Eezo

OK none of this is quite what I'm getting it, I've probably not asked this in the best way. I'll try again. If your client suddenly found themselves without your images how would it effect their business, what implications would it have for them? I appreciate these are odd questions but it's part of a little experiment I'm running, I know it sounds like it's out of some god awful sales manual but indulge me if you can.

So what I mean by that is what exactly do you do for your clients that makes them buy your service? I don't mean something like, "oh they buy my images because they are the best", more why do they need your service in the first place? What problem do you solve?

I was just wondering who most people target when looking for new customers. Do you find you get more work from Architects, direct from housing developers or a mixture of the two? I'm just thinking of exterior work not interiors.

So this is my final build, what do you think? I've just upped the CPU cooler really. [PCPartPicker part list](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/q3mW6h) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/q3mW6h/by_merchant/) Type|Item|Price :----|:----|:---- **CPU** | [intel Core i7-5960X 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80648i75960x) | £815.94 @ Aria PC **CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H110 94.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h110) | £91.33 @ Scan.co.uk **Motherboard** | [Asus X99-PRO ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-x99pro) | £234.82 @ More Computers **Memory** | [G.Skill Value Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f42133c15q32gnt) | £336.38 @ Amazon UK **Storage** | [samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke256bw) | £139.50 @ Scan.co.uk **Storage** | [Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd2001ffsx) | £107.00 @ Amazon UK **Storage** | [Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd2001ffsx) | £107.00 @ Amazon UK **Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn970wf3oc4gd) | £275.85 @ Ebuyer **Case** | [Fractal Design Define R5 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk) | £74.63 @ CCL Computers **Power Supply** | [EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr) | £87.99 @ Amazon UK **Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | £72.35 @ Aria PC | | **Total** | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | £2342.79 | Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-19 19:23 GMT+0000 |

An oversight on my part. This should be better, didn't go for the black but I think Red should be sufficient. I'm very pleased with it, a lot less spend than the first quote and after a fair bit of research today I think it's going to serve me a lot better. [PCPartPicker part list](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/xZyxNG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/xZyxNG/by_merchant/) Type|Item|Price :----|:----|:---- **CPU** | [intel Core i7-5960X 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80648i75960x) | £797.94 @ Scan.co.uk **CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-cw9060016ww) | £82.15 @ Amazon UK **Motherboard** | [Asus X99-PRO ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-x99pro) | £234.82 @ More Computers **Memory** | [Crucial Ballistix Sport 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls4k8g4d240fsa) | £345.79 @ Amazon UK **Storage** | [samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke256bw) | £139.50 @ Scan.co.uk **Storage** | [Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd2001ffsx) | £107.00 @ Amazon UK **Storage** | [Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd2001ffsx) | £107.00 @ Amazon UK **Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn970wf3oc4gd) | £274.98 @ Amazon UK **Case** | [Fractal Design Define R5 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk) | £74.23 @ CCL Computers **Power Supply** | [EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr) | £87.99 @ Amazon UK **Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | £72.35 @ Aria PC | | **Total** | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | £2323.75 | Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-15 16:52 GMT+0000 |

OK so I think I've settled on this configuration, taking into account everything mentioned above. What do you think? I may just order the parts and build it myself, I built a system about 3 years ago and I can't see it's changed much since then so that saves me a little money. [PCPartPicker part list](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/dgmxNG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/dgmxNG/by_merchant/) Type|Item|Price :----|:----|:---- **CPU** | [intel Core i7-5960X 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80648i75960x) | £797.94 @ Scan.co.uk **CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-cw9060016ww) | £82.15 @ Amazon UK **Motherboard** | [Asus X99-PRO ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-x99pro) | £234.82 @ More Computers **Memory** | [Crucial Ballistix Sport 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls4k8g4d240fsa) | £345.79 @ Amazon UK **Storage** | [samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke256bw) | £139.50 @ Scan.co.uk **Storage** | [Western Digital Red 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd20efrx) | £71.52 @ Aria PC **Storage** | [Western Digital Red 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd20efrx) | £71.52 @ Aria PC **Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn970wf3oc4gd) | £274.98 @ Amazon UK **Case** | [Fractal Design Define R5 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk) | £74.23 @ CCL Computers **Power Supply** | [EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr) | £87.99 @ Amazon UK **Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | £72.35 @ Aria PC | | **Total** | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | £2252.79 | Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-15 15:18 GMT+0000 |

OK with regards to the software, I'll be running 3ds max and rendering with Vray 3.0 not RT so I think I'm correct in thinking I won't be using GPU rendering in which case there is no point going for the extra spend on the 980 and I should stick with the 970, unless you think I should be considering something else entirely? I'll go with an ASUS board, I've skimped on this before and regretted it. Just read a couple of reviews on the Seagate drives and I think I will go with RD Reds as they do seem more stable. Not sure on the case, will have to give this some thought.

OK so the exact Xeon is the E5-2620 so I think based on whats been said in this thread that it's definitely not the best build for me. @Nikolaos M - That looks like a decent build and is well within budget, I've also been suggested another build as follows that's similar, what do you guys think of that? Specifically I'm not sure if the extra money on the graphics card in this build is worth it over the one in your spec? The Ram is also a similar price so not sure on that either. http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/Z7cxNG Intel Core i7-5960X 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor - £797.94 Corsair H110 94.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler - £91.33 MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard - £164.36 G.Skill Value 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory - £340.55 Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive - £139.50 Seagate SV35.5 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive - £68.62 MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card - 429.99 Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case - £118.79 Corsair Builder 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply - £64.74 Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer - £10.46 Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) - £72.35

Thanks for your input Juraj. I have a friend who owns a computer shop and he's recommend these specs to me based on by brief to him. I'm awaiting his reply on the exact xeon in the build but Judging by what you have said I may have to think about an i7 system as unfortunately there is just no more budget for a better xeon. I appreciate the input, I'm open to all suggestions.

I'm looking to build a new work station machine that will also be used for rendering still images. This is the build I've come up with. It's coming in at just over £3000 so I would very much appreciate some feedback on the setup before I spend the money, Fractal Design Titanium Grey Computer Case · 1000W Modular 80 Plus Gold Silent PSU · 2 x Intel Xeon 6 Core, 2.4GHz,15MB Processors · 2 x Corsair H80 Hydro Coolers · 32GB Crucial DDR4, ECC Registered RAM · Asus Z10 Motherboard · Quadro K4200 Graphics Card · 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive Read 550MB/s, Write 520MB/s, 85000 IOPS NCQ · 2TB 7200rpm 64MB Cache Hard Drive · DVD-RW Drive · Microsoft Windows 7 Pro 64-bit

So I had another thread on a rendering machine but I'm not sure which route to go down now. I have £2500 - £3000 to spend, I'm not sure if I should split that into one work machine and one machine for rendering or just one decent work station. I mainly work on still images, I occasionally do animations so am I better off using EC2 for the odd animation and just spend my money on a decent work station that I can also render still images from also? What's the best set up for me and what sort of hardware should I be looking at. I'm going to use a local shop for the build. Thanks in advance.

By the way I have £2.5k budget, maybe £3k if it's worth it. I mostly work with still shots but I do a couple of architectural animations a year as well.

What was in your build? I'm trying to figure out the best deal for my money.

So I'm building a render farm for use on freelance projects at home. I've come accross this build and was wondering what you guys think of it? http://blog.digitaltutors.com/building-a-home-render-farm-without-breaking-the-bank/

OK I'm now rendering every 15 frames but I'm still getting roughly 12 minutes to render each Frame for IR. That still seems like a long time to me, does that sound like a long time for something like this?