Gaming PC to Workstation

[LittleFanboy]

I want to start the process of changing my PC into a Workstation. I need it to be able to good with 3D modeling software and Game Engines, and Photoshop sometimes. Currently i have an ASUS M5A78L-M LX PLUS, AMD FX-6350, MSI R7850 (will be buying an MSI GTX 970 4GB Gaming very soon), Corsair CX500,  Seagate Barracuda 500GB (will be buying a 2TB HDD and an Intel 120GB SSD very soon), and my case is a NZXT Source 210. I know this isnt a very good PC at the moment, but what can i keep and what has to go if i turn it into a workstation? Will a workstation be good at playing games? Will 1 or 2 GTX 970"s be good in a workstation?

[OhhTee]

What's your budget and location?

[WoodenMarker]

There's no inherent difference between a workstation and gaming system other than how it's being used.

Is your current system not coping well with what you're using it for?

[LittleFanboy]

As cheap as possible since im still in school. Georgia USA.

[LittleFanboy]

There's no inherent difference between a workstation and gaming system other than how it's being used.

Is your current system not coping well with what you're using it for?

No, its not very good with my games right now. I average around 40 fps on most games.

[WoodenMarker]

No, its not very good with my games right now. I average around 40 fps on most games.

That's likely due to your graphics card. What kind of games are you playing?

[LittleFanboy]

That's likely due to your graphics card. What kind of games are you playing?

Im planning on buying a MSI GTX 970 4GB Gaming this week or next week. I play stuff like Borderlands, Fallout, LA Noire, GTA, Battlefield, Planetside.

[WoodenMarker]

Im planning on buying a MSI GTX 970 4GB Gaming this week or next week. I play stuff like Borderlands, Fallout, LA Noire, GTA, Battlefield, Planetside.

That should help immensely since those games are mostly gpu-bound.

[LittleFanboy]

That should help immensely since those games are mostly gpu-bound.

Oh i forgot, i have GSkills Ripjaws 8GB ram kit also. When i add the GPU will that running 3D modeling programs easier for my system? Or is there more i should upgrade?

[WoodenMarker]

Oh i forgot, i have GSkills Ripjaws 8GB ram kit also. When i add the GPU will that running 3D modeling programs easier for my system? Or is there more i should upgrade?

Brand of ram doesn't really matter. 

Depending on the scale of your models and programs you're using, more vram can help but I don't think that will be much of an issue for game modeling. I find that 1GB vram is already plenty for any <30k poly model in Maya

[LittleFanboy]

Brand of ram doesn't really matter. 

Depending on the scale of your models and programs you're using, more vram can help but I don't think that will be much of an issue for game modeling. I find that 1GB vram is already plenty for any <30k poly model in Maya

One last question, I want to switch from AMD CPU's to an Intel CPU. What is the best Intel CPU and, a motherboard to go with it, for gaming and light 3D modeling?

[OhhTee]

For gaming and light modelling, i5-4690k/any z97 boards with features you like.

[WoodenMarker]

One last question, I want to switch from AMD CPU's to an Intel CPU. What is the best Intel CPU and, a motherboard to go with it, for gaming and light 3D modeling?

Is your current system not coping well with what you're using it for?

[LittleFanboy]

Is your current system not coping well with what you're using it for?

It does ok. The motherboard only has 4 SATA connectors and 1 PCI slot. I want to run 2 970's in SLI in the future so i figured if im gonna change the motherboard i might as well get an Intel CPU.

[WoodenMarker]

It does ok. The motherboard only has 4 SATA connectors and 1 PCI slot. I want to run 2 970's in SLI in the future so i figured if im gonna change the motherboard i might as well get an Intel CPU.

I'd save upgrading for when you need it and not preemptively for future sli.