Help for a Primary Workstation/Gaming Rig Build

[Taveren]

Hi all, A Friend requested me to spec out a PC rig for him, it will be primarily his home workstation for CAD, Revit, Rendering using Vray and Studio Max and Photo shop.

Gaming will be secondary as he does not play much graphic intensive games. mostly Diablo 3 and WoW.

Please help comment on improving this preliminary build I am considering to propose to him. budget is hopefully as close to 1600 as much as possible but can max up to 1800.

No OC but he would like an AIO liquid cooler (thinks it is cool) and I would also would like to keep it incase rendering stresses the CPU.

Intel i7 4790 + Asrock B85-Killer = 500
Thermaltake 3.0 Performer (single fan) = 75
Corsair Obsidian 450D = 170
G.Skills Ripjaws Z 1600Mhz (8GBx2) = 223
Crucial MX100 256GB = 154
WD Blue 1TB = 67
Seasonic G-650W 80+ Gold = 145
Sapphire Dual-X R9 280 3GB GDDR5 OC (Lazada promo) = 285
Asus N53 PCIE = 75
OS = Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit = 120
Additional case fans?

 

[Alternative X]

CPU+ Mobo: ASROCK H81M-HDS + i7 4790 (473)
RAM: 2X G.SKILL PC 12800/1600MHZ DDR3 CL11 VALUE RAM (8GB) (204)
GPU: ZOTAC GTX 970 4GB TWIN FAN (509)
SSD: SAMSUNG EVO 250GB (179)
HDD: WESTERN.D 1TB BLUE (72)
PSU: SEASONIC S12G-Non MODULAR 550W (105)
Case: CORSAIR 200R (85)
OS: WINDOWS 7 HOME PREM (120)
CPU Cooler: DEEP COOL GAMMAX 200 (19)
Networking: ASUS PCE-N53 (75)

Total cost: $1841

Buy at PC Themes, #04-15, and ask for discounts. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, add $30 for assembly.

Notes:

1) A cheap H81 mobo is used as rendering will not use the added functions of the B85 Killer and thus you can save $$$ by using a H81 mobo.

2) A Samsung 840 Evo is used as it offers superior write performance to the Crucial MX100.

3) A Deepcool Gammax 200 is used instead of an AIO cooler as it is much cheaper, is superior to the Intel stock cooler and will provide sufficient cooling if not doing OC.

4) Does your friend actually need a dual band wireless connection? If not, can omit the PCE-N53 and save $$$.

5) A GTX 970 is used instead as it offers much superior GPU rendering power when compared to a R9 280 which is very helpful in Revit, Vray, Studio Max and Photoshop.

6) A Seasonic S12G 550W is used as the GTX 970 can be safely powered with a good quality 550W PSU.

7) ValueRAMs are used as a rendering rig needs more RAM, not faster RAM and RAM speeds does very little for rendering speeds.

 

[@Corbell]

For workstation system, maybe can try a system with Nvidia Quadro graphics.

MSI has this WS60 Workstation now.

MSI WS60 Mobile Workstation.... Slimmest & Lightest! - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

 

[Taveren]

Thank you bro Alternative X for the suggestion, much appreciated.

1) Noted on the H81 mobo
2) Noted on the Samsung Evo, good point
3) Will the Deepcool Gammax 200 be sufficient for CPU cooling as rendering is CPU intensive?
4) I will confirm if can connect via LAN cable but to be safe I put it in for costing
5) Noted on the GTX 970, it was my first choice but my initial build was blowing out of budget
6) Noted on the Seasonic S12G 550W
7) Noted on the value RAMs.

Is there anything that can be cut down with minimum compromise on performance to get to 1600? I mean as a lower cost/build alternative.

 

[Taveren]

For workstation system, maybe can try a system with Nvidia Quadro graphics.

MSI has this WS60 Workstation now.

MSI WS60 Mobile Workstation.... Slimmest & Lightest! - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

Hi Thanks for the recommendation, but my friend is set on a his DIY desktop PC. Workstation oriented desktop GPUs are a bit pricey and the budget is a bit tight.

 

[Alternative X]

Thank you bro Alternative X for the suggestion, much appreciated.

1) Will the Deepcool Gammax 200 be sufficient for CPU cooling as rendering is CPU intensive?
Is there anything that can be cut down with minimum compromise on performance to get to 1600? I mean as a lower cost/build alternative.

1) Well, the i7-4790 has a max TDP of 84W at stock while the Gammax 200 claims to be good for up to 95W of heat. If you think that is still not cooling enough, can always add another another fan to the CPU cooler. Do note that the Gammax 200 uses 92mm fans.

Then again, OC is much more stressful on the CPU than rendering and you should be fine as long as the cooler is able to dissipate heat fast enough while the CPU is at full load. Can always get the Gammax 400 for $39 and replace the 120mm fans on it with twin Deltas if kiasi.

2) Things that can be cut to save cost further:
- Use cheaper casing. Consider the Bitfenix Comrade for $59.
- Use Intel stock cooler
- Reuse old HDD, if any

Other than that, may need to reduce RAM to 8GB or downgrade GPU to a Zotac GTX 770 (399) if no $$$.

 

[Taveren]

1) Well, the i7-4790 has a max TDP of 84W at stock while the Gammax 200 claims to be good for up to 95W of heat. If you think that is still not cooling enough, can always add another another fan to the CPU cooler. Do note that the Gammax 200 uses 92mm fans.

Then again, OC is much more stressful on the CPU than rendering and you should be fine as long as the cooler is able to dissipate heat fast enough while the CPU is at full load. Can always get the Gammax 400 for $39 and replace the 120mm fans on it with twin Deltas if kiasi.

2) Things that can be cut to save cost further:
- Use cheaper casing. Consider the Bitfenix Comrade for $59.
- Use Intel stock cooler
- Reuse old HDD, if any

Other than that, may need to reduce RAM to 8GB or downgrade GPU to a Zotac GTX 770 (399) if no $$$.

Thanks again! I will definitely heed your advice.

The case I will let him do his own research so that he can choose based on his personal preference.

I also think if really need to cut down it will be the GPU but I will try to explain the value of the GTX 970s.

 

[nippp0n]

CPU & Mobo: i7-4790 & MSI B85M-G43 @ $488
Ram: Crucial 1600mhz value ram 2x8GB @ $200
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $21
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $68
SSD: Crucial MX100 256GB @ $155
GPU: Zotac GTX 760 Amp @ $329
Case: Fractal Design Arc Midi @ $129
PSU: Superflower HX 500W @ $88
OS: Windows 8.1 @ $125

Total: $1603
Buy from Tradepac and DIY.

 

[Taveren]

CPU & Mobo: i7-4790 & MSI B85M-G43 @ $488
Ram: Crucial 1600mhz value ram 2x8GB @ $200
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $21
HDD: WD Blue 1TB @ $68
SSD: Crucial MX100 256GB @ $155
GPU: Zotac GTX 760 Amp @ $329
Case: Fractal Design Arc Midi @ $129
PSU: Superflower HX 500W @ $88
OS: Windows 8.1 @ $125

Total: $1603
Buy from Tradepac and DIY.

Thank you for the suggestion! I am glad my initial build was not far off the mark

so is I guess a CPU cooler is not really needed? or if ever just go for the cheapest air cooler?

is GTX 760 better than an R9 280 for rendering and photo shop?

any reason for the windows 8.1 recommendation?

Cheers!

 

[Alternative X]

Thank you for the suggestion! I am glad my initial build was not far off the mark

so is I guess a CPU cooler is not really needed? or if ever just go for the cheapest air cooler?

is GTX 760 better than an R9 280 for rendering and photo shop?

any reason for the windows 8.1 recommendation?

Cheers!

1) An aftermarket cooler is highly optional if not doing OC.
2) A GTX 760 might end up being faster than a R9 280 in rendering as quite a few rendering programs are more optimized for CUDA due to Nvidia's dominance in the professional GPU market.

 

[Taveren]

1) An aftermarket cooler is highly optional if not doing OC.
2) A GTX 760 might end up being faster than a R9 280 in rendering as quite a few rendering programs are more optimized for CUDA due to Nvidia's dominance in the professional GPU market.

I see, it would seem AMDs buzz about Mantle is exaggerated?

I will just tell him to get the best Nvidia he can afford

Thanks again for all the inputs guys!

 

[Alternative X]

I see, it would seem AMDs buzz about Mantle is exaggerated?

I will just tell him to get the best Nvidia he can afford

Thanks again for all the inputs guys!

Mantle is for games only. You should be looking out for the level of implementation of OpenCL in rendering programs and the effectiveness of the OpenCL drivers in rendering programs if building a rendering rig.

 

[nippp0n]

Thank you for the suggestion! I am glad my initial build was not far off the mark

so is I guess a CPU cooler is not really needed? or if ever just go for the cheapest air cooler?

is GTX 760 better than an R9 280 for rendering and photo shop?

any reason for the windows 8.1 recommendation?
Open up more ram upgrade options to 32GB

Cheers!

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