Need Computer Build for (CAD,Sketchup, Photoshop)

Kyle_A,

In my view, you have better results by buying a used workstation and upgrading. The performance will be better than buying new for the same costs, and upgrading is certainly easier than researching, ordering, assembling. Workstations are designed to run those very applications and for sustained periods with the highest reliability.

Also, I'd recommend concentrating on LGA2011 CPU's as these can accommodate up to 18-cores and that is important got high quality rendering.

A couple of examples:

Dell Precision T3600 QC Xeon E5-1620 3.6GHz 16GB 250GB w/ Win 7 *Quadro 600* > sold for $550 (7.15.15.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precision-T3600-QC-Xeon-E5-1620-3-6GHz-16GB-250GB-w-Win-7-Quadro-600-/371485438001?hash=item567e41f031%3Ag%3AEe8AAOSwwE5WU09Z&nma=true&si=KovzJFNLZK3r0N2D%252FVAH7uasDE8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

That system is possibly usable as received. And with a better GPU- find a used Quadro K620, K1200, or K2200, add an SSD, and 1TB storage drive, that system could be used professionally. A used Quadro K620 is about $100, a Samsung 850 Evo 250GB is $90, and Western Digital Blue 1TB is $55 so at that level, you'd still be within your $750 budget or very close.

Another good candidate:

HP Z420 Workstation Quad Core E5-1603 2.8GHz/6GB/250GB/Quadro 400 > sold for $310 (2.115)

With this one, the CPU is replaced by a Xeon E5-2680- an 8-core @ 2.7 /3.5GHz (about $175) and then repeat the K620, Samsung 850, and WD Blue. The RAM should be increased as well to 16GB:

KINGSTON 16GB (2 X 8GB) PC3-12800E ECC 2Rx8 DDR3-1600MHz 240PIN RAM (KVR16E11/8) sold for $65 (1.21.16)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KINGSTON-16GB-2-X-8GB-PC3-12800E-ECC-2Rx8-DDR3-1600MHz-240PIN-RAM-KVR16E11-8-/321983120246?hash=item4af7b08376%3Ag%3AKYIAAOSwKtlWoHeM&nma=true&si=KovzJFNLZK3r0N2D%252FVAH7uasDE8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

So, a total of about $730 and you have an 8-core system.

I've bought only used workstations the last 7 years and besides perfect reliability and saving piles of brass, they're worth a far higher percentage when they are resold.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

P.S> These systems were all purchased through resellers or as used and upgraded : (1. $937, upgrade $1,100) (2. $171, upgrade $800) (3. $53, upgrade $130)

1. Modeling: HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) > 32GB DDR3 1866 ECC RAM > Quadro K4200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)>
[ Passmark Rating = 5064 > CPU= 13989 / 2D= 819 / 3D= 4596 / Mem= 2772 / Disk= 4555] [Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1014 OpenGL= 126.59 FPS] 7.8.15

2. Rendering: Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6 -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 / CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3500 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)

3. Business /Backup: Dell Precision T3500 (2011) (Rev 2) Xeon X5677 4-core @ 3.06 / 3.46GHz > 12GB (6X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > Quadro 4000 (2GB) > PERC 6/i + Seagate 300GB 15K SAS ST3300657SS + WD Black 500GB > 525W PSU> Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell 19" LCD
[Passmark system rating = 2751, CPU = 7236 / 2D= 658 / 3D=2020 / Mem= 1875 / Disk=1221]