Question Building new PC for 3D and art work

[Cellie]

I'm building a new computer for work. The software I use work better with CPUs with fewer but more potent cores, plenty RAM (over my current 24GBs), a GPU with lots of VRAM to work with complex scenes with high resolution textures and sculptures in 3D software. Sometimes I game but that's incidental and I'm pretty sure whatever I get will be good enough for gaming too.

My current computer is 10 years old and I wont' be able to reuse much of it. Things I'll keep: Storage, displays and peripherals, case, OS and maybe the WC. I expect to spend around $1000 on it but will up the budget if needed.

Requirements:
- It's a mini ITX and I'd like to keep it mini. That means a more expensive MOBO and GPU size constraints. I'm up for changing the case to one a bit larger if I can't find a GPU that fits my current case.
- SFX PSUs are preferred due the case size (it's literally easier to put the parts together) but I can fit a regular sized ATX PSU in it.
- The GPU has to be NVidia because CUDA. Dimensions constraints of a 2 PCIe slots width (~42mm), maximum length of ~255mm.
- I'd like the CPU to be Intel because I've only had outstanding experiences with them (even in RMA), but I'm fully open to AMD options.
- A mobo with wifi module is preferred. I like the Gigabyte I have and also had good customer service experience with them but I think it'll soon give up the ghost and I want something dependable.
- Components with good thermal ratings are a plus. The case has a good airflow but summers are brutal here and I can't always rely on AC.

Edit: I'll be building it at the start of 2025. If there's some interesting part release around the corner I'm okay with waiting a bit.

 

[Eximo]

You will need to actually list the components you are planning to keep. Can't really make recommendations to fit things in a case if we don't know which one it is.

Nothing really new to come out now. Intel just launched the Ultra 200 series and that would make a decent workstation processor. RTX 5000 series should come out, but that would be only the big cards that would be your entire budget in the near term. But that seems way out of your budget in general.

If we stick with older Intel hardware like 12th gen, could squeeze in an RTX4060 Ti 16GB.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor ($209.98 @ GameStop)
Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB4 Mini ITX LGA1700 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($182.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI VENTUS 2X BLACK OC GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB Video Card ($429.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1002.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-10-25 16:45 EDT-0400

 

[Zerk2012]

I'm building a new computer for work. The software I use work better with CPUs with fewer but more potent cores, plenty RAM (over my current 24GBs), a GPU with lots of VRAM to work with complex scenes with high resolution textures and sculptures in 3D software. Sometimes I game but that's incidental and I'm pretty sure whatever I get will be good enough for gaming too.

My current computer is 10 years old and I wont' be able to reuse much of it. Things I'll keep: Storage, displays and peripherals, case, OS and maybe the WC. I expect to spend around $1000 on it but will up the budget if needed.

Requirements:
- It's a mini ITX and I'd like to keep it mini. That means a more expensive MOBO and GPU size constraints. I'm up for changing the case to one a bit larger if I can't find a GPU that fits my current case.
- SFX PSUs are preferred due the case size (it's literally easier to put the parts together) but I can fit a regular sized ATX PSU in it.
- The GPU has to be NVidia because CUDA. Dimensions constraints of a 2 PCIe slots width (~42mm), maximum length of ~255mm.
- I'd like the CPU to be Intel because I've only had outstanding experiences with them (even in RMA), but I'm fully open to AMD options.
- A mobo with wifi module is preferred. I like the Gigabyte I have and also had good customer service experience with them but I think it'll soon give up the ghost and I want something dependable.
- Components with good thermal ratings are a plus. The case has a good airflow but summers are brutal here and I can't always rely on AC.

Edit: I'll be building it at the start of 2025. If there's some interesting part release around the corner I'm okay with waiting a bit.

You need to list the parts you have now to see what would be a good upgrade. The case is really important for what cooler will fit.

Also what country, where you can buy parts, if the USA do you live near a MicroCenter.

 

[Cellie]

Here's a short list of the other components which I won't keep:
- 10 yo Corsair PSU
- Skylake i5 (6th gen) CPU with matching DDR3 RAM
- GTX 1060 6GB

The displays are 1440p, no plans for ultra uber resolutions or high refresh rates.

I'd like to keep the case (Silverstone SG05). What I like about this case is it's a no-nonsense thing: No silly leds, no acrylics, it's just a tiny white box with decent air flow. I'm open to getting another small discreet one but these are very hard to come by nowadays.

When using an ATX PSU I'm limited to AIO coolers. I'd also like to keep the AIO watercooler (Maelstrom 120t) but now I'm thinking about it the watercooler won't fit recent CPUs so that'll have to go too.

The AIO is a bit tricky, at a quick glance locally I can only find a few single 120mm fan options from recognized brands like Cooler Master, Deepcool, Thermaltake and Corsair . I'll have to research that more carefully, but for now ignore it for the budget.

I don't live in the US. I might import parts from Amazon US if they can't be found locally. When it comes to parts CPU > GPU and thread performance > extra cores. I like to game but this is not a gaming rig.

 

[Zerk2012]

I don't live in the US. I might import parts from Amazon US if they can't be found locally.

So then where do you live and can buy parts from, you have the budget set to 1000 USD but then that's not correct.

Parts availability and prices vary a bunch in different reigns that's why I ask.

82MM CPU cooler height limit in your case could also be a problem.

 

[Cellie]

So then where do you live and can buy parts from, you have the budget set to 1000 USD but then that's not correct.

Parts availability and prices vary a bunch in different reigns that's why I ask.

82MM CPU cooler height limit in your case could also be a problem.

The budget is actually above $1000 to cover the higher prices over here, that number is just to make it easier to suggest things since most big brand parts that available in the US and EU are also available here. Since I'm also not buying it right now I'm not going to rely on flash sales, and if the difference between getting something so-so and something good is just some hundreds I'll just take more work to cover it.

I'm in Brazil. Some online retailers are: amazon.com.br, kabum.com.br, terabyteshop.com.br, pichau.com.br, mercadolivre.com.br. I'm in a large city and also have access to local retailers with some gems and better prices.

 

[helper800]

The budget is actually above $1000 to cover the higher prices over here, that number is just to make it easier to suggest things since most big brand parts that available in the US and EU are also available here. Since I'm also not buying it right now I'm not going to rely on flash sales, and if the difference between getting something so-so and something good is just some hundreds I'll just take more work to cover it.

I'm in Brazil. Some online retailers are: amazon.com.br, kabum.com.br, terabyteshop.com.br, pichau.com.br, mercadolivre.com.br. I'm in a large city and also have access to local retailers with some gems and better prices.

Do you benefit from Intel Quick-sync? Do you need a storage device? Something like this would be best although over budget:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-14600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor ($228.98 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright AXP120-X67 59 CFM CPU Cooler ($30.69 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI Mini ITX LGA1700 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Venom 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($158.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY VERTO GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB Video Card ($439.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone SG05-LITE Mini ITX Desktop Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1138.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-10-25 20:54 EDT-0400

 

[Cellie]

Do you benefit from Intel Quick-sync? Do you need a storage device? Something like this would be best although over budget:
(snip)

Sadly, no. I've been keeping an eye on my computer performance and it's maxing out it's 4 cores at 3.8 GHz when it sputters as I work. The program isn't good at multi-threading but I got few enough cores that with other programs up the other cores are used up too.

That's a pretty interesting i5. I've checked with power users and devs for the app and they repeated speed is better than more cores, like 6 already would do fine, and something with good AVX2 support helps. Even my old CPU has it so this shouldn't be a constraint.

No need for storage, I've got plenty. I neglected to mention my boot drive is a M.2 NVMe which matters for the mobo, but most modern mobos support that.

 

[helper800]

Sadly, no. I've been keeping an eye on my computer performance and it's maxing out it's 4 cores at 3.8 GHz when it sputters as I work. The program isn't good at multi-threading but I got few enough cores that with other programs up the other cores are used up too.

That's a pretty interesting i5. I've checked with power users and devs for the app and they repeated speed is better than more cores, like 6 already would do fine, and something with good AVX2 support helps. Even my old CPU has it so this shouldn't be a constraint.

No need for storage, I've got plenty. I neglected to mention my boot drive is a M.2 NVMe which matters for the mobo, but most modern mobos support that.

Most modern CPUs from Intel just have a bunch of cores. I chose the 14600kf because it can boost its 6 performance cores very high. The 8 efficiency cores do not boost very high an have lower IPC but your programs will use P cores almost exclusively while the e cores will be used for lower priority tasks on the side.

 

[Cellie]

I've been feeling Ryzen-curious as I get closer to purchasing the parts. Is there any obvious disadvantage to creating a build around this instead of the suggested i5s?

CPU: Ryzen 5 9600x 3.9Ghz 6-Core Processor
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX B650-I GAMING WIFI Mini ITX AM5 Motherboard

In terms of budget it's even cheaper because both i5s and mobos for them are bit overpriced around here, the Ryzen being priced the same as the i5s and the mobo cheaper than their Intel equivalents.

 

[Eximo]

Not particularly. Ryzen 5 chips don't boost as high as the Ryzen 7 and 9 parts, but you can fix that with a little overclocking.

You do lose out on the Intel E-cores which can be handy for multitasking and general compute. If you can stretch things, get the 7700X or 9700X.

 

[Cellie]

Hm, between the two 9700X is more attractive because they're both priced nearly the same locally, and while 9700X doesn't have the same eye-popping base clock it seems faster and with a better TDP. I've read a few things suggesting 7700X runs hot, and if it runs hot at temperate climates I shudder to think how it'd behave over here.

I'll keep an eye on deals because anything over 6 cores seems to be overpriced here at the moment. 7700X and 9700X for example are +$125 from 9600X. I know I'll be paying premium but that's a bit ridiculous. 🥲