40-Thread Render Station - 2 x E5-2630 v4 ES - Cinema 4D only

[magnus1225]

I'm looking to build a render station solely for Cinema 4D - CPU rendering, no GPU rendering.

My primary program is After Effects, probably 75-80% of my work. I recently purchased an overclocked quad-core workstation.
CPU: i7-6700k - 4.4Ghz
GPU: GTX 1070
RAM: 64GB

The fast processor will be great getting around Cinema, but when it comes to rendering, not so much. So my plan is to build a render station. I had researched the [Ikea Helmer build](http://www.helmer-air.com/), and was planning on that but then came across this [40-thread beast](http://www.techspot.com/review/1218-affordable-40-thread-xeon-monster-pc/#allcomments) on Techspot for around $1000. Since the article was written, which was only a couple months ago, the motherboard is out-of-stock everywhere online.

This is their 40-thread build... I know they're using an expensive GPU and storage drive which puts the build well over $1000, but I don't plan on including those.

CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz - 3.1GHz) x 2
MB: Asrock Rack EP2C612D16-2L2T
RAM: G.Skill 64GB DDR4-2133
GPU: GeForce GTX 980 Ti
HD: Samsung SSD 950 Pro 2TB
PSU: Corsair RM Series RM100x 1000w
Fans: Noctua NH-U12DXi4 x 2

Questions:

1. Can I substitute the [ASRock EP2C612D16C-4L](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157606&cm_re=EP2C612D16-_-13-157-606-_-Product) for the one used in the build [ASRock EP2C612D16-2L2T](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157550&cm_re=EP2C612D16-2L2T-_-13-157-550-_-Product) or is there a better/cheaper MB for my needs for this build?

One user asked a similar question bringing up the differences in the motherboards. I'm not sure if I need all the stuff they bring up that the 2L2T has over the 4L, if my only need for this thing is rendering for C4D.

One motherboard that Newegg does have currently in stock that seems very close to what you used is the ASRock EP2C612D16C-4L. It is over $200 cheaper than the one you used and adds the M.2 option you wished your board had. The main items it does seem to sacrifice are E5-4600 CPU support, NVDIMM support, one less PCIe 3.0 x 8 slot, and no 10G base-T. But just about everything else about this board (SSI EEB, dual socket LGA 2011 R3, Intel C612, 16 DIMM slots) seems identical to the board you used. Any thoughts on this or any other motherboard that could be used as a substitute for yours would be appreciated. Also, any suggestions on a case that can fit a SSI-EEB mobo would be great.

2. If I'm only worried about the number of cores, what GPU can I get by with?

3. Storage - I only need space for OS and Cinema 4D correct? So a small SSD?

4. Any case recommendations?

Thank you

 

[Mr Kagouris]

The techspot build relies on getting some parts for lower-than-retail prices (and buying the CPUs on freaking ebay) and while YT channels and websites make it seem like getting stuff off ebay for cheap is fine and dandy so they can seem like tech gurus, the harsh reality is that it's very easy for you to get scammed and lose the money.

If you can provide a total budget we could recommend the best custom solution you could get for your money.

 

[bambiboom]

magnus1225,

With regards to the proposed rendering /effects processing system, configuring a Supermicro Superworkstation is an attractive solution:

Supermicro SuperWorkstation 7038A-I

Supermicro SuperWorkstation SYS-7038A-I Dual LGA2011 900W Mid-Tower Workstation Barebone System (Black) > $660

The Supermicro SYS-7038A-i provides a case, X10Dai dual LGA20113 motherboard, two CPU coolers, and 900W power supply. the system can be completed quickly as there is no appreciable assembly and no wiring: one only need plug in the CPU's, RAM, GPU, and drives.

Performance of the X10DAi motherboard is very good, Supermicro is a server /workstation specialist- ultra-reliable, and the system is rated to be very quiet.

On Passmark, the average CPU performance rating of a pair of E5-2630 v4 (10-core @ 2.2 /3.1GHz) is: 18224. The highest score using a pair of E5-2630-v4 on Passmark Performance Test use the ASRockRack EP2C612 WS @ 22599 and with a Supermicro X10 DA, the score is 20390. The EP2C612 WS is $400 and a logical choice if the highest performance is expected, though it triggers all the other decisions and efforts inherent in building completely from individual components.

One other approach to the proposed system is to buy a used workstation and upgrade:

Purchased for $270 (with minor cosmetic damage):

HP z620 (Original) Xeon E5-1620 4-core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz) / 8GB (1X 8GB DDR3-1333) / AMD Firepro V5900 (2GB) / Seagate Barracuda 750GB + Samsung 500GB + WD 500GB
[ Passmark System Rating= 2408 / CPU= 8361 / 2D= 846 / 3D = 1613 / Mem =1584 / Disk = 574 ] 7.13.16

After upgrading at a cost of about $800 plus the GPU and 1TB from the system it's replacing (Dell Precision T5500):

HP z620 (2012) (Rev 3) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive (256GB) / 800W > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > HP 2711x (27" 1980 X 1080)
[ Passmark System Rating= 5675 / CPU= 22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D = 3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk = 12640 ] 9.25.16
[Cinebench R15: OpenGL= 115.78 fps / CPU = 2199 cb / Single core 131 cb / MP Ratio 16.84x

That system currently has the highest system rating of any HP z620.

Notice that the CPU rating of 22625 is quite similar to the ASRockRack EP2C612 WS top E5-2630 v4 score of 22599

With is approach, it may well be possible to buy two z620's and using a pair of Xeon E5-2680's 8-core @ 2.7 /3.5GHz now only about $90-120 each, 64GB of RAM, a used Quadro K620 2GB ($100) Samsung 850 Evo 250GB / WD Black 2TB to have two 16-core /32 thread systems at 2.7 / 3.5GHz or 32-cores /64 threads for a cost similar to the new E5-2630 v4 system.

I've had several used workstations (Dell Precision: 390, T5400, T3500, T5500 and HP: z420, z420, z620) in high intensity use and in the last seven years, 100% reliability with zero component failure or data loss.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

CAD / 3D Modeling / Graphic Design:

HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16]

Analysis / Simulation / Rendering:

HP z620 (2012) (Rev 3) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive (256GB) / 800W > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > HP 2711x (27" 1980 X 1080)
[ Passmark System Rating= 5675 / CPU= 22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D = 3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk = 12640 ] 9.25.16