What CPU should I get?

[DB1997]

Hello, so I was toying with the idea about building myself a desktop at the end of this coming summer and I was wondering what CPU I should potentially purchase for my computer. Right now I am using an Eluktronics Mech-15 laptop with an i7-8750H and GTX 1060. I purchased this laptop in August of 2018 and absolutely love it. I am currently going to school for engineering and use it for CAD design, modeling, and gaming when I have time. I want to make this laptop just my work laptop or something so that I can be mobile with it if I need to design while at school but I don't want to wear it out in a year or two from using it constantly. That being said, the desktop I want to build will probably be used a lot for gaming but it also needs to be able to render detailed textures on CAD and other design software. I know this has a lot do with the GPU but I also wanted to hear thoughts on CPUs since this is usually the trickier topic. The i9-9900K or a second generation Threadripper look promising. Thoughts and help are greatly appreciated.

[Taf the Ghost]

5 minutes ago, DB1997 said:

Hello, so I was toying with the idea about building myself a desktop at the end of this coming summer and I was wondering what CPU I should potentially purchase for my computer. Right now I am using an Eluktronics Mech-15 laptop with an i7-8750H and GTX 1060. I purchased this laptop in August of 2018 and absolutely love it. I am currently going to school for engineering and use it for CAD design, modeling, and gaming when I have time. I want to make this laptop just my work laptop or something so that I can be mobile with it if I need to design while at school but I don't want to wear it out in a year or two from using it constantly. That being said, the desktop I want to build will probably be used a lot for gaming but it also needs to be able to render detailed textures on CAD and other design software. I know this has a lot do with the GPU but I also wanted to hear thoughts on CPUs since this is usually the trickier topic. The i9-9900K or a second generation Threadripper look promising. Thoughts and help are greatly appreciated.

With CAD, it depends exactly what programs and what plugins. There's really no blanket recommendation in the space. You'd need to figure out your workflow, look up benchmarking tests on something similar, then plan from there.

 

That being said, any CPU over 200USD will be GPU limited anyway, so gaming really only is about the GPU. You need to dial-in what your professional workflow can really use before you pop for a purchase. Also, we should have Zen2 parts by Summer, so that might also change the considerations by then.