Looking to build a CAD rig or buy a pre-built computer

[dgshelto]

I'm looking to build my own computer or purchase a pre-built for under $700. I would like the computer to run modeling programs (SolidWorks, Inventor, etc) with ease as well as have the capacity to run games (eg BattleField 3) with decent resolution. Any recommendations on hardware or pre-builts? Thanks.

 

[robax91]

Build it yourself and save a ton of money!

Do you already have a case? Keyboard and mouse? Operating system? HDD? What do you already have???

http://pcpartpicker.com/1XQwK

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($197.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($72.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $759.23

Reasons for parts:

1. CPU- very good for rendering and still has good gaming potential, will lower render times, is over clock ready
2. GPU- checked some benchmarks on maya, CAD, and some other programs, this card is very good/cheap compared to $1,000 workstation cards and still manages to land in some of the top benchmark spots, it's also a very good gaming card.
3. RAM- I'm not sure if 16GB is quite necessary, but right now those are on sale and they are very fast, which lowers rendering time, 2133 at CAS 9 at the price of 1600 CAS 9 8GB, what more could you ask for
4. MOBO- solid, cheap, has 6GB SATA, other good features and price are great, good reviews
5. PSU- high build quality, enough power, semi-modular to get extra cables out of the box
6. HDD- fast 7200rpm, cheap, large 64MB cache, 1TB space

A bit over budget but worth the cost if you consider how much workstation PC's cost. I can't really reccommend other gaming GPUs after seeing the performance benchmarks for the 280x, it just does too well compared to the $1000-3000 dollar cards to ignore (it costs just $300) and it even beats faster gaming GPUs in some tests. The extra price you pay will be worth it, however if you really wanted to knock $80 or so off of this build you can get an FX-6300 instead of the 8350, which would make your render times longer, but you could get an aftermarket cooler with it and OC it pretty far with a nice cooler like a 212 EVO.

 

[dgshelto]

Build it yourself and save a ton of money!

Do you already have a case? Keyboard and mouse? Operating system? HDD? What do you already have???

http://pcpartpicker.com/1XQwK

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($197.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($72.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $759.23

Reasons for parts:

1. CPU- very good for rendering and still has good gaming potential, will lower render times, is over clock ready
2. GPU- checked some benchmarks on maya, CAD, and some other programs, this card is very good/cheap compared to $1,000 workstation cards and still manages to land in some of the top benchmark spots, it's also a very good gaming card.
3. RAM- I'm not sure if 16GB is quite necessary, but right now those are on sale and they are very fast, which lowers rendering time, 2133 at CAS 9 at the price of 1600 CAS 9 8GB, what more could you ask for
4. MOBO- solid, cheap, has 6GB SATA, other good features and price are great, good reviews
5. PSU- high build quality, enough power, semi-modular to get extra cables out of the box
6. HDD- fast 7200rpm, cheap, large 64MB cache, 1TB space

A bit over budget but worth the cost if you consider how much workstation PC's cost. I can't really reccommend other gaming GPUs after seeing the performance benchmarks for the 280x, it just does too well compared to the $1000-3000 dollar cards to ignore (it costs just $300) and it even beats faster gaming GPUs in some tests. The extra price you pay will be worth it, however if you really wanted to knock $80 or so off of this build you can get an FX-6300 instead of the 8350, which would make your render times longer, but you could get an aftermarket cooler with it and OC it pretty far with a nice cooler like a 212 EVO.

This is great, thank you! And I have the basics (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc) but none of the hardware associated with the computer itself (case, motherboard, basically all the things you listed). How hard is it to assemble everything? Or is there a tutorial I can follow?

 

[robax91]

Here is a good 3 part series to explain it.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok

 

[dgshelto]

Great thanks again. Is there anything else I'd need, such as a case for it all?

 

[robax91]

List everything you already have.

1. keyboard
2. mouse
3. monitor
4. ??? operating system??
5. ?? hard disk drive??

 

[dgshelto]

I have everything but the computer hardware/software (noted above)

 

[Brian Grunder]

Build it yourself and save a ton of money!

Do you already have a case? Keyboard and mouse? Operating system? HDD? What do you already have???

http://pcpartpicker.com/1XQwK

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($197.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($72.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $759.23

Reasons for parts:

1. CPU- very good for rendering and still has good gaming potential, will lower render times, is over clock ready
2. GPU- checked some benchmarks on maya, CAD, and some other programs, this card is very good/cheap compared to $1,000 workstation cards and still manages to land in some of the top benchmark spots, it's also a very good gaming card.
3. RAM- I'm not sure if 16GB is quite necessary, but right now those are on sale and they are very fast, which lowers rendering time, 2133 at CAS 9 at the price of 1600 CAS 9 8GB, what more could you ask for
4. MOBO- solid, cheap, has 6GB SATA, other good features and price are great, good reviews
5. PSU- high build quality, enough power, semi-modular to get extra cables out of the box
6. HDD- fast 7200rpm, cheap, large 64MB cache, 1TB space

A bit over budget but worth the cost if you consider how much workstation PC's cost. I can't really reccommend other gaming GPUs after seeing the performance benchmarks for the 280x, it just does too well compared to the $1000-3000 dollar cards to ignore (it costs just $300) and it even beats faster gaming GPUs in some tests. The extra price you pay will be worth it, however if you really wanted to knock $80 or so off of this build you can get an FX-6300 instead of the 8350, which would make your render times longer, but you could get an aftermarket cooler with it and OC it pretty far with a nice cooler like a 212 EVO.

Is this still your recommendation of parts, be it 2 years ago? Or is there some better options now?