Need Input on $2500 Workstation/Gaming Setup.

[cynnex]

Hi all,

I'm looking at putting together a workstation for my personal rig and would like some input. I'll be looking to get the system either end of this/next month or early November but I would love to hear from you guys first before i make any final decisions.

The primary use would be to run Maya, Zbrush, Mudbox, UDK and Photoshop with a bit of gaming on the side.

My budget is around $2500 but I'm willing to give it a bit of leeway if it's worth it. I hear good things about the gtx780 but I'm wondering if it's worth spending an extra $300 for the gpu power would downgrading to a 4gb770 and add another hard drive/memory instead be a better solution?

Also, is there any benefit to getting a k series cpu if i'm not going to be doing any overclocking?

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/b/FHz

cpu: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
gpu: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card
cooler: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro 81.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150
memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133
ssd: Samsung Series:840 Pro 128GB 2.5" SSD
hdd: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM
case: Thermaltake Armor Reveo ATX Mid Tower Case
power supply: Thermaltake 750w Tough Power Gold
monitor: 24" ASUS PA248Q
os: windows 7 64-bit



cheers

 

[ryan27968]

this is a good build but there are some things i would change: i would pay up and get the 780, i would rather get a corsair hydro series water cooler, such as a corsair h80i or a h60i, and i would get windows 8. windows 8 is the future whether people choose to embrace it or not, and it is actually much much better once you are used to it.

 

[ryan27968]

the ONLY advantage to the k is the overclocking. thats it. however, i would still get it as it makes your purchase more future proof(when it starts to get slow in 5 years time, you can just overclock it) and it is not very much more expensive.

 

[AxlFone]

If you build a WORKSTATION the do it like this. You really do not need 4GB memory to video card. 2133MHz memory is not making any benefit. Get just regular 1600MHz memory kit. Better case and psu. For monitor I have one for you in the end. You do not want lots of noice from water cooler. Take good silent air cooler. Water cooler can make leak or cheap pump may fail you soon. You can make this with two GTX 760 is sli and then you have more power than one GTX 780. And it still cheaper than one 780. SSD samsung pro is really good. But this is lots of cheaper and you will not notice difrence by using it. HDD you can take 1TB drive if that is enough. Case. Good caseand you do not need any case fans. Air flow is great and silent too. Corsair 800/900D is good case too. Enjoy

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1CuaI
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1CuaI/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1CuaI/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($579.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($233.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($398.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone FT02B-W ATX Mid Tower Case ($238.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic X Series 850W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($166.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($16.00 @ Newegg)
Total: $2094.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-11 08:42 EDT-0400)

With this build you can use 1866MHz memory because cpu supprts it

Then the monitor. http://www.amazon.com/QNIX-QX2710-Evolution-LED-Monitor/dp/B00BUI44US

 

[manofchalk]

^ Much better IMO, though I would go for 8GB RAM sticks just to leave yourself more future upgradability and you don't need as expensive a case ($240 for a Mid-Tower is nuts).
Also I wouldnt go for as massive resolution screen as you an get, I would be inclined to go for several. Get yourself three cheap 1080p IPS panel monitors on a rig like that and your set.

Though considering those are US prices and not Australian, you might have to cut down on the rig. I would sacrifice the PSU (maybe a Silverstone Strider Plus instead) and the GPU first.

 

[AxlFone]

Must remember that monitor is good as the dell 27" 2560*1440 and that costs lot more.
So this is lot saving too. Sure new chip like 4930k is good buy now when it is new.
Then priceare lower than in two monts or so. I have noticed this.
Sure Silverstone is expensive. But build quality is really high. Must think what is cost if you use it 10 year or so. One good cheaper new case corsair air 540?
http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/carbide-series-pc-case/carbide-series-air-540-high-airflow-atx-cube-case.html
Just need to remove noisy fans and trow in more silent ones IMO.

 

[cynnex]

what're your thoughts on the ASUS MX279H? Cause it seems as though the only way I'll be even be able to get the Qnix would be through amazon or Newegg and I'm a little apprehensive on going with a brand that I'm unfamiliar with.

 

[AxlFone]

Asus is good monitor. But. a big BUT. I m goingto order that same QNIX in later this year so.
I think it best buy monitor at this time. Samsung makes tha panel so it can not be that bad?
Look review trugh internet of that monitor.