Configuration for 3D image rendering

seyoum · May 13, 2009

What is the best pc configuration for 3D image rendering and large volume data analysis? Can anyone come up with list of compatible products for new build? I am going to install image processing and simulation software.

Budget: $1500-$1700

aevm · May 13, 2009

This sounds like a job for Intel's i7 920 CPU.

i7 920 $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

P6T Deluxe V2 $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

OCZ Gold 6GB DDR3 - get two sets, total $160 for 12GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Add a HD 4770 graphics card, a Corsair 550VX or 650TX, an Antec 300 case, a SH-S223Q burner, etc.

Add a Scythe Mugen 2 cooler if you're interested in overclocking.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

Add some hard drives (a WD1001FALS or several, as needed).

Kill@dor · May 13, 2009

Those Asus boards are selling like hot cakes!!!

Why isn't anyone getting the MSI eclipse?

aevm · May 13, 2009

I think it's because that P6T v2 overclocks really well. It's also got one of the smartest layouts of all x58 boards, with enough room for multiple big graphics cards.

r_manic · May 14, 2009

I would recommend no overclocking for tasks like overclocking, where CPU stability is paramount. True, well-executed OCs are stable as heck, but an undetected glitch caused by OC can ruin the entire rendering process.

arogot · May 14, 2009

Just built my pc and i use 3ds max hope my specs help you out in your choice. def needs the work of an i7 920

my specs:
i7 920 (two oc setup's odd i know but one for stability is at 3.4 and other for pure i7 godlyness 4.2)
evga x58
ocz 6 gig gold set to 9x9x9x24 at 1600 (had to tinker in bios to get that)
gtx 260 core 216 (for the occasional game but mainly braging rights i guess?)
xigmatec 750 watt modular (must go modular)
antec 900 to show off my 3d max monster!
wd 640 gb caviar black (hoping to add a raptor for faster start up/application opening)
v-8 cooling for the beast

gkay09 · May 14, 2009

aevm :

^+1
But change the RAM to this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

And to this Workstation graphics card if you want a Pure 3D Rendering PC and not interested in gaming...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133273

CASE -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

HDD -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

aevm · May 14, 2009

Oops, your HDD link points to the RC-690 again. Did you mean the WD 640GB Caviar Black or a Velociraptor maybe?

Good point about the workstation graphics card.
@OP: check your software's manual, see if it would benefit from a special workstation card.

seyoum · May 14, 2009

gkay09 :

What PSU is appropriate for this biuld?

aevm · May 14, 2009

Corsair 550VX should be enough. That card consumes only 40W or so.

gkay09 · May 15, 2009

aevm :

My bad...I wanted to suggest the WD Black 640...
No way I would suggest a Velociraptor :kaola:

And +1 for the Corsair 550VX...
It has enough power(Actually more than enoughpower) for that setup...

aevm · May 15, 2009

About the Velociraptor, frankly, I don't know...

I never recommend it for gaming boxes (that is, most posts on this forum) because the benefits there are too small for the price. This however will be a working machine. Let's say the OP earns $20 an hour, and a $160 Velociraptor saves him just one hour a week compared to a regular drive. It pays off for itself in two months...

seyoum · May 15, 2009

aevm :

Thank you so much.
I am getting closer to ordering the parts.

Do I have to also order CPU fan? The specs for i7 shows that heatsink and fan included. Please bear with me as I am new to PC building.

Thanks again

aevm · May 15, 2009

You don't need to order a CPU fan. The one you get with the i7 920 will do all right. Only enthusiasts who overclock the CPU need to order a separate (and better) CPU fan.

seyoum · May 15, 2009

Because I have large volume data and also planning triplebooting (Windows xp, vista, Ubuntu) I would prefer having HDD with over 1TB. Should I get one Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS 1TB or two WD 640GB Black? I wouldn't mind getting different HDDs if they are better than these two both interms of cost and quality.

Thanks

aevm · May 15, 2009

I'd suggest WD1001FALS drives. That's the Caviar Black 1TB, consumer version. It's $100 these days at Newegg.

The WD1002FBYS is basically the same drive, but optimized for RAID and for 24/7 operation and tested more thoroughly. It costs $160.

The difference is negligible in normal home use, and it comes mostly from better tolerance to vibrations. That is, if a truck passes in front of your home, the regular drive may lose the track and waste 4 ms to find it again, while the RE3 drive has a better chance to avoid that. That's the theory. I doubt it matters in practice in a home. It matters in a room full of servers where there are thousands of drives vibrating, I guess.

Still, for a work machine, the extra reliability may be worth $60 more. You decide. Mind you, the WD1001FALS is very reliable already, and you should back up your work often anyway.

There are also the Green drives, like WD15EADS, but those are ideal IMO only for rarely accessed files or for storing movies. That is, they are slower and would reduce your productivity if you use them for frequently modified data files.

The WD640 GB Black is the same drive as the WD1001FALS, but with 2 platters instead of 3. Same performance, reliability, etc. A bit more expensive per GB. I used to recommend the 640GB a lot, but these days the sweet spot is the 1TB drive.

seyoum · May 16, 2009

aevm :

I'd suggest WD1001FALS drives. That's the Caviar Black 1TB, consumer version. It's $100 these days at Newegg.

The WD1002FBYS is basically the same drive, but optimized for RAID and for 24/7 operation and tested more thoroughly. It costs $160.

The difference is negligible in normal home use, and it comes mostly from better tolerance to vibrations. That is, if a truck passes in front of your home, the regular drive may lose the track and waste 4 ms to find it again, while the RE3 drive has a better chance to avoid that. That's the theory. I doubt it matters in practice in a home. It matters in a room full of servers where there are thousands of drives vibrating, I guess.

Still, for a work machine, the extra reliability may be worth $60 more. You decide. Mind you, the WD1001FALS is very reliable already, and you should back up your work often anyway.

There are also the Green drives, like WD15EADS, but those are ideal IMO only for rarely accessed files or for storing movies. That is, they are slower and would reduce your productivity if you use them for frequently modified data files.

The WD640 GB Black is the same drive as the WD1001FALS, but with 2 platters instead of 3. Same performance, reliability, etc. A bit more expensive per GB. I used to recommend the 640GB a lot, but these days the sweet spot is the 1TB drive.

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I decided to have Western Digital RE3 1TB 3.5" for installing OPs and WD6401AALS Black for data storage.

seyoum · May 16, 2009

I would like to earnestly thank everyone of you for contributing your expertise freely so that I would be able to have the right PC for the work I need. It is indeed a privilege!!!!!!!!!!

I have put all parts in the cart for checkout from Newegg. As I place my order, I thought I still have one major issue a head of me.

1> Can I get a guide for setting up the PC after assembling the parts. Is there any link for a good read for some one who builds pc for the first time. All I need is knowing what I will do in between the first power up and installation of Windows xp 64. At what stage do I install drivers that come with parts?

2> This one is just not something that I should ask but I thought not bad if one knows for sure. Does it realy make any difference if the shipping is UPS Guaranteed 3 day delivery or Fedex 3 day express? If the UPS's handling is poor for parts like CPU, I wouldn't mind paying extra 100 bucks for Fedex.

Once again Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait until parts arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

seyoum · May 16, 2009

aevm :

I would like to earnestly thank everyone of you for contributing your expertise freely so that I would be able to have the right PC for the work I need. It is indeed a privilege!!!!!!!!!!

I have put all parts in the cart for checkout from Newegg. As I place my order, I thought I still have one major issue a head of me.

1> Can I get a guide for setting up the PC after assembling the parts. Is there any link for a good read for some one who builds pc for the first time. All I need is knowing what I will do in between the first power up and installation of Windows xp 64. At what stage do I install drivers that come with parts?

2> This one is just not something that I should ask but I thought not bad if one knows for sure. Does it realy make any difference if the shipping is UPS Guaranteed 3 day delivery or Fedex 3 day express? If the UPS's handling is poor for parts like CPU, I wouldn't mind paying extra 100 bucks for Fedex.

Once again Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait until parts arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aevm · May 17, 2009

You may need to go into the BIOS screens and change some settings, e.g. memory timings.

Download the latest drivers from nVidia or ATI (not sure what card you ended up with) using another PC first. Don't go on the Internet with the new PC until it has an antivirus and firewall running.

Install Windows, then drivers, then antivirus/firewall, then whatever programs you need. Also download and run memtest86, prime95, CoreTemp.

UPS/Fedex - I wouldn't pay an extra $100 for Fedex. I've ordered some DVDs from the UK (two sets of 36 and 40 DVDs respectively) last year, and UPS brought them all the way to Canada without breaking anything. Of course, maybe UPS employees in the USA are not as good, how would I know...

renderstudent · Mar 3, 2014

arogot :

Hi,
Are you still using this computer ? if you upgraded, could you please tell us what is your latest configuration ?

Configuration for 3D image rendering

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