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Please Check Over My First Hack Build - Motherboard Advice Needed

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Dec 23, 2019
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Motherboard
Gigabyte Z390 Designare
CPU
i9-9900KS
Graphics
RX 580
I'm a music guy and looking to build the below spec, just wanted to know if I can find a suitable Motherboard (also open to advice about MB) if it all should be doable. I've researched the components but not sure about what Motherboard exactly as yet.

Also if this may be a little ambitious for a first build.

Intel i9 9940X 14 Core Processor
Corsair 32GB DDR4 3000MHz Memory
AMD Vega 56 with 8 GB
Samsung 970Evo PLUS (I know there have been some issues, but I understand a firmware update and all good)

Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO
EVGA SuperNOVA 850W, Full Modular power
Fractal Design R6 case with tempered glass

Much thanks
 
I'm a music guy and looking to build the below spec, just wanted to know if I can find a suitable Motherboard (also open to advice about MB) if it all should be doable. I've researched the components but not sure about what Motherboard exactly as yet.

Also if this may be a little ambitious for a first build.

Intel i9 9940X 14 Core Processor
Corsair 32GB DDR4 3000MHz Memory
AMD Vega 56 with 8 GB
Samsung 970Evo PLUS (I know there have been some issues, but I understand a firmware update and all good)

Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO
EVGA SuperNOVA 850W, Full Modular power
Fractal Design R6 case with tempered glass

Much thanks

To use a 9940X CPU you will need a X299 motherboard. From the experiences here it seems that you will probably face considerable difficulties in getting it to work. If you are on your first build I certainly won't recommend it.

Perhaps something easier like a Z390 motherboard and an i9 9900K / i9 9900KF?
 
I'm a music guy and looking to build the below spec, just wanted to know if I can find a suitable Motherboard (also open to advice about MB) if it all should be doable. I've researched the components but not sure about what Motherboard exactly as yet.

Also if this may be a little ambitious for a first build.

Intel i9 9940X 14 Core Processor
Corsair 32GB DDR4 3000MHz Memory
AMD Vega 56 with 8 GB
Samsung 970Evo PLUS (I know there have been some issues, but I understand a firmware update and all good)

Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO
EVGA SuperNOVA 850W, Full Modular power
Fractal Design R6 case with tempered glass

Much thanks

Yes your build should work with a X299 motherboard : ASUS Prime X299 Deluxe, ASUS WS X299 SAGE, ASUS Prime X299 A, according to this complete guide to get started:

iMac Pro X299 - Live the Future now with macOS 10.14 Mojave

Other X299 motherboards should work too : Gigabyte , Asrock, Msi, EVGA

I use daily X299 platform.
 
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Honestly, I would not bother with X299 for an audio workstation. Installation and maintenance of z370 and z390 is smooth and the i9 9900K provides more than enough processing power for music production.

Even the i7 8700K is still a great option, especially when quiet operation is key. By replacing the thermal compound with liquid metal, you can build an almost silent system even at high loads.

I would recommend using the z390 Designare as detailed in the Golden Build by @CaseySJ. You’ll be up and running in short time with a system that should serve your music needs for years to come.
 
Agree with e-troc. My Z390 is really great for running a DAW.
Some/most Z370 boards have proper NVRAM, which makes them more ideal (more like a real Mac) but emulated NVRAM has worked without issue for me on my Designare.
 
Thanks guys, very much appreciated.

I’m currently on the fence and deciding between building the more straight forward z390 / i9 9900k

or X299 / i9 9940x

I do a lot of large 100+ track count mixing, and use a few demanding VIs and soft synths. No doubt the 9900k will work well, but I have to think the 9940x will satisfy me for a longer time.

I have someone very experienced who can help with the x299 build, which no doubt I’ll need.
 
I don’t think you will even notice the difference in practice. If anything, the 9900K’s superior single core performance might give it the edge when it comes to extensive signal chains (one track with instrument and effects is always calculated in a single thread).
 
In Logic Pro X, I can still overload my mighty 9900k by feeding busses to busses with lots of plug ins. These all end up on one low latency thread, leading to an error. So, fast/powerful cores are more important than having lots of not-so-powerful ones. In Logic, that is.
In Cubase, I never had the single core overload problem.
In tests of pro DAW builders, the 9900k scores really high, and is a lot of bang for the buck.
 
I don’t think you will even notice the difference in practice. If anything, the 9900K’s superior single core performance might give it the edge when it comes to extensive signal chains (one track with instrument and effects is always calculated in a single thread).

Good point, in Pro Tools I use drum tracks to Drum Bus > Instrumental Bus > Mix Bus. Often with high over sampling settings on the Mix Bus plug ins. Sir Audio Standard Clip and Fabfilter L2

In Logic Pro X, I can still overload my mighty 9900k by feeding busses to busses with lots of plug ins. These all end up on one low latency thread, leading to an error. So, fast/powerful cores are more important than having lots of not-so-powerful ones. In Logic, that is.
In Cubase, I never had the single core overload problem.
In tests of pro DAW builders, the 9900k scores really high, and is a lot of bang for the buck.

Interesting, I wonder if this is a weakness of the way Logic works?

In theory, and please excuse me if this is a stupid question, IF the 9900k wasn’t working for me could I swap out the motherboard and processor to a x299 and 9940x ‘IF’ I had the power supply headroom to do it? So perhaps buying an 850w supply to run with the z390 / 9900k from off would cover me if I wanted to upgrade, sell the 9900 etc
 
Interesting, I wonder if this is a weakness of the way Logic works?

Yes. Pro Tools is different. If you don't use small buffers with VI's, PT can run lots of tracks with plug ins.

In theory, and please excuse me if this is a stupid question, IF the 9900k wasn’t working for me could I swap out the motherboard and processor to a x299 and 9940x ‘IF’ I had the power supply headroom to do it? So perhaps buying an 850w supply to run with the z390 / 9900k from off would cover me if I wanted to upgrade, sell the 9900 etc
[/QUOTE]

Sure. Beware, RAM/CPU cooler etc. may be different...
 
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