Recommended Build for Digital Art + 1440p gaming

[CK7]

I'm looking to get a system for primarily digital painting in Photoshop, some 3D work in Blender, and 1440p 60fps maxed gaming.

I already have a HDD & dual OS: Windows 7 + Linux LTS

Single GPU only. No overclocking. 16GB RAM.

Budget it about $2500CAN, including single 1440p ~25" monitor, but flexible. Or around $1800 USD.

GPU's are more expensive in Canada than the US: http://www.canadacomputers.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=gtx+1080&sid=1h304uc2o77u016dpqm8jtbdr0&x=0&y=0

so a 1080 is probably out of the question.

 

[raisonjohn]

Here's a suggested ~$2200 CAN build:

Used i7-6700 (6th-gen Skylake) as you won't overclock and you are using Windows 7 (the 7th-gen Kaby Lake only works with Windows 10). Although the included Intel stock CPU cooler will be fine, I had it replaced for a more quiet one for an affordable price.

Got the B150M (mATX size) motherboard as you will only use a single GPU, more affordable, and still can support all the connectors that you will generally need. Got the 16GB (2x8GB) RAM modules as Windows 7 (Home) might not support more than 16GB of RAM. The larger RAM capacity would be beneficial for your editing work.

Suggested a storage capacity system (depends on your preference, of course). Generally, the 250GB SSD would serve as your system drive and programs/applications. The 500GB SSD may serve as your "working drive" with transfer speeds with the 250GB SSD as fast as it should be. There would be enough space for a lot of games you also wish to install in the 2nd SSD. The 3TB HDD (5400rpm) can serve as your general storage/database or backup drive. It can also accommodate some seldom-played games if you wish.

Video card is GTX 1070 to complement the 1440p/60Hz monitor resolution/refresh rate you would be using. Case is a good-quality mATX, enough space for good airflow, aesthetics, and possible DVD/CD/Bluray drive bays if you so wish to install.

Got a high-quality (7-year warranty) EVGA SuperNOVA G3 PSU, with more than enough amps/watts (~550W) to power your entire system with headroom for future expansion.

The monitor is what you prefer, at 1440p/60Hz. I picked an IPS which is great for the type of work you will do. It has relatively low input lag (4ms) which may be suitable for casual gaming.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($393.23 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 35.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($23.97 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI B150M BAZOOKA PLUS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($94.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($142.00 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($219.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($113.00 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($549.98 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($118.98 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ DirectCanada)
Monitor: Acer G257HU smidpx 25.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor ($358.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $2244.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-22 00:31 EDT-0400

 

[Lucky_SLS]

i would recommend the 8 core ryzen for ur cpu intensive tasks :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD RYZEN 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($407.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($110.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($134.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: ADATA Premier Pro SP920 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Windforce OC Video Card ($499.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Deepcool KENDOMEN Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: Asus PB277Q 27.0" 2560x1440 75Hz Monitor ($449.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1827.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-22 01:34 EDT-0400

 

[raisonjohn]

Doesn't Ryzen require Windows 10 as well?

 

[Lucky_SLS]

Doesn't Ryzen require Windows 10 as well?

damn, u r right 🙁

 

[CK7]

Here's a suggested ~$2200 CAN build:

Used i7-6700 (6th-gen Skylake) as you won't overclock and you are using Windows 7 (the 7th-gen Kaby Lake only works with Windows 10). Although the included Intel stock CPU cooler will be fine, I had it replaced for a more quiet one for an affordable price.

Got the B150M (mATX size) motherboard as you will only use a single GPU, more affordable, and still can support all the connectors that you will generally need. Got the 16GB (2x8GB) RAM modules as Windows 7 (Home) might not support more than 16GB of RAM. The larger RAM capacity would be beneficial for your editing work.

Suggested a storage capacity system (depends on your preference, of course). Generally, the 250GB SSD would serve as your system drive and programs/applications. The 500GB SSD may serve as your "working drive" with transfer speeds with the 250GB SSD as fast as it should be. There would be enough space for a lot of games you also wish to install in the 2nd SSD. The 3TB HDD (5400rpm) can serve as your general storage/database or backup drive. It can also accommodate some seldom-played games if you wish.

Video card is GTX 1070 to complement the 1440p/60Hz monitor resolution/refresh rate you would be using. Case is a good-quality mATX, enough space for good airflow, aesthetics, and possible DVD/CD/Bluray drive bays if you so wish to install.

Got a high-quality (7-year warranty) EVGA SuperNOVA G3 PSU, with more than enough amps/watts (~550W) to power your entire system with headroom for future expansion.

The monitor is what you prefer, at 1440p/60Hz. I picked an IPS which is great for the type of work you will do. It has relatively low input lag (4ms) which may be suitable for casual gaming.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($393.23 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 35.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($23.97 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI B150M BAZOOKA PLUS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($94.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($142.00 @ Vuugo)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($219.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($113.00 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($549.98 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($118.98 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ DirectCanada)
Monitor: Acer G257HU smidpx 25.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor ($358.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $2244.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-22 00:31 EDT-0400

Holy crap, thank you so much for this build!

You've turned me onto some great deals and sites I had no idea existed (I've been living outside Canada quite a few years now). I don't think I need quite that much storage, so this can be done for under $2000. Awesome!