System76 Launches Threadripper Workstations
system76.com
system76.com
:-(
Their support has been fantastic, and although I switched back to other machines - I still would buy one.
The bang-for-the-buck on the guts was really good (cant comment on the value of this Threadripper box though...)
As an aside; the Michael Dell "How I built this" podcast ep is worth a listen...
In particular, I like that I can undo a few screws and then lift the case.[a]
In terms of build quality, it's neither better nor worse than those of most other manufacturers.
[a] See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUfZO1llNXY
edit: OK I downloaded the image and see it's gigantic ... I reckon they should at least hint at that for the folks who are not quite over the threshold of spending the time to do their experiment ...
Of course, after downloading the universe image (which itself took a long time), then it's kind of understandable. Otherwise, it's just confusing as hell. "44 seconds to radial blur the universe" would have at least been better.
My experience differs significantly.
Right after I bought mine, I opened a ticket for the model information. They provided me the full model code and hyperlink to maintenance manual with part numbers.
This was a few months ago.
There isn't. No next day on-site like you get with a major OEM.
Threadripper 3960X - $1400
16GB 3200 RAM - $70
256GB NVMe - $70
RX 550 - $70
System76 price = $3700
That said, if you're looking at their higher-end models, I think you still have a fixed ~$2k markup, and so you're looking at something like $10k vs $12k, which isn't a big deal for that sort of customer (does save time, after all).
Side note: I own their AdderWS laptop and am a happy customer.
DIY is free only if your time is worth nothing.
And, I guess these days most people who would need a desktop at home with this configuration are potentially power users.
Plus you need a quality motherboard, case, power supply, water cooling. Add another $1200.
At my current bill rate, I am barely better off financially for having built on my own. Had any hardware been defective, or if I had to troubleshoot the first boot, then I would have been better off buying.
I imagine anyone who can justify a machine like this for their work will likely be in the same ballpark for bill rate (or higher).
I chose to build because I enjoy it. I'm sure plenty of others wouldn't enjoy it, and so would be much better off purchasing.
Are you turning down paid work to free up time to build a PC?
Bench build with mobo on the desk and each stick of RAM individually, and one pass of memtest86.
Then full build in case. I am fiddly with cable management. Also had some extra fans to install. 3rd gen Threadrippers throw off a lot of heat.
Some BIOS config (biggest thing was adjusting RAM timings and enabling virtualization features).
Then 24 hours of Memtest86.
Install Windows (a lot of benchmarks and stress testing stuff is much easier to just download and go on Windows).
Then 24 hours of Prime95 with hardware sensor monitoring. A few other benchmarks.
Then install Ubuntu.
To be fair, I'd have done the stress testing on a purchased box as well, but that is pretty much hands off.
January was light for me in terms of scheduled work. I didn't explicitly turn something down, but I did take advantage of a gap in my normally billable period (midday on a weekday) to build the machine. If I had wanted to, I probably could have found a way to be billing during that time. I greatly value flexibility in my time.
Could I have gotten done faster? Probably. My mise en place was awful. I was building in a cramped space. I haven't built a machine in quite some time. I also took my time to read the full mobo manual as I was installing and plugging stuff in. But like I said, this is something I enjoy. I was happy to take the time to research and shop around and then build the machine.
The comment on the value of time is more illustrative than a concrete argument. It is worthwhile to consider, especially for someone that doesn't enjoy building a PC. I could have chosen to find billable work instead and devoted that toward purchasing a completed machine. I'd only be a few hundred dollars worse off if I chose to do so. To me, that's a very reasonable price to pay to avoid something undesirable.
My room sounds like a wind tunnel even at idle. The response at the time was to futz around with fan controller firmware and I never got anywhere.
I don't understand why they don't move to liquid cooling.
It’s a mostly positive review but brings up some caveats for consideration.
Really wish my TR4 boxes... had a future beyond the current 2xxx series cpu. Figured I would swap out the current 1950x and re-use the same water block, pump, etc on the newer CPU. Hardly worth it for the 2950x, which is more or less the end of the road for the threadripper boards I have.
There was a design issue with the one EKWB original had, so they're giving out coupons to people who bought them. I found out when I went to look up whether or not the old one would still work with my new 3960X.
(Turns out the answer is: Yes, but only if I limit the max power a bit. Possibly that wouldn't be an issue if I'd ever gotten around to installing the second radiator, but cooling is an issue. Still get 4.3 though.)
They are generally very thin on spec details. Their cases are spectacular,I'll grant them that.
Just tried the blur motion affect, completed on my machine in 2 minuets and 40 seconds.
Just pay a little more and get a higher quality everything from Falcon NW with a threadripper in their Talon.
also your 8 year old facebook machine might be ok with 1Gbit but definitely not this 24-64 core beast, people who use these will definitely benefit from 10Gb
it's also not related to internet use as much as connecting it to storage on local network
edit: with the 64 core i'd go as far as saying that it should have a 40Gbit option as well