PC for 3D (Maya) content creation

[Hussain36]

Hi all, 

 

My last PC build was an AMD back in 2010. That was a long time ago. 

I'd like to build a new one in these two weeks. 

 

I'm a 3D artist.  My main work is on Autodesk Maya. Mainly modeling, rigging, and animating. I might do so simulation and rendering, but that won't be much if at all. 

I'm also working on ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, Substance Painter. 

 

I'm not gaming on this PC at all. 

 

Here is Pudget Systems article about Autodesk Maya hardware recommendations:

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Autodesk-Maya-165/Hardware-Recommendations

 

 

I'm planning to buy this configuration 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CMX8nn

 

I've no idea about the CPU coolers. What should I pick? 

What do you think about the other parts? 

 

 

Thanks in advance, 

Hussain

[Hussain36]

Currently I have dual FHD monitors, but I'll upgrade later to dual 4K monitors, or may be 3 monitors 4K.

[greeatzy]

 

I would go with a bequiet Dark Rock Pro 3 cpu cooler... Also I don't see a case in your build

Also I would go with a better PSU.

[Hussain36]

5 minutes ago, greeatzy said:

 

I would go with a bequiet Dark Rock Pro 3 cpu cooler... Also I don't see a case in your build

Also I would go with a better PSU.

Thanks for the cooler recommendations 

 

I don't mind any case. It isn't a big concern for me. 

And I don't have any idea about them. I might pick anything that holds the motherboard. 

Is there anything I should be concerned about for the case? 

 

The PSU, according to cooler master calculator 300W is recommended. 

But now I just thought of future upgrades for the GPU will require a higher PSU. But should I count for it now, or upgrade it later on with the GPU? 

[greeatzy]

9 minutes ago, Hussain36 said:

Thanks for the cooler recommendations 

 

I don't mind any case. It isn't a big concern for me. 

And I don't have any idea about them. I might pick anything that holds the motherboard. 

Is there anything I should be concerned about for the case? 

 

The PSU, according to cooler master calculator 300W is recommended. 

But now I just thought of future upgrades for the GPU will require a higher PSU. But should I count for it now, or upgrade it later on with the GPU? 

I would go with a good 650W PSU that has fanless mode so that when your pc is running the PSU fan isn't spinning... That combined with the Dark Rock Pro 3 and you got a pretty quiet PC and you got the power for future upgrades...

Also why did you choose one 512 GB 850 SSD and one 512GB 960 SSD... Just get one 1TB 960 m.2 ssd

[Hussain36]

45 minutes ago, greeatzy said:

I would go with a good 650W PSU that has fanless mode so that when your pc is running the PSU fan isn't spinning... That combined with the Dark Rock Pro 3 and you got a pretty quiet PC and you got the power for future upgrades...

Also why did you choose one 512 GB 850 SSD and one 512GB 960 SSD... Just get one 1TB 960 m.2 ssd

Thanks... 

 

Here is my updated parts list

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qDHc2R

 

I've upgraded the storage to 1TB for each. 

I'm keeping both M. 2 and SSD for better file organization. 

 

My budget is US$ 2700. But I can go for $3000 as max. 

[Tom Cat]

Looks good!

[brob]

1 hour ago, Hussain36 said:

Thanks... 

 

Here is my updated parts list

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qDHc2R

 

I've upgraded the storage to 1TB for each. 

I'm keeping both M. 2 and SSD for better file organization. 

 

My budget is US$ 2700. But I can go for $3000 as max. 

TridentZ memory modules will not fit under the portion of the Dark Rock Pro 3 that extends across all the memory slots. See the pictures at https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/beQuiet/Dark_Rock_Pro3/5.html.

 

You do not have to use separate physical drives to organize files. In fact, it would be better using a single larger ssd as that improves wear distribution. Use multiple logical volumes on the drive when a hard division between file groups is required.

 

I would suggest a less expensive and much better psu. Also, given the pcpartpicker calculated max draw 550W would be about as large as one should go. Anything larger and the psu is going to spend a lot more time outside its most efficient range.

 

A more powerful gpu would be helpful.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  ($414.89 @ B&H) 
CPU Cooler: be quiet! - Dark Rock Pro 3 67.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler  ($74.68 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: Asus - Prime Z370-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($167.89 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($389.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Crucial - MX300 2.0TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($499.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Seagate - BarraCuda Pro 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($238.75 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P4000 8GB Video Card  ($799.00 @ Amazon) 
Case: Fractal Design - Define C ATX Mid Tower Case  ($74.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($79.59 @ SuperBiiz) 
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit  ($138.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $2878.76
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-19 21:26 EST-0500

[Hussain36]

Thanks @greeatzy and @brob for your help and support.  

 

This is what I went with.

In fact, this is what's available in the local store:

I paid US$ 4360 for it.

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  ($414.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 LED Turbo (Black) 66.3 CFM CPU Cooler  ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - Prime Z370-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($167.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($1089.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($447.30 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Black 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($234.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital - Black 6TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($234.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P4000 8GB Video Card  ($799.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit  ($135.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $3639.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-21 10:07 EST-0500

 

 

 

The two HDD 6 TB in RAID 1 (Mirror)

I had some issues with the case with cables being stressed. I couldn't find a good one. So I just picked up a normal one, it was the only one.

[brob]

@Hussain36

 

Any chance the WD Black could be exchanged for models designed for use in RAID arrays: HGST Deskstar NAS, WD Red, or Seagate Ironwolf?

[Hussain36]

i'm not sure if I've understood what you mean, you mean using an external RAID instead of internal RAID?

 

I do have an external one already. It seems I didn't give that much of thoughts . I thought about it but that was like just for a second and then forgot about it completely .

 

I didn't run the PC yet. I'll check if I can return them

 

Thanks @brob, really Thanks.

Edited November 21, 2017 by Hussain36

[brob]

Just now, Hussain36 said:

i'm not sure if I've could used an external RAID instead of internal RAID?

 

I do have an external one already. It seems I didn't give that much of thoughts . I thought above but that was like just for a second and then forgot about it completely .

 

I didn't run the PC yet. I'll check if I can return them

 

Thanks @brob, really Thanks.

Nothing wrong with running an internal RAID array. I was just wondering if more appropriate hdd could be used. I have read some posts suggesting that WD Black are not the best choice for such use.

 

If you already have the system, it's not worth worrying about.

[Hussain36]

My external mirror RAID is WD My Cloud Mirror Gen 2 (16 GB).

I just checked the User Manual for its tech specs. It contains the Red version.

 

The store can't return them because the packages were thrown away. But if he gets a buyer that doesn't mind buying them while he doesn't have stock, he will call me. So, I'll put them a side and hope .