$1000 Render Machine

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Hi guys,

 

I've built many computers for other people, but never one for myself. Today, I am going to replace my 2011 MacBook Pro with something more substantial. 

 

Budget:

$1000 with rebates

I'm in the US

 

Aim:

99.9% workstation use

      - Web browsing

      - Writing school papers

      - Rendering and creating stuff in Premeire Pro CC 2014 (mostly using this), After Effects CC 2014, Cinema 4D and Photoshop CC 2014.

      - Cinema 4D R16

      - Maybe like a tiny bit of gaming (web games, indie games @1080p). A good GAMING gpu is not a must.

 

Other random stuff:

 

I'll be running 1 1080p 60hz monitor for now, maybe I'll add 1 more.

I already have Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor

I would like it to be a mATX build / case. Simple colors, black/white. Window is must.

I like quiet. Noctua cooler is a must (or another cooler w/ Noctua fan).

 

 

I've kinda narrowed it down to i5 or Xeon e3 (low end) w/ higher end GPU; or a i7 or Xeon e3 (high end) with a lower end gpu (750ti). I was wondering if GPU acceleration / rendering is worth it with Premiere, AE and C4D. Is 16gb ram needed too?

 

If we are going with "i5" or "i7" cpus, then I would like overclocking. If we go with Xeon e3, then no (obviously).

 

I would like it to be in mATX as I said before. I had my eyes set on a Air 240, or a Node 804. How is the Define Mini? Quiet(ness) would be nice!

 

Thanks so much,

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[manikyath]

i'd like to mention that noctua isnt the only quiet fan brand anymore. my bequiet dark rock advanced C1 is dead quiet even at max speed.

[19_blackie_73]

I don't know whether cinema 4d supports rendering with graphics cards, I personally have my pc for rendering (blender), too. What's inside? Gigabyte GAming G1 970 and xeon 1231v3: works pretty well.

[19_blackie_73]

i'd like to mention that noctua isnt the only quiet fan brand anymore. my bequiet dark rock advanced C1 is dead quiet even at max speed.

that's true

[nicon]

i'd like to mention that noctua isnt the only quiet fan brand anymore. my bequiet dark rock advanced C1 is dead quiet even at max speed.

True, but beQuiet is hard to find in the 'states.

[manikyath]

True, but beQuiet is hard to find in the 'states.

i've noticed that from doing builds for people, the advanced C1 also has MASSIVE price differences, going from $55 all the way up to $150+

[AliveGhost13]

There is also Cryorig, Phanteks and others.

[Grrizz]

If you are OK going bigger than mATX you could look at dual Westmere-EP hexacores you can pick them up very cheap and you'll end up with 12 physical + 12 logical cores, they are getting a bit old but they are still great bang for buck, especially in parallel processing like a lot of rendering is. I'd look at x5650's as a minimum but you often find good deals on x5670's or x5660's because of the locked multiplier you are limited to bclk overclocking so the x5675's and above generally bump up in price a bit. Just make sure you read up on the motherboards, some require you to re-pin the PSU connectors and some have early revisions that only accept x5500's while x5600 support was only added in later revisions.

[nicon]

How does this sound?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1276 V3 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.75 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock Z97M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Mushkin Stealth 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($60.98 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB STRIX Video Card  ($157.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 

Total: $997.64

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

[AliveGhost13]

That Xeon isn't worth that money. Go 4790k, or ditch it and go 5820k, from which you could benefit a little

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($325.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.75 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock Z97M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Mushkin Stealth 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data XPG SX900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($60.98 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB STRIX Video Card  ($157.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 

Total: $993.64

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-07 12:20 EDT-0400

 

 

or 

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($372.95 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($69.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: ASRock X99M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($74.39 @ Amazon) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($47.98 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($109.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Raidmax 530W Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $993.26

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-07 12:20 EDT-0400

 

@AliveGhost13

 

[AliveGhost13]

You must have 16GB RAM, 8GB on DDR4 isn't worth it for this work.

 

The top system looks better suited.

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@AliveGhost13

 

This is pushing the budget...

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($372.95 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($69.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: ASRock X99M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($149.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($47.98 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($109.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Thermaltake Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($54.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Raidmax 530W Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $1088.86

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-07 12:57 EDT-0400

[AliveGhost13]

The H80i is expensive for what it is. A $30 cooler will be just as good + quiet. Then, get a cheaper XFX, Antec HCG, any Seasonic PSU as the Raidmax isn't very good

[nicon]

The H80i is expensive for what it is. A $30 cooler will be just as good + quiet. Then, get a cheaper XFX, Antec HCG, any Seasonic PSU as the Raidmax isn't very good

Maybe 212 Evo w/ Noctua Fan?

[AliveGhost13]

Maybe 212 Evo w/ Noctua Fan?

 

Not worth it

 

The BeQuiet Pure Rock is cheap and quiet, better than the 212 Evo