Workstation & "light gaming" PC Rig

[pablcol]

Hi everyone at the forum;

 

first of all, I want to apologize for any mistake or error this post might (or might not) contain, since English is not my main language; with that said, let's start.

 

I work "part-time" while I'm finishing my I.T. studies at university, on a humble architecture/construction-oriented image-editing-rendering business (it might sound weird, but trust me, we have clients (mainly architecture students, tbh) ), and my job is to do the finishing touches and prepare the files they send us for the rendering process. We use programs such as AutoCAD or Rhinoceros (Rhino 3D), and for those who don't know what are they used for, it's mainly for plan sketching and structure renders.

 

As we approach Christmas and the months of June-July, the workload increases (due to "end course deliveries", as they call it here), and my current PC aches when I load into it large files, so I've decided that, now that I have some savings, would be interesting to upgrade to a full new PC, and left my current PC as a home-server for my partners and myself.

 

So, after investigating and trying a lot of different builds, here is what I came with:

 

• CPU:  Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core
• CPU cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
• MOBO: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3 ATX LGA1151
• RAM:  G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4 3200 PC4-25600 32GB 4x8GB CL16
• HDD: Western Digital Red 2TB
• GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 4GB GDDR5
• PSU: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX

 

Now, some people had told me that I should change the PSU listed above for the Enermax Revolution X't 730W Modular PSU, but I am not 100% sure about it, is Enermax a good manufacterer?

 

And second, I've been looking into this not-liquid fan-based cooler, the "Cryorig R1 Universal", which, in theory, performs almost equally as the liquid cooler ones, but without the drawbacks they may come with. What do you think?

 

I'll try and make a little rationale on the parts I'm planing to use:

 

• CPU: This is a MUST. I will not accept other model, I LOVE the improvements that came with SkyLake processor line in terms of overclocking, which I am planing to do, so, yeah, that's it.
• CPU cooler: I've chosen this from corsair, because the good critics it has, both by reviewers and users, and because I'm planing to overclock my CPU, and... you know, it has to be cool (just kidding, I know what I'm doing).
• MOBO: I like most of the features this motherboard includes, such as the speed lines on the PICe side, and the acceptable amount of sATA 3.0 and Express ports it came with; and, on top of that, it comes without the "gaming" grade, which, it's true that sometimes help, but I don't really like the global aspect that they give.
• Memory: for this kind of usage, 32GB of RAM I consider them to be a MUST, and fast enough to handle it, so 32GB @ 3200MHz of G.Skill is good for me.
• HDD: just a new, fresh, HDD for the bulk of data, since I'm planing on reusing my SSD (HyperX FURY 120GB) for the OS and the most demanding programs.
• GPU: the GTX 970 on the base is for the usage of the CUDA cores, and EVGA is a good manufacterer for me, so that's it; the "light-gaming" tag is because I'm not a fan of "triple A" games, like Witcher 3 or GTA V, and the most demanding game I play right now is StarCraft II, so I'm not going to take advantage of a higher end graphics card (like the 980 or TITAN (<- LOL, never gonna happen )).
• PSU: simple, modular, with 80+ certification and enough power to handle everthing, not much to say here.

So, for those of you who are thinking right now "WHAT ABOUT THE CASE?!?!", don't panic: I'm planing to use a costume, nearly hand-made case, in collaboration with my girlfriend, who is a 3D modeler artist (she doesn't like that term, as she studied architecture ) and a local blacksmith shop, with, at least 7 holes for case-fans (probably Noctua 12cm ones): 5 (3 front, 2 top) for inflow and 2 for outflow (back), powered directly with the PSU (in the future I'm planing to use a fan-controller for this task).

 

So, what do you think? Ideas? Recomendations? I will not accept comments like "You have too much RAM" or "You need a QUADRO card if you are a renderer", just because that isn't true for my actual needs, and, without a clear reasoning, that statements doesn't make any kind of sense.

 

Thanks in advance! :3

[Aytex]

Idk but would More VRAM or Cuda contribute to a workstation PC?

If vram does then might as well go for a r9 390

Also I can happily say so much that you need more than 8 gigs of fucking ram

[OAcesync]

That PSU is a nogo get a EVGA GS, XFX or Seasonic PSU

[TheRandomness]

-snip-

 

• CPU: This is a MUST. I will not accept other model, I LOVE the improvements that came with SkyLake processor line in terms of overclocking, which I am planing to do, so, yeah, that's it.
• CPU cooler: I've chosen this from corsair, because the good critics it has, both by reviewers and users, and because I'm planing to overclock my CPU, and... you know, it has to be cool (just kidding, I know what I'm doing).
• MOBO: I like most of the features this motherboard includes, such as the speed lines on the PICe side, and the acceptable amount of sATA 3.0 and Express ports it came with; and, on top of that, it comes without the "gaming" grade, which, it's true that sometimes help, but I don't really like the global aspect that they give.
• Memory: for this kind of usage, 32GB of RAM I consider them to be a MUST, and fast enough to handle it, so 32GB @ 3200MHz of G.Skill is good for me.
• HDD: just a new, fresh, HDD for the bulk of data, since I'm planing on reusing my SSD (HyperX FURY 120GB) for the OS and the most demanding programs.
• GPU: the GTX 970 on the base is for the usage of the CUDA cores, and EVGA is a good manufacterer for me, so that's it; the "light-gaming" tag is because I'm not a fan of "triple A" games, like Witcher 3 or GTA V, and the most demanding game I play right now is StarCraft II, so I'm not going to take advantage of a higher end graphics card (like the 980 or TITAN (<- LOL, never gonna happen )).
• PSU: simple, modular, with 80+ certification and enough power to handle everthing, not much to say here.

-snip-

 

 

That PSU is a nogo get a EVGA GS, XFX or Seasonic PSU

 

There's rather large differences between bad, decent, good and great PSUs.. The CX series fall into the grey area between bad and decent cause they get the job done but aren't the best...

[Laputacake]

If you have a really heavy load i'd jump up to X99.

• If not I'd say get a MSI or Asrock board
• The cryorig coolers are great,
• G Skill are good,
• Not sure about needing a red,
• that should be fine,
• That is a big nope. Go for one of the following series: EVGA G2, P2, T2, GS, PS. Seasonic Platinum, X Series. Superflower Leadex (Gold and up), Golden king, Golden Silent

[rtpb5642]

That PSU is shit.

8GB of RAM with an i7? LMFAO

If you do CAD then keep the 970 otherwise get an R9 390

[Laputacake]

There's rather large differences between bad, decent, good and great PSUs.. The CX series fall into the grey area between bad and decent cause they get the job done but aren't the best...

The CX and CS series are for very basic system builds like an office build for example. And if you say it isn't, well. Corsair say it themselves on their website.

[xQubeZx]

Well I would change the PSU since its not really intended to be used in a system like this. The others have already suggested some good options though

[pablcol]

Why is everyone saying that *not* 8GB of RAM...? if you look closely, you will see that's actually 32GB! 4 sticks of 8GB EACH

Anyways, I'll doublecheck my PSU, thanks for the advice, such fast and great community help is great :3