Workstation-Desktop Hybrid "Orca"

[J7SC_Orion]

This is an abbreviated, mostly picture based summary of a workstation prototype project "Orca".

 

The Project was realized about a year ago (with continued tinkering since then) in order to test out RTX cores for some database DLSS analysis tasks

 

The system has part workstation, part desktop functions. Living on the Pacific Coast and with a project that had black, white and silver (before RGB) as its main theme, "Orca" seemed appropriate as a project title

 

 

Basic description and major parts:

 

TT Core P5 case, heavily modded

 

AMD TR 2950X 16 core / 32 thread at 4.3GHz all-core

 

MSI X399 Creation motherboard with 32GB / 64 GB of TridentZ DDR4 3466 MHz (14-14-14-30 setting)

 

2x AORUS GeForce RTX™ 2080 Ti XTREME WATERFORCE WB 11G GPUs (factory full waterblocks)

 

Philips 4K / 40 inch monitor on DisplayPort

 

3x WD Blue 1TB M.2

 

Antec HPC 1300W Platinum PSU

 

Dual cooling loops with a total of 5x XSPC RX 360/55 rads and 4x MPC655 (D5) pumps

 

Cooling system is partly copper tubing and copper elbows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some GPU (desktop bench) performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2020 by J7SC_Orion

[Bastiaan_NL]

That's a pretty sweet setup you have there

Do you have the other 3 radiators, the reservoirs and the 4 pumps mounted on a stand or something?

 

[J7SC_Orion]

That's a pretty sweet setup you have there

Do you have the other 3 radiators, the reservoirs and the 4 pumps mounted on a stand or something?

 

Thanks :-) 2 rads (sideways) on the front, 3 rads (again sideways) and 4 pumps, 2 mini-reservoirs 'hidden' on the back. Wiring and fan control boxes 'inside' the black back area which splits and which also mounts the mobo. With the exception of the top VRM/DRAM top slim 120mm fan, all other fans pull air from the left (by a window) and blow out on the right

 

Dual 2080 Ti are 'pigs on gas, err watts', but with 1080x55 rad space in their dedicated loop, temp stay under control, per pic from a PortRoyal run below

 

Edited May 10, 2020 by J7SC_Orion

[ENTERPRISE]

Nice build. I had the MSI Meg Creation when I had my 2990WX Build. It was the best mobo for that generation hands down. I like the face you have used some of the cover elements of the mobo on your case as decorative pieces, very imaginative. I was actually looking to put my next GPU under WC, likely will get another RAD for it. Currently only have my CPU in a loop. Assuming that I will have one GPU and CPU in the same loop, I would imagine I can keep the loop to a single pump only ? I ask as I note you have a few pumps in your build.

[J7SC_Orion]

Nice build. I had the MSI Meg Creation when I had my 2990WX Build. It was the best mobo for that generation hands down. I like the face you have used some of the cover elements of the mobo on your case as decorative pieces, very imaginative. I was actually looking to put my next GPU under WC, likely will get another RAD for it. Currently only have my CPU in a loop. Assuming that I will have one GPU and CPU in the same loop, I would imagine I can keep the loop to a single pump only ? I ask as I note you have a few pumps in your build.

 

 

Thanks :-) ...yeah, the X399 Creation has been flawless, though I wasn't: During an early test fitting while modding the TT Core P5 to accept E-ATX, still-too-tight PSU cables pulled the mobo off the standoffs and shaved a cap off :-( But MSI was GREAT about it, and gave me an RMA anyway, perhaps because I did not tell them any 'BS' and explained what and how it had happened. I just had to pay a nominal amount for shipping and shipped the original X399 creation w/o the two mobo cover metal pieces. The replacement board arrived with their own set, so that's how this build ended up with those extra decorative pieces. The four horizontal white tubes are actually copper pipes, and the painted-white 'end-plate' on the right used to do duty as a backplate for a R290X...

 

As to the 4x D5s and 5x XSPC RX360 rads, per above, they are divided into two discreet loops (2x D5 & 3X RX360 for GPUs, 2x D5 & 2x RX360 for CPU). I had most of the water-cooling parts laying around anyway from various earlier builds, including work-related servers. They just needed a thorough cleaning. I did plan an an eventual upgrade with a simple mobo swap (ie TRX40 / 3970X) so the cooling system was over-engineered to handle higher core-count CPUs later on from the get-go. At the same time, I usually build any discreet loop with 2x D5 in series anyway...First and foremost, that's 'fail-over' insurance, especially for servers and workstations where downtime is more expensive than the computer parts and peripherals. In addition, with for example 3x rads and 2x GPU waterblocks in just the GPU loop, 2x D5s are useful - even with 2x rads, a CPU and GPU block per your question above, I would still employ dual D5s in series for the above reasons, though it is not absolutely necessary from a flow POV.

 

A final comment on D5 (also as compared to DDC pumps). DerBauer had a nice comparison on those last fall. On paper, a D5 slightly outperforms the smaller DDC, with DDC also running a bit hotter. The D5 have a larger diameter - but a such, they are also MORE sensitive to serious flow-drop (and thus temp spikes) if there are air bubbles - yet with dual D5s, that problem is all but eliminated and flow is superb even with the odd set of air bubbles (which can easily get trapped in GPU blocks with all its nooks and crannies). Quick tip for systems with multiple rads and blocks: I pre-fill the rads with the pre-sized tubes / pipes with the cooling liquid solution and temporarily plug the tubes / pipes at one end. Then I mount the whole thing (PSU disconnected of course) and connect all the bits of the loop(s) with usually just a bit of spillage when removing the temp plugs and connecting them...even just pre-filling the rads makes bleeding the loop(s) much easier and quicker...

[tictoc]

Nice build. :thumbs_thumbup:

 

With only x1 CPU and x2 GPUs for dual D5's in each loop, what speed do you run your pumps?

[J7SC_Orion]

Nice build. :thumbs_thumbup:

 

With only x1 CPU and x2 GPUs for dual D5's in each loop, what speed do you run your pumps?

 

 

tx :-) ...all D5s at 70% speed. Also, they are rubber mounted on the back TT5 Core P5 cover...below during temporary layout measuring w/ temp soft tubes for drilling mounting holes. Fans on the left and center are GentleTyphoons, fan on the right are painted Noctuas Rads, fans and pumps in continous use since 2012-2014; just needed thorough cleaning

 

 

[ENTERPRISE]

 

 

Thanks :-) ...yeah, the X399 Creation has been flawless, though I wasn't: During an early test fitting while modding the TT Core P5 to accept E-ATX, still-too-tight PSU cables pulled the mobo off the standoffs and shaved a cap off :-( But MSI was GREAT about it, and gave me an RMA anyway, perhaps because I did not tell them any 'BS' and explained what and how it had happened. I just had to pay a nominal amount for shipping and shipped the original X399 creation w/o the two mobo cover metal pieces. The replacement board arrived with their own set, so that's how this build ended up with those extra decorative pieces. The four horizontal white tubes are actually copper pipes, and the painted-white 'end-plate' on the right used to do duty as a backplate for a R290X...

 

As to the 4x D5s and 5x XSPC RX360 rads, per above, they are divided into two discreet loops (2x D5 & 3X RX360 for GPUs, 2x D5 & 2x RX360 for CPU). I had most of the water-cooling parts laying around anyway from various earlier builds, including work-related servers. They just needed a thorough cleaning. I did plan an an eventual upgrade with a simple mobo swap (ie TRX40 / 3970X) so the cooling system was over-engineered to handle higher core-count CPUs later on from the get-go. At the same time, I usually build any discreet loop with 2x D5 in series anyway...First and foremost, that's 'fail-over' insurance, especially for servers and workstations where downtime is more expensive than the computer parts and peripherals. In addition, with for example 3x rads and 2x GPU waterblocks in just the GPU loop, 2x D5s are useful - even with 2x rads, a CPU and GPU block per your question above, I would still employ dual D5s in series for the above reasons, though it is not absolutely necessary from a flow POV.

 

A final comment on D5 (also as compared to DDC pumps). DerBauer had a nice comparison on those last fall. On paper, a D5 slightly outperforms the smaller DDC, with DDC also running a bit hotter. The D5 have a larger diameter - but a such, they are also MORE sensitive to serious flow-drop (and thus temp spikes) if there are air bubbles - yet with dual D5s, that problem is all but eliminated and flow is superb even with the odd set of air bubbles (which can easily get trapped in GPU blocks with all its nooks and crannies). Quick tip for systems with multiple rads and blocks: I pre-fill the rads with the pre-sized tubes / pipes with the cooling liquid solution and temporarily plug the tubes / pipes at one end. Then I mount the whole thing (PSU disconnected of course) and connect all the bits of the loop(s) with usually just a bit of spillage when removing the temp plugs and connecting them...even just pre-filling the rads makes bleeding the loop(s) much easier and quicker...

 

Well that was good of MSI to honor the RMA even though technically it was an installation issue and not a product issue, Kudos to them. I have never needed to RMA to MSI, but good to hear they are decent (Assuming who you speak to as always lol) Good advice on the loop and yes I guess it is over engineered, but if you have the parts already to hand I guess why not. I have a D5/Heatkiller Res combo unit. The D5 pump is awesome, no complaints just yet. At the moment with my loop which cools the CPU and the motherboard (I have the Asrock X570 Aqua) I have a flow rate of about 170-180 LPH. Which I know to be ok, plus my temps are fine so I am not hugely concerned. It was just with the inclusion of an additional small rad and GPU whether or not it warranted an additional pump to help with flow throughput. Still undecided right now to be honest.

[Bastiaan_NL]

 

Thanks :-) 2 rads (sideways) on the front, 3 rads (again sideways) and 4 pumps, 2 mini-reservoirs 'hidden' on the back. Wiring and fan control boxes 'inside' the black back area which splits and which also mounts the mobo. With the exception of the top VRM/DRAM top slim 120mm fan, all other fans pull air from the left (by a window) and blow out on the right

 

Dual 2080 Ti are 'pigs on gas, err watts', but with 1080x55 rad space in their dedicated loop, temp stay under control, per pic from a PortRoyal run below

 

That explains why I couldn't find the rads

It's a lot of radiator for the setup, but it pays off ?

[J7SC_Orion]

 

That explains why I couldn't find the rads

It's a lot of radiator for the setup, but it pays off ?

 

 

There was no more room on the front ...so the other 3 rads had to migrate to the back which has a white plastic cover, but I never look back there anyways as the system sits in a corner between floor-to-ceiling windows. Cooling performance is great though (and so it should be w/ 1800x55 rad space)

 

Starting to think about a future HEDT workstation build with 2x MoRa3-420s angled, and at the back

 

 

[ENTERPRISE]

 

 

There was no more room on the front ...so the other 3 rads had to migrate to the back which has a white plastic cover, but I never look back there anyways as the system sits in a corner between floor-to-ceiling windows. Cooling performance is great though (and so it should be w/ 1800x55 rad space)

 

Starting to think about a future HEDT workstation build with 2x MoRa3-420s angled, and at the back

 

 

One would call this overkill....or one could say its EXTREME HARDWARE ! lol sorry I saw the opportunity for a shameless plug related to your content haha.

[J7SC_Orion]

 

One would call this overkill....or one could say its EXTREME HARDWARE ! lol sorry I saw the opportunity for a shameless plug related to your content haha.

 

 

lol ...point well taken - plug away for EHW ! I do point out though that this build is in part a workstation that, well, works for a living. Also, from my perspective, I was being prudent with 'Orca', coming from at least four prior HEDT projects that were either NV Quad-SLI or AMD Quad-Fire, needing multiple PSUs and sturdy circuit-breakers...

[486]

I feel I've seen this rig before. Of course, I think Orca is a work of art.

 

Is that fan above the CPU block for some airflow on the VRM?

 

edit ahhh sorry, just got to your post further down in the thread and saw it's for the VRM. Just never noticed that before

Edited May 12, 2020 by 486

[J7SC_Orion]

I feel I've seen this rig before. Of course, I think Orca is a work of art.

 

Is that fan above the CPU block for some airflow on the VRM?

 

Well Sir, you might have seen Orca and his pod come up for air here and there before...

 

...and yes, lonely slim 120mm above VRM and DRAM is supposed to help w/ airflow, though not really necessary, given temp sensors...still, why not add to the 20+ 120mm fans anyhow in this build to make 'Orca' really comfy?

[486]

I would like to do the same honestly, since historically the VRM used to get a good dose of airflow via the CPU heatsinks fan. They can still get pretty toasty under load..

 

I know this thread is about the rig but being more of a software type..

"database DLSS analysis tasks"

that sounds really arcane to me. You're using AI to analyze large databases using 2 monster GPUs? Is this some program you wrote? Top secret black bag ops ? is my name in these databases?

[tictoc]

I have the same setup on my TRX40 Creator (ASRock). 2x120mm fans pulling in fresh air for the VRMs and the 10G nic, which is actually the hottest thing in my system.

I had a Heatkiller VRM block on my x399 Taichi, but after testing the Creator it didn't seem necessary.

[J7SC_Orion]

I would like to do the same honestly, since historically the VRM used to get a good dose of airflow via the CPU heatsinks fan. They can still get pretty toasty under load..

 

I know this thread is about the rig but being more of a software type..

"database DLSS analysis tasks"

that sounds really arcane to me. You're using AI to analyze large databases using 2 monster GPUs? Is this some program you wrote? Top secret black bag ops ? is my name in these databases?

 

 

...we have some proprietary and somewhat complex databases that started up in 1996 (to present)....GPU acceleration is for our data analytics and deep learning. At the time of the GPU purchase, NVidia had just extended relevant software to run on Titan RTX and 2080 Ti...

[ENTERPRISE]

 

 

lol ...point well taken - plug away for EHW ! I do point out though that this build is in part a workstation that, well, works for a living. Also, from my perspective, I was being prudent with 'Orca', coming from at least four prior HEDT projects that were either NV Quad-SLI or AMD Quad-Fire, needing multiple PSUs and sturdy circuit-breakers...

 

Same as that bud, my PC is in reality my workstation and gamer rolled into one. No longer HEDT (More than I really required) but still the same uses, though arguably I work on it more than I game....sadface.

[EHW Ai]

ah, the Orca, always great to see builds like these :thumbs_thumbup: One might even agree that it does lend meaning to the notion of Extreme Hardware (if I do say so myself) :happy_biggrin:

[J7SC_Orion]

ah, the Orca, always great to see builds like these :thumbs_thumbup: One might even agree that it does lend meaning to the notion of Extreme Hardware (if I do say so myself) :happy_biggrin:

 

 

...Tx. And in the interest of public safety, I also already warned innocent bystanders of potentially contracting pumpritis and fanritis after prolonged exposure <> here & below

 

 

 

 

[ENTERPRISE]

 

 

...Tx. And in the interest of public safety, I also already warned innocent bystanders of potentially contracting pumpritis and fanritis after prolonged exposure <> here & below

 

 

 

 

Warning very much heeded lol.

[J7SC_Orion]

Below...

 

1.) Updated DLSS performance (3DM Port Royal as before, but added DLSS feature test)

 

2.) Thinking of installing the MSI Aero 4x M.2 add-in card that came with the X399 Creation mobo for extra storage (7x M.2 total)...just need to figure out which slot (given dual GPUs) and whether to trust the PCIe riser cable that came included with the TT Core P5.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2020 by J7SC_Orion

[ENTERPRISE]

Below...

 

1.) Updated DLSS performance (3DM Port Royal and DLSS feature test)

 

2.) Thinking of installing the MSI Aero 4x M.2 add-in card that came with the X399 Creation mobo for extra storage (7x M.2 total)...just need to figure out which slot (given dual GPUs) and whether to trust the PCIe riser cable that came included with the TT Core P5.

 

 

 

Nice scores

 

Yeah that expander card that came with the X399 was nice, I actually never needed to use it but a nice piece of kit nonetheless. Good thing those come with HEDT platforms as they are the only platforms with enough lanes to support all those M.2 drives as well as Dual GPU's etc.

[tictoc]

Below...

2.) Thinking of installing the MSI Aero 4x M.2 add-in card that came with the X399 Creation mobo for extra storage (7x M.2 total)...just need to figure out which slot (given dual GPUs) and whether to trust the PCIe riser cable that came included with the TT Core P5.

 

I would go top slot for the M.2 card, 3rd slot for primary GPU and 4th slot for secondary GPU. You lose a little bandwidth on the 2nd GPU, but there's no way around that if you want full bandwidth for the M.2 card. I'm not sure if SLI will work with a x8 and a x16 card, but with the above layout you can still use the x1 slot and you can drop a nic in the 2nd slot.

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

 

I would go top slot for the M.2 card, 3rd slot for primary GPU and 4th slot for secondary GPU. You lose a little bandwidth on the 2nd GPU, but there's no way around that if you want full bandwidth for the M.2 card. I'm not sure if SLI will work with a x8 and a x16 card, but with the above layout you can still use the x1 slot and you can drop a nic in the 2nd slot.

 

 

Thanks much ! I should also check the mobo manual for the X399 Creation re. 'the 3x regular' M.2 slots on the mobo and which ones connect to the CPU vs chipset