Class project help

StudentQuests

Prominent
Mar 28, 2017
2
0
510
Hey im a computer tech student who found a video online and wanna try and replicate it and my teacher asked me to do research on it even further for school uses. I wanna put more then 1 computer in a case as in 1 motherboard 1 cpu or 2 cpus and able to use multiple monitors with uses as in 1 person could be playing a game another could be editing a video or as in this case i wanna use it for school so with school work than labs i really would like some help looking into this some more thank you
 
Solution
So, watched the Linus vid and basically what he did was to put up a server while creating 2 virtual machines for 2 users, all in same PC.
Here's also the discussion about Linus'es build: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465735-2-gamers-1-cpu-virtualized-gaming-build-log/

CPU
First off, you'll need CPU with VT-d and VT-x, as stated by Linus.
Here's list of all Intel CPUs that have both of these features,
link: https://ark.intel.com/search/advanced?s=t&ExtendedPageTables=true&VTD=true

Compatible CPUs range from server Xeon CPUs to all the way down to entry level Pentium G series CPUs.

The thing with low cost Penium G series CPUs (e.g G4560) is that i don't think the CPU is powerful enough to run server OS and 2 virtual...

Aeacus

Titan
Ambassador
So, watched the Linus vid and basically what he did was to put up a server while creating 2 virtual machines for 2 users, all in same PC.
Here's also the discussion about Linus'es build: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465735-2-gamers-1-cpu-virtualized-gaming-build-log/

CPU
First off, you'll need CPU with VT-d and VT-x, as stated by Linus.
Here's list of all Intel CPUs that have both of these features,
link: https://ark.intel.com/search/advanced?s=t&ExtendedPageTables=true&VTD=true

Compatible CPUs range from server Xeon CPUs to all the way down to entry level Pentium G series CPUs.

The thing with low cost Penium G series CPUs (e.g G4560) is that i don't think the CPU is powerful enough to run server OS and 2 virtual machines at the same time. Linus picked i7-5960X server CPU for his build since that CPU is powerful enough with 8 cores, 16 threads and max support of 40 PCI-E lanes. G4560 has 2 cores, 4 threads and max support for 16 PCI-E lanes.
comparison: http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Pentium-G4560-vs-Intel-Core-i7-5960X/3892vs2580

In theory, G4560 should work since it has the needed VT-d and VT-x features but since i don't have any knowledge about virtual machines, i can't tell if G4560 does the job. Here, someone with expertise in virtual machines should say which CPU is bare minimum that can run 2 virtual machines at once for office/school work.

GPU
As far as GPUs go, Linus picked GTX 980 Ti and Titan X since those 2 GPUs are one of the best gaming GPUs that have almost identical performance while having different names.
comparison: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-980-Ti-vs-Nvidia-GTX-Titan-X/3439vs3282
For cheaper GPUs, you can use GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti that too are closely matched.
comparison: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-1050-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1050-Ti/3650vs3649

As for GPU to server itself, Linus used GeForce 9500 GS since i7-5690X doesn't have onboard graphics. If you use CPU that has onboard graphics (like G4560, that has Intel HD 610) you can use the CPU onboard graphics or buy cheap, low-end GPU for server to use. E.g GT 730 that is better than Intel HD 610.
comparison: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GeForce-GT-730-vs-Intel--HD-610-Desktop-Kaby-Lake/m12582vsm225196

RAM
Selecting the right amount of RAM is also something to think about. Linus used 32GB of RAM (4x 8GB), while allocating 12GB to each virtual machine, leaving 8GB for server to use. At minimum, you should be able to use 8GB (2x 4GB), while allocating 3GB to each virtual machine and leaving 2GB for server. If 3GB is too little for a virtual machine then go for 16GB RAM (2x 8GB). With 16GB, you can allocate 6GB to each virtual machine while leaving 4GB for server.
Note: Linus used DDR3 RAM since i7-5690X is Haswell-E family CPU and it only supports DDR3 RAM. G4560 is Kaby Lake family CPU and it only supports DDR4 RAM.

MoBo
With MoBo, you need to pick a one that has 3x PCI-E x16 slots for 3 GPUs. That means you have to go with ATX sized MoBo.
MoBo selection depends on CPU you use. G4560 uses LGA1151 socket and here's list of all LGA1151 socket 200 series MoBos that have 3x PCI-E x16 slots,
pcpp: http://pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#c=120,121,119&sort=a8&f=2&L=4&h=3,8&K=4,10&N=2,16&s=30

SSD
Linus picked 2x 480GB SSDs for redundancy in RAID 1. Here you can go as low as 120GB per SSD, having 60GB for each virtual machine. If that is too less, go for 250GB SSDs.

HDD
Linus used 2x 3TB HDDs, giving 1.5TB for each virtual machine for data storage. 2x 1TB should be enough while having 500GB of data storage per one virtual machine.

PSU
In Linus build, the 850W PSU is used for 2 reasons: 1.it has enough power for entire build; 2.it has enough PCI-E power connectors for GPUs.
For your project and if you're using GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti GPUs then you don't need to have PSU that has ton of PCI-E power connectors since most GTX 1050 (Ti) GPUs doesn't require PCI-E power connector. Combined power usage of both GPUs is 150W and if you add the rest of the system at about 200W, total would be 350W. 550W PSU will do just fine.
Here, i suggest going for Seasonic G-550 that has 2x PCI-E power connectors, just in case you pick GPUs that need 1x PCI-E 6-pin/8-pin power connector per GPU,
pcpp: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/DPCwrH/seasonic-power-supply-ssr550rm

Case
Any case will do that supports ATX MoBo, has 2x 2.5" and 2x 3.5" internal drive slots (or 4x 3.5" internal drive slots) and has 7 expansion slots. E.g Corsair 200R,
pcpp: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/cTQypg/corsair-case-200r

That's about it for the main hardware side. Of course there's peripherals and other little things to think about but i believe that you can figure them out by yourself.
I hope my rundown does help you regarding your project.
 
Solution