lajame :
Hello, I've been stumble upon of buying a system within my budget and could do my jobs. Even if my budget is limited low, my tasks are all video and graphic related.
I don't have enough knowledge in computer hardware nor software. Therefore, I need your help before deciding to buy one.
I've been offering an old used Dell Precision Workstation T3500 with these spec:
Processor: Intel Xeon E5620
Memory: 12GB DDR3
Storage: SSD 128GB + HDD 1TB
Graphics Card: Nvidia Quadro 4000 2GB
Price: $610
I don't play game at all. I will only use it solely for Graphic works such as Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, Premiere Pro CC, After Effect CC, Audition CC etc. Is above spec could do the jobs?
Within the budget $610, it's nearly impossible for me build a new PC with decent spec that could fit my cased tasks.
Or, if you have any recommendation, I'd really appreciate your advice.
Thank you in advanced!
lajame,
A Precision T3500 was designed to run those exact programs listed with complete reliability and can be configured to run today at speeds fully competitive with current systems for 1/5 of the cost. For the last seven years I've bought used workstations (Dell Precision: 390, T5400, T5500, T3500, HP z420 4-core, 6-core) and upgraded with perfect reliability and very good performance- sometimes very good performance as the current HP z420 is the highest rated on Passmark.
As I documented the upgrading of a T3500 for a project in systems analysis:
Purchased for $53 + $24 shipping 12.12.15:
Precision T3500 (2011) (
Original) Xeon W3530 4-core @ 2.8 /3.06GHz > 4GB (2X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > GeForce 9800 GT (1GB)> WD Black 500GB
[Passmark system rating =
1963, CPU = 4482 / 2D= 609 / 3D=
805 / Mem= 1409 / Disk=1048]
CPU: $60
RAM: $43
GPU, PERC 6/i and drives left over from another upgrade
TOTAL Expenditure
$185 =
3. Dell Precision T3500 (2011) (
Rev 2) Xeon X5677 4-core @ 3.06 / 3.46GHz > 12GB (6X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > Quadro 4000 (2GB) > PERC 6/i + Seagate 300GB 15K SAS ST3300657SS + WD Black 500GB > 525W PSU> Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell 19" LCD
[Passmark system rating =
2751, CPU = 7236 / 2D= 658 / 3D=
2020 / Mem= 1875 / Disk=1221]
If I add the value of the used parts I added, the total cost is about $350
This is how I studied the upgrade possibilities. The GPU is not as much analyzed as the CPU as I was going to be using a left-over Quadro 4000:
Passmark Ratings:
I. Highest rated Precision T3500 / W3530_ Passmark 12.13.15
A. Rating = 2918 (Quadro 4000 / Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB / 24GB)
B. CPU = 5298
C. 2D = 605 (Quadro 4000)
D. 3D= 2562 ( Quadro 4000)
E. Mem = 1675 (24 GB)
F. Disk = 2677 (Kinsgston HyperX 3K 240GB )
II. Top score T3500 / W3530 by Parameter:
A. Rating = 2918 (Quadro 4000 / Kinsgston HyperX 3K 240GB / 24GB)
B. CPU = 5597 (Quadro FX3800 / W5000AKS / 12GB)
C. 2D = 605 (Quadro 4000)
D. 3D= 5828 (GTX 960)(Highest workstation: 3024 Quadro K4000)
E. Mem = 1750 (24 GB> Quadro 4000)
F. Disk = 8189 (Samsung 840 series)
III. Top scoring T3500 (710 tested_12.13.15):
A. Rating = 4155 (X5690 / GTX 680 / Raid / 12GB)
B. CPU = 9712
C. 2D = 684
D. 3D= 5723
E. Mem = 1878
F. Disk = 5378
IV. Top score T3500 by Parameter:
A. Rating = 4155
B. CPU = 9712 (X5690)
C. 2D = 891 (GTX 570)(Highest workstation: 781 Quadro FX 1800)
D. 3D= 8131 (GTX 970)(Highest workstation: 3024 Quadro K4000)
E. Mem = 1965 (24 GB> Quadro FX1800)
F. Disk = 8189 (Samsung 840 series)
V. Top T3500 with Quadro 4000 (56 tested)
Rating_CPU _____ 2D__ 3D__ Mem ____ Disk
A. 3439 9404 (W3690) 662 1464 2066 (20GB) 4244 (Sam 850 PRO)
VI. Top T3500 / Quadro 4000 by Parameter
A. Rating = 3439
B. CPU = 9652 (W3690)
C. 2D = 692 (W3690)
D. 3D = 2562 (W3530 / Kingston Hyper 240GB, 24GB)
E. Mem = 2066 (24GB) (X5687 /Quadro K4000)
F. Disk = 4244 (W3690 / Sam 850 Pro)
LGA1366 CPU’s:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
http://ark.intel.com/products
4-Core: Passmark CPU Average Ebay_12.13.15
_W-3500 series / 45nm / 8MB cache / 130W / 24GB > 800,1066 / HT
I. W3520
II. W3530 2.8 / 3.06GHz _5372 [5587 actual] _$11 > $65
III. W3540 2.93 / 3.2 _5492
IV. W3550 3.06 / 3.33 _5761
V. W3565 3.2 / 3.46 _6083
VI. W3570 3.2 / 3.46 _6261 _$25 > $50
VII. W3580 3.33 / 3.6 _6586 _$50 > $95
_X-5500 series (8MB cache / 45nm / 95W_ 2009)
I. X5550 2.67 / 3.06 _5422
II. X5560 2.8 / 3.2 _5442
III. X5570 2.93 / 3/33 _5638 _$14 > $45
IV. X5590 3.33 / 3.6 _9216 _$37 >
_W-5500 series (8MB cache / 45nm / 95W_ 2009)
I. W5580 3.2 / 3.46 (130W) _5718 _$21 > $50
II. W5590 3.33 / 3.6 _6314 _$32 > $200
_X-5600 series 32nm/ 8MB/ 95W_ 2011)
I. X5647 2.93 / 3.2 _5996
II. X5667 3.07 / 3.46 _4655 _$16 > $40
III. X5672 3.2 / 3.6 _5148 _$45 > $87
IV. X5677 3.46 / 3.73 (130W)_7046 _$33 > $80
V. X5687 3.6 / 3.86 _7217 _$70 > $130
6-Core
_X-5600 series 32nm / 12MB / 95W_2011)
I. X5660 2.87 / 3.2 _7587 _$68 > [$100] > $180
II. X5675 3.07 / 3.46 _8584 _$78 > [$112] > $215
III. X5680 3.33 / 3.6 (130W) _9011 _$113> [$140] > $274
IV. X5690 3.47 / 3.73 (2011) _9216 _$182 >[$220] > $291
_W-3600 series / 32nm / 12MB / 130W > 24GB >
I. W3670 3.2 / 3.46 (1066) _6261 _$90 > $160
II. W3680 3.33 / 3.6 (1333) _9398 _$140 > $208
III. W3690 3.47 / 3.73 _9703 _$160 > $400
_________________________________________________________
However, a Precision T3500 at $610 with that processor can be far bettered by going a generation newer:
Dell Precision T3600 Workstation | 2.80GHz Xeon | 4gb DDR3 | 250gb | DVD-ROM sold for $232 (2Jan16)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precision-T3600-Workstation-2-80GHz-Xeon-4gb-DDR3-250gb-DVD-ROM-/131688711266?hash=item1ea9424462%3Ag%3AUxIAAOSwk1JWg-AQ&nma=true&si=Ne0b%252Fyr7cmFIpl1Yb38htVsvGKw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
And changing the CPU to an 8-core Xeon E5:
Intel Xeon E5-2680 2.7GHz 8-Core Processor (CM8062107184424) SR0KH > sold for $185 (19Feb16)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-E5-2680-2-7GHz-8-Core-Processor-CM8062107184424-SR0KH-/191760214322?hash=item2ca5cca932:g:5ioAAOSw~otWb1tC
There are then 8-core / 16 threads at 2.7 /3.5GHz,- double a 4-core with 3.5GHz for modeling, and all those 2.7GHz threads for video processing in Premiere, which is fully multi-threaded. Large, high resolution rendering will be faster as well, but especially in video editing, the running time could be cut to less than 1/4.
And add to above system:
1. 64GB of DDR3-1600 ECC unbuffered
2. PERC H310 RAID controller- I bought one NOS for $60 for a Precision T5500
3. A Samsung 850 Evo 500GB or M.2 drive on an M.2 to PCIe adapter for OS/Applications
4. 3X enterprise level mechanical drives in a RAID 1+0 ( I like Seagate Constellation ES.3, and WD RE)
Purchasing the right system, and the upgrade parts at the same time, you can have it up and running on in hours or get it into service and then upgrade as you find the parts. Based on a reliable workstation will give you really good performance for less money and far less effort.
I've bought obsolete workstations for the last seven years and upgraded them with perfect reliability. these systems are also worth a far higher percentage of their original cost when sold. The Dell Precision T5500 listed below cost a total of about $1,000 and after a year's use might be still worth, $1,200 and when sold in three years it may have cost about $50/ year or so.
Just a thought.
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
Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA HBA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)
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)