~$2000 Computer build to be used for Graphics/BOINC

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krodista

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Approximate Purchase Date: In under a month (if all works out)

Budget Range: ~$2000, but willing to go up or down if no performance gain. I just dont want to spend money senselessly, but want a nice machine.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Graphic design (Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop; mostly. Flash and video editing; less often). This system will also run BOINC as we get credit in my company for running this software. Tech savy boss.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Need the whole computer minus the screens, keyboard, mouse and DVD drive (which I will pull from existing machine)

Do you need to buy OS: No - will run windows 7 which is currently on computer.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: NewEgg or Amazon.

Location: City, State/Region, Country - FL<USA

Parts Preferences: Gigabyte, Corsair and Lian-li case

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Yes, Maybe. From what I have read, its better to SLI than single card anymore. Let me know if this thinking is wrong.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Current computer running too slow, employer offering for me to build one.

Parts:
Intel Core: i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor $307.27
CPU Cooler : Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler $108.98
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard $189.99
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $146.40
Storage : Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk $89.99
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $68.73
Video Card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) $449.99 FREE $449.99 Amazon Buy
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) $449.99 FREE $449.99 Amazon Buy
Case: Lian-Li PC-9F ATX Mid Tower Case $104.40
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80 PLUS Platinum Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $186.98

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/krodista/saved/226y

Current Total: $2102.32

Thanks.
 
Solution
g-unit1111
It's a pretty decent start, I'd change a few things around. I'd drop the liquid cooler for a strong air fan, and the software included with the AX860 is kind of a gimmick and not really ready for prime time.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($60.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($125.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99...
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krodista

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not sure if I am totally wrong with the components I am picking here or if there are places I should or could skimp in and have similar performance. Will all the parts play well together?
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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It's a pretty decent start, I'd change a few things around. I'd drop the liquid cooler for a strong air fan, and the software included with the AX860 is kind of a gimmick and not really ready for prime time.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($60.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($125.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: ATI FirePro V5800 1GB Video Card ($349.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Titanium Grey) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1495.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-26 13:59 EDT-0400)

- Switched out the GTX 770 for a professional grade GPU
- Better PSU
- Low profile RAM
- Strong air cooler as opposed to closed liquid loop
 
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krodista

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G-unit - thank you for the reply. As I am nearly a complete novice, I do have some questions to ask about your build suggestions. I understand the air cooler part, I had never used liquid cooling in the past. Everything i have read about dual GTX 770 puts them miles ahead of the V5800, so is it something that I am missing that makes this better. I honestly dont know enough to know better, jut trying to learn. Also, I keep reading that as far as power supplies that there are a couple trusted sources and not to go with any off brands. Is PC power and cooling silencer a better choice then a tried and true brand? Just curious to reasoning.

Lian-Li used to be a good source of cases from what I had heard from friends, are they no longer. Is Fractal Design better at cooling?

Also, if anyone else has advice or potential builds, please let me know
 
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A

AxlFone

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This is good case.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/08/12/silverstone-ft02r-w-review/
LianLi is good too :)

What kind of Graphics you do?

I was just thinking maybe better buy Intel 3930k and X-79 MoBo. There is coming out new 4960 cpu in month or two. So maybe better wait for the new one to come in store. Maybe too much memory in this build^^
Like this
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lUqa
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lUqa/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lUqa/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($499.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($235.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($124.20 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($124.20 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Silverstone SST-FT02B-W-USB3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($261.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.94 @ Newegg)
Total: $2121.24
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-29 09:24 EDT-0400)


Or build like this.
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lU7r
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lU7r/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1lU7r/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($279.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($124.20 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Fractal Design Core 3000 USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.94 @ Newegg)
Total: $1479.05
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-29 09:17 EDT-0400)

Here the case is not best but not wort ither.
Fractal r4 is silent case.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl
 
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krodista

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Long story short, I finally found out if my computer build would be approved or not and they have said that I can budget more for a computer than I had initially thought. Which means I have roughly $3K to work with now instead of $2K. I would still like to be respectful about the budget however though, so if it were now $2500-$2800, what would you change in the build to make it better?
 
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greg611

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About a month ago I built a similar computer to what you first suggested (same cpu, Asus Deluxe mobo, single GTX 770 gpu, Corsair AX760i power supply, 16g Corsair Vengence RAM) and it's handling large Photoshop/Lightroom files beautifully. If I were in your shoes I'd be fantasizing over big monitors :) Also- I'd go bigger with the SSD drive since the budget is there.
 
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krodista

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socialassassin, Will the 4930 be that much of a step pver the 3930?

Greg611, I looked over the lists of what people had posted to me and included a 2nd video card for SLI (not sure if I would need a larger PSU for this as well). I feel it could easily go with just a single video card though. Maybe just step to one 780, but I feel 2 770s in SLI may be faster.

Below is the update with the advice given from Axlfone, Im not a huge fan of the case, but if it cools better, that is all that matters. I already have a pair of large screen monitors, so I am set in that department, so all I need is the new computer as this one has aged itself dramatically over the years and is quite sluggish.

I really appreciate any and all insight you can give. Should I stick more with my initial build or go with more of something as I have posted now? Would you add or take away anything from either?

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/krodista/saved/2cO6

 
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socialassassin

socialassassin

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I don't think there are benchmarks yet, but it should be at least 5-10% faster and more power efficient.
 
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krodista

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sadly with the way that budget works around here, if I dont allocate something soon, Ill be waiting till this time next year to get something in. Things can change around somewhat, but I have to give an exact number and the items I would be purchasing. As such, Ill need to stick with things that are currently out sadly. Which leads me back to asking which of the two builds that I have would be a better fit at this given moment. I know its not going to be the most optimized, but it will be better than anything I have now.


 
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greg611

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Honestly they both look great and I'm sure you'll get solid performance from each build. I will leave it to more knowledgeable folks to figure out which will be better for you since the build I mentioned was my first. I'm a heavy Photoshop user and Avid newb and can tell you that adjustments made to a 500mb panoramic image took about as long as adjustments to a 30mb tif file did on my old machine (first gen i7)-- by that I mean nearly instant. Will be doing some color correction in Avid soon and will find out how quickly rendering, etc. goes but haven't had time to that yet.
I'll give a thumbs up to the case I chose- Corsair 650D. First time builder and I had no trouble making it nice and neat. Super super quiet too.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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The V5800 is a professional grade card and as such they're a bit slower in terms of rendering times. They're meant for use with heavy CAD and Photoshop where you need the smooth, fine redraws. If you want to use your PC for uses like rendering the GTX or an NVIDIA K4000 would be a better purchase.

Lian Li makes good cases, but they're way overpriced compared to the competition.
 
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