u/stainlessblueshield

Hoping to get some input from people actually running this class of hardware. I have until Monday to make a call and I'd rather not make the wrong one on cards that cost $9k each.

The decision

I already own one RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition. A second one is paid for and shipping Monday. The seller told me today he can still swap that order to a Max-Q if I want. I'm planning to add a third very soon either way, possibly a fourth.

Do I stay on the Workstation Edition in an open-air frame, or switch everything to Max-Q?

I can't stomach losing 6–10% performance on these cards. I know I can power-limit the Workstation to 450W and still beat a 300W Max-Q. But I keep reading that people underestimate what the Workstation cards demand for airflow in a multi-GPU setup. Server Edition is off the table — noise is a different category entirely.

PCIe routing / frame layout

I ordered two riser cables with one-slot brackets. I was originally hoping to lay everything flat on a single horizontal plane but I don't think that's realistic with slot spacing on the WRX90E-SAGE SE. Two-shelf vertical layouts look like the standard approach.

Questions:

• How are people routing PCIe 5.0 risers for 3–4 cards without signal integrity issues?
• Any slots dropping to 4.0 at length, and does it matter for inference workloads?
• Specific off-the-shelf frames people are happy with? I can fabricate but don't have time to, and would rather buy.

Build so far

• ASUS WRX90E-SAGE SE
• Threadripper PRO 9965WX
• 4×64GB DDR5 ECC (Kingston KSM64R52BD4-64HA) — considering adding another 256GB now while this exact SKU is available
• SilverStone HELA 2500W PSU — will likely need a second or a 3000W depending on card count
• Water-cooled CPU, stack of Noctua fans

Environment

Temporary basement space for now — I'm not redoing the basement in the next three years but will eventually. Main concerns in the meantime: dust, heat, long-term power draw. I'm an electrician so the wiring side is handled.

Use case

Automating my electrical contracting business (QuickBooks, Notion, field ops) and some hobby/potential AI side ventures. Three-year horizon on Blackwell — when Rubin drops and it's feasible, I plan to upgrade, which should also cut heat load meaningfully. That's part of why Workstation Edition resale value matters to me now.

Paths I'm weighing

1. All Workstation Editions, 3–4 cards in an open frame
2. Switch Monday's card to Max-Q, sell my current Workstation, run all Max-Q
3. Keep current Workstation, buy next two as Max-Q
4. Cap at 3 Workstation cards, jump to Rubin at launch

If you've run this config or something close, I'd love to hear what held up and what you'd do differently.

Thanks in advance.

Hoping to get some input from people actually running this class of hardware. I have until Monday to make a call and I’d rather not make the wrong one on cards that cost $9k each.

The decision

I already own one RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition. A second one is paid for and shipping Monday. The seller told me today he can still swap that order to a Max-Q if I want. I’m planning to add a third very soon either way, possibly a fourth.

Do I stay on the Workstation Edition in an open-air frame, or switch everything to Max-Q?

I can’t stomach losing 6–10% performance on these cards. I know I can power-limit the Workstation to 450W and still beat a 300W Max-Q. But I keep reading that people underestimate what the Workstation cards demand for airflow in a multi-GPU setup. Server Edition is off the table — noise is a different category entirely.

PCIe routing / frame layout

I ordered two riser cables with one-slot brackets. I was originally hoping to lay everything flat on a single horizontal plane but I don’t think that’s realistic with slot spacing on the WRX90E-SAGE SE. Two-shelf vertical layouts look like the standard approach.

Questions:

∙	How are people routing PCIe 5.0 risers for 3–4 cards without signal integrity issues?

∙	Any slots dropping to 4.0 at length, and does it matter for inference workloads?

∙	Specific off-the-shelf frames people are happy with? I can fabricate but don’t have time to, and would rather buy.

Build so far

∙	ASUS WRX90E-SAGE SE

∙	Threadripper PRO 9965WX

∙	4×64GB DDR5 ECC (Kingston KSM64R52BD4-64HA) — considering adding another 256GB now while this exact SKU is available

∙	SilverStone HELA 2500W PSU — will likely need a second or a 3000W depending on card count

∙	Water-cooled CPU, stack of Noctua fans

Environment

Dedicated basement space. Main concerns: dust, heat, long-term power draw. I’m an electrician so the wiring side is handled.

Use case

Automating my electrical contracting business (QuickBooks, Notion, field ops) and some hobby/potential AI side ventures. Three-year horizon on Blackwell — when Rubin drops and it’s feasible, I plan to upgrade, which should also cut heat load meaningfully. That’s part of why Workstation Edition resale value matters to me now.

Paths I’m weighing

1.	All Workstation Editions, 3–4 cards in an open frame

2.	Switch Monday’s card to Max-Q, sell my current Workstation, run all Max-Q

3.	Keep current Workstation, buy next two as Max-Q

4.	Cap at 3 Workstation cards, jump to Rubin at launch

Thanks in advance for any input on any of it!