driving me to this generation hardware - by the time DDR4 gets this cheap i'll be out of school.
Anyways, I would like to start with just one computer - once I learn that, if it all goes well, i'll hopefully buy into the rest of the hardware by summer because it will be familiar by then and i'll have the time to build them all up then finally. I have to have it ready by fall 2018 semester.
So i've got two main questions to start: should I be looking at buying single nodes (and modifying ATX PSU's to run them) or should I be getting one of those dual-node racks (with the single 220vac PSU) because extras make it worth it?
Next is there any reading you recommend I do whether in the forums, or general online, or articles elsewhere? Or a big howto to get everything up? I read through the big 33 page thread I saw taking notes and was still left with questions that (despite google and admonishments to use it more) didn't pop up as answered to me.
Things I think I will want (and not to hunt for in the future):
- Those PCIe risers allowing dual x16 cards
- Those 10gig Ethernet mezzanine cards (at least eventually, or if not too expensive right away)
- Suggested SAS card (if there are issues with fitment and such, otherwise is it just the same ones recommended elsewhere? etc) that will work with win 7, linux, freeBSD, and hopefully ESX.
- Included heatsinks since i'm just running stock speeds
I know the last year or so i've seemed a little waffly, asking alot of diverse questions in different directions, and not yet jumping on deals offered by others - cash wasn't yet available during the struggle to get into college. This time finaid should exceed immediate bills. I'm looking to buy in hopefully in Feb-Mar of 2018. I'm looking to pay around $1200-2000 for computer upgrades between now and August which I hope to have an extended lifespan (not future proof but future ready) lasting me all through college and actually into grad school even if RAM/GPU upgrades (or even CPU) are needed by then. I'm drawn to Quanta Windmill's massive RAM capacity and expecting I only need to plan around known needs to keep it useful into the early 2020's.
However this 1.2k-2k is not for one computer but was planned for the basic components of 3 TO 6 workstations built with cross compatible hardware - I need multiple seats within that budget. Including because both my GF and me are in video/graphic design, a friend who wants to code who just needs a PC to learn on, wanting backup hardware including at an out of town location we all visit and are tired of hauling computers carefully over slippery winter ice fearing a drop, etc etc etc.
More than 6 could even happen if the board ends up usable for midrange gaming (have a deal with someone that if I can build them an affordable PC on this hardware for that I get a little side cash for future builds... which will then buy more hardware for me) or I can use it for an always on NAS server by throwing an SAS card in there and such and the power use isn't too obscene.
Definate uses the system will see - heavy Adobe CC use (mostly Premiere for 4k and 6k video, probably 8k later, also After Effects), Davinci Resolve, 3D Studio Max/Maya, I dont code but one station is for someone who will - on Unity/UE4 for VR headset stuff as we want to go into game development. (no Windows Mixed Reality yet/i'm aware that requires Haswell) Those are the important demanding uses anyways. I hope to also learn about ESX/other virtualization because it sounds incredibly useful to know for the future. I expect 64-128gb per workstation and it's primarily low used RAM costs that are driving me to this generation hardware - by the time DDR4 gets this cheap i'll be out of school.
Anyways, I would like to start with just one computer - once I learn that, if it all goes well, i'll hopefully buy into the rest of the hardware by summer because it will be familiar by then and i'll have the time to build them all up then finally. I have to have it ready by fall 2018 semester.
So i've got two main questions to start: should I be looking at buying single nodes (and modifying ATX PSU's to run them) or should I be getting one of those dual-node racks (with the single 220vac PSU) because extras make it worth it?
Next is there any reading you recommend I do whether in the forums, or general online, or articles elsewhere? Or a big howto to get everything up? I read through the big 33 page thread I saw taking notes and was still left with questions that (despite google and admonishments to use it more) didn't pop up as answered to me.
Things I think I will want (and not to hunt for in the future):
- Those PCIe risers allowing dual x16 cards
- Those 10gig Ethernet mezzanine cards (at least eventually, or if not too expensive right away)
- Suggested SAS card (if there are issues with fitment and such, otherwise is it just the same ones recommended elsewhere? etc) that will work with win 7, linux, freeBSD, and hopefully ESX.
- Included heatsinks since i'm just running stock speeds