The Ultimate Build for 3D modeling/rendering and Video editing.

mestrecell · May 5, 2015

Hello there, I'm planning on building an highly expandable PC that can suit my needs perfectly.

I want to become a 3D animator. So that includes 3d modeling , heavy renders, VFX, video editing. I primarily will be using Maya/zbrush , After effects, Photoshop and some rendering app like for example Keyshot or Octane.
Example of what I do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2UjRjcImKI

It will be used mainly for work (little gaming here and there), and I plan on relying on it for at least 4 years. My budget is 2700$. I would really appreciate a outside opinion.

I have some questions in my head such has : i7 or Xeon? Workstation GPU or double consumer GPUs? Amd (OpenCL) or Nvidia (Cuda).

Marco aka mestrecell.

Thank you for your time and help!

smorizio · May 5, 2015

for cost i use a newer skylake i7 or xeon for the 1151 mb and then spend money on a large ram kit and storage.
for video if the build is in a few months use the newer nvidia pascal gpu.

bambiboom · May 6, 2015

mestrecell :

Marco,

To make animations on the level of the YouTube video, would require at least a dual 8-core Xeon with 512GB of RAM, two Quadro K6000's, a fast, large PCIe C:\ drive plus a fantastic RAID 10 - something in the $15,000 range. Even then the rendering and f/x processing of a feature -length animations would be hundreds of hours.

Still, the elements for a very competent system capable of expansion is possible close to you budget. The key is to base the system on Xeon E5 as LGA2011-3 can accommodate up to two CPU's having as many as 18 cores. LGA2011-3 has a much wider memory bandwidth, and 40 instead of 28 PCIe lanes as well. There are dual CPU motherboards that can use up to 1TB of RAM. I suggest staying with ECC RAM and workstation GPU's which can run the drivers for higher anti-aliasing and accurate particle,refllection, textures, and shadows processing. The more Autodesk and Adobe-centric the programs are, the more Quadros' CUDA acceleration will be a benefit.

Here's a slightly generic visualization system that I think would have a good perormance for your use:

BambiBoom PixelCannon Cadamodelanimatarendergrapharific iWork TurboBlast Extreme SuperModel 9200 ®©$$™®£™©™_ 5.6.15

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: Supermicro MBD-X10SRA-F , C612, up to 512GB ECC DDR4 2133, 4X PCIe x16 , 10X SATA 3 8X USB 3> $ 318 240

____ http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/C600/X10SRA-F.cfm

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

11. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit w/ SP1 (1-Pack, DVD), OEM MSFQC04649 $138.99

________________________________________________________

TOTAL = $ 3,040

Future expansion could include a 10-12-core CPU- maintaining a balance between high clock speed and number of cores, a more powerful GPU, 64GB RAM and improved disk subsystem with a PCIe RAID controller and large, high performance disks.

I always like to mention another option that has been useful in my work- architecture, industrial design, and graphic design, and that is to upgrade a used Dell Precision of a previous generation.

Purchased for $190 with shipping:

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) Original: Xeon E5620 quad core @ 2.4 / 2.6 GHz > 6GB DDR3 ECC Reg 1333 > Quadro FX 580 (512MB) > Dell PERC 6/i SAS /SATA controller > Seagate Cheetah 15K 146GB > Linksys WMP600N WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
[ Passmark system rating = 1479 / CPU = 4067 / 2D= 520 / 3D= 311 / Mem= 1473 / Disk= 1208]

> and using parts left over from another upgrade with a value of about $700:

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) Revised > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro 4000 (2GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB /WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card> Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1440)
[ Passmark system rating = 3339 / CPU = 9347 / 2D= 684 / 3D= 2030 / Mem= 1871 / Disk= 2234]

Pending upgrades include a PERC H310 SAS / SATA RAID controller (cost- $60) with a pair of WD Black 1TB drives in RAID 1 ($165) , which will give this a 6GB/s disk system, and a PCIe USB 3.0 card ($30). These have 875W PSU's and in the future it's possible to add a CPU / Memory / fan riser and have a dual Xeon 12-core / 24 thread system for an additional $350-$400. However, at the moment, the 6-cores/ 12 threads is completely adequate for renderings.

For you use, I suggest considering a T7500- 1100W, up to 192GB RAM (the T5500 can use 96GB), and room for more drives. There is also a Xeon X5690 which is 6-cores @ 3.47 / 3.73GHz. It's also possible you could find a Precision T5610 or T7610- which will have an E5-16XX v2 or and upgrade it within your budget:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precision-T5610-EIGHT-Core-E5-2687W-V2-4-0GHz-Turbo-1TB-16GB-4x4GB-1866MHz-/111653077529?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ff0ac219

A Precision T5610 for $2,050. This has an astounding good processor, still close to the top ten in performance, the E5-2687w v2 8-core @ 3.4 /4.0Ghz- these cost $2,200 alone new. the Quadro NVS is strictly 2D, so you could buy a "new other" Quadro K4200 (4GB) for $650 and i the near future add another 16GB of RAM - about $150) Then, in two years, add a second E5-2687w v2. These are so good, they're still over $2,000 used, but I imagine they'll drop a bit as the v3 take over.

For reference, here is the next step up from the E5-1650 v3 system:

BambiBoom PixelCannon Cadarendercompilagrapharific iWork TurboSignature Extreme ModelBlast 9600 ®©$$™®£™©™_1.28.15

CPU: (2) Intel Xeon Processor E5-2637 v3 : 4-core @ 3.5 / 3.7 GHz, 15M Cache,135W > $2,000 ($1,000 ea)

http://ark.intel.com/products/83358
http://www.superbiiz.com/query.php?s=E5-2637+v3+

CPU Cooler: (2) Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler > $156 ($78 ea.)

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

Motherboard: Supermicro X10DAi > $400

http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/C60...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Memory: 32GB (4x 8GB) Samsung DDR4-2133 8GB/1Gx72 ECC/REG CL15 Server Memory > $456 ($114ea.)

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

GPU: PNY NVIDIA Quadro K4200 4GB GDDR5 DVI/2DisplayPorts PCI-Express Video Card > $829.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133558&cm_re=quadro_K4200-_-14-133-558-_-Product

Disk 1: Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)) > $113.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148820&cm_re=crucial_mx100-_-20-148-820-_-Product

Disk 2 WD BLACK SERIES WD1003FZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive > $74

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

Optical Disk: SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-224DB/RSBS > $20

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

Power Supply: SeaSonic X Series X-850 (SS-850KM3 Active PFC F3) 850W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply> $150.

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

Case: LIAN LI PC-D8000 Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case > $340

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

Fan Controller: NZXT Sentry-2 5.25" Touch Screen Fan Controller > $23.

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

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit English (1-Pack), OEM > $139.

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MSFQC08289
_______________________________________

TOTAL = $4765

And, yet another step:

BambiBoom PixelCannon Cadarendercompilanimatrographarific iWork TurboSignature Extreme ModelBlast 9800 ®©$$™®£™©_2.25.15

1. Supermicro SuperWorkstation SYS-7048A-T Dual LGA2011 1200W 4U Rackmount/Tower Workstation Barebone System > $980 (Includes case, motherboard, 1200W power supply)

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=SY-748AT

____ http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/4u/7048/sys-7048a-t.cfm

2. (2X) Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 Six-Core Haswell Processor @ 3.4 / 3.7GHz 9.6GT/s 20MB LGA 2011-v3 CPU, OEM > $3,040 ($1,520 ea)

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E5-2643V3

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E5-2643V3

3. 128GB (SAMSUNG (8X 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR4 2133 (PC4-17000) Server Memory Model M393A2G40DB0-CPB > $1,600 ($200 each) ( Verify compatibility with Supermicro)

____ http://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/mem.cfm

4. PNY NVIDIA Quadro K5200 8GB GDDR5 2DVI/2DisplayPorts PCI-Express Video Card > $2000

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=PNY-K5200

5. Intel 730 Series SSDSC2BP480G4R5 480GB 2.5 inch SATA3 Solid State Drive (MLC > $300 (OS / Applications Working Files)

____

6 (3X) Seagate Constellation ES.3 ST4000NM0033 4TB 7200RPM SATA3/SATA 6.0 GB/s 128MB Enterprise Hard Drive (3.5 inch) > $777 ($259 each) (RAID 10)

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-ST40NM3

6. LSI MegaRAID SAS LSI9240-4I 4-Port 6Gb/s PCI-Express SATA/SAS Single RAID Controller, Retail > $180

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=LSI-92404S

7. LG Electronics WH16NS40 16X SATA Blu-ray Internal Rewriter, Bulk > $60

____ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=WH16NS40

_____________________________________________________
TOTAL = $8937

So, a few options.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 /4.0GHz > 16GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 4918 > CPU= 13941 / 2D= 823 / 3D=3464 / Mem= 2669 / Disk= 4764]

mestrecell · May 6, 2015

Thank you for your response and help.

This is my plan at the moment:

CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2630 V3 2.4GHz 8-Core Processor (and then later on get another one, since im still a beginner, i have time)

CPU coler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Coler

Motherboard: Asus Z10PE D8 WS (dual socket)

RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) (i will be buying another set in 6 months)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (i already have a 1tb external drive)

GPU: AMD FirePro W8100 8GB (do you think this is a good choice now that most programs have OpenCL?)

Case: Phanteks enthoo Pro

PSU: EVGA 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX

TOTAL PRICE: around 3000$

What do you think about this build?

bambiboom · May 6, 2015

mestrecell :

Marco,

Yes, very good choices, the ASUS Z10PE D8 WS has excellent performance.

The CPU is a question in that the E5-2630 V3 is 2.4 / 3.2Ghz and I feel that for modeling- which is time spent at the computer, it may be more useful to have a faster six core:

http://ark.intel.com/products/81900/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2643-v3-20M-Cache-3_40-GHz

When processing / rendering, one walks away and the 500Mhz faster 6-core may run in an acceptable time anyway. I found this effect with my last systems. After a couple of cycles in systems, I had a 3.6 / 3.8 E5-1620 Quad core for modeling and a, dual X5460, 3.16 quad core for rendering. However, the new faster quad core could run the same rendering as the slower 8 core system - which also had 667 DDR2 RAM and 3GB/s disk- just as fast of certainly within a minute of the time. So, for my next system, I have an E5-1660 v2, 6-core @ 3.7 /4.0 GHz, 1866 RAM, and with an Intel 730 SSD, renderings are running in less than half the time of the other two systems. I don't feel I need a dual CPU system, but rendering is a quite small portion of my computing time, certainly far less than with animation. the lesson for me was faster but fewer cores, because rendering is the only application outside of MATLAB that is fully multi-threaded.

The liquid cooling is a good idea for heavy rendering systems but a slight concern from the noise standpoint. You might review the noise level ratings. It may be that a very good fan/heatsink will operate well within the limits. I like Supermicro Superworkstations:

http://www.supermicro.nl/products/system/4U/7048/SYS-7048A-T.cfm

The 7048T that I think will be the basis of my next system and these are made for extreme conditions with dual CPU's and stacks of drives and multiple GPU's- and all along, have a pair of fan / heatsinks.

As for the GPU, it's my understanding that with Autodesk and Adobe applications, the OpenGL orientation and CUDA acceleration gives Quadros an advantage over Firepro. In the case of computing programmes, I'd use a Firepro every time.

It may not be significant in use, but I've noticed that the Passmark 3D benchmarks of the W8100 tops out at about 6200 (7 samples) while the W7100 best is about 5800 (21 samples) and that the scores overlap considerably- that is some W8100's- score lower than some W7100's. Given that the W8100 is about $1,100 and the W7100 is $660, and they both have 8GB memory, I question if the W8100 is worth the paying 66% over the W7100.

The Firpros though do produce very good benchmarks relative to Quadros in the same price ranges. The top 3D score for a K4200 (4GB) is 4782 (101 samples) for a $730 card. A K5200 (8GB) scores 6830 but that costs about $1,750.

A complicated equation, but I think you're approaching it methodically and wisely and close to a very good solution.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

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