First time building for 3D Animation and Modeling

Iskander · May 9, 2014

Hey guys, I need a lot of help. I want to build a desktop for 3D Animation and Modeling but I don't have any idea of what parts I need or which one is better.

Budget: $1500-$1900 U.S. dollars

Software: 3Ds Max, Mudbox, Photoshop CS6, After Effects CS6 (this is just to play a little)

Gaming: No

Internet: Wireless

Storage: I don't have anything. I'm not sure What is better HDD or SSD (I've heard a combination is better)

I'll be covering the whole pipeline of 3Ds Max (you know Animation, Modeling, Compositing, Rendering, etc...) but focusing on Animation.

I've no idea of some terms like overclocking (I researched but I still don't get it) and some other terms.

I'm not sure what is the relationship of GPU with other desktop parts.

I want a smooth rendering, so I know I need a lot of RAM (right?)

I other words I'm a N00b.

Anyway, I don't have anything (mouse, keyboard, monitor, OS, etc...) The only thing I have is a wacom tablet so I don't have to worry about it (right?)

Don't worry about the software price (I have a student version of 3Ds Max 2015, and Mudbox 2015, I have PS CS6 and After Effects CS6) In other words I don't need the software.

Shipping: I don't really care. Amazon or Neweeg.

Location: Santa Ana, CA. USA

The budget is total after taxes and shipping.

Please help.

Thanks.

zeph_yr · May 9, 2014

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($288.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($98.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($104.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: ATI FirePro V5900 2GB Video Card ($429.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($105.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1752.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 17:49 EDT-0400)

I'm not very familiar with the programs you listed, but I assume they'll all perform better with a professional graphics card.

Iskander · May 9, 2014

zeph_yr :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3GXQc/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($288.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.84 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($98.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($104.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: ATI FirePro V5900 2GB Video Card ($429.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($105.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($97.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1752.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 17:49 EDT-0400)

I'm not very familiar with the programs you listed, but I assume they'll all perform better with a professional graphics card.

Thanks for the quick answer, but I don't really know too much about building so I'm gonna wait for more answers. Thanks again.

atsantiago · May 27, 2014

I am currently building a similar workstation and have received a lot of help. I know you'll want a good amount of RAM, ideally 16 to 32 GB. But that would be top line. You could make do easily with 8 to 16 GB. As for your video card, I'm not too sure with Mudbox, but if it is like ZBrush it will be very hard on the graphics card. I would look for something that at least is a 4 GB graphics card. Also make sure your monitor has a high resolution or the graphics won't matter. All the other hardware I am still learning and probably won't be a good source.

Good luck!

Draven35 · May 29, 2014

8 GB isn't even a good minimum, really. I'm constantly running the baseline machine out of RAM and GPU memory (is has a Quadro 2000 1 GB) when trying to make tests.

Iskander · May 29, 2014

atsantiago :

This is the link to the same post but with more answers, feel free to comment there, thank's: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2138251/1500-1900-animation-build.html

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