$2500 Build for Video Rendering

[aShufflinZombie]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
General Computing, 3ds Max, Photoshop CS and gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$2500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
N/A

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Only preference is bang for the buck.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
N/A

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Slight Overclocking. Nothing Crazy.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
2650x1440

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Buying the parts today.

Just want some opinions on what I've already picked out.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/aShufflinZombie/saved/2qZx

The mobo is coming from microcenter as part of the combo.

 

[Phishy714]

That's actually not bad at all.

However, if you wanted to lean more towards gaming, I would consider getting a second 7970, which then means you will need to get a bigger PSU. But other than that it seems just fine.

 

[lehtv]

CPU&Mobo - I'd rather get Asrock Z87-A + 4770K $385 @MC. Compared to Asus Z87-A, Asrock has more CPU power phases and better sound, and costs $10 less.
Cooler - That's quite noisy. Here: Arctic Freezer i30 $40 400-1350 RPM. Separate thermal compound is not needed.
RAM - Team Elite 8GB 1600 $52 AP x2 = $104 AP
SSD - Good ($165)
HDD - ST3000DM001 + Pioneer BD-RW $175
GPU - Gigabyte 7970 $280 AR
Wireless - Good ($18)
Case - Overly expensive. Corsair 400R $70 AR
PSU - Not that good. Seasonic 660W Platinum $105 AR AP (it will handle dual 7970's)
OS - Good ($133)
Monitor - Would probably rather have Dell U2713HM $604 but it's good either way
Keyboard - Good ($60 AR)
Mouse - Good mouse, but not sure I'd qualify it for gaming. Logitech G400s $45
Speakers - I think you could afford better but if you just don't care for sound quality, that's OK. ($25)
Controller $40

Total : $2149 + shipping

 

[aShufflinZombie]

Nice suggestions lehtv. If the build was for me, I would follow all of your suggestions but it's for my cousin. He has only ever gamed on consoles and iGPUs and he was photoshopping on a dual core @2ghz so anything is an upgrade.

He needs something that just works and looks nice. Reliability is incredibly important as he will rely on the computer for work.


That find on the seasonic was fantastic.

 

[mfenn]

Nice suggestions lehtv. If the build was for me, I would follow all of your suggestions but it's for my cousin. He has only ever gamed on consoles and iGPUs and he was photoshopping on a dual core @2ghz so anything is an upgrade.

He needs something that just works and looks nice. Reliability is incredibly important as he will rely on the computer for work.


That find on the seasonic was fantastic.

I'm not sure how any of lehtv's suggestions are lower quality or less reliable than what you have in your build. Any specific concerns?

 

[aShufflinZombie]

No specific concerns other than maybe the ram since its not a kit or the mobo just because ASRocks are notorious for being DOA. I just need everything to work the first try. My cousin can not afford to wait any longer. He graduated yesterday from art school and his only viable option for doing work was the labs at school and know he doesn't have access... So yeah.


I greatly appreciate the input and I feel honored that a mod replied.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd start here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-workstation-graphics-card,3493.html

I'd not be doing any overclocking on a work rig.

I'd then work down the rabbit hole for bang for buck.

 

[Techhog]

No specific concerns other than maybe the ram since its not a kit or the mobo just because ASRocks are notorious for being DOA. I just need everything to work the first try. My cousin can not afford to wait any longer. He graduated yesterday from art school and his only viable option for doing work was the labs at school and know he doesn't have access... So yeah.


I greatly appreciate the input and I feel honored that a mod replied.

Wasn't that years ago?

 

[aShufflinZombie]

I'd start here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-workstation-graphics-card,3493.html

I'd not be doing any overclocking on a work rig.

I'd then work down the rabbit hole for bang for buck.

Should I go with a workstation card?


ASRocks being DOA still seemed like a problem last time I upgraded my personal rig. My 970 ext4 has served me well regardless.

 

[lehtv]

Asrock isn't any more DOA than other brands. Newegg user reviews typically include 0 egg reviews by users who received a lemon (which is silly, but anyway), and I don't see Asrock having any more 0 eggs than others.

Memory doesn't need to be bought in a kit. It just works. Could even buy modules from different brands, it would work fine if you just set them to the same specs in the BIOS.

I greatly appreciate the input and I feel honored that a mod replied.

Yes, we are but mere mortals beside his supremacy.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Side note on the dell u2713hm, you can save ~40-50 on that monitor by checking out the Amazon Warehouse deals in the "used" section.

If you can find any "like new" options, they are ones that have been returned opened but unused, and re-packaged by amazon. They take a little longer to deliver, but $40-50 here and there is $40-50 that can get you more of something useful!

 

[alkemyst]

Should I go with a workstation card?


ASRocks being DOA still seemed like a problem last time I upgraded my personal rig. My 970 ext4 has served me well regardless.

If one is building a true workstation/video rendering machine then IMHO yes.

There are limitations with that. Being that overclocking is an option I am not sure how mission critical you are looking to build.

 

[aShufflinZombie]

Overclocking is off the table now.

What is the big difference between regular GPUs and workstation GPUs? For my cousins purposes (3ds, blender, Maya, Photoshop and the like), it looks as though a 7970 would be the best bang for the buck.

If I'm wrong, please correct me. I've only ever dealt with consumer grade electronics.


In reply to the monitor, I like Amazon Warehouse Deals but their quality hasn't been up to par as of late. Plus I live in Pennsylvania so I get pegged with a 6% sales tax on items shipped by amazon. Fantastic idea in theory but I should have given specifics.

 

[alkemyst]

Overclocking is off the table now.

What is the big difference between regular GPUs and workstation GPUs? For my cousins purposes (3ds, blender, Maya, Photoshop and the like), it looks as though a 7970 would be the best bang for the buck.

If I'm wrong, please correct me. I've only ever dealt with consumer grade electronics.


In reply to the monitor, I like Amazon Warehouse Deals but their quality hasn't been up to par as of late. Plus I live in Pennsylvania so I get pegged with a 6% sales tax on items shipped by amazon. Fantastic idea in theory but I should have given specifics.

You really have to decide what's best for them...normally someone in that market would know the pros and cons.

Generally a workstation card has more RAM and usually slightly different ASICS. The drivers are more rock solid and optimized for 3D/CGI/Rendering work and don't give any thoughts to 3D gaming usually.

Most desktop cards are more than capable of most rendering duties.

I can't answer the question for you. What I would do is pick the two cards in the price range you want and ask on a Pro type forum for the tools that will be used for what's best.

 

[mfenn]

No specific concerns other than maybe the ram since its not a kit or the mobo just because ASRocks are notorious for being DOA. I just need everything to work the first try. My cousin can not afford to wait any longer. He graduated yesterday from art school and his only viable option for doing work was the labs at school and know he doesn't have access... So yeah.

You can't use user reviews or personal experience to get anything approaching a statistically significant result. Behardware's excellent returns analysis articles are getting slightly dated at this point, but they still provide valuable insights. As you can see, ASRock is certainly no more returned than ASUS.

I agree with lehtv, RAM is RAM. Two of the same module (or two of the same kit as the case may be) is exactly the same as buying a kit that's twice as big. There is no difference in the memory or SPD programming.

I greatly appreciate the input and I feel honored that a mod replied.

Since you gave such adulation, I shall require only one ritual sacrifice rather than the customary two.

 

[AE-Ruffy]

For the price of that one monitor (or a dell) you can get 2x 27" Korean monitors @ 2560x1440