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Helping My University Build a Workstation!

PizzaChamp
By PizzaChamp
in New Builds and Planning
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Posted

Hey, all!

So I'm currently a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. In a few months, UArk's "Art/Fabrication/Design" lab will have a ~$2k budget for a new PC workstation. 
They're hoping to run Rhino, Fusion, and maybe Maya for modeling.... V-Ray & Keyshot for rendering. Probably no video rendering.
This machine will connect to a laser engraver, CNC router, and CNC plasma cutter. Probably more in the future. 
Wifi capabilities would be ideal but aren't required.

I quickly tossed something together as a rough draft proposal - just to get some idea of the cost range that we'll be dealing with. 
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XWzcq4

I'm not super sure about the Mobo and CPU - but it seems that the best GPU for this machine would be an Nvidia card. Both Rhino5 and Maya seem to have issues with AMD cards - as stated on their website. 

I'm not new to PC building but I'm definitely no expert. How would you recommend I tweak this build?
Keep in mind that around 2k is our budget - but if we can save money we can allocate it to other parts of the lab!

Thanks, everyone!

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If there's gonna be little to no GPU workload, you might be better off with 1050 Ti for half the price. The delta would be better allocated in R7 2700. Also you want dual channel memory instead of single channel. 

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12 minutes ago, Yoola said:

Also, your University is gonna be able to provide Windows 10 licence for free. Every does.


32GB of RAM in dual channel instead of 16GB single channel, 1050Ti instead of 1060, R7 2700 instead of R5 1600:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Vg36RJ

Yea, also it'd be cheaper to buy two seperate 16gb sticks than in a pack.

Ion (Main Build)                                                                                        Overall Setup

i5 6500 3.2 GHz                                                                     -Blue snowball (White) thanks goodwill

MSI Mortar Arctic                                                                   -Logitech K120

Asus 1060 6GB Dual                                                             -Logitech Daedalus Prime G302

PNY CS1311 120 GB                                                            -Mousepad I made in 1st grade with my name on it                                                 

WD Caviar Blue 1 TB                                                              

Crucial Ballistix Sport LT White 16GB (8x2GB) 2400

NZXT S340 White

Corsair CXM 450W 

 

Lenovo H320 (Old Pre-built PC)                                      Possible upgrade for H320          

i5 650 3.2 GHz (heh)                                                                                    Xeon X3470

Motherboard unknown                                                       Same Motherboard

iGPU                                                                                   GT 1030 (MSI Low Profile Half Height)

Crucial 240GB SSD                                                           Crucial 240GB SSD

6GB DDR3 (4+2GB)                                                           8-10GB DDR3 (4+2+2GB/4+4+2GB)

Lenovo H320 case                                                             Lenovo H320 case

Unknown PSU (210W?)                                                     Same PSU (210W?)    

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Posted
1 hour ago, QuantumBit said:

Yea, also it'd be cheaper to buy two seperate 16gb sticks than in a pack.

But that doesn't assure them there won't be problems with XMP settings. It's always recommended to get 2 same sticks from same kit. 

 

Even though, chances of it not working are really low. Just not sure if it's a smart recommendation for work reliant machine. 

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Posted
  • Author

These are all really great points - thanks!
I'll have to double check and make sure that we can get MS10 for free.

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