Engineering and Gaming Amalgamation

[Aeroman]

Budget (including currency): USD3000

Country: Spain

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: 

Other details (I need an all in one home setup, which is easy to move around as well, so sth mobile and good casing i like armour cases not really a fan of RGB and stuff)

Hey Guys,
My first post here, so allow me if this is not supposed to be here!

Background : Aerospace Propulsion Engineer PhD MSc BEng ; Wont call myself a gamer because only game i liked and i think ever going to play is either Kerbal Sapce program and Counterstrike or CSGO, the latter being the priority here)

So yes, till now i have only used laptops and university PCs and never got myself chance to think of my own build. But now, I am planning to do so at my home. Tired of laptops actually and small screens. I have used ASUS ROG and HP Omen series. Kind of scared on ASUS ROG side as when i used it was like 3 years ago laptop was 17inch or sth but i never got fps more than 100 i think was kind of disappointed at that. Nevertheless, maybe i did not know and me being an 20 year old just went all in without considering really intrinsic features.

Here is a list of things i usually want to do in my new setup so, if anyone here can advise me accordingly,

 

1. Engineering work - Basic CFD simulations(but they do need some good amount of juice), 3D Design softwares, MATLAB (A powerful programming and mathematical tool), ANSYS (Maybe but better if i consider it now that i will be using it)

2. Gaming (CS:GO and Kerbal Space Programme ; in terms of FPS and resolution i want a good gaming experience at least when i do so dont really want a compromise here.

3. I usually do one thing at a time, after watching Linus videos i think that does matter, so when i game i want a good gaming experience when i do engineering want good engineering experience.

4. Another project i have in mind is to record lectures and make engineering videos and if i have this setup as mentioned above what would i really need in terms of camera and stuff and recording stuff. Not really into video editing thing maybe would just get someone to do that for me.
 

SO this is that!

In terms of screen i want a good big screen but not at the cost of FPS and performance i am fine with reasonable size like around but curved and sth which can give good fps.

 

This project i got no rush but wanna do sth good like a one time investment for at least 2 3 years but would be great if its modular and i can upgrade after 2 years to new CPU or gpu if thats even possible! So please if anyone can advise me on these that had be great! Sorry for a long long email!!!

Thanks
Mardan Sajjad

 

[DrunkenPanda]

The components are similar until you get to GPU and your GPU selection will determine whether it's an engineering or gaming rig... unless there's some motherboard I'm unaware of that let's you prioritize two different GPUs--one for OpenGL/one for DirectX--then you'll need two separate rigs for "optimal" design and gaming...

 

As awful as professional cards are at gaming.... that's exactly how bad consumer cards are at 3D modeling... so pick which you want to prioritize or wait for somebody that's built an Open GL/Direct X frankenstein switcheroo machine to stop in... I could imagine it being possible I just wouldn't know where to direct you for parts...

[Aeroman]

Sorry if i ask a bit stupid questions kinddaa new to this!

So if i am getting you right?

You suggesting there might be a case i would need to go for two rigs as in towers and same screen kinddaa?

Thanks

[DrunkenPanda]

24 minutes ago, Aeroman said:

Sorry if i ask a bit stupid questions kinddaa new to this!

So if i am getting you right?

You suggesting there might be a case i would need to go for two rigs as in towers and same screen kinddaa?

Thanks

the way I *know* will work... you build two towers... one for engineering.... one for gaming... and get a KVM that you plug your peripherals into and you can switch between them by pressing a KVM button... it'll double your budget but you won't need to upgrade the engineering PC until the Open GL is outdated for your software and the gaming rig is all personal taste as to how fast you wanna play... but you could start with a mid-tier rig and upgrade as needed on the gaming side....

 

https://www.tripplite.com/2-port-dual-monitor-dvi-kvm-switch-taa-gsa-with-audio-and-usb-2.0-hub-cables-included~B0042DUA2K

I have this sitting on my desk RN.... I've got a personal laptop that may or may not VPN out of our work wifi so I can do shit like this while I'm at work without getting yelled at :X .... and my work PC I design/program on...... you can upgrade/downgrade based on your peripherals.... this one connects two seperate computers with dual monitor display/keyboard/mouse/sound

 

If anybody is aware of some EATX board or something that can prioritize which card it uses for different tasks, that may also be an option... but I don't know of any off-hand

[Aeroman]

For engineering side and gaming side what rigs would you recommend given my preferences!!

 

[DrunkenPanda]

43 minutes ago, Aeroman said:

For engineering side and gaming side what rigs would you recommend given my preferences!!

 

Are you using the engineering PC to make money? I don't want to recommend you build two PCs if ur coming home and opening a file from work every so often.... that's silly.... if you're actively using it every day for income... I DO recommend that

[Aeroman]

Yes, i will be using it for work purpose as well meaning engineering softwares!

[DrunkenPanda]

5 minutes ago, Aeroman said:

Yes, i will be using it for work purpose as well meaning engineering softwares!

I gotta get some stuff done for work... I'll swing back thru tonight and drop a couple partpicker lists for you if nobody has some reasonable ones by then

[Aeroman]

Thankyou so much bro!!! Means alot!!! Will be a great help!

[DrunkenPanda]

https://es.pcpartpicker.com/list/tjDYMv

 

I focused on portability here and if that isn't as big of an issue as you noted in your OP, then that opens up a lot more options...

 

CASE: I threw the TU-200 in as a placeholder since PCpartpicker doesn't list the TU-150 and I don't see the 200 or 300 available in your area... this is the case I had in mind...

https://www.amazon.es/Lian-Li-150-Cristal-Templado-Gris/dp/B07XB3MD5M/ref=sr_1_7?__mk_es_ES=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=lian+li+tu300&qid=1632951405&sr=8-7

 

PERIPHERALS: You'll want the extended screenspace of 2 monitors normally, but if you're porting it, carrying around two monitors is a huge hassle... so I went with a 1440p extended monitor... quality keyboard/mouse... your input devices are entirely subjective, but I picked things I would use... I like backlighting on my keyboard and at the $150 mark you pretty much have your pick of what backlighting effects/brand/keyboard switches, etc you want to go with... if somebody says you're wasting money on a mechanical keyboard, I'd be willing to bet they don't have one.... if you're typing for more than 2-3 hours a day, it matters... I've had cherry red and cherry blue switches and I definitely prefer the blue switches for tactical feel while typing, but again, that's subjective...

 

CORE: this CPU is getting up there with the elite models without spending a lot for small gains... it's got a ton of ram for CAD... and the motherboard will support your powerful chip, give you wifi wherever you go, and do all the little things it's supposed to without bottlenecking you on the chipset... Seasonic power supplies are some of the best in the business and anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool... :P I've used too many of them in too many rigs and never had a problem once with any of them...

 

GPU: This is your limiting factor... As for what it can contain... for a small case like this, you can't fit a 3080+ in there... there are a few 3070 models that will... you want to find a 2-fan cooler to have clearance in that case and it can't hang down to take up a 3rd slot.... the model I threw in there is just a cost placeholder for GPU... now... as I mentioned before... professional GPU models, if you're doing a significant amount of CAD, do provide a much better CAD experience... but seeing as $3000 is going to get you two kind of meh rigs instead of one very nice one that mostly fits what you were looking for.... a 3060ti or preferably 3070 is probably going to give you the best all-around experience without overly-complicating your setup... regardless... a 3060-3070 will give you a very solid gaming experience and should run OpenGL/CL well enough that you don't have major complaints....

 

but...

 

If you ARE unhappy with your CAD experience, you can always get a professional GPU like a GTX 4000 for around $1,000 and build a home gaming system with the GPU you buy for this... slap a KVM on the home rig and bam.... you've got a mobile work computer and home gaming rig that can switch back and forth with little effort... so there's always that upgrade path...

 

It's difficult to give you exactly what you want because it doesn't exist... but I feel like this is pretty close... I'm sure some people can trim some off the price tag if you want, but this is what *I* would buy... it's unlikely to be the best "price/performance" but it's the best quality/functionality/budget fit for your use-case IMO

[IkeaGnome]

9 hours ago, Aeroman said:

Basic CFD simulations(but they do need some good amount of juice), 3D Design softwares, MATLAB (A powerful programming and mathematical tool), ANSYS (Maybe but better if i consider it now that i will be using it)

What are you using now and how does it perform? Is there one component that gets used more than the rest? Say, 15% CPU usage, 60% Ram, but 100% GPU? There's almost no reason anymore to build separate machines for engineering and gaming. Also, is this planned to go to and from work a lot? If so, you might look at a laptop and a docking station and then a bigger screen at home to plug into that. If it's just occasionally then a desktop could make a lot more sense.

6 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

I focused on portability here and if that isn't as big of an issue as you noted in your OP, then that opens up a lot more options...

You didn't really go with a L9 on a 5900x did you?

[DrunkenPanda]

6 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

What are you using now and how does it perform? Is there one component that gets used more than the rest? Say, 15% CPU usage, 60% Ram, but 100% GPU? There's almost no reason anymore to build separate machines for engineering and gaming. Also, is this planned to go to and from work a lot? If so, you might look at a laptop and a docking station and then a bigger screen at home to plug into that. If it's just occasionally then a desktop could make a lot more sense.

You didn't really go with a L9 on a 5900x did you?

I mean.... there might be enough room for a small AIO? :X

[IkeaGnome]

10 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

I mean.... there might be enough room for a small AIO? :X

A L12 struggled to keep up with my 5800x. That's not enough cooling for a 5900x.

If OP's tasks are CPU heavy, Much bigger cooler, case is a very popular ITX right now. Comes with vented and tempered glass side panel so you can chose which you want. There's no reason for a X570 if you're not using PCIE gen 4 in all the M.2 slots or plan on it. With the savings on the case and motherboard, stepped up to a 750W PSU for $7 more. That $7 could be shaved down in the storage costs if needed.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor  (€530.00 @ Amazon Espana) 
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 56.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (€96.48 @ PC Componentes) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard  (€186.14 @ Amazon Espana) 
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  (€121.10 @ Amazon Espana) 
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  (€120.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Video Card: Palit GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB Dual Video Card  (€908.95 @ PC Componentes) 
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX Desktop Case  (€82.88 @ PC Componentes) 
Power Supply: Corsair SF 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  (€149.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Monitor: LG 35WN65C-B 35.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor  (€407.89 @ PC Componentes) 
Keyboard: Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Titanium Wired Gaming Keyboard  (€150.66 @ Amazon Espana) 
Mouse: SteelSeries Sensei Ten Wired Optical Mouse  (€51.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Total: €2807.07
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-09-30 00:37 CEST+0200

[DrunkenPanda]

49 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

A L12 struggled to keep up with my 5800x. That's not enough cooling for a 5900x.

If OP's tasks are CPU heavy, Much bigger cooler, case is a very popular ITX right now. Comes with vented and tempered glass side panel so you can chose which you want. There's no reason for a X570 if you're not using PCIE gen 4 in all the M.2 slots or plan on it. With the savings on the case and motherboard, stepped up to a 750W PSU for $7 more. That $7 could be shaved down in the storage costs if needed.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor  (€530.00 @ Amazon Espana) 
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 56.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (€96.48 @ PC Componentes) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard  (€186.14 @ Amazon Espana) 
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  (€121.10 @ Amazon Espana) 
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  (€120.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Video Card: Palit GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB Dual Video Card  (€908.95 @ PC Componentes) 
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX Desktop Case  (€82.88 @ PC Componentes) 
Power Supply: Corsair SF 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  (€149.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Monitor: LG 35WN65C-B 35.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor  (€407.89 @ PC Componentes) 
Keyboard: Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Titanium Wired Gaming Keyboard  (€150.66 @ Amazon Espana) 
Mouse: SteelSeries Sensei Ten Wired Optical Mouse  (€51.99 @ Amazon Espana) 
Total: €2807.07
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-09-30 00:37 CEST+0200

I don’t disagree with that… the Lian li chassis is pretty slick but it is very smol 

 

im bout to rebuild my home rig with a 3080ti so I’ll let you guys know if it solves the CAD issue through sheer force… with my 1080ti on large assemblies the graphics would glitch and it was prone to crash through driver issues… it doesn’t do that on my k2200 at work… note this is only with very large files…  but I can live test it when I finish the rebuild for sure…

 

thought was on the x570 chipset—they normally have much better designed VRMs and I have a feeling any true ITX case is gonna be getting HOT with that hardware in it… so dissipation of the ambient heat is a priority… dunno how many fans you can pump into that thing…… figured it couldn’t hurt to survive the hostile environment lol… there was some other ITX case that was more like a hamster cage shaped that had a handle on it but I forget who made it… I remember it fit full size GPUs tho

[IkeaGnome]

10 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

dunno how many fans you can pump into that thing

Doesn't take many to keep stuff cool. My old case, I had to use less fans so I'd not over heat the PSU, and then if I had my L12 blowing too fast I'd still hit OTP on my PSU, but I could keep my GPU and CPU at decent temps. Different case, vastly different layout though. 

 

11 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

ny true ITX case is gonna be getting HOT with that hardware in it…

This is also a little bit large for an ITX. It's closer to 13 liters IIRC. 

12 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

thought was on the x570 chipset—they normally have much better designed VRM

Not always. The B550I Aorus is Tier A, but the Gigabyte is tier B.