First time building a workstation PC (CPU rendering and Photoshop) Need help

kayo_7 · Sep 18, 2015

This is my first time building a PC. I work with large images and textures in photoshop (over 5.000 pixels - 300 DPI), and also do work in 3ds max using CPU rendering (sometimes with renders taking around two hours in my current pc, which is a i7 920 2.67GHz). I use both programs simultaneously in most cases.

I set this configuration and I wish you guys please evaluate.

Processor: Intel Core i7 4790k
Motherboard: Gigabyte z97x-SLI
Cooler: Nepton 240M
Memory: 32GB (4X8) Kingston HyperX 1600Mhz
Graphics card: GTX970 G1 Gaming (I'll use two monitors with display port)
HDD: 2TB WD green for storage
SSD for OS: Kingston 240GB V300
PSU: Corsair RM750
Case: Enthoo Pro
---------------
I want a silent PC, so I'm thinking of replacing the fans as well.

Fans: 2x AF140- quiet edition (front intake)
1x AF140 - quiet edition (back exhaust)

jmsellars1 · Sep 18, 2015

Looks pretty good, I'd aim for an i7-6700k or i7-5820k though as both will be better and won't cost much more. I'd get a much cheaper CPU cooler as well, that one is designed for extreme overclocking really and you won't want to do that for a workstation, especially if you want quietness. I have a few more suggestions when it comes to quietness as well:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($369.90 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint M9T 2TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.79 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($97.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($93.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($23.59 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($23.59 @ Newegg)
Total: $1466.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-18 13:24 EDT-0400

Not quite sure how that compares to yours in terms of price but it has a slightly more powerful CPU, much faster RAM and should be much quieter too. Each of those fans should include a PWM Y splitter, that means you can plug the CPU fan and both case fans into the one 4 pin CPU fan port on the motherboard and all 3 fans will be controlled by PWM. That means the fans can slow right down to 300RPM when temperature allows (800-900 RPM is usually considered quiet for a 140mm fan). The fans on that GPU and PSU stop completely when temperature allows so this should be extremely quiet too. The way I'd arrange the fans is to have a bottom 140mm intake and top 140mm exhaust with the CPU cooler blowing from bottom to top. That hard drive I recommended is a 2.5'' model too so a bit more expensive and a bit slower but quieter with lower power consumption.

kayo_7 · Sep 19, 2015

jmsellars1 :

Looks pretty good, I'd aim for an i7-6700k or i7-5820k though as both will be better and won't cost much more. I'd get a much cheaper CPU cooler as well, that one is designed for extreme overclocking really and you won't want to do that for a workstation, especially if you want quietness. I have a few more suggestions when it comes to quietness as well:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($369.90 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint M9T 2TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.79 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($97.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($93.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($23.59 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($23.59 @ Newegg)
Total: $1466.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-18 13:24 EDT-0400

Not quite sure how that compares to yours in terms of price but it has a slightly more powerful CPU, much faster RAM and should be much quieter too. Each of those fans should include a PWM Y splitter, that means you can plug the CPU fan and both case fans into the one 4 pin CPU fan port on the motherboard and all 3 fans will be controlled by PWM. That means the fans can slow right down to 300RPM when temperature allows (800-900 RPM is usually considered quiet for a 140mm fan). The fans on that GPU and PSU stop completely when temperature allows so this should be extremely quiet too. The way I'd arrange the fans is to have a bottom 140mm intake and top 140mm exhaust with the CPU cooler blowing from bottom to top. That hard drive I recommended is a 2.5'' model too so a bit more expensive and a bit slower but quieter with lower power consumption.

I see, thanks man for the tips.

I have only a few questions:

1- As I said, I work with CPU rendering, the Noctua NH-US15S would not be a better cooling option?

2- these two NF-A14 are replacement for the enthoo fans?

3- as I mentioned, I will use two monitors with display port, and sadly the 970 strix has only one display port.

jmsellars1 · Sep 19, 2015

Even the cooler I suggested is overkill really, it is mainly there for quietness. They're designed for extreme cooling so you can overclock but you won't want to overclock anyway because it means more heat and less stability which are the last things you want for a workstation.

Yeah the A14's would be replacements for the case fans. I'd run with just the CPU cooler and 2 case fans, one intake and one exhaust.

Do they have to be connected by DP? If so, could you use an HDMI to displayport adapter or something?

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First time building a workstation PC (CPU rendering and Photoshop) Need help

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