2U Workstation, Version 3.0

[gte619n]

Hey guys,

I'm gearing up to build a new workstation. Looks like i7-i7700k, while somewhat underwhelming, is the best choice for the foreseeable future. I'm using the machine strictly for Intellij Development and Photoshop. Here's the component selection so far:

Intel i7-i7700k
Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 3200
Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" 1TB
NORCO RPC-230 2U Rackmount Server Case
SeaSonic Platinum Series SS-400FL2
Scythe Kozuti LGA 1366/1156/1155/775
Nexus SP802512L-03 80mm
Vantec UGT-CR935 USB 3.0 Card Reader

Couple of questions:
1. Will the Scythe Kozuti 1366/1156/1155/775 work with this new chip?
2. I'm planning on getting a wide screen monitor, running at or around 3840 x 1600. Will the integrated graphics handle it for workstation performance?
3. Would a discrete graphics card be worth it for Photoshop?
4. How's that Samsung 850? Good for usual loads (virtual machines, etc)

Any comments are appreciated!

Thanks,

E

Thanks for any comments!

[CA_Steve]

Going rack mount will be noisy. Too little air, poor airflow, tiny fans spinning their hearts out and telling you about it. Adding a gfx card will be doubling down on a poor solution. Please rethink this...

If you want this form factor, there are passive solutions like the HDPLEX H5. It should be able to handle a non-OC'ed i7 just fine as well as one of the 75W NVidia cards (GTX 1050, non-OC'ed 1050 Ti). However, you still don't want to stack it up with other components as it'll need some space to disspate the heat.

Skylake: Here's the monitor resolutions it'll support. The desktop CPUs are the S parts.

[CA_Steve]

I would wait 2-3 months before purchasing for a Skylake build to let the inevitable bugs work themselves out and to let the firmware/driver updates slow down.

If you run heavy storage read/writes, you might consider a PCIe M.2 based drive, like the recently released Samsung 950 Evo. If you don't, then the 850 EVO SATA 2.5" drive is fine.

Photoshop uses gpu acceleration for a variety of tasks (filtering, display functions, etc). If you aren't messing with huge files, chances are the integrated gpu will do fine.

[gte619n]

Thanks for the resolution and graphics tips. I think I'm inclined to go with integrated graphics for now and then fire in a GPU if it's just not working.

I've had success with an i2600k using that case and fan configuration. It's quieter than my ambient office noise (windows toward the street) so I'm okay with the acoustic properties. That's a 95w TDP part. I'm assuming that the i7700k isn't going to be much hotter than that? I'm not planning on doing much overclocking. Will the Kozuti LGA 1366/1156/1155/775 physically fit the socket?

Thanks!

[CA_Steve]

Socket 1155/1156/1151/1150 all fit in the same footprint. So if the cooler supports one it'll support them all. Note that Sky Lake has a thinner profile which can lead to overtightening with some coolers....Don't know if Kaby Lake has the same z profile...probably does..in any case, not a super big deal - just don't over tighten the cooler and then treat the mobo like you are shaking a martini.

[quest_for_silence]

I've had success with an i2600k using that case and fan configuration.

BUT the 7700K is hotter than the 2600K (despite the TDP).

And, just for the sake of talking, do you really need a 7700K? http://www.hardocp.com/article/2017/01/ ... ipc_review (just wonderin')

[gte619n]

Unless I'm reading that wrong, he's getting a 20% bump on a clock for clock cycle? It looks like he's got the 2600k overclocked to 4.4ghz.

At stock clocks of 3.4/3.8 for 2600k and 3.6/4.2 for 7700k, I think it's probably worth it for me to upgrade.

When you mention that it runs hotter, is that strictly because of the higher clock speed or are there some numbers I can check out? I would have thought the the smaller process would REDUCE the heat?

[quest_for_silence]

or are there some numbers I can check out?

Unfortunately I can't point you out a comprehensive comparison: a very brief remark were made by TechReport here, albeit not decisive given the fact they are referred to an oc'ed CPU.

Broadly speaking the die-shrinking under the 32nm node forced Intel to adopt new thermal compounds between the CPU die and its IHS since Ivy Bridge, which are less performing than the previous (Sandy Bridge) "solder" (you may google for "delidding" to gather more info about that): this fact, along with the increased power density, lead to some temperature penalties over the Sandy's chips (higher for Ivy/Haswell/Broadwell, a bit lower for the more refined Skylake/Kaby Lake).

At stock clocks of 3.4/3.8 for 2600k and 3.6/4.2 for 7700k, I think it's probably worth it for me to upgrade.

I can't help, it's something strictly tied to your specific usage pattern.
IMHO the best upgrade reason of newer Intel CPUs is the vastly improved IGPU.

However, broadly speaking any Sandy (and Ivy) chip has the free bonus of 4 more CPU bins over stock ones (Intel removed the feature since Haswell), so that a Core i7 2600 may run 3.8/4.2 with stock voltage or undervolting. That may not apply to you, given your fully unlocked 2600K, but this fact reduce a bit the Kaby Lake IPC gain over its 2011 ancestor (as well as the Haswell/Devils Canyon/Broadwell & Skylake ones).

I would have thought the the smaller process would REDUCE the heat?

It's rather the opposite, due to the increased power density, as the smaller production node reduces the overall chip area.

[gte619n]

Luca,

Thanks for such a detailed explaination. I think I'll let the new chips shake out for a couple of weeks and then give it a shot.

Thanks!

E

[quest_for_silence]

Some more data about temperatures (albeit not really decisive for your purposes) I stumbled upon: https://www.computerbase.de/2017-01/int ... by-lake/4/ (last, bottom graph).