Looking to build the Ultimate Workstation Need Help Please

Knuckles2002

Honorable
Jan 7, 2013
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0
10,510
Hello All,

I am looking to build a custom workstation for my business. I have a budget of around $5,000. I am doing research on parts, components and configurations and could use help from the pros!

I've been doing a fair amount of research on a custom rig for myself. And it seems the more I research the hard the decisions are to make. I'm tossed between a Workstation or a Gaming system NOTE (I don't Play Games!!). But in the end I am after filthy dirty super fast computer system that will be handle the following very easily:

Now that Cloud computer is ramping up more and more I have been using Amazon's AWS to do my Max Rendering but I still want a fast computer that will allow me to use the following software easily. I want to be able to slide the scrubber across on Max or After Effects and have everything more very smoothly with no pauses, jerks or stops.

1. Programming
2. Graphic Design (Photoshop CS6, Fireworks CS6, etc...)
3. Web development (Dreamweaver CS6 etc...)
4. 3D Max & Maya Development
5. Video Editing (Sony Vega, After Effects etc...)

What I do Want:
- Raid 1 or 5 (not sure yet on type)
- 500gb SSD Drive and 3tb Sata storage drive
- To be able to run 4 - 24" monitors
- At least 3 USB 3 ports
- Be able to handle at least 64 mb Memory
- Windows 7 or 8 (haven't decided yet)
- AC Cooling System to keep it nice and cool

What I don't Need with the System:
- Monitors
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Windows
- Don't Play Games

Questions:
1. What do you think would be the better way to go Xeon or i7 Extreme?
2. Could you suggest some TOP NOTCH systems that are VERY FAST?

Thank you,

Frank
 
Solution
Knuckles2002,

In my view, an LGA2011 base is essential and as the system involves rendering / processing using Autodesk and Adobe products, including viewport applications, the optimal system will be Xeon > ECC RAM > Quadro. the LGA2011 means that in three years, you might change the CPU to a Xeon 8 core / 16 thread up to 12 core / 24 thread for another three year's use. The applications you mention are both 2D and 3D, both CUDA accelerated and OpenGL, and the best graphics card for performance in all these areas is in my opinion the Quadro K5000 (4GB), but a K4000 (3Gb) will do well enough unless you are doing very heavy animation / processing of very large files. If you are adventurous, you might consider a good "new other"...

cooldex

Distinguished
Aug 1, 2012
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3
18,865
So definitely go for an I7 socket 2011 but xeon no too much a bad idea but cost more when a i7 cound handle everything you need like a 4930k or a 4960x and hard drive go for a 2 ssd in raid and 4 TB HDD @7200rpm you actually should go for 4k monitor more things you add on w one screen instead of turning your head all the way to another screen like coping files move your mouse to other screens but 4k stay in one sport everything on one screen its going to be like 4 1080p screens and for 3d design high res screens are idea to see every little mistake and for usb ports most new motherboards have atleast 4usb 3.0 ports.With 64 gb you only can go with a x79 motherboard (socket 2011) and i"ll personally will go with windows 7 for hardcore computing and windows 8 for browsing and watching movies a Duel boot setup and video card i would recommend a full workstation card since no games are involved but gaming gpus are sometimes just as good as a workstation card and if want me to help pick out the parts just ask
 
Knuckles2002,

In my view, an LGA2011 base is essential and as the system involves rendering / processing using Autodesk and Adobe products, including viewport applications, the optimal system will be Xeon > ECC RAM > Quadro. the LGA2011 means that in three years, you might change the CPU to a Xeon 8 core / 16 thread up to 12 core / 24 thread for another three year's use. The applications you mention are both 2D and 3D, both CUDA accelerated and OpenGL, and the best graphics card for performance in all these areas is in my opinion the Quadro K5000 (4GB), but a K4000 (3Gb) will do well enough unless you are doing very heavy animation / processing of very large files. If you are adventurous, you might consider a good "new other" K5000 at about $1100-1200. Another fantastic card for your use would be a used Quadro 6000 (6Gb) at about $1300-1500, especially if there is video editing / processing. I've had five used Quadros over the years and as they are made to run continuously- never a failure. When K5000's used are about $800< I'll change my quad core for a six or eight core also.

Anyway, here is a system that I think would be a very good performer and with a logical, strong upgrade path.

BambiBoom PixelCannon Grapharenderphotorific IWork TurboSignature Extreme VBlast 90000 ®S©$™®£™©™_ 12.6.13

Processor: Processor: Intel Xeon Six-Core Processor E5-1650 v2 3.5 / 3.9GHz 0GT/s 12MB LGA 2011 CPU, OEM > $600 (Not available Amazon or Newegg )

____http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?p=E5-1650&c=fr&pid=2c44208f0b1dcd0cde99479f720367c6945473d18f8a0933a1a8bcd4ed5ec4f2&gclid=CKerxcX37bgCFY2Z4Aod2TEAzQ

____http://ark.intel.com/products/75780/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-1650-v2-12M-Cache-3_50-GHz

Motherboard: Motherboard: ASUS Z9PA-U8 ATX Server Motherboard, C602 chipset, LGA 2011 > $289.99 (Max RAM= 256Gb)

____http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131915&Tpk=ASUS%20Z9PA-U8

RAM: 32GB ( 2 X 16GB) SAMSUNG 16GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR3 1600 Server Memory Model M393B2G70BH0-CK008 $380 > ($190 ea.) (Note the 2X 16Gb modules to start, so the board eventually could be populated up to 8X16 for 128Gb RAM without discarding modules.)

____ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics Card: NVIDIA / HP Quadro K4000 3GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card > $754

____ http://www.amazon.com/HP-Quadro-K4000-Graphic-Card/dp/B...

Hard Drive 1: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD512BW 2.5" 512GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) > $470. (OS , Applications, Working Files)

____ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Hard Drive 2: WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (RAID 1) > $200 (Files, Backup, System Image)

Hard Drive 3: WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (RAID 1) > $200 (Files, Backup, System Image)

____http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-WD2003FZEX/dp/B00FJRS628/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1382357499&sr=1-1&keywords=Western+Digital+2TB+SATA+III+7200+RPM+64+MB+Cache+Bulk%2FOEM+Desktop+Hard+Drive%2C+Black%2C+WD2003FZEX.

Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 900D CC-9011022-WW Black Aluminum ATX Super Tower Computer Case $349.99

____http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139019&Tpk=Corsair%20Obsidian%20Series%20900D..

Power Supply: SeaSonic G-750 SSR-750RM 750W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply $110.

____http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151132&Tpk=SeaSonic%20G-750

Cooling: Noctua NH-U12S 120x120x25 ( NF-F12 PWM) SSO2-Bearing ( Self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing ) CPU Cooler $70

____http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608040&Tpk=Noctua%20NH-U12S

DVD Burner: ASUS Black 16X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 12X BD-ROM SATA Blu-ray Burner BW-16D1HT > $109.99

____ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135306

TOTAL = $3,531 ( Add about $1,000 for Quadro K5000).


Cheers,

BambiBoom


1> HP z420 (2013) > Xeon E5-1620 quad core @ 3.6 / 3.8GHz > 24GB ECC 1600 RAM > Quadro 4000 > Samsung 840 SSD 250GB /Western Digital WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > AE3000 USB WiFi // Windows 7 Professional 64 > Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013, Inventor Pro2011, Solidworks 2010, Adobe CS6 MC, Corel Technical Design X-5, Sketchup Pro, WordP Office X-6, MS Office Pro+2013

2> Dell Precision T5400 (2009) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB ECC 667> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > HP 2711x 27" 1920 x 1080 > AutoCad, Solidworks, Sketchup 8 Pro, Corel Technical Designer, Adobe CS MC, WordP Office, MS Office

Uses > Architecture, industrial design, graphic design, rendering, writing

 
Solution