A PC for College

[Liambtw]

Hello, 

I am going to college next year and I want to build a computer that can game and do 3D work eg. (Solidworks). I was planning to get a Threadripper 2950x, 32gb 3200mhz RAM, and GTX Titan X's in SLI. I cant make my mind up, and I need help. 

[trevb0t]

1 hour ago, Liambtw said:

Hello, 

I am going to college next year and I want to build a computer that can game and do 3D work eg. (Solidworks). I was planning to get a Threadripper 2950x, 32gb 3200mhz RAM, and GTX Titan X's in SLI. I cant make my mind up, and I need help. 

Sounds like you actually have the build in mind... 

 

Unless you're doing HEAVY rendering, which most folks on the school/private level don't really achieve, I'd still just go for a 2700X.

The threadripper isn't really intended for gaming, and the 7 series performs better in that regard.

 

If you're waiting, then just wait for Ryzen 3rd gen. 

[trevb0t]

That said I'd do something like this (with gen 3 Ryzen if you can wait):

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor	$292.89 @ OutletPC
CPU Cooler	be quiet! - Dark Rock Pro 4 50.5 CFM CPU Cooler	$84.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard	MSI - B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard	$109.89 @ OutletPC
Memory	G.Skill - Aegis 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory	$145.98 @ Newegg
Storage	Crucial - BX500 480 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$59.88 @ OutletPC
Storage	Crucial - P1 500 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive	$69.89 @ OutletPC
Storage	Seagate - Constellation ES 3 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive	$54.90 @ Amazon
Video Card	Sapphire - Radeon VII 16 GB Video Card	$685.99 @ Walmart
Case	Fractal Design - Meshify C Dark TG ATX Mid Tower Case	$99.98 @ Newegg
Power Supply	BitFenix - Formula Gold 650 W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply	$76.98 @ SuperBiiz
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$1701.37
	Mail-in rebates	-$20.00
	Total	$1681.37
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-05-04 09:35 EDT-0400

• 2700X is a great productivity/gaming CPU at 8c/16t.
• Dark Rock Pro4 and the Bazooka board will let you get a good OC on it.
• 32GB RAM for your productivity projects.
• 3 Drives: The 500GB SATA SSD for boot and heavier games, the NVMe M.2 for productivity work only, and the HDD for file storage.
• I went with a VII (You can obviously still do your Titan or a 2080/ti. Whatever you want.) This thing is at a good price point, and comes with 16GB DDR5 to assist in whatever productivity software it can. In gaming it's approximately comparable to the 2080.
• Case is all preference. I think this one is pretty damn cool, and has all the stuff you want in a case (unless you're an RGB guy.)
• PSU is fine for the build. It is a bit power hungry so you could jump up to 750W if you wanted. 650 is still safe if you don't plan another GPU in there.

This could run 4K gaming if that's an option you desire, or 1440p at a nice refresh rate.

[brob]

2 hours ago, Liambtw said:

Hello, 

I am going to college next year and I want to build a computer that can game and do 3D work eg. (Solidworks). I was planning to get a Threadripper 2950x, 32gb 3200mhz RAM, and GTX Titan X's in SLI. I cant make my mind up, and I need help. 

 

I doubt this would be a good investment. The computing demands of first and second year students are typically not that onerous. You will want something easily portable for basic work. So you might consider getting a decent notebook initially. Most programs and/or schools will have an outline of recommended computer specs somewhere online. After your first year or two you will have a much better grasp of what is needed.

 

Regardless of current intent, gaming will not occupy much, if any time should one wish to graduate.

 

[Liambtw]

1 hour ago, trevb0t said:

Sounds like you actually have the build in mind... 

 

Unless you're doing HEAVY rendering, which most folks on the school/private level don't really achieve, I'd still just go for a 2700X.

The threadripper isn't really intended for gaming, and the 7 series performs better in that regard.

 

If you're waiting, then just wait for Ryzen 3rd gen. 

Thank you so much!