Is an entry level Xeon workstation designed for 3D modeling safe to use for animation rendering?

[caxe11]

I was looking at different builds or systems and I came across an entry level Dell T1700 low profile workstation. I am satisfied with the capabilities of the computer for setting up a 3D scene and doing lot's of modeling.

However, in the past with different systems, I had system shutdowns after a 100 frames rendered not GPU, but CPU render. Cooling was also a problem.

The T1700 uses a Xeon E3-1271 v3 and the specs are excellent. Except the low profile and 280 watt energy efficient psu and no additional cooling bring up my question.

Should I model on this and render single images which can still take more than 24 hours to render? or can I also render animations, which with lower requirements can be maybe a couple of thousand frames in a few hours.

For some reason, rendering animations is more intensive I think than a single frame that takes the same amount of time. I'm not an expert, but I need to make sure I don't damage my system. What is the best route for this.

If worse comest to worse, I can send completed animations to a render farm, but I want to know if you guys think that's necessary.

I use Blender 3D with Blender Internal (CPU only renderer)

 

[kanewolf]

The T1700 is available with the mini-tower case. Why not get the larger case?

 

[2009buddyboy2009]

Video rendering is best with multiple core's, you have plenty of cores, so I would say yes, but no, it realy depends. I am not educated in this very well, but in my opinion it should be enough, though I may be wrong. But most likely 90% chance yes, yes it will definitely do it, but only to a certain extent.

 

[2009buddyboy2009]

Also to help with the cooling, get a better cpu cooler, don't use the stock one unless you realy want to risk it. Hope this helps