Dual 4K monitor PC

Got a shopping cart of parts that you want opinions on? Get advice from members on your planned or existing system (or upgrade).

Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:58 am

Progress has been slow lately.
I'm still waiting for feedback from Asus, Gigabyte and Intel concerning support for UHD @ 60hz @ 30bit on the motherboards displayport.

While waiting I've been trying to get familiar with motherboard features and performance.
It seems that Gigabyte's VRM design is superior to Asrock and Asus and far superior to MSI when it comes to efficiency according to THIS.

Judging from the FLIR photo in the link the Gigabyte Z87X-D3H actually wipes the floor with the MSI Z87-G45 when it comes to VRM efficiency.

The new Intel Z97 chipset should be released next month according to THIS, so I might wait and see if the SATA Express and/or M.2 NGFF SSD interface is worth it. I doubt it though, considering that I'll more than likely be utilising Samsung Rapid Mode or similar to boost SSD performance.

I've received an EVGA 750 G2 PSU and have begun modifying the Antec 300 case to suit my needs.

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by CA_Steve » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:47 am

Lower VRM temps lead to better VRM efficiency..but it's just part of the power picture. The power mgmt design is a big part (as well as number of phases is proportional to idle power use), what peripheral components used are another. Here's a roundup at Hardware.info of a bunch of x87 mobos.

x97 chipset - my mantra for new chipsets is wait 3 months after intro to purchase. They ALWAYS have a bug that neccesitates a chip revision and the UEFI will have many updates in the first few months to fix bugs/tune performance.

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:04 am

Well, the lower VRM temp is a result of better VRM efficiency (less energy wasted as heat).
I can only agree that lower temperature yields better semiconductor efficiency.

Your link refers to x77 mobos.

True what you say about chipset bugs, I want something that has been thoroughly tested so I'll probably go for a H87 or Z87.

I received word from Gigabyte today:
-Onboard Displayport on GA-Z87X-UD3H with F9 bios supports UHD @ 60hz @ 32-bit
-BIOS and POST screen is not visible with onboard graphics (UHD@60hz), monitor does not turn on until Windows is loaded
-NVIDIA GTX Titan Black (GV-NTITANBLKD5-6GD-B) with displayport (UHD@60hz), no problem to see BIOS and POST screen.

They failed to answer if they experienced the following issues:
- Intel driver issue causing choppy display in MST mode and Collage mode
- NVIDIA cards fail to POST 50% of the time when using DisplayPort in MST mode
..so I wrote them back.

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by CA_Steve » Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:33 pm

my bad - fixed the link

epa
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:54 pm

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by epa » Fri Sep 26, 2014 12:00 am

I have been driving two UP2414Qs using a Nvidia NVS 510 card. This has four DisplayPort outputs, but when using MST to drive the UP2414Q monitor at 60Hz, it counts as two outputs - so in fact the card can only drive two of the monitors at a time. Nonetheless, it works well, as long as you pick the correct driver version. (Nvidia added some workarounds to their drivers for firmware bugs in the Dell monitors, but then forgot to include that code in later driver versions; I am using 9.18.13.4052 dated 2014-07-02 and it works well.)

The NVS 510 doesn't have much grunt so it would not be adequate for gaming or CAD work, especially not at 4k resolution. But for 2D stuff it is fine, and it doesn't have a fan, so is more appropriate for building a silent PC. (In fact I have two of the NVS 510 cards installed, using the other to drive some old T221 monitors using DisplayPort-to-DVI converters.)

I would be interested to hear if you did go for the K2000 card in the end, and if so, is it able to drive both UP2414Qs at full refresh at once?

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by CA_Steve » Fri Sep 26, 2014 5:02 am

epa wrote: But for 2D stuff it is fine, and it doesn't have a fan, so is more appropriate for building a silent PC.
Welcome to SPCR. Can you point a link to your fanless version? All I can find are a couple of OEM branded Nvidia reference designs with a fan ($280-$400).

epa
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:54 pm

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by epa » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:18 am

My bad. The NVS 510 does have a fan, albeit a small one. I think I was confused by seeing pictures of other NVS cards which are truly fanless. Unfortunately I think all of those are discontinued.

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Sun Oct 12, 2014 7:33 am

Sorry about the lack of updates.
I had to put this project on hold due to car trouble - the car was ultimately replaced with a newish one.
Anyhow, this project is now active again.

I've got the following components on hand:
PSU: EVGA 750 G2
Case: modified Antec 300
Intake fans: 2 x Antec True Quite 140
Intake filters: 2 x Demcifilter 9001

The fans were on sale. Otherwise I might have chosen a fan with higher static pressure considering the fans habitat behind the filters.
It seems that Steve has good experience with the same fan behind intake filters so I guess I'll be ok.

I've made a final decision concerning case layout (see attachment) after reading Silverstone's excellent articles
epa wrote:I have been driving two UP2414Qs using a Nvidia NVS 510 card.
Thanks for sharing your experience and the information regarding drivers.
How do you fancy the DPI of the UP2414Q? - does the fonts become too small?
Do you use 30 bit color?

Where I left off I was aiming to drive one static display with the Intel chipset and one dynamic display with a gfx card (GTX 750)
Now that a few months have passed I'll have to update my spreadsheets before making a decision.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:14 am

CA_Steve wrote:Pretty basic - the voltage offset control was greyed out/inaccessable in the UEFI. Perhaps there's some hidden method to make them accessable...as MSI claims all their boards allow for it to some extent, but I didn't have the time to mess with it. Then I moved on to other projects. Someday, I'll try to get MSI tech response to give me a definative yes/no/how to unlock it for my particular board, or maybe it's waiting for a version update..<shrugs>
I just noticed that in THIS LINK the voltage offset control on the same motherboard as yours (MSI Z87 -G45) is not greyed out. A BIOS update might solve your problem.

This forum is missing the "poke with a stick smiley" :D

The link was kindly provided by Abula in THIS THREAD

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:28 am

I have, at long last, compiled an updated list of components for my build.

Motherboard: Asus Z97 Sabertooth Mark 2. (~1200dkr, ~$200)
- Displayport 1.2 (4k @ 60Hz ready)
- 5 year warranty
- UEFI undervolt
- decent UEFI fan control
- decent VRM with 10K@105C capacitors
- decent power consumption
- Mark S has good DPC latency - I'm hoping this also holds true for Mark 2
- Intel NIC, Realtek ALC1150 sound
- Good PCIe x16 socket layout. Two graphics cards with big coolers can be installed without clearance issues.
- Sadly, no SATA Express port.

CPU: i5 4690K (~1650dkr, ~$270) (save 350dkr, $58 if bought in combo with above mobo)
CPU cooler: Scythe Kotetsu (260dkr, ~$43)
GPU: I will use the IGP for now to run my two 1600x1200 monitors.

SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB (1800dkr, ~$300)
- 5 year warranty
- still a bit pricey but prices are coming down

RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport (2x8GB) 1.35V DDR3-1600 - very low profile (1130dkr, ~$185)
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tactical (2x8GB) 1.35V DDR3-1600 - low profile (1200dkr, ~$200)
- Neither of the RAM modules are on the mobo's QVL. However a G.SKILL 1.25V and Kingston 1.35V module set is listed.
- The Tactical will likely do 1866 C9 @ 1.35V so I'll probably go for that
- 16GB RAM means that the RAPID feature in 850 EVO will be able to allocate the maximum 4GB RAM
- 16GB RAM (as opposed to 8GB) also leaves room for a scratch drive in RAM

Intake fans: 2 x Antec TQ140
Exhaust fan: 1 x Glidestream 120mm PWM SY1225HB12M-P (will run at same RPM as CPU fan)

OS: Windows 8.1
PSU: EVGA 750 G2

Blu-ray drive: To be determined
UPS: To be determined

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:10 am

The pc is up and running.
I decided to add an extra aluminium sheet (the one that the SSD is mounted onto).
This was done to improve the regidity of the case now that all the drive cages are gone.

The interior of the case has been covered with Noisecontrol Magic Fleece.

I'm still using my two Dell 2007FP monitors (1600x1200).
When I move to 4k monitors I will install a graphics card.

By that time I might flip the PSU.
(PSU fan now faces the motherboard, I might flip the PSU to make the PSU fan point in the opposite direction)

The PC is temporarily living on the shelf on top of my desk.
It will be moved to the shelf beneath my desk soon.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

Edit: Samsung SE-506CB/RSBD used as ODD. I haven't decided what UPS to buy yet.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by sn1009 on Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

sn1009
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:26 am
Location: Denmark

Re: Dual 4K monitor PC

Post by sn1009 » Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:12 am

More photos.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Post Reply