3D animation and Gaming System Build

[castorbonaparte]

I am a CG artist and I am putting together a system build that will be able to handle 3d modeling and animation rendering and play pretty much any game I through at it...Money isnt a big concern but I want to try and stay under $2500.00.

This is the plan so far:

Motherboard: EVGA 790i Ultra SLI.
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650.
Video Card:2 EVGA Geforce 9800 GTX +1GB 256bit GDDR3
Ram: Mushkin 6GB 3(3x2GB) DDR3.
PSU: Xclio Stable Power 1000w.
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932.
Optical Drives: Lite-on x20 DVD Burner, Lite-on x18 DVD ROM.
Storage: 300GB Velociraptor in RAID 0, WD 1TB in RAID 1.
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster XFI.
Cooling: Not decided.
Monitor: 22" ACER.
OS: Windows Vista Home 64bit.

So this is what I was thinking. I am not sure about the Video Card setup and the benefits of running dual. Not sure on the cooling setup and what is best!

Question #1: What is the best video card setup for what i want to do and what benefits do i get with a dual SLI setup?

Question #2: What heatsink would be best?

Any suggestions or improvements PLEASE!!

 

[foolycooly]

if this is 2500 USD then you can do much better than that. Try building an i7 system.

something like this -

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=5851449

 

[castorbonaparte]

What are the advantages of the i7 to the core2 quad q9650?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 $289.99

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374 $259.99 - $20.00 MIR

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231245 $152.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1281-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442 $354.99 - $20.00 MIR

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $23.99

2x Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322 $459.98 ($229.99 each) - $30.00 MIR

2x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284 $259.98 ($129.99 each)

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&Tpk=850tx $139.99 - $20.00 MIR

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&Tpk=haf%20932 $149.99

SAMSUNG T220 Rose-Black 22" 2ms GTG Touch of Color series Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 20,000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001273 $269.99 - $30.00 MIR

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055 $69.99

$2,531.86 - $120.00 MIR's = $2,411.86

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What are the advantages of the i7 to the core2 quad q9650?

The i7 is quite a bit faster for your intended use. Check the benchmarks. It would be a shame to spend $2,500 on a build and not get an i7.

 

[castorbonaparte]

Thank you for your input, the build that I had listed was about 1800.00.

I seems that everyone is pointing towards the i7, so I think I will go that route.

My other Question. Do you think it would be better to run 2 9800's instead of running a single 295?

 

[castorbonaparte]

Nimble, Thank for your list. I will definitely make some changes on what I will be running, Do you think that the 285 video card is better then the 295, or 2 9800's?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I'd forget about the SLI 9800GTX's. If you go with two GPU's right off the bat you've taken away your upgrade path. I'd get the best GPU you can afford right now so you still have the option of SLI down the road. That's why I chose the GTX 285. The GTX 295 is quite a bit better, but would have put the build over budget. The GTX 295 is also currently out of stock. If you can fit the GTX 295 into the build, do it. It's a great GPU.

 

[castorbonaparte]

I'd forget about the SLI 9800GTX's. If you go with two GPU's right off the bat you've taken away your upgrade path. I'd get the best GPU you can afford right now so you still have the option of SLI down the road. That's why I chose the GTX 285. The GTX 295 is quite a bit better, but would have put the build over budget. The GTX 295 is also currently out of stock. If you can fit the GTX 295 into the build, do it. It's a great GPU.

Makes sense, But I already have a 22inch ACER monitor, so I do not need that. What are the advantages to running two hard drives on raid 0?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

But I already have a 22inch ACER monitor, so I do not need that.

Don't need what? I'm afraid I'm not following your here. Do you mean you don't need the Samsung 22" monitor in my list?

I just put the Raid 0 because you mentioned it in your original post. Raid 0 provides a little faster throughput, but isn't worth it IMO. I'd just use a fast single drive as your system drive and use the Raid 1 for storage.

 

[castorbonaparte]

Sorry I wasnt clear...

I just meant i would be saving money since I already had a monitor!

I listed raid 0 but wasnt sure on the benefits, thats why i asked you.

I would like to run the EVGA 790i Ultra, but people keep mentioning
the X58, what would be the major factor in switching to the ASUS?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The 790i chipset isn't compatible with the i7 CPU's. It's also an inferior Nvidia chipset. The Intel chipsets are much more stable. I'd completely forget you ever saw the 790i board. If you like EVGA, get this board:

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039&Tpk=evga%20x58 $299.99

I personally would get the Gigabyte board instead. The X58 EVGA board is EVGA's first attempt at designing their own motherboard. All the previous EVGA boards have just been reference Nvidia boards. EVGA did a pretty good job on the X58 board, but it does have a few quirks.

 

[Transmaniacon]

The X58 is required for the i7 processors. Asus is a fantastic motherboard brand, along with Gigabyte. The P6T Deluxe is great for overclocking, and that coolermaster V8 will let you push the i7 quite far. Since you do not need the monitor, get the GTX295, its currently the fastest card out there.

 

[castorbonaparte]

The 790i chipset isn't compatible with the i7 CPU's. It's also an inferior Nvidia chipset. The Intel chipsets are much more stable. I'd completely forget you ever saw the 790i board. If you like EVGA, get this board:

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039&Tpk=evga%20x58 $299.99

I personally would get the Gigabyte board instead. The X58 EVGA board is EVGA's first attempt at designing their own motherboard. All the previous EVGA boards have just been reference Nvidia boards. EVGA did a pretty good job on the X58 board, but it does have a few quirks.

Well I am glad you told me that, a buddy of mine said that the 790i would work great for the new intel processors shows how much he knows.

I really appreciate or help thank you!

 

[castorbonaparte]

The X58 is required for the i7 processors. Asus is a fantastic motherboard brand, along with Gigabyte. The P6T Deluxe is great for overclocking, and that coolermaster V8 will let you push the i7 quite far. Since you do not need the monitor, get the GTX295, its currently the fastest card out there.

I will be sure to run the X58 (for obvious reasons) and yes since I will be saving money on the monitor I will by buying the 295.

In the future i am planning on going dual video cards, should i just buy 1000w PSU now, since I am sure to need it to run the two cards?

 

[Transmaniacon]

Yea no point in buying two power supplies.

This Corsair is great model:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

Its also modular which keeps cable clutter down.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Yea, if you plan on going quad SLI (even though one GTX 295 is already major overkill for a 22" monitor), you should get a PSU that won't need upgraded when you add the second GPU.

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007&Tpk=1000hx $259.99 - $20 MIR

Edit: LOL, Transmaniacon beat me to it!

 

[castorbonaparte]

Yea no point in buying two power supplies.

This Corsair is great model:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

Its also modular which keeps cable clutter down.

Sounds good, any recommendations on ram? Brand? (6gb 3x2gb)

 

[Transmaniacon]

This OCZ is a great value and is very fast

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

 

[shortstuff_mt]

That OCZ ram is nice. I personally like the G.Skill kit in my original post. Either kit will work fine.

 

[castorbonaparte]

Ok so this is what I am going with let me know if GUYS agree!!

Intel Core i7 920
ASUS P6T Deluxe
EVGA Geforce GTX 295 1GB (if i can get it)
OCZ Platinum 6Gb (3x2GB) DDR3 1600.
WD Velociraptor 300gb for Raid 0.
WD Caviar Black 1TB for storage.
Corsair CMPSU-1000HX
Cooler Master HAF 932 Black case.
Cooler Master V8 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Samsung 22x DVD Burner Black
Windows Vista Home 64bit.

What do ya think?

 

[Transmaniacon]

Looks like one badass system!

 

[blazelet]

I have a Q9550 Maya render machine and an i7 940 render box. Both are DDR3 and have comparable vid cards. I find on the Q9550 box I get about 4:15 per frame renders on my current project. The same project nets me 2:30 on my i7.

I understand there are other factors but this is the relative difference.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Yup, looks great!

Just keep in mind that with the Raid 0, if one drive fails you'll lose all your data. Be sure to back up all your important files to the storage drive.

 

[castorbonaparte]

I have a Q9550 Maya render machine and an i7 940 render box. Both are DDR3 and have comparable vid cards. I find on the Q9550 box I get about 4:15 per frame renders on my current project. The same project nets me 2:30 on my i7.

I understand there are other factors but this is the relative difference.

So your saying that the i7 is a better setup?