- Joined
- Dec 22, 2015
- Messages
- 188
- Motherboard
- Asus ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming
- CPU
- i7-8700K
- Graphics
- RX 560
- Mac
D-One's Build: i7 8700K + Vega 64 + Asus ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming (WI-FI AC) - 16GB
Components:
- Case: NZXT H400i (Amazon: US - UK)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K (Amazon: US - UK)
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming (WI-FI AC) (Amazon: US - UK)
- Ram: G.SKILL Trident Z RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200MHz CL16 (Amazon: US - UK)
- AIO Water Cooler: NZXT Kraken X52 (Amazon: US - UK)
- Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon Nitro+ RX Vega 64 (Amazon: US - UK)
- SSD: Crucial MX500 1TB (Amazon: US - UK) (Amazon: US - UK)
- Wi-Fi+Bluetooth:
- NVMe SSD: Samsung 960 EVO Series 250GB (Amazon US - UK)
- HD: Toshiba P300 3TB 7200RPM 3.5" (Amazon US - UK)
- Power supply: Corsair TX750M (Amazon US - UK)
- NVMe SSD: Samsung 960 EVO Series 250GB (Amazon US - UK)
- HD: Toshiba P300 3TB 7200RPM 3.5" (Amazon US - UK)
Mouse: Logitech MX Master 1
Keyboard: Cooler Master Quick Fire RAPID-i
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Display: Asus ROG SWIFT PG348Q
A couple of extra 250GB SSD's I had from older builds, one for windows and another for backup/clone the NVMe system drive.
Keyboard: Cooler Master Quick Fire RAPID-i
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Display: Asus ROG SWIFT PG348Q
A couple of extra 250GB SSD's I had from older builds, one for windows and another for backup/clone the NVMe system drive.
Comments:
This is a build log, not a guide. If you have roughly the same components, I recommend following @pastrychef's guide (like I did):
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/pastrychefs-asus-rog-strix-z370-g-gaming-wi-fi-ac-build-w-i7-8700k-amd-vega-56.239969/
This is an upgrade to my previous build that had an i7 4790k + GTX970. I mainly work with Audio but, since I am now learning video, I decided it would be worth upgrading to a six-core Coffee Lake CPU and move to AMD since it handles Final Cut Pro better than NVIDIA. Also, since the new iMac Pro's uses Vega, I am expecting better overall performance and support.
Graphics card: I didn't buy the Sapphire Nitro+ for any special reason other than it was the same price as the reference models, offers a bit more performance and cooling, and it was in stock.
Case: I just wanted a simple, small and streamlined case with a glass side panel.
Motherboard: The main things I wanted in a board were: mATX size, built-in Wi-Fi card, more than 1 M.2 slots, I never used Asus boards before but they have a good reputation, and there were already a few successful builds using the Z370-G. So I decided to get it.
AIO Water Cooler + Delid: Since the Coffee Lake processors came out there were many reports that it was easy to overclock it to 5GHz or even more while keeping temperatures in check if the CPU was delided and had proper cooling. So that's what I did since I want the maximum performance possible. I didn't have much experience with overclock and never delided a CPU before but it was quite easy, and I am able to hit 5.1GHz with temps around 65C in full load. I used a Der8auer Delid-Die-Mate 2 and Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut liquid metal.
Upgrade plans:
- 1 - Buy two more ram sticks and upgrade to 32GB when prices drop down a bit.
- 2 - Buy a couple of WiFi antennas to plug directly into the rear IO because I really dislike the one that came with the motherboard and this also gets rid of extra cables.
- 3 - Buy sleeved cable extensions for the motherboard 24PIN ATX and the GPU just for cosmetics.
- 4 - Possibly get 2 more fans for the radiator for a Push-Pull configuration, possibly PWM fans for more control, maybe connect them to the GPU.
Upgrades done:
- ✓ #2 - Just got a pair of antennas to replace the horrible Asus external one, I might have gone overkill with the size though. http://global.level1.com/pt/Antenna/OAN-0501/p-3164.htm
What works:
- All the usual OSX stuff works fine: iMessage, Continuity, Handoff, all USB's, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Sleep/Wake, Quick Sync, etc...
What doesn't work (very well):
- RAM & Motherboard: No way to control RGB lights, not even by setting/saving a profile in Windows. So while in OSX they stay in the default color cycle mode.
- AIO:
The radiator fans are connected to the pump, and they spin faster (and louder) then what they need to in OSX. I assume it uses some sort of default profile instead of the silent one I selected and use in Windows.EDIT: After reinstalling CAM (NZXT's fan/rgb software controller for windows) the pump now seems to remember it's profile and the fans connected to the Kraken are a lot quieter.- Although I can't control the RGB features while in OSX, if I set a profile in Windows, then restart to OSX, it's remembered and works fine.
- GPU:
- The fans are always on and spinning, unlike Windows where if there's nothing using the GPU the fans stay still/off.
- The RGB profile is also not remembered in OSX.
- Connecting a fan directly to the GPU also seems to make the fan spin faster than needed. (the connector is 4pin PMW, I'll try PWM fans soon and report back)
GeekBench CPU:
Single Core: 6684
Multi Core: 30478
View media item 190413 Apparently my system beats all current real Mac's in single-core CPU performance, and in multi-core it roughly matches an 8-Core iMac Pro...
Not too shabby!BruceX 5k test with Apple ProRes 422:
11 Seconds to render. (I'll upload a video soon)
Cinebench:
OpenGL: 161.52
CPU: 1681
View media item 190414
Black magic Disk Speed test - NVMe SSD:
Write: 1536
Read: 2748
View media item 190415
Unigine Heaven 2009:
FPS 69.9
Score 1761
View media item 190416 Was expecting a bit more, also, not sure why Heaven is reporting Vega 64 to only have 256MB.
.
Last edited:
