Student with budget to match needs a new desktop!

[Eliot Blenkarne]

Hi all,

 

My 2 year old DV6 laptop is starting to show its distinct inadequacies when it comes to modelling and rendering, so have put some $$$ aside to build something more powerful.

 

I'm currently using or will be using the following programs;

 

Sketchup

3DS Max

Vray (for both of the above)

Photoshop CS5

Archicad 17

 

To start with, my budget is around $1500NZD. This could be pushed a little if need be. I don't need any peripherals or a monitor. I have a fairly decent grasp of modelling and vray, but I'm not exactly a full blown pro.

 

I'm confident with the building aspect, though have never built a PC before.

 

If anyone would be prepared to give some advice as to what specific parts I should be looking at, that would be great. I see the 4930k retails for around $800 NZD here, so not really looking to go to that sort of extreme

 

Thanks in advance team

[jasonstewart]

I agree that a 4930 build is a little out of your reach but a similar build with a 4770 would serve you very well.

 

I would recommend something very similar to the build that Dimitris Tolios suggested in post #2. I think if you shop around you can get it within your budget or just above.

 

http://forums.cgarchitect.com/75386-help-building-desktop-3ds-max.html

[joelmcwilliam]

idea for a small and silent pc, no overclocking:

 

 

 

Intel Core i7 4770 Boxed

 

ASRock B85M-ITX

 

MSI R9 270X GAMING 2G

 

Fractal Design Node 304

 

Cooler Master Hyper 412S

 

Crucial Ballistix Tactical BLT2C8G3D1608ET3LX0CEU

 

Seasonic G-Serie 450Watt

 

Samsung 840 EVO 250GB

 

 

 

alternative parts:

 

Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 450W

 

Inno3D GeForce GTX 660 2GB

 

Gelid Solutions Tranquillo Rev.2

 

Scythe Mugen 4 PCGH Edition

 

(Silverstone Sugo SG05-Lite)

[RyderSK]

Both above suggestions are about right. I think Dimitris should write some sticky note with configs based around 4770 and 4930 since most people will decide just between these too and only fill the remaining parts according to budget.

 

Few things I like from above post (Joel's) is suggestion of smaller PSU. You can get passive cooled PSU's under

Smaller format cases. The Node is nice and if I would by 4770k myself, I would probably keep it small as well. Small&Silent.

[Eliot Blenkarne]

Thanks so much for the replies - I imagine you all must get sick of these sorts of requests, so I do appreciate he time taken.

 

@ Juraj, hadn't given too much thought to overclocking in all honesty, purely because I'm not particularly educated on the subject. From what I gather, the "k" infers the ability to do just that so it may be $$$ dependant as to what I opt for, ultimately.

[joelmcwilliam]

If you want overclocking, things will get a litle bit more expensive. K-version processor, mobo for overclocking, better cpu cooler (and maybe a cooler case) will cost more.

 

 

 

Pro's for overclocking:

 

somewhat higher single core speed

 

slightly faster render times

 

Con's for overclocking:

 

higher temps

 

bit more energy consumption

 

 

 

I believe it is possible to overclock high with a b85 mobo (this is a mobo not meant for overclocking) and the current haswell k-processor, like i7 4770k.

 

 

 

You can look at the following b85 mobo's without spending too much cash:

 

Asus Vanguard B85

 

Gigabyte G1.Sniper B5

 

MSI B85-G43 Gaming

 

ASRock Fatal1ty H87 Performance

 

 

 

If you prefer a z87 mobo (this is a mobo meant for overclocking) without spending too much cash:

 

ASRock Z87 Pro4

 

MSI Z87-G43

 

 

Source:

http://translate.google.nl/translate?hl=nl&sl=pl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpclab.pl%2Fkat2.html

 

 

 

A bigger case without spending too much cash:

 

Antec GX700

 

Antec One

 

Corsair Carbide 200R Closed

 

Corsair Carbide 300R

 

Fractal Design Core 3000

 

Gelid Solutions DarkForce

 

NZXT Source Elite 210

 

Sharkoon T28

 

Thermaltake Chaser A31

 

Xigmatek Midgard II

 

Zalman Z9 Plus

 

Zalman Z9 U3

 

Zalman Z11 Plus

 

Zalman Z12 Plus

 

 

 

If you really want to push the cpu to it limits go for a watercooler, like the corsair h105.

 

If you do a moderate overclock, you can also look at the follwing cpu air coolers:

 

Thermalright HR-02 Macho Rev. A

 

Thermalright True Spirit 140

 

DeepCool Gamer Storm Lucifer

 

DeepCool Neptwin

 

Scythe Ashura

 

Raijintek EREBOSS

 

Make sure the cpu cooler fits into the case.

 

 

 

If you want to overclock the cpu to its limits and you want a bigger gpu in the near future then also look for a bigger power supply (psu) from seasonic. If you decide to go with a small case, like the node 304, you have to watch out that not all psu's will fit.

 

 

 

If I was to overclock the cpu and stress it a lot I would also go for a bigger and better case with good airflow to keep things cool:

 

Antec Eleven Hundred

 

Cooler Master CM 690 III

 

Corsair Carbide 400/500R

 

Corsair Carbide Air 540

 

Corsair Vengeance C70

 

Fractal Design Arc Midi R2

 

Thermaltake Urban S41

 

 

 

Do a google search to see the prices. As you see above overclocking ads to the budget. if you don't do a whole lot of rendering and you can wait a few extra seconds you don't need to overclock.

 

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/zardon/gigabyte-ga-z87x-oc-motherboard-review-w-intel-i7-4770k/17/

http://nl.hardware.info/reviews/4585/2/48-desktop-en-66-mobiele-processors-getest-in-cinebench-115-resultaten

Edited February 5, 2014 by joelmcwilliam