building new workstation PC?

David Chmelik <[email protected]> Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:30:17 -0000 (UTC)
Newsgroups alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <[email protected]>
Later this year I want to build new full-to-extended ATX/SSI-CEB 
workstation PC... advice/suggestions?  Requirements are below.

  1. versatility (slots, hopefully plain PCI and two USB3 headers)
  2. power/speed (preferably AMD, DDR5, M2 but only needs one or two)

Ones I am considering are below.

* SuperMicro X13SAE-F
* BioStar BIW68-AHP (only DDR4 but more plain PCI slots)

I will probably transfer GigaByte GeForce RTX 4090 OC display/video/
graphics card so need space of four slots and at least a few/couple slots 
under it, including preferably one or two plain PCI.  I sometimes use card 
(didn't fit lately) for cooling graphics card, extra ethernet card, but  
new workstation system-/logic-/main-/mother-boards seem to have multiple 
ethernet sockets so probably won't need extra.  Since earlier 2010s, some/
many UNIX/GNU/Linux users had GeForces halt/crash PCs regularly so also 
considering switching back like to Radeon RX 7900 XTX or forthcoming RX 
8800 XT.

I use plain PCI for Creative Labs SoundBlaster Audigy 2ZS Platinum with 
5.25" bay front panel for volume knobs & better/higher-strength sockets I 
want on front, not mess on desk with knobs/etc. connected to cables.

I use plain PCI for SCSI2 card for UMAX PowerLook 2100XL scanner on UNIX/
GNU/Linux (so can't yet use USB conversion) though there are PCIe SCSI 
cards available I can use a SCSI-to-SCSI2 converter cable (for 10 or 15 
times price of my SCSI2 card, $200 to $300, unfortunately, which seems 
exorbitant).

I'm also considering ESI MAYA44 XTE II soundcard which has better/higher-
strength connectors on back but no front panel so would have mess on desk 
with knobs connected to cables.

I saw one extended ATX (EATX) system-board on either ASUS, GigaByte, or 
MSI website which had maybe seven slots (good) but no plain PCI.  However, 
maybe for power/speed (probably is AMD) it's worth considering?  The two
listed above are Intel-only, which is worse than AMD for computer 
programming/science (large compiling projects) and number-crunching 
( boinc.berkeley.edu , cryptocurency mining).

The EATX may have two USB3 headers... good: I want one for case and one 
for 'multi-function hub' (eight different memory card slots, USB, eSATA, 
audio, molex power) that's in 5.25" bay.  Seems more system-boards after 
2010s decreased number of USB3 headers instead of increasing?!  I haven't 
decided if it's more important than audio front knobs & sockets, but maybe 
not (can use cable for camera that has memory card, etc.).

Tried USB2 splitter (small circuit board) to connect 'smart' device (power 
supply unit (PSU)) and one other USB2 device to system-board, but didn't 
work.  With more such devices, multiple/many USB2 might be helpful.  Tried 
audio splitter to connect system-board audio to case and multi-function 
hub, but didn't work.

I will use either Corsair Carbide 500R or SilverStone SETA D1 case, and 
two CD/DVD/BD drives (for making CDs to boot/install a few older 
computers, possibly duplicating some discs, though have little reason to 
do so anymore, just like to be able and have fallback).  SETA D1 doesn't 
seem as well-cooled (no side fan) but can screw in graphics card support 
brace/bracket... also has metal plate covering PSU going right up to space 
of seventh slot so can no longer have cards extending almost down to PSU 
(like on 500R).

500R has eight slots, which I prefer because used to plugin parallel & 
serial port slot, though everything I used it for now has USB.  Also used 
to plugin MIDI/gameport slot on Audigy 2ZS, which I still have Advanced 
Gravis game controllers but am also trying Elocom and Tomee USB ones.  
Audigy 2ZS front panel and maybe MAYA44 XTE 2 have audio-only MIDI (I used 
MIDI for Kurzwil 2000 music keyboard and might again).