Big hardware question

[lateralustool]

Hi, i am buying new hardware and software for my office. I have for everything (hardware + software) budget about 22,5-25 $. I am thinking again and again how to spend this money in the best way. I have a list of things which are essential:

 

HARDWARE:

 

workstation x1

render node x?

peripherals (monitor x1/x2, mice, keybaord, mousepad)

external storage

network: switch + cables

 

SOFTWARE:

 

Widnows x?

AutoCAD LT x1

3ds Max Design x1

Vray x?

Photoshop x1

 

 

I am thinking that proportion between hardware and software looks like this:

 

hardware 14,5k-18k

software 8k-10k $

 

 

Three main problems:

 

Buying workstation (x1) based on:

 

Haswell-E Core i7 E 8 core or

Haswell-EP 2x Xeon E5-26xx v3 10core

 

Buying render nodes (x?) based on:

 

Haswell Core i7 4790K 4,0 GHz or (if this cpu i would buy 10-6 like this PCs)

Haswell-E Core i7 E 6/8 core or (if this cpu i would buy 7-4 like this PCs)

Haswell-EP 2x Xeon E5-26xx v3 10/14 core (if this cpu i would buy 1 like this PC)

 

Buying super accuracy color monitor (eizo) or bigger screen (4k) or buy two but worst (2x30, 2x27 e.g. Dell)

 

 

What do You think and what are Your advices, should i buy something more?

[jasonstewart]

Well assuming you are going to go vray buy the pack with a workstation license and 5 render license, that will allow you to run 4 nodes and the workstation simultaneously.

 

For the workstation 5960x would be nice but it is expensive. Xeon at that performance level is Dual E5-2640 V3 or above so that is more expensive but should be more reliable. For nodes 5820k is a beast of a chip and the price is excellent for the performance level. They are similar to 4930k but much less expensive. Of course some of that cost will be lost on x99 boards and DDR4 but having a 2011-3 socket will allow you a better CPU upgrade path in the future. How many nodes is personal, there are super budget builds that perform better price/performance wise than the more expensive stuff but then you are managing a lot of nodes. If you have the money less more powerful nodes would be my suggestion.

 

For monitors I kinda kick myself for getting a Adobe RGB capable monitor. Since I only work in sRGB it was a waste of money and I could have bought 2 sRGB monitors that are just as accurate for the same price. If I had a unlimited budget I think I would do three 24" monitors. Three is so nice so you can have different stuff spread out and not have to work on one or two monitors closing this to see that.

 

Other stuff you may or may not have:

Adobe PS and AE

Itoo Forest Pack and Railclone

[elipan]

Windows 8.1.

 

I suggest also adding Laubwerk. Worth the the 600€

and psdmanager.