First Build $2500 Budget Workstation

[SilentsHardware]

I want opinions on the parts I've chosen for this build I will use for editing in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, little video editing and maybe a tiny bit of gaming.

I chose to go with a 4tb HDD but not sure if i should choose two 2tb instead. I chose the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 Windforce 3x video card, BUT I would like to go with the Asus GeForce GTX 970 Strix just because of the owl...lol. For the power supply i went with EVGA SuperNova 750w 80+ Gold because it looks nice. Operating System, I went with Win 10 Home, don't really think i need the Pro.

My budget is around $2,500, really don't want to go over $3,000. I didn't add monitors(looking to get 2) or peripherals because I'm still doing some research on them. But if anyone can help me on that also, that'd be awesome!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($376.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($104.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH X99 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($308.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($174.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($146.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($196.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB (32/64-bit) ($105.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1916.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-01 01:31 EST-0500

 

[sammy sung]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($376.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus X99-A/USB 3.1 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($203.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($146.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PNY Quadro K4200 4GB Video Card ($773.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX238H 23.0" Monitor ($152.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VX238H 23.0" Monitor ($152.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech G910 Orion Spark Wired Gaming Keyboard ($135.99 @ Best Buy)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($67.39 @ Amazon)
Total: $2662.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-01 02:11 EST-0500

 

[bambiboom]

SilentHarhware,

My approach would be to direct the specification a bit more towards workstation hardware.

Here's an idea based on the Xeon E5-1650 v3 (6-core @ 3.5 /3.8GHz) on an X99 motherboard.

http://ark.intel.com/products/82765/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-1650-v3-15M-Cache-3_50-GHz

This has the benefit of supporting ECC RAM and has 40 PCIe lanes to the 28 of an i7-5820K. The extra lanes are useful as this specification includes two GTX 960's and an x4 Samsung 950 M.2. The dual GTX 960 mean there are two graphics processors and 3,000 CUDA cores for GPU video processing. But, for reasons of image quality, I'd recommend considering a Quadro M4000 which has 8GB memory and supports 10-bit color and high anti-aliasing and for production of 2D graphics and After Effects which is multi-threaded, CPU processing will give better results, but if video and animation are priorities, can be done with GPU processsing. I used to run a Solidworks Quadro driver with x128 anti-aliasing. Using an X99 motherboard with an M.2 socket just cries out for an M.2 SSD - these are just astoundingly fast. The storage drive is a Seagate Constellation ES.3 enterprise drive as these have 128MB of cache instead of 64MB.

The case is especially designed for quiet operation and this is essential for a workstation- "silent hardware".

BambiBoom PixelCannon Cadamodarendergrapharific iWork? TurboBlast ExtremeSignature SuperModel 8000 ®©$$™®£™©™_ 3.1.15

1. CPU: Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 Six-Core Processor 3.5 / 3.8GHz 0GT/s 15MB LGA 2011-v3 CPU> $565

http://ark.intel.com/products/82765/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-1650-v3-15M-Cache-3_50-GHz

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E51650V3BX

2. CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler > $31.

3. Motherboard: ASRock X99 EXTREME4 LGA2011-v3/ Intel X99/ DDR4/ Quad CrossFireX & Quad SLI/ SATA3&USB3.0/ M.2/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard > $201

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157543&cm_re=extreme_4-_-13-157-543-_-Product

4. Memory: 32GB (4X 8GB) Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9S/8G > $204 ($51 each)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139978

5. GPU: 2X EVGA GeForce GTX 960 02G-P4-2966-KR 2GB SSC GAMING w/ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling Graphics Card> $400 ($200 each)

5. ALT: PNY Quadro M4000 VCQM4000-PB 8GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Full Height Workstation Video Card > $859

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G3RH4362&cm_re=quadro_m4000-_-14-132-051-_-Product

6. Drive 1: SAMSUNG 950 PRO M.2 512GB PCI-Express 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V5P512BW> $350 (OS, applications, working files)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147373&cm_re=samsung_850_evo_500gb-_-20-147-373-_-Product

7. Drive 2: Seagate Constellation ES.3 ST4000NM0033 4TB 7200 RPM 128MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Enterprise Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive > $210 (Files, Backup, System Image)

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-W13FZEX

8. Power Supply: SeaSonic S12G S12G-650 650W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Active PFC Power Supply > $90

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-S12G650

9. Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE 24X SATA DVD±RW Internal Drive w/o Software (Black) SH-224DB $17.99

10. Case: Cooler Master Silencio 652S - Silent Mid Tower Computer Case with Sound Dampening Panels, Three Silencio FP 120 Fans, and Multiple Removable Air Filters > $120

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119303&ignorebbr=1

11. OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit w/ SP1 (1-Pack, DVD), OEM MSFQC04649 > $138.99

________________________________________________________

TOTAL = $ 2,329 or $2,788 with Quadro M4000

Monitors: This article is very good on the subject of monitors for your use:

http://thedigitalcamera.net/best-monitor-for-photo-editing-and-photography/

As for monitors, I use a pair of Dell Ultrasharp 27" which I like, but the anti-glare coating spoils the image somewhat. If you can have a low-light situation for working, I'd strongly recommend a glossy - no coating panel. It's usually best to see monitors in person for buying to see the controls and image quality. In you work should really have a colour correcting monitor, but these are expensive- $900 or more for a 24". But this should be very good:

Monitor: BenQ BL2711U UHD 4K Designer Monitor for CAD and Animation Design > $600

http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-BL2711U-Designer-Monitor-Animation/dp/B00RORBPEW

If two of these are in the budget, that's best and it's one of the most important parts of your system. However, you might consider an assymmetrical setup with a larger high quality monitor for the image and a lesser monitor for menus and additional programs.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

Modeling:

1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) > 32GB DDR3 1866 ECC RAM > Quadro K4200 (4GB) > 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 = 5064 > CPU= 13989 / 2D= 819 / 3D= 4596 / Mem= 2772 / Disk= 4555] [Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1014 OpenGL= 126.59 FPS] 7.8.15

Rendering:

2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6 -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z313 > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 / CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3500 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)

 

[Bearmann]

SilentsHardware you have a nice build. An overclocked 6-core provides minimal benefit to Photoshop, some benefit to Lightroom, and good benefit to video processing. Since you are not doing much video editing, I would be inclined to go with an overclocked Skylake i5 or i7.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-After-Effects-CC-2014-Multi-Core-Performance-716/
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-After-Effects-CC-2015-Multi-Core-Performance-714/
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Premiere-Pro-CC-Multi-Core-Performance-698/
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Lightroom-CC-6-Multi-Core-Performance-649/
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Photoshop-CC-Multi-Core-Performance-625/
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Haswell-vs-Skylake-S-i7-4790K-vs-i7-6700K-641/#CPUPerformance-LightroomCC (see the Lightroom and Photoshop tests)

The Asus Strix and the MSI Gaming with the frozr fans are generally the quietest cards available, so if you like a quiet card, go ahead and get the owl

I'm not a fan of water cooling unless it's absolutely necessary, but that is your choice.