Input requested for new PC

[cbkstudios]

Hey all,

So, I am pulling the trigger on a new rig in January. I've been spending a lot of time checking benchmarks and comparing hardware. I'll use the new PC for other game and creation related stuff however, wanted to see what you all thought when it comes to VAM use. Any hardware you think would be better suited for VAM?

CPU - Intel i9 14900k

GPU - RTX 4090 24gb GDDR6x

MOBO - MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi - ATX

RAM - 2 x 32GB DDR5-6000 TEAMGROUP T-F

PSU - 1000Watt EVGA SuperNOVA 80 Plus Gold

COOLING - Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 AIO LC Black

Obviously a few other things like a couple SSDs and half a dozen fans but, that's the important bits. I've contemplated upping the PSU a bit already but, not sure if that's overkill.

Also any input on cooling or heat disapation?

Thoughts?

 

[trashinator]

has the 14th gen intel chip voltage spike problem already resolved? that gpu might be the best thing available and i dont think it could go wrong with that specs

 

[cbkstudios]

has the 14th gen intel chip voltage spike problem already resolved? that gpu might be the best thing available and i dont think it could go wrong with that specs

I was worried about the instability on the 14th gen too. From what I'm reading the KS was the bigger issue however, claims are that the instability is resolved in general. Of course that is exactly what intel would say...

My biggest gripe is that when I upgrade the CPU in the future, I'll need a new MOBO too since the socket type will be discontinued after the 14th gen.

However, I am shooting for peak performance with this PC and Intel still out paces AMD in the CPU realm.

 

[trashinator]

I was worried about the instability on the 14th gen too. From what I'm reading the KS was the bigger issue however, claims are that the instability is resolved in general. Of course that is exactly what intel would say...

My biggest gripe is that when I upgrade the CPU in the future, I'll need a new MOBO too since the socket type will be discontinued after the 14th gen.

However, I am shooting for peak performance with this PC and Intel still out paces AMD in the CPU realm.

Idk much about computer science, but lately performance/price doesn't increase as much per new generation. I presume gen 14 will last a LONG time. Intel's issues aside, maybe gen 14 is our best choice at the moment. But this is just me with i5 12600K talking.

I dont think your current choice is an overkill for content creation (if money isnt a problem), because my setup sometime still hit below 60fps with high quality + softbody ON on dekstop mode.

 

[cbkstudios]

Idk much about computer science, but lately performance/price doesn't increase as much per new generation. I presume gen 14 will last a LONG time. Intel's issues aside, maybe gen 14 is our best choice at the moment. But this is just me with i5 12600K talking.

I dont think your current choice is an overkill for content creation (if money isnt a problem), because my setup sometime still hit below 60fps with high quality + softbody ON on dekstop mode.

Good point. Price seems based on what they can get away with on a flagship product.

What I'm seeing for CPUs is that both Intel and AMD are releasing new chips in 2025 with a focus on power efficiency instead of performance. Initial reports show the new CPUs being minimal or no performance gain.

For GPUs the 5090 is set to take the cake in 2025. However, I've also heard they may delay the release of the flagship to consumers and focus on the lower end models. They are apparently going to discontinue the 4090 as well...

Budget wise, I'm shooting for right around $5,000.

 

[AshAuryn]

Hey all,

So, I am pulling the trigger on a new rig in January. I've been spending a lot of time checking benchmarks and comparing hardware. I'll use the new PC for other game and creation related stuff however, wanted to see what you all thought when it comes to VAM use. Any hardware you think would be better suited for VAM?

CPU - Intel i9 14900k

GPU - RTX 4090 24gb GDDR6x

MOBO - MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi - ATX

RAM - 2 x 32GB DDR5-6000 TEAMGROUP T-F

PSU - 1000Watt EVGA SuperNOVA 80 Plus Gold

COOLING - Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 AIO LC Black

Obviously a few other things like a couple SSDs and half a dozen fans but, that's the important bits. I've contemplated upping the PSU a bit already but, not sure if that's overkill.

Also any input on cooling or heat disapation?

Thoughts?

So this is basically what I'm running, very similar to your setup, and I've had no issues:

- intel i9-13900KF
- Gigabyte RTX 4090 (at the time the nicer 4090's were all out of stock or stupid expensive)
- Asus z790 Hero
- G.Skill Trident DDR5 2x32GB
- Cooler Master Gold 1250w
- Corsair Elite Capellix XT liquid cooler

I put this in a monster case (Asus Rog Strix Helios) with a ton of cooler master fans. It's heavy as sin and you have to lift it with straps, but there's plenty of room for air.

You could also wait a bit. The 5090's are coming out soon.

 

[cbkstudios]

So this is basically what I'm running, very similar to your setup, and I've had no issues:

- intel i9-13900KF
- Gigabyte RTX 4090 (at the time the nicer 4090's were all out of stock or stupid expensive)
- Asus z790 Hero
- G.Skill Trident DDR5 2x32GB
- Cooler Master Gold 1250w
- Corsair Elite Capellix XT liquid cooler

I put this in a monster case (Asus Rog Strix Helios) with a ton of cooler master fans. It's heavy as sin and you have to lift it with straps, but there's plenty of room for air.

View attachment 443369

You could also wait a bit. The 5090's are coming out soon.

Nice setup!

I see you're running a 1250 PSU. Do you think my proposed 1000w isn't enough or did you just want to ensure capacity? What do you typically pull from it?

I'm thinking I will wait for 2025 CES to see if the 5090s will be released or not. Only downside is if the 5090s are a delayed launch while they also discontinue the 4090s. I'm sure availability will be tough and price will jump with scalpers.

Lastly, of your 64gb of RAM how much do you typically use? Ever maxed it?

 

[AshAuryn]

Nice setup!

I see you're running a 1250 PSU. Do you think my proposed 1000w isn't enough or did you just want to ensure capacity? What do you typically pull from it?

I'm thinking I will wait for 2025 CES to see if the 5090s will be released or not. Only downside is if the 5090s are a delayed launch while they also discontinue the 4090s. I'm sure availability will be tough and price will jump with scalpers.

Lastly, of your 64gb of RAM how much do you typically use? Ever maxed it?

I just wanted to ensure capacity and upgradeability.

I'm embarrassed to say I never pay attention? I've never run into anything it can't handle, if that answers your question.

For example, I've had multiple windows of VaM running with multiple person atoms in each window. Or run vam and stable diffusion at the same time.

I will say I haven't loaded up the VR much lately -- so I can't give any benchmark feedback there.

 

[cbkstudios]

I just wanted to ensure capacity and upgradeability.

I'm embarrassed to say I never pay attention? I've never run into anything it can't handle, if that answers your question.

For example, I've had multiple windows of VaM running with multiple person atoms in each window. Or run vam and stable diffusion at the same time.

I will say I haven't loaded up the VR much lately -- so I can't give any benchmark feedback there.

Haha understood. Only reason I track RAM is for DAZ. Another PC I have only has 32gb of RAM. I've maxed it quite a few times in DAZ. Never maxed it with VAM though.

 

[AshAuryn]

Haha understood. Only reason I track RAM is for DAZ. Another PC I have only has 32gb of RAM. I've maxed it quite a few times in DAZ. Never maxed it with VAM though.

So I decided to run a little test.

In my setup I have one ultra-wide monitor and two additional monitors. I opened 6 instances of VaM in addition to my regular tasks already running (chrome windows, discord, visual studio). In each VaM, I opened Damarmau's Forest Oasis scene which is fairly resource heavy with the water effects.

When focused on one VaM window, I get 200 FPS and the rest of the windows drop to 10 FPS. (The one in the lower right of the ultrawide in this screenshot is the one running at full speed). If I focus on a non-vam app they all drop to 30 FPS. I didn't max out my RAM, but I wouldn't have been able to do this with 32GB.

 

[AshAuryn]

Full disclosure I know nothing about benchmarking. Hope this helps.

 

[cbkstudios]

So I decided to run a little test.

In my setup I have one ultra-wide monitor and two additional monitors. I opened 6 instances of VaM in addition to my regular tasks already running (chrome windows, discord, visual studio). In each VaM, I opened Damarmau's Forest Oasis scene which is fairly resource heavy with the water effects.

When focused on one VaM window, I get 200 FPS and the rest of the windows drop to 10 FPS. (The one in the lower right of the ultrawide in this screenshot is the one running at full speed). If I focus on a non-vam app they all drop to 30 FPS. I didn't max out my RAM, but I wouldn't have been able to do this with 32GB.

View attachment 443441View attachment 443442

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Six instances of VAM at the same time... now we are cooking! Haha appreciate the demonstration!

You mentioned previously that you occasionally have 2 instances of VAM running at the same time. Curious, what is the purpose for that? Is it one clean instance and one fully loaded instance?

 

[cbkstudios]

Full disclosure I know nothing about benchmarking. Hope this helps.

Have you ran the VAM benchmark with your setup?