New System Build for 3d modeling and CAD

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19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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Following is my planned first build. Please review and critique it for me.

The intent is to use it for 3d applications (Maya, 3ds Max, Truespace, Blender) and CAD
applications (Pro-e Wildfire and Solidworks). I also want to fool around with some VMWare stuff)

Anyways let me know what you guys think...


Motherboard: GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L Intel Socket T LGA775, P35 Express, ATX, 8GB DDR, 1333MHz FSB
(Not sure about this mobo but it is reported to work well with the Q6600)
http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php?masterid=43499497&lot_id=9143561



CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
(I think I will need the quad core for 3d rendering, etc)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

CPU Cooler: Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Cooling Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001


RAM: G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 4-4-4-12
(I am planning on 8G total)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219


VIDEO CARD - EVGA NVIDIA 8800GTS ,512 MB, 256 bit DDR3,PCI-E 2.0 16x
(I am leaning towards this card because it is SLI capable and if it runs my apps okay, I may get 2 and run in SLI.
Also, it can be softmodded into a Quadro FX4600, if need be, for the OpenGL support.)

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=512-P3-N841-TR&family=GeForce%208%20Series%20Family

ASUS ENGTX260/HTDI/896M GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
(These 2 cards could be my second choice)

CASE: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
(Little more expensive than I would like but might need the xtra room for SLI.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043&Tpk=antec%20twelve


POWER SUPPLY: Antec EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319


DVD/CD: Not sure about this - feel free to make a suggestion

OS: Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit OEM

I will pick up a monitor, keyboard and mouse locally but will order all the rest of the parts from newegg if possible.


I am planning to order the parts this week, so hopefully I can get some input before then.



thanx in advance...
 
1

19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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was there something missing from my first post? I have not had any responses so I am at a loss what is missing? Oh, mu budget is around $1200 less the monitor, keyboard and mouse which I plan on getting locally anyways.

 
Why_Me

Why_Me

Polypheme
Jan 17, 2008
16,374
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69,840


What's your budget ?
 
Why_Me

Why_Me

Polypheme
Jan 17, 2008
16,374
2,351
69,840


Here's a build that includes a factory over clocked gtx 260 with the ability to add another one in the future for SLI if you so choose.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 $119.99 ($99.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U3R $179.99 | $164.99 after rebate
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R Core i7/ Intel X58/ DDR3/ CrossFireX/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $264.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99 Free Shipping*
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003 $4.99
Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127430 $174.99 ($154.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
MSI N260GTX-T2D896-OCv4 GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.193835 Combo Discount: -$5.00 Combo Price: $164.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99 Free Shipping*
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM

Total: $965.92 | $890.92 w/mail in rebates

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-nvidia-sli-motherboard,7463.html <--- Gigabyte: Enable SLI On X58 Boards

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx?ITPID=mscomsc <---Save some money on an o/s and dl the 64 bit version of Windows 7

*Here's a decent monitor worth looking at if your in need of one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050 $169.99 ($149.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail
 
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19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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OK, Here are some thoughts:

Pro-e , and some other of my applications, require opengl support. The gt260x can be softmodded to the quadro fx4800 but I can find no Pro-e support for that processor. That is why I picked the 8800 gts or gtx, same archictecture. It can be modded to the quadro fx 4600, which is supported.

It is my understanding that there is a problem with windows drivers for the i7. Again, that creates an issue with Pro-e, which definitely does not support or is supported by Windows 7. That would force me to Vista Ultimate which is okay, just cost $75 more that V Home premium which Pro-e supports.

So my plan is to load V Home Premium as a base OS and then to set up some guest OS's with VMWare Worstation to run the applications under, either a Windows XP Pro or some flavor or Linux as the guest OS's.

As I stated in my original post, I am building for 3d design and modeling and everyday computer use.

Does the build you suggest take care of my intended use?



 
H

Helloworld_98

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Feb 9, 2009
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the i7 will own the Q6600 in 3d rendering and if needed you can get an extra 3x2GB set of ram but save money and get 1333mhz ram because the i7 can't run 6 dimms above 1333mhz.
 
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19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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I did a bit of research on the windows 7 thing and it looks like people are having success running vmware workstation as well as pro-e rev 4.0 under it.

I saw somewhere where the i7 920 is easily OC'able to an i7 965 too.

I think I am going with the build why_me suggested.

I can always set up appliances under vmware for linux and run pro-e under linux - rev 3.0 anyway.

This build should be future proofed for awhile, don't you think?
 
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19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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okay, I placed my order on Saturday and the parts should be in this week.

After I put everything together, are there some tests or performance benchmarks I should do before I put it into use?

Also, I am wondering if I should go ahead and order another vid card so I can start out in sli mode - any thoughts?
 
number9

number9

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May 26, 2009
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Hey-

Sounds like I'm a bit late to the discussion but am in a similar situation; I am an architecture student building a system to run mainly Revit, Rhino, Sketch-up, AutoCAD, 3dMAX, CS4, Blender, Kerkythea, etc...
I am admitedly a novice to system building, this will be my first, but from the research I have done so far it does seem to me that Why_me has given you some very solid advice, the i7 will future proof your system much more than the Q6600. That being said, I'm wondering why you are choosing to go with a gaming graphics card instead of a workstation one. Is there a benefit to going with the gtx260 instead of something like this:

PNY VCQFX580-PCIE-PB Quadro FX580 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133273

I realize it's not the most impressive of the quardo series but seems to be a great card for the price and is specifcally tailored for what we do.

Sorry to jump in on the discussion so late, and hopefully I'm not causing you any unnecessary stress or buyers remorse, just seems like a lot of people on here are gamers and may not be considering the compatibility w/ 3d modeling/rendering programs.

Let me know what you think...

Thanks
 
1

19robert51

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May 17, 2009
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there are some discussions over at techarp on methods to softmod consumer geforce as well as ati graphics cards into workstation level cards.

Many of the consumer (read gaming) cards have the same architecture as the quadro cards. It seems that the workstation cards have some level of stability that is "programmed" into them by the manufacturer. Additionally, there is some additional support for the workstation cards. But those are things that drive up the cost of the card.

I am going to try the gtx card out first as it supports opengl and then try a software mod before I spend the perhaps unnecessary money on a quadro.

hope that helps - I will post back after I get everything together, tested and running the way I want. Might be a little while though...
 
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