New Computer build questions on 5950x and rtx 3080

Hello,

I am building a new computer so I can take my unreal courses and my blender courses eventually. Right now, my two computers are just too “weak”… One does not even have dedicated graphics and it would be a waste of money to buy an internal graphics card.

So I decided to build a new computer. I built my first computer and this one will be my last, so this one is my dream computer for these classes.

I have my beautiful case. It is a Corsair 750D and it is up to my mid thigh. I love it! Im buying one part a month.

My mobo is being bought in a few days. Rog strix X570-E and the processor I “plan on buying” is an AMD 5950x. That leads me to question 1.

Question 1 - Intel vs AMD for games dev in unreal, unity and blender stuff… I don’t want to make a mistake.

Question 2 - RTX 3080 – Is it enough with 64-128gb of ram? Is it better to save for a 3090? Also would like input on two 3080’s vs one 3090… Not concerned with SLI. That is not a criteria. I just hope in a few months, I can find a 3080 or a 3090. They seem to be sold out everywhere.

Just want to know if a 5950x and ONE 3080 is enough to have comfortable lesson experiences and future game dev. I know it’s enough for gaming but dev is different and I’m a newbie at game dev.

Okay, thanks in advance.
Jenn C.

p.s. This is Jan 2021 and I hope by the end of May to be up and running in my new computer.

1 Like

You are in luck - I recently build myself new desktop and had similar doubts/questions so did a lot of research. Take make advice as very subjective as I’m not an expert in every detail. Most cases though we have similar requirements, so I hope you will get something out of below.


CPU:

As for CPU - unless Intel will make some kind of huge comeback there is nothing better you can buy on the market then 5950x. Right now AMD has all the bases covered - both no of cores/threads and single core performance (for gamedev more cores is better then single core performance / for gaming - still single core performance is most important on CPU). I also got 5950x. It’s expensive, but for me it’s worth it especially for Unreal work. “Compiling shaders” message is not as annoying as it used to be. I think you could go with 5900x as well, which is significantly cheaper (but less cores).


GPU.

3090 is overkill for most applications*. If you can get your hands on 3080 then get this one. Or wait a bit as there are rumors of 3080 ti which should be almost as performant as 3090, but with 20gb of VRAM.

In theory 2x 3080 is more powerful in comparison to 3090 aside from memory (6k cuda cores more, 4gb of VRAM less). Though it’s not that simple as other factors come in, like data exchange between cards, no. of PCIe lanes that you have available etc. And the biggest problem is how to fit 2 3080 in the case and motherboard - those are big cards, so keep that in mind. I think for rendering on GPU (CUDA/Optix) you should get better performance out of 2x 3080 vs 1x 3090. For “general” game-dev one of the GPUs would sit idle.

The “*” I put close to overkill is because I got one :sweat_smile:. One of the few application that 3090 is not an overkill is deep learning and I dabble in that too.

(side note SLI is dead -> and only available on 3090 now IIRC)


“Question 2 - RTX 3080 – Is it enough with 64-128gb of ram?”

For comfortable game-dev 32GB of RAM is more then enough. I don’t know what you would like to do to utilize 64 or more, unless you have some specific use case for that. And yes, single 3080 should be enough even if you get 256GB of RAM.


And for this question: “Just want to know if a 5950x and ONE 3080 is enough to have comfortable lesson experiences and future game dev”

Definitely it’s more then enough. I think that 5800x and 1 x 3070 would give you very comfortable experience. 5950x + 3080 is almost the best possible experience right now (better only would be 3090, or 2x 3080 but aside from rendering time in cycles - you will not see huge difference).


And some random comments:

  • get very fast SSD (m2). Or a couple of them. That will improve your unreal/unity experience more than new CPU or GPU. Currently I think the best one is Samsung 980 Evo pro. Samsung is solid brand in terms of SSDs. If you need loads of storage also buy big hdd. Make sure you are buying pci gen 4.
  • There are huge supply issues with new GPUs and CPUs. In most part of the world getting your hands one one is nearly impossible.
  • Watch couple of independent reviews (like from Jaz2c or GamerNexus).
  • Buy very good PSU with room to spare on the voltage. 3080/3090 are power hungry beasts. Plus with cheap PSU you risk stability issues. Surprisingly there are also supply issues in many parts of the world for PSUs.
  • Don’t cheap out on motherboard, but don’t overspent here either unless you plan to do some crazy overclocking. Check if it has all the features you need (e.g., if it have enough PCIe 4.0 lanes to support at the same time all SSDs and GPUs if you will decide to go with 2x GPU or if there is enough physical space to fit 2 GPUs). I think the strix board is good, but even the TUF ones should be good if it meets your other requirements.
  • RAM - recently sweet spot of performance vs price is around 3600Mhz / CL16/17. But maybe it changed atm. Check timings and number of channels and number of ranks. Also check compatibility. I don’t think it’s issue anymore, but AMD used to have problems with it in last gen. Don’t forget to turn on XPM profile in your bios to get full speed out of it.
  • Invest in good cooling solution. Either go noctuna or similar (or water cooling) on CPU. 3080/3090 + 5950x is a hot combo.
2 Likes

I was in the similar position wanting a ‘last’ good computer. Then this supply issue came along and effectively made it pointless. By the time any reasonable chance of getting anything comes round things will have moved on. I had hoped for the 3080 with more memory.

At least when or if things ever get better on supply I know to consult @bOBaN :grin:

3 Likes

“Last computer” is nice dream :smiley:. I would finish it with “… last computer for next 3 years” :smiley:

2 Likes

Thank you! Love your detailed answer.

A lot of what you advised I have considered. I want a beast and you have confirmed 5950x and the 3080… So that’s my plan on that. My mobo is going to be purchased next week. I am still researching. Right at this moment, it is the ROG Strix x570-e. I know it is not top of the line for Asus, but I read it is great for working more so than gaming. I want air.

m.2 – I have already picked out my m.2 drive. I am going with a Sabrent 2TB Rocket 4. The read/write is insane. 7100/6600.

RAM – My ram is G.Skill RipJaws V. I did a lot of research and did not come by this decision quickly. Lots of choices out there. I know 128 is overkill… I just want to max it out!!

Coolers – I am going with the Noctura NH-D15S, 140mm for my cooler. I like the black. I kept tossing back and forth with that and the NH-u12A, 120mm for a while… What made my decision is that running head to head, there is very little difference in cooling, which is surprising. So it’s come down to appearance and I like the Chromax. I’m actually thinking about replacing the Corsair fans in the case for Noctura eventually. I have room to also add another intake fan or two and maybe another output. I don’t want any water in my computer. That thought just scares me. I would have nightmares of leaks… :scream:

PSU – Its a tossup between Corsair AX1600i and the EVGA SuperNova 1600w. I am leaning toward Corsair because I have a Corsair case and I like things to match if possible.

CASE – And I have to say, I love my case. It came last week in the mail and it is amazing. I may have to take a pic or two and put here. I am not really into LEDs and RGBs and all that so this case is perfect for me. Sleek is an understatement. This is just a great full ATX case. It is solid metal with magnetized dust covers. Look up Corsair’s 750D airflow edition case.

In about four months, I’ll have my parts purchased. I bought two or three blender courses. Can’t wait to take them on this new computer.

Jenn C

2 Likes

Awesome machine Jenn, can’t wait to see updates on the build :slight_smile:

1 Like

The ROG lineup is solid, even if expensive. I bought TUF X570-plus and I’m pleased with it. So with Strix I bet you’ll be satisfied (though if you want to save some money - here is the opportunity - for my use case I didn’t find anything that strix does that tuf didn’t do).

I’m not really familiar with Sabrent (it’s not available within my area), but those speeds sounds really good!

G.Skill is solid brand in my opinion. I also bought them (trident variant, the difference should be minor). They work flawlessly with 5950x.

NH-DS15S has really good reviews and seems to be one of the best out there. Just check size and mounting options. I am not sure if this is exactly this one, but I think it’s quite big (might need to mount it really high above CPU and might go far out above RAM - which would be pain in terms of any kind of maintenance or even cleaning).

Water cooling for CPUs is safe. It’s manufactured as a closed loop system and there is no risk of any leaks (or so I heard :crossed_fingers:). This is my first water cooled system and I was really hesitant to go this route. I’m quite satisfied with the choice due to efficiency and noise levels (though when the 3090’s fans start to spin up then it really makes no difference :stuck_out_tongue: it is a loud card).

In my limited experience you don’t need to target Titanium or Platinum rated PSU. Gold / Gold+ should be enough and are much cheaper. I went for Thermaltake Toughpower 1500W and it’s more then enough. But if you decide for AX1600i or SuperNova you will have more then enough power (possibly to power 2 GPUs and have headroom for some other stuff).

The 750D looks cool. I’m not much into cases (I put the tower under my desk :P), but the cool thing about it is that it has 4 USB slots in front of it :D. My favorite designs right now are are Lian Li. They are hard to get in my area unfortunately.

RGBs are kind of cool. I was trying to build a desktop without any RGB lights - but due to availability issues I have everything with lights… and it kind of grew on me.

Ah, btw. There are some issues with 5950x resulting in random reboots for some people (including me). Maybe by the time you build yours it won’t be an issue any more with updated bios. But in case it is - there is a simple fix of modifying your power plan and setting CPU to never go to low power mode.

Edit: I hope you get your parts in 4 months. I just watched some re-cap from CES and in the summary the guy said that both Nvidia and AMD said that they expect supply issues at least till end of this quarter.

2 Likes

I just recently heard of those. I was intrigued by one that was built like a desk… All the components were in a drawer under your desktop. The drawer slides in and out… HAHA… I had to do a search and could find nada on it.

I had to laugh at your issue with the 3090’s… 3090 vs loudness… 3090 wins!!

On power, I want too much, for that just in case scenario… On the height level of my cooler, it’s compatible. I just need to install the ram and plug the PSU in prior to installing.

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

1 Like

I am excited! Ordering my motherboard on Wed… In two days!! I have it in my amazon cart ready!! Come on retirement payday!

I may go ahead and order my Noctura case fans as well. I’m thinking of two 140mm fans for exhaust on the top and two 120’s for more intake on the bottom… I’m removing the HDD racks from the case as I don’t need them, and that way I’ll have room for the 120’s on the bottom if I go this route.

This is my tentative fan placement at the moment. I’ll probably end up replacing the Corsair fans.

Jenn

p.s. It’s going to be a long 5 months for me buying a part a month, but it is what it is…

2 Likes

Motherboard due to be here between the 4th and the 8th… omg.

3 Likes

Question… I have found a 5900x for $800. Brand new in the box… I just want your opinion. I cannot find a 5950x anywhere within 500 miles of me that I can pick up. Is this enough? A 5900x for unreal engine 5 and Unity ???

Thanks Jenn

p.s. I found my 5950x. On Amazon… shoot… $1200.
Done. Wow… This made me take a deep breath… I’m so happy!!! I’m glad I did it.

** I cancelled this order and ordered one from Portland Or that will be here on the 2nd. It was cheaper.

2 Likes

Now the search is on for a NEW RTX 3090… I can do it… I can do it…

3 Likes

You can do it! I think 3090 might be the easiest RTX variant to find due to ridiculous high price. I’ve seen 3090s recently for almost 2x the price I bought it for in Dec.

Glad you found 5950x. Though 5900x would be more than enough. The combo you are going for (GPU+CPU) puts you in probably top 1% of what average gamedev has :grin:

2 Likes

I am so excited I can hardly sit still!! I’m bouncing all over the house … Sleep is non existent right now. lol I now totally understand the concept of “lala land”!! I’m there!

And I totally agree on the rtx 3090 being much more available than the 3080… I’ve already decided I am taking nothing less than exactly what I want for this computer. I’ve seen several 3090’s here and there for $1900 - 2000. Shockingly low. And some much higher than that. I’m saving for the lower price point. I hope to find one by the end of March. That’s what I’m shooting for anyway. I might go up to $2500…

I think I will like being in the top 1%!! :laughing:

The GPU will be my next big purchase. Everything else I can nickel and dime out.

Also changing my ram to Corsair Vengeance LPX 4x32 . They are only 34mm tall. The cooler I want (Noctua NH-D15) can clear up to 32mm so I’ll have to only raise one fan about 4-5mm for clearance. Also changed my mind on the Sabrent m.2. I read many things about them just dying. So…Samsung 980 Pro 2tb NVme is my new choice. I want two.

3 Likes

:grin:

I did it for most of my life (but just this time I went to 1%, usually I was in 5%, think 3080+5900x in terms of current gen). After I replace my desktop I start saving up for a new one (small % of my salary each month, after a few years it’s enough to jump to new h/w that is top of the line). I find it just more convenient - big change every few years, no need to mess around inside my case upgrading parts, etc. Plus nowadays time saving on compiling and rendering is a big factor. That might not be as important for studios, but for me if I save 15 min a day not waiting, but actually learning/working - it sometimes is like 25% of my total time that I have for a given day…

Good luck with your GPU hunt! :crossed_fingers:

2 Likes

Admire you building your own. I did in the early days but have not dared for a decade or two now. Things got complicated with sockets and compatibilities etc. Good luck finding the bits you want!

3 Likes

Thank you NP5… This is my second computer build. I’m going to give away my age here.

My only other computer build was in approx 1998… lol. It was an amazing computer to me and my husband. We did not know one single person with a computer. I might be wrong but I don’t even recall anyone having a cell phone back then. My little computer had a huge hard drive for it’s day. 400mg… lol… And a Celeron processor. We would sit for hours reading about things in the world and it was the most amazing thing. Chat on the computer was like a miracle. Everything was dial up through your tv service. lol

For this computer I made a list. I started with the motherboard and just selected my parts and compatibility from that. It’s been fun so far. If I, a 63 yr old grandmother, can build a computer, anyone can… Back in the mid 90’s, I was into Cisco certs and Microsoft certs so I went that route for a while. Had ONE hardware class that just tripped my trigger and is actually what instigated me building my little Celeron computer.

I’m lucky I can do this. My husband is a policeman in the court systems where we live so covid did not effect his job. I’m disabled so covid also did not effect my disability check. I had open heart surgery last October and it changed my life and how I view things and made me reflect on the timings of things in our lives. This is just the time for me to do this. My hub knew I was taking these classes and our other two computers were seriously lacking and not upgradable for my needs. My point is Covid has not effected any of our income and that is very fortunate in these times. I KNOW we are fortunate. So, things like the stimulus check, VA gas money for my cardio rehab (I’m a vet) and the IRS money is part of my computer because those things can be used as extra money to us… Hence, my computer!!

You should build a computer. Why not? We are here for a limited time.

But this is my list. Prices on some things go up and down so these are tentative prices… Where there is a will, there is a way!!

Jenn

2 Likes

Oh we are very similar ages! When I left school there were no pocket calculators, well other than a slide rule. lol. No domestic computing, let alone mobile phones. Some days I think I was born a few decades too early, then other days I think other parts of life have got worse. I imagine I might have done very different things for work had this computer modeling existed in time.

I was looking to upgrade my machine after the new generation that was due of graphics cards came out. But now the drought of computer graphics cards has made that something that will have to wait six months or so and see what has moved on.

3 Likes

Me too… I was born too early. I figure I still have 20 yrs left to play!! And I want to build at least one great game for my grandkids. I would do things very different too. I still have eight tracks…

3 Likes

It got here!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!! Couple more months and I’ll have all my parts…
Thank god it was sealed and in perfect condition!!

4 Likes

Privacy & Terms