Post-Purchase Setup Guide
Welcome to Your New AI Workstation
Section titled “Welcome to Your New AI Workstation”Congratulations on your new deep learning rig! This guide will walk you through the essential setup steps to get your system running optimally for AI and machine learning workloads.
Setup Overview
Section titled “Setup Overview”Setting up a deep learning workstation involves more than just plugging in components. This section covers:
- Initial System Assembly - Physical setup and cable management
- BIOS/UEFI Optimization - Settings for maximum performance
- Operating System Installation - Choosing and installing the right OS
- Driver Installation - NVIDIA drivers, CUDA, cuDNN
- Software Environment - Python, frameworks, and tools
- Initial Benchmarking - Verify everything works correctly
Why This Matters
Section titled “Why This Matters”A properly configured system can mean the difference between:
- Training completing in hours vs days
- Utilizing 95% GPU vs 60% GPU
- Stable 24/7 operation vs random crashes
- Efficient power usage vs excessive heat/noise
What You’ll Need
Section titled “What You’ll Need”Before starting, gather:
- Your new hardware components
- USB drive (8GB+) for OS installation
- Internet connection
- Monitor, keyboard, and mouse
- About 2-3 hours of setup time
Quick Start Path
Section titled “Quick Start Path”If you’re in a hurry, follow this minimal path:
- BIOS Setup - 15 minutes
- OS Installation - 30 minutes
- Driver Installation - 20 minutes
- Environment Setup (see Troubleshooting) - 30 minutes
For optimal results, go through all guides in order:
- Better long-term performance
- Fewer issues down the road
- Understanding of your system
Common Setup Scenarios
Section titled “Common Setup Scenarios”Scenario 1: Fresh Consumer Build
Section titled “Scenario 1: Fresh Consumer Build”You bought individual components and assembled them yourself. → Start with BIOS Optimization
Scenario 2: Pre-Built System
Section titled “Scenario 2: Pre-Built System”You purchased a pre-configured workstation. → Skip to BIOS Optimization
Scenario 3: Existing System Upgrade
Section titled “Scenario 3: Existing System Upgrade”You upgraded GPU(s) in an existing machine. → Go to Driver Installation
Scenario 4: Multi-GPU System
Section titled “Scenario 4: Multi-GPU System”You have 2+ GPUs for training. → Follow standard setup, then see Multi-GPU Configuration
After Setup
Section titled “After Setup”Once your system is running, explore:
- Training Optimization - Get the most from your hardware
- Workload-Specific Guides - Optimize for your use case
- Monitoring & Maintenance - Keep your system healthy
Ready to begin? Start with BIOS Optimization or jump to your specific scenario above.