Help With Build For Hobby Computer?

[eldian]

Hey guys,

 

Just started learning 3D modelling. I want to build a computer that will allow me to model and render. I won't be rendering a lot but I would like my build to have enough juice to allow me to render when I chose too.

 

Budget is $1000-$1500 CAD.

 

What kind of specs should I be looking at for this.

 

Thanks

[Dimitris Tolios]

Any i5 Quad / i7 Quad will do (3rd or 2nd generation).

 

I would take it easy since you won't be doing really demanding stuff, and go with a i5 Quad. It is way faster than what masterpieces have been put together with, and insignificantly slower for most stuff in comparison to the i7 equivalents.

 

CPU: i5 3570K (included Heat sink is fine if you don't overclock)

MB: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 or equiv. (no need to go past the $115-120 price range)

GPU: GTX 560ti 1GB or Radeon 6870 1GB - around $160-180 with rebates in the US.

RAM: 2x8 GB DDR3 1600 is ideal, 2x4GB should be more than enough even for Pro work

PSU: don't go cheap, get at least a Seasonic 620W 80+ certified or better (Watt-wise better, stay away from no-name or cheap brands. Enermax / Antec / Corsair are also good to name a few).

Case: whatever rocks your boat

HDD: w/e Hitachi/WD/Seagate - had em all, all break down, pick one and pray

SSD: you don't need it. If you do get one, stick to Samsung 830 or Crucial m4 for best reliability and more than enough speed. 128GB is minimum for OS + Applications. 90GB is doable but not available in the above brands. 64GB is more suited as a caching drive for your main HDD (works pretty well with intel chipsets like the Z77 actually - if you believe user and site reviews).

 

Anything @ $1000 (US and CND should be about the same) is more than enough, even for most Professionals that do light stuff (and few really don't). Do not overspend for a system that wont help you make money, and most likely you will need to upgrade by the time you do. $1000 are enough for an excellent tower, around $1200-1250 will get you the same basic configuration pimped out (better PSU / adding SSD / Better GPU or same with more RAM / faster main system RAM etc). Going all the way to $1500 surely gets you a better system (pimped GPU and i7 CPU included) but I don't see a reason to do so if what you want really is a potent all around system and not a show-off workstation or gaming PC.

 

Technically these builds are the same as most gaming rigs you would put together for the same price range (and yes, you can game with it pretty nicely), only you don't have to choose a cheesy show-off-million LED case with lots of badly placed fans (usually the cases of choice for most vendors building gaming systems - never realized that - us - gamers had such a bad taste, but I guess the marketplace ruled otherwise).

Edited June 28, 2012 by dtolios

[eldian]

Thanks, appreciate the help!