This build originally started a few months ago as my dorm modeling and CAD rig. https://builds.gg/builds/dorm-modelingcad-rig-23709

However, I started encountering numerous issues in Solidworks, which I found to prefer single-threaded performance while editing, but multi-threaded performance when running simulations. I also switched from Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve, and because I wasn't about to pay for DaVinci Resolve, I needed some single-threaded performance for timeline rendering.

I ended up selling off the X99 boards I had, the CPU, and a few of the older parts while looking for a replacement for a 12-core Xeon. I was fascinated by Threadripper and at the time I was building this, Threadripper Gen 3 wasn't out yet. I got an Amazon email saying there was a sale on the 1st gen 1920X chips, so I jumped on it and bought a brand new 1920X, and a Zenith Extreme on eBay. The Zenith wasn't the cheapest option, but it came with the 10gig network card, and all the accessories which effectively made the decision for me.

You might see in the pictures that the be quiet fans in the back of the case are superglued in place. This is for 2 reasons. 1 is that the grille at the rear of the case is meant to be a reservoir/pump mount, not for fans. 2 is because the other 6 fans are positioned as exhausts because I wanted the RGB to be seen properly, so the only intake fans in this case are the 2 rear 80mm fans that are always on at full speed.

I did have to get the Enermax 360 TR4 cooler, which had issues from other users, and I recently had an issue with it where it seemed like the pump was stalled and was not moving fluid. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but it cooked the CPU and almost killed it. The board has automatic shutdown on overtemp, which I am incredibly thankful for. The board shut the system down when the CPU hit 99 degrees, and saved the CPU twice. I haven't had an issue with it since, but I always have HWMonitor open now.

Since I had more space for M.2 storage on this board, I'm running an HP EX900 M.2 SSD in addition to my WD Black SN750, and about 11TB of other storage to act as a massive backup box for all my machines and as a storage repository for my camera footage. My DSLR shoots at 6000x4000, and the RAW files get incredibly big. I got a 4TB and a 5TB hard drive for bulk storage, and I kept the 2TB of SATA SSD storage as game drives and secondary media storage for Resolve and other programs. I'm barely using 750GB of my 12.5TB of raw space, but I have my reasons. The 5TB drive is actually a 2.5" drive which for now is living in one of the 3.5" drive bays, but will be repurposed when I move my other PC into an NZXT H1 as mass storage.

I've had to move home from university, and unfortunately I will not be moving back until September. The entire university was shut down, so I had to set up my workstation in my new home office in my basement. I picked up an ASUS ROG Eye GC21 Webcam and a Razer Seiren X microphone, as well as bringing over my Z533 sound system from my dorm and using it here. I found out that the quality from the GC21 was really grainy, so I have ordered an Elgato Cam Link 4K and a mount so I can use my D5600 as a webcam. Thanks Coronavirus!

When I'm not using the machine, it contributes to the Folding@Home project, helping to find a vaccine to COVID-19. This has more power than it ever did, and I'm proud to have this machine.

The price of like $3000 is nowhere near what I paid for this btw.

All photos taken with my D5600.