3ds Max Design and Autocad pc hardware

[sotiriosspinos]

Hi all,

 

I'm trying to setup a computer for 3ds max design and autocad so as to get decent rendering speeds but also good viewport frame rate. I'm considering of spending around $2000, $2200 for a pc without a screen, etc. So currently, I'm focusing on buying Intel i7 3930k CPU since two xeon are expensive, but my main concern is the graphic card. Should I go for the quadro k4000 or should I buy a fast gaming GPU, and if yes for the gaming GPU which one would be more compatible with those above? My main objective is to do my work well and without any delays or issues. The use will be mainly for my studies in the university as an interior designer. The above two programs are what I will be using for my projects.

 

Thank you in advance for any replies

Edited September 24, 2013 by sotiriosspinos

[AJLynn]

I would go with a current generation gaming card over a Quadro for those programs. Doesn't even need to be a particularly fast one - a mid-priced one is fine unless you plan to do crazy high detail work beyond what is normal for architecture and interiors. If you know you want to use a GPU renderer I'd recommend a mid-level card to run the monitor, plus a higher end gaming card with a lot of memory to run the renders, but that's something you can add later if you start to feel the need for it.

[Dimitris Tolios]

Also, check on the 4930K instead of the 3930K, unless the latter is available in a far better price.

It is not much faster, but it does consume less power under both load and idling (all s2011 CPUs are real power hogs).

 

I agree with Andrew: no need to stretch your budget to go for a K4000. All cards are "compatible", the PC industry has worked out almost all silly glitches of the past.

 

My main objective is to do my work well and without any delays or issues

 

This is subjective really. There are super-detailed models that could stress a K4000 or even a K6000 to their limits. The question is, will you ever reach this kind of detail to really care for crazy Quadros etc, and if you will do it, will it be a test for the card itself, or actually a productive process?

 

I doubt that you will need or you will have time in school to play around with that detailed renderings. Your professors will focus your attention to other matters, not the modelling execution, and renderings will be a "last second" decision. Also, mind you that quality renderings are not just about gazillions of polygons, and that is what hurts performance. Light and shaders are actually more important, and the GPU has little to do with those still.

 

A GTX 760 - or a 670 if you'll find it in good price - will serve you fine as an all around card. The Radeon 7950 is also a great choice if you will be doing complex models outside 3DS Max, as it offers slightly superior OpenGL performance that is needed in Maya, Rhino, C4D etc.

 

The GTXs hover in the $240~275 range on occasional weekly sales, the 7950 is being pushed out of the shelves for the up-coming new generation of AMD GPUs at $180~200, which is amazing for a card of this caliber. I recomend you picking a dual-fan design for the 7950, as it does get hot when you game (if you will be gaming).

 

3D CAD rarely pushes GPUs to get hot, as the processes are much slower/more rare than in gaming (unless you have a Fermi GTX or Quadro which is perma-boiling ).

Edited September 24, 2013 by dtolios

[sotiriosspinos]

Thank you guys for all your info, its much appreciated. I was only curious, because while searching online I couldn't find a straight answer about 3ds max design. Tolios thanks for the GPU suggestions, I'll go for one of these.