PC Building help needed

Combine · November 25, 2018, 12:45am

After my second laptop started blowing out from rendering a model I decided it was time to get an actual desktop. Thing is, I have no idea how to build one. I could ask my techie friend to help me do the building, but as for the components…I need your help.

My budget is around $600-$700 (with a ceiling of 1k, but let’s not go there); needs are:
-CAD and 3D modeling programs, ie. 3ds, Autocad, Unity
-rendering complex 3D models (fast rendering times a must)
-word processing, note taking
-gaming (preferably things like GTA4 or BF3 with no lag at reasonably high detail)
-cooling

Luciel · November 25, 2018, 12:45am

for that price…
intel i5 2500
an asus H67 based mobo
4gb of ddr3
seagate barracuda 500gb hdd
cd/rw if you want one
nvidia gtx460
a 650w psu (brand is up to you, just dont go for anything under 40$)
and a cheap and cheerfull case, like an antec low end case

Havent crunched the numbers but you should be able to build that within the 600-700$ budget no problem whatsoever (and have leftovers for a screen, mouse and kb)

Jeannotvb · November 25, 2018, 12:45am

Those demands are not easily met, I have a i7 930 @ 3.4 GHz, 6 GB of triple channel memory and a GTX285 and use this build primarily for modeling and rendering. With complex models (5+ million poly’s) the rendering is certainly not fast, especially with V-Ray and such. My 6 GB of memory will easily run out when rendering very high poly models. If you stay within the 3-5 million poly range you should be fine but I doubt you’ll have fast rendering times depending on the complexity of the rest of your scenes. The maximum amount I have managed to get out of it was rendering a model with around 35 million poly’s.

BaTz281 · November 25, 2018, 12:45am

This. $700 does not a great rendering PC make. You’ll definitely want an nVidia GPU for CUDA, and I’d say 8GB of RAM with a Core i5 2500k overclocked until it bleeds.

calhoun_freeman · November 25, 2018, 12:45am

I’ve seen some dude overclock it to 5.3ghz.

Combine · August 11, 2020, 7:31am

After a bit of searching around I came up with this:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131712
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136939

How does that sound? Opinions, concerns, suggestions welcome. And if there’s anything missing (besides the case) let me know.

Oh, and if you guys know of any cheaper alternatives to the components listed above (especially the damned expensive HD6950) please share.

geekofalltrades · November 25, 2018, 12:46am

Looking pretty good. Just be aware that that motherboard has a Micro ATX form factor, so you’ll need to buy a case that’s able to fit it.

Hubicorn · November 25, 2018, 12:46am

Everything looks pretty good. I would however at least match (in price) or pay just a tad more for Corsair or Kingston memory. You could never go wrong there

Combine · August 11, 2020, 7:31am

I changed a few things around, mainly for cost-cutting…

Graphics: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419
Motherboard: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229
RAM: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233192
Hard drive: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Does this still work with the other components? Any compatibility issues? (Existing components below for your convenience)
PSU: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044
Processor: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Thanks again.

Mango_Assassin · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

CPU fits the socket, and PSU is fine…

Hubicorn · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Everything looks fine when I glanced at it

geekofalltrades · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

G. Skill actually has a pretty solid reputation. I was going to go with them until the Corsair Vengeance kit I ended up with went on sale.

Hubicorn · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Vengeance is pretty ace. I went from OZ to that package (16G) when it was on sale too. Better responses during testing.

bobbo · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Rendering = CPU and RAM

Go for the best you can get of the two and don’t worry about video that much unless you plan on gaming as well.

Don’t buy the cheapest of everything else, but put your money where you need it the most. (rendering)

BaTz281 · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Rendering = CPU + RAM + GPU. As I said above, I’d recommend an nVidia GPU over an ATI in this situation for the CUDA cores (for gaming, I’d say ATI has the slightest edge depending on your price point). And I give a +1 to G.SKill, have used them for several builds and can’t complain at all. I had to send a kit back once due to a faulty module - their support actually sent me a replacement, free shipping, without even verifying that I had a faulty kit, AND included a pre-paid return package.

Combine · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Hmm I’ll check that out.

Oh, and I’m not abandoning the plan of building a PC from scratch, but how’s iBUYPOWER’s reputation? They’re having a labor day sale and I’m hoping that it might be less expensive.

vinndawg · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Dude, building a PC from scratch is no biggie at all. You can prob find a guide on the web. Then just follow the step-by-step. I used to slap 4 PC’s together in an hour in my day at the PC sweatshop. 15mins/pc, and they all worked at the end too, heh heh…

bobbo · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Batz, when using 3D software like Maya or 3DS Max, the GPU doesn’t render, it is only needed for displaying what is in the 3D program as you are using it. When you render a scene or a model, it only utilizes the RAM and CPU. Some software however, does utilize GPU rendering, but I doubt he’d be using it since he’s asking for help on hardware.

And I had mentioned not to worry about video THAT much unless he’s going to be gaming a lot.

AND… do this…

geekofalltrades · November 25, 2018, 12:47am

Yeah, building a PC is like putting together a LEGO set, except a lot more fun and satisfying.

Combine · August 11, 2020, 7:33am

Alright, final build revision… If you guys don’t mind, please take a bit more time to scrutinize it, and post if there are compatibility, reliability, power, etc. issues with the components. I gotta buy today to save a bit on the sale