Gaming machine to rival MacPro 2013

roysters

roysters

roysters

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Hey Guys,

I use this machine for work. Motion graphics, video edting, etc. But I also love gaming so i installed windows. Although it performs pretty well, i think the GFX card are weak. Aslo, im gaming on 3440x1440 screen.

current specs are

6-Core and Dual GPU
3.5GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5 processor
16GB 1866MHz DDR3 ECC memory
Dual AMD FirePro D500 with 3GB GDDR5

As much as i love this machine, i want to build a rival machine. Best case scenario will turn it into a dual boot hakintosh, Failing that i will use it as a dedicated gaming machine.

So im thinking

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.00GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X-UD3H-BK Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard
MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

I will probably ad another 970 in the future.

Then im reading about the new 2011 socket motherboards! Now im unsure what to get.

Any suggestions welcome?
 
That i7 is a 4 core, it'll be inferior to the Mac's hexcore.
Is it not possible to rip out the current hardware and literally just change the GPU?
 
If you go the old x79 platform you'll save a fair whack, get the same powered gear(and a 6 core if wanted) and it's pretty well documented/supported now. (Speaking from experience)

I didn't think workstation GPUs were up to the gaming side of things.
 
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Looks like the d500 is a mashup of 7950 and 7870xt so they should still be ok for gaming I wonder if it's driver related.

What games are you playing?

It doesn't look like you can replace the GPUs not without having them outside the macs case.

Should also ask if you have a budget in mind?
 
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well, for example. Dying light, farcry 4. 3440x1440 res. usually have to reduce everything pretty low to get high frame rates.
 
Ok so maybe?

- CPU: Intel 5930K 3.50GHz (Haswell-E) Socket LGA2011-V3 Processor - Retail
- Motherboard: Asus X99-S (Socket 2011-3) DDR4 ATX Motherboard
 
If you making a gaming machine you don't need to match the MacPro 2013, you want a better suited machine, GPU dominated rather than CPU dominated.

A faster per core quad 4790K will be better for most games and that extra £200 the 5930K costs (and probably more for Mobo/ram) would be better spend in a GPU or 2.

Before you even factor in overclocking which I guess is hard or impossible on the mac. And the 4790K performance isn't that far off the E5 despite have 2 fewer cores.
 
Mynight said:
Same budget as the macpro(£3.2k)? Sure we can find one a hell of a lot less though.

Shame OCUK stopped their older 2011 gear :(.
Click to expand...

God no!! Thats waaaay to expensive! this is just to feed my gaming addiction. im looking at £1200/1300.

I dont need or want certain things. DVD drive, hardrives (have these)
 
Ok this is a rough list.

Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 7 - Devils Canyon Core i7 4790K CPU & Motherboard Bundle
MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (CMY16GX3M2A2400C11R)
Corsair Carbide 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case - Black (CC-9011030-WW)
Antec High Current Gamer M 750W "80+ Bronze" Modular Power Supply
ACX EVGA CPU cooler, Black - 120 mm ACX EVGA CPU cooler, Black - 120 mm

Am i missing anything? I used to build my PCs like 10 years ago! now we have lights, pipes, water... way over my head..
 
roysters said:
God no!! Thats waaaay to expensive! this is just to feed my gaming addiction. im looking at £1200/1300.

I dont need or want certain things. DVD drive, hardrives (have these)
Click to expand...

lol fair enough. Well if you want to replace the mac so you have one machine doing both gaming and work then;

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI GeForce GTX 970 OC "Reference Fan" 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £265.99
1 x "Steamroller Asus X99" - Intel Core i7 Haswell-E DDR4 Configurable Bundle £230.04
- 1 x SI Bundle - Megahalems RevC + Noiseblocker £72.86
- 1 x TeamGroup Elite 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C16 2400MHz Quad Channel Kit - Black (TPKD416GM2400HC16QC01) £125.99
- 1 x Intel 5820K 3.30GHz (Haswell-E) Socket LGA2011-V3 Processor - Retail (BX80648I75820K) £329.99
1 x Seasonic P Series 760w '80 Plus Platinum' Modular Power Supply £145.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case - Black (CC-9011030-WW) £114.95
Total : £1,300.81 (includes shipping : £12.50).



or;

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI GeForce GTX 970 OC "Reference Fan" 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £265.99
1 x "ReAct Asus Z97" Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.6GHz Configurable Pro Gaming Bundle £162.00
- 1 x Phanteks PH-TC14PE CPU Cooler - Red £69.98
- 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan ORANGE 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLAED316G1600HC9DC01) £99.95
- 1 x Intel i7 4790K - 4.8GHz Binned £299.99
- 1 x Standard Build Laptops - Approximately 3 to 5 working days £0.00
1 x Seasonic P Series 760w '80 Plus Platinum' Modular Power Supply £145.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case - Black (CC-9011030-WW) £114.95
Total : £1,172.95 (includes shipping : £11.75).



I guess it depends if you plan on retiring the mac as to which one youd choose. If you will run this as a game only machine then the second one is more than enough. If you want to do your work on it as well then the first one has a better cpu for it.
 
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You can get a cheaper one but at the end of the day it protects your kit. I run its big brother and it's dead silent no horrible fan noise/cool whine like my old corsair.

And yes you probably can launch a shuttle with it but it would fall outside its operating temps.
 
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