New Computer for Pro 13

Jeff Bauer wrote on 9/26/2014, 11:57 AM

With the introduction of the X99 chipset and Haswell E processors I am planning on building my first computer to run Vegas Pro. I would appreciate comments and suggestions.

Here is what I am looking at:
CPU: i7-5960X (8 core, 3.0GHz)
CPU Cooler: NZXT X61 (280mm water cooled AIO)
RAM: 32GB TBD MHz (probably 2133 -2800)
MOBO: ASUS Rampage V Extreme
Video Card: Radeon R9 290
Boot Drive: 256 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Win 7 Pro 64 bit and programs) – SATA III (6G) connection
Projects Drive: 512 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (files for current editing project) – SATA III
Storage Drive: 4 TB WD Caviar Black HDD (all other files, scratch drive, renders, output) – SATA III
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-2209 Blu Ray burner
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W Platinum
Case: NZXT Phantom 820

I was also thinking of purchasing three Noctura NF-F12 PWM fans to replace the rear case exhaust fan, and water cooler fans. I plan to cool the case with intake air from the front, bottom, and side and exhaust air out the back and top.

I also intend to use the Silverstone FP-57B to convert a front 5.25” bay to a hot swap bay where I will locate the Storage Drive.

I would appreciate any suggestions on my drive configuration (especially related to scratch drive and render locations) and cooling fan setup (especially for the water cooler fan placement). I would also be interested in thoughts on whether it is worth waiting until black Friday/cyber Monday to try to get some discounts on any of the components.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions on any items related to this build.

Jeff

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Comments

Jeff Bauer wrote on 11/12/2014, 12:43 PM

Wow. Sounds like you did well. What Motherboard do you have? Since 5 way optimization isn't fully supported on the Rampage V Extreme, I was planning to try manual overclocking.

I also don't want to push the processor or other MoBo componets too hard because I want them to last a LONG time.

dxdy wrote on 11/12/2014, 1:34 PM

I have been struggling with an ASUS Rampage V, very very frustrating.

I have an AZZA case with 4 front-load HDD slots. I only plug/unplug when machine is powered off.

The boot disk is 1TB WD Black, and a data disk is 2TB WD Black. In the remaining slots, I can only use 1TB disks - the remaining slots will not recognize anything bigger than 1TB. I am not trying to do any RAIDs.

This is under Win 7 Pro SP1, fully updated. (My system 3 in profile). But the BIOS doesn't report the 2TB drives (other than in slot 2, which is connected to SATA port 2 in the first block of six mobo ports).

I am reluctant to try overclocking until I get this sorted, so Cyberpower (the builder) can't deny support because I OC'ed. Any hints, or suggestions?

OldSmoke wrote on 11/12/2014, 1:47 PM

Check your BIOS to see how the SATA controllers handle the disks; they should be all setup as AHCI, not IDE. If AHCI doesn't work for bigger drives, try RAID even if you don't want to setup a RAID.

dxdy wrote on 11/12/2014, 2:22 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but that created more problems than solutions.

Everything was set to AHCI already. I changed the first controller to RAID (the second one doesn't have RAID as an option) and the system refused to recognize my boot drive. I set the BIOS back to AHCI, still no joy. I moved the C drive SATA cable to the 2nd controller and it boots now, but two of my 1TB drives are no longer visible. I will have to try replugging data cables to different ports. Sigh...

OldSmoke wrote on 11/12/2014, 2:25 PM

How are those drives formatted? FAT32, NTFS exFAT? I never had an issue with bigger drives, I got 4TB drives in my "old" 2011 system.

dxdy wrote on 11/12/2014, 3:05 PM

They are all NTFS. The 3TB Toshiba and 2TB WDs work fine as long as they are the only disk other than the boot disk, which happens to be 1TB.

Thanks for your suggestions...I am really over my head. I am wondering if I need a BIOS upgrade, and there have been 2 updates according to the ASUS website. I am not sure I am confident enough in my hardware skills to undertake that myself. I don't want to end up with a $3500 boat anchor.

OldSmoke wrote on 11/12/2014, 3:34 PM

I think you have run into an OS limitation. If I remeber it correctly, boot disks greater then 2TB must use GPT not MBR. Google for "boot disk size limitation"

BruceUSA wrote on 11/12/2014, 4:29 PM

1TB should not a problem at all. Over 2TB, you will need to convert to GPT disk in order for the system to properly recognize. But I don't think his issue relate to any of this at all.

dxdy wrote on 11/12/2014, 5:06 PM

The boot disk is 1TB.

I am trying to install multiple 2TB data disks.

Win 7 Pro x64 is accepting one 2TB data disk, but that is all.

Watching the POST screens, the BIOS isn't seeing them either.

This is a new ASUS board, maybe they still have some BIOS issues.

Jeff Bauer wrote on 11/16/2014, 2:48 PM

I finally have some overclocking results. The Rampage V Extreme does not support full 5 way optimization. It only supports “level up” options up to 4.4 GHz.

At 4.4 GHz I got a Lux Mark score of 1966 and Cinebench results of 186.13 fps and 1712 pts.

I used ASUS Real Bench benchmark and stress test. Actually the stress test crashed at about 11 minutes with the 4.4 GHz configuration, but I have been able to run Vegas Pro 13 at that speed (so far). The Real Bench benchmark system score was 120,364.