Advice on building a workstation $2000-3000 budget -- Adobe CS6/CC

jin410

Distinguished
Jul 7, 2009
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18,510
Dear all,

Looking for some advice on building some workstations for my company's graphic design department. We are currently using Mac Pro's (silver towers with a few black cylinder models) but with the new cylinder design models costing us about $3500, I wanted to know what alternative options we might have. All of our current computers have 2 monitors (22-24" 1920x1080), SSD bootable, Wacom tablets, 16 GB of ram. In addition to an all custom built system, I am also looking to HP workstations, mainly the z640 and z840.

Our design teams is currently using the Adobe CS6 suite, they mainly use Photoshop, Illustrator and a custom web app (not related to CS6 but all 3 will be running at the same time). Some of our designers have started using Cinema 4D as well (not for animation, for image rendering) and when we eventually switch to CC (sometime in the next year, more then 6months away), I anticipate that we will start using After Effects more.



  • Budget: $2000-$3000
    Location: USA (NY/NJ)
    Use: Workstation - For graphic designers at my company. Not for gaming
    Over Clocking: No
    Monitors: 2 @ 1920x1080
    SLI: maybe
    Peripherals: N/A - we have monitors already, will buy keyboards/mouse separate if needed.
    Operating System not required: Doesn't need to be in the budget, we will most likely use windows 8.1
    Also need advice on graphic card: Quadro vs GTX. I want to stick with Nvidia. I will most likely get 1 of both to test but still want advice on which ones to get.

I also but together a list from before but again, want to get advice before proceeding.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NbPY23



Thank you all in advance!!!
 
Solution
The 5820k is clocked higher, so I would pick that. I have also never known a K series chip, since at least Sandy Bridge, that couldn't do 4.0ghz, on stock volts.

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
You gave the wrong link for pcpartpicker. Here is a build for you, at upper end of budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($374.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: NZXT HAVIK 140 90.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($66.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($391.88 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($349.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 730T Black ATX Full Tower Case ($129.95 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($19.55 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: LG 23MP55HQ-P 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: LG 23MP55HQ-P 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $2938.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-24 10:23 EDT-0400
 

delaro

Judicious
Ambassador
CS5.5 and CS 6 both do not support two GPU's for Hardware MPE Acceleration..

SLI does not benefit Premiere even in the newer CC versions that do take advantage dual GPU's.

1 980 would do very well and probably be a little better than a Q6000 and $400 cheaper.

The OP also stated he doesn't need monitors.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QqcDmG

Added A Water Cooler over the Air
Removed the SLI and replaced with a 980 GTX
Removed the Monitors
$2556.53



 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
Given the GPU support, a titan black might be a better choice, since it has double precision capability. Otherwise, the only normal consumer grade GPU with double precision is the GTX 580, which still holds its own well in double precision tasks. Depends on whether said software supports such things.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($374.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: NZXT HAVIK 140 90.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($66.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme3 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($208.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($391.88 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX Titan Black 6GB Superclocked Video Card ($1079.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($76.49 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($19.55 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2973.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-24 11:18 EDT-0400

 
jin410,

Be aware that the Quadro K2000 is now obsolete and the replacement, the Quadro K2200 has 4GB memory and for a price similar to the K2000 can outperform the K4000.

It seems you have already chosen a configuration but for what's it's worth, here is a solution using a Xeon E5-1650 v3 on an X99 motherboard solution with 32GB of RAM, and the new (9.14.) Quadro K4200 (4GB, about $880),which is outperforming the K5000, which cost $1,700. The K5200 (8GB, $1950) also presents an important leap in performance. I feel a workstation card is important for the specialized image quality drivers, viewport support, anti-aliiasing, etc.

BambiBoom PixelCannon Cadamodelrendergrapharific iWork TurboBlast Extreme SuperModel 9000 ®©$$™®£™©™_ 9.24.14


1. CPU: Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 Six-Core Processor 3.5 / 3.8GHz 0GT/s 15MB LGA 2011-v3 CPU> $575
____ http://ark.intel.com/products/82765/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-1650-v3-15M-Cache-3_50-GHz
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E51650V3BX
____ http://www.amazon.com/XEON-E5-1650V3-6C-3-5G-15MB/dp/B00MU045JU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411580728&sr=8-1&keywords=E5-1650+v3

2. CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Fan > $32.

3. Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard > $240
____ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157543&cm_re=asrock_x99_extreme_4-_-13-157-543-_-Product

4. RAM: 32GB (4) Samsung DDR4-2133 8GB/1Gx72 ECC/REG CL15 Server Memory > $460 ($115 ea.)

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=D4218G4S1

5. GPU: PNY NVIDIA Quadro K4200 4GB GDDR5 PCIe Graphics Card (VCQK4200-PB) > $822.
____ http://www.macmall.com/p/PNY-Video-Cards/product~DPNo~13248565~pdp.iigbbje?source=mwbgoogleshop&gclid=CjwKEAjw2f2hBRCdg76qqNXfkCsSJABYAycP_-AKV0I5UZVBtWrk8ltpCKFcaH__Twc558CuDVDMhBoC8B_w_wcB

6. Drive 1: Crucial MX100 CT512MX100SSD1 2.5" 512GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) > $210
____ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148821&cm_re=crucial_mx110-_-20-148-821-_-Product

7. Drive 2: Western Digital Black 2 TB SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive, Black, WD2003FZEX> $140 (Files, Backup, System Image)

8. PSU: SeaSonic X-850 ; SS-850KM3 ACTIVE PFC F3 850W 80 Plus Gold ATX12V/EPS12V Power Supply > $146


9. Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE 24X SATA DVD±RW Internal Drive w/o Software (Black) SH-224DB $17.99

10. Case: LIAN LI PC-A75X No Power Supply ATX Full Tower Case (Black) CA-A75 > $179.99

________________________________________________________

TOTAL = $ 2,823

Cheers,

BambiBoom

HP z420 (2014) > Xeon E5-1620 quad core @ 3.6 / 3.8GHz > 24GB DDR3 ECC 1600 RAM > Quadro 4000 (2GB)> Samsung 840 SSD 250GB /Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > AE3000 USB WiFi > HP 2711X, 27" 1920 X 1080 > Windows 7 Ultimate 64 >[Passmark system rating = 3923, CPU= 9223/ 2D= 839 / 3D=2048]

Dell Precision T5400 (2008) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB DDR2 ECC 667> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card / Linksys 600N WiFi > Dell 24" and Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > [Passmark system rating = 1859, CPU = 8528 / 2D= 512 / 3D=1097]

Dell Precision 390 (2005) Xeon x3230 quad core @ 2.67GHz > 6 GB DDR2 ECC 667 > Firepro V4900 (1GB)> 2X WD 320GB > 2X Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit [Passmark system rating = 1458, CPU = 3642 / 2D= 433 / 3D=1346]

2D, 3D CAD, Image Processing, Rendering, Text > Architecture, industrial design, graphic design, written projects