Build Mac Pro equivalent??

bearattack · Mar 22, 2017

So to follow up on my last post, a lightning strike wrecked my pc. Time to build a new one. I've been contemplating buying a mac pro for a while now (their financing does make the $3000 price a little easier to stomach, 18 months with 0 interest).

I don't -need- that much power, but what I love is that the 2008 mac pros with 16gb or 32gb RAM are still absolute beasts nowadays. So what I'd like to do is put together something similar. I want the processing power to still be relevant in 9-11 years, much like the old school mac pros. I don't play graphic intense games, but I'd like the option to run them 60fps at 1080p (not necessarily on max settings -- I'm willing to compromise as gaming is the tertiary reason for building this PC).

Crazy processing power/speed, 3 displays, able to play recent games in a decent way. Help! I'm also willing to stagger the build. As in, I'm cool with starting off with lower amounts of RAM and a lower tier graphics card. Ideally I'd aim for 32GB, so I want that to be an option for the future (I'm not editing massive raw photographs yet, but one day).

Would ideally like to keep the initial build around $1000. Edit: So it's not going to be "equivalent" as in, similar. Equivalent as in, fast enough to be a workhorse for a long time.

Harsh_11 · Mar 22, 2017

bearattack :

So to follow up on my last post, a lightning strike wrecked my pc. Time to build a new one. I've been contemplating buying a mac pro for a while now (their financing does make the $3000 price a little easier to stomach, 18 months with 0 interest).

I don't -need- that much power, but what I love is that the 2008 mac pros with 16gb or 32gb RAM are still absolute beasts nowadays. So what I'd like to do is put together something similar. I want the processing power to still be relevant in 9-11 years, much like the old school mac pros. I don't play graphic intense games, but I'd like the option to run them 60fps at 1080p (not necessarily on max settings -- I'm willing to compromise as gaming is the tertiary reason for building this PC).

Crazy processing power/speed, 3 displays, able to play recent games in a decent way. Help! I'm also willing to stagger the build. As in, I'm cool with starting off with lower amounts of RAM and a lower tier graphics card. Ideally I'd aim for 32GB, so I want that to be an option for the future (I'm not editing massive raw photographs yet, but one day).

Would ideally like to keep the initial build around $1000. Edit: So it's not going to be "equivalent" as in, similar. Equivalent as in, fast enough to be a workhorse for a long time.

How much crazy processing power you looking at? If you want the initial build to stay relevant for that long you need to spend some more. Around $1500, I can suggest you some serious powerhouse of a rig that will be great for a long time.

bearattack · Mar 22, 2017

Harsh_11 :

bearattack :

How much crazy processing power you looking at? If you want the initial build to stay relevant for that long you need to spend some more. Around $1500, I can suggest you some serious powerhouse of a rig that will be great for a long time.

I can do $1500ish. I'll just space the build out over two months (so I know current sale/rebates may not stay the same next month, and I'll ensure I buy the more expensive stuff up front)

Harsh_11 · Mar 22, 2017

bearattack :

Harsh_11 :

I can do $1500ish. I'll just space the build out over two months (so I know current sale/rebates may not stay the same next month, and I'll ensure I buy the more expensive stuff up front)

How many monitors would you be running initially? Major factor in selecting the graphics card?

Harsh_11 · Mar 22, 2017

bearattack :

Harsh_11 :

I can do $1500ish. I'll just space the build out over two months (so I know current sale/rebates may not stay the same next month, and I'll ensure I buy the more expensive stuff up front)

How many monitors would you be running initially? Major factor in selecting the graphics card?

bearattack · Mar 22, 2017

Harsh_11 :

bearattack :

Harsh_11 :

I can do $1500ish. I'll just space the build out over two months (so I know current sale/rebates may not stay the same next month, and I'll ensure I buy the more expensive stuff up front)

How many monitors would you be running initially? Major factor in selecting the graphics card?

I'm content to start out with 2 monitors and then add another when the graphics card update comes around!

Harsh_11 · Mar 22, 2017

bearattack :

Harsh_11 :

bearattack :

How many monitors would you be running initially? Major factor in selecting the graphics card?

I'm content to start out with 2 monitors and then add another when the graphics card update comes around!

Here you go.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/6DJYqk

If you want a system based on AMD platform then tell me. It will be cheaper than Intel option.

bambiboom · Mar 23, 2017

bearattack,

Building a new system for $1,500 that will be relevant in ten years is on the knife edge of impossibility, but by using some new and some used components, a system can be assembled with a good potential for expansion and enhancement of the capabilities.

OPTION 1:

Workstation: 2D /3D CAD Graphic Design / /Rendering_3.23.17

CPU: AMD RYZEN 7 1700X 8-Core 3.4 GHz (3.8 GHz Turbo) Socket AM4 95W YD170XBCAEWOF Desktop Processor ($399.99 @ B&H)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterAir Pro 3 28.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS AM4 AMD ATX Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)

Drive 1: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.88 @ OutletPC)

Drive 2: Western Digital Blue 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX US)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Thermaltake Suppressor F31 ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: Corsair CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($68.98 @ Newegg)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.88 @ OutletPC)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($128.31 @ OutletPC)
____________________________________________

Total = $1,322.98

Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-25 18:15 EST-0500

That system would be quite versatile, having a good single-thread rating for most uses and 8-cores for multi-threaded work such as CPU rendering and medium scale video editing.

OPTION2:

For a greater expansion capability: Dual Xeons, wider memory bandwidth, up to 192GB RAM, up to 80 PCIe lanes:

1. Buy a barebones HP z620 workstation. There is a seller offering new z620 chassis with an 800W power supply and prewired for $219 or offer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Z620-Workstation-Computer-Case-Chassis-with-Front-Panel-800W-PSU-644311-005-/301846355856?hash=item464771df90:g:9FoAAOSwYIhWlYWV

The Hp z620 is the middle level HP z-series workstation and can use two Xeon E5-LGA2011 CPU’s (with the addition of a 2nd CPU riser board) up to 8-cores. The top CPU for the z620 is probably the E5-2677 v2 (8-core @ 3.3 /4.0Ghz)

2. Choose carefully (=tested) a used HP z620 motherboard that accommodates Xeon E5-2600 v2 processors. This must have a part number including “708614-... " to use the v2

HP Z620 WORKSTATION LGA 2011 SYSTEM BOARD 708614-001 FULLY TESTED > $130

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Z620-WORKSTATION-LGA-2011-SYSTEM-BOARD-708614-001-FULLY-TESTED-/172544465764?hash=item282c739b64:g:Gd8AAOSwB-1YrbbI

It’s possible to buy a new motherboard, but the cost will be more in the $350 -$400 range.

3. CPU: Add a Xeon E5-1650 v2 CPU:

Intel Xeon Six Core SR1AQ E5-1650V2 CPU Processor 3.50 Ghz > $250

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-Six-Core-SR1AQ-E5-1650V2-CPU-Processor-3-50-GHz-/142314306012?hash=item212297f9dc:g:EGwAAOSw4CFYyWj0

The E5-1650 v2 is a 6-core @ 3.5 / 3.9Ghz, giving it a good single-thread performance. Hat would have enough cores for some multi-threaded work such as single image CPU rendering and with the right GPU, a “reasonable” gaming performance.

If your work involves video editing or CPU rendering, consider a Xeon E5-2690 8-core@ 2.9 /3.8GHz:

Intel Xeon E5-2690 2.9GHz Eight Core Processor SR0L0 > $190 or offer

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-E5-2690-2-9GHz-Eight-Core-Processor-SR0L0-/162433552265?hash=item25d1cb4f89:g:SdQAAOSwXYtYypwG

That is an E5-1st version, but very capable. We have a z620 with two of those for analysis /.simulation / and rendering and the 3D performance is quite reasonable given the 3.8GHz turbo clock speed.

4. RAM: 32GB (4X 8GB) of PC3-14900R - that’s DDR3-1866 ECC registered.

1X 8GB HP 712382-071 Hynix HMT31GR7EFR4C-RD 2Rx4 PC3-14900R DDR3 1866 ECC REG >$128 ($32 each)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1X-8GB-HP-712382-071-Hynix-HMT31GR7EFR4C-RD-2Rx4-PC3-14900R-DDR3-1866-ECC-REG-/152447678159?hash=item237e96f6cf:g:yXsAAOSw2gxYr1Ee

The registered RAM is to allow the possible future addition of a 2nd CPU. > Check z620 compatibility of any RAM purchased

5. GPU: MSI GAMING GeForce GTX 1060 6GB > $170

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-GAMING-GeForce-GTX-1060-6GB-/142297074415?hash=item2121910aef:g:xT4AAOSw4CFYtdJU

5. Drive 1: Samsung 850 Evo 500GB SSD > $183

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147373&cm_re=Samsung_850_Evo_500GB-_-20-147-373-_-Product

6. Drive 2: WD Black 1TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD1003FZEX > $75

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236625

7. Asus Black SATA 24X DVDRW E-Green No Logo Model DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/GEN - OEM > $20

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1W8-006A-00003

8. OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - OEM > $140

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832588491&cm_re=windows_10_pro-_-32-588-491-_-Product

As much as I object to Windows 10, support for it is ending in less than three years.

______________________________

TOTAL = about $1,316

As mentioned, it’s extremely difficult to even imagine what the state of the PC will be in even three years- but, these options would be useful on some level. It’s interesting as the majority of tasks rarely press the top performance. We have systems from 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011 that are still completely useful for 90% of our work. A 2011 Dell Precision T5500 ran complex flight dynamics problems that each lasted up to two days at 100% PU usage with complete reliability.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

CAD / 3D Modeling / Graphic Design:

HP z420 (2015) (Rev 3) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card + Logitech z2300 2.1 speakers > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit >> 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16] Single-Thread Mark = 2341
[Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1031cb / Single Core = 142 cb / OpenGL= 127.39 fps / MP Ratio = 7.24x] 3.2.17
[FryBench: 3:24 /Efficiency 2177.13] 3.11.17

Analysis / Simulation / Rendering:

HP z620 (2012) (Rev 3) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) + Tesla M2090 (6GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive (256GB) + Samsung 850 Evo 250GB + Seagate Constellation ES.3 (1TB) / Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium PCIe sound card + Logitech z313 2.1 speakers / 800W / Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > > HP 2711x (27" 1980 X 1080)
[ Passmark System Rating= 5675 / CPU= 22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D = 3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk = 12640 ] 9.25.16 Single Thread Mark = 1903
[ Cinebench R15: CPU = 2209 cb / Single core 130 cb / OpenGL= 119.23 fps / MP Ratio 16.84x] 10.31.16

Search

Build Mac Pro equivalent??

bearattack

Reputable

bambiboom

Harsh_11

Commendable

bearattack

Reputable

Harsh_11

Commendable

Harsh_11

Commendable

bearattack

Reputable

Harsh_11

Commendable

bambiboom

Splendid

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