New PC for 3DS Rendering & Video Editing

[Solar_X]

I'm an experienced builder, however I've been out of the game for a couple of years so I'm a bit rusty on what's currently the best hardware on the market. I'm needing to build a new PC for my office to handle my 3DS renders, video editing and the occasional gaming. I have been looking at some i7 setups but I want to be sure I get the best bang for my buck. Budget for the project is between 1800 and 2300. Any suggestions? Need to order the components today so I can get it built over the weekend.

Here are two builds I've spec'd out already.

Build 1:
- Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000 1000W PSU
- ASUS P6X58D Premium ATX Intel Motherboard
- 12 GB Crucial Ballistix 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600
- Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
- 2 x Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB (RAID 0)
- Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme 120mm
- DIAMOND Radeon HD 5850 5850PE51G

Build 2:
- Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
- PNY GeForce GTX 260
- COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
- 2 x Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB (RAID 0)
- 12 GB CORSAIR DOMINATOR 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600
- ASUS P6X58D Premium ATX Intel Motherboard
- Antec TPQ-850 850W Continuous Power Supply

 

[daggs]

in general both are ok, if you where a gamer, the first one would have been better

 

[MaizeNBlue2]

The only thing I noticed, or that I'm qualified to bring up for that matter, is the fact you only have 300GB of hard drive space. I only point this out because you said you'd be doing video editing. I don't know what kind of editing your doing, but if you do a lot video editing, or plan on keeping the files on the PC for any length of time after edited or plan to keep the RAW footage around and your editing HD video, you could run out of space pretty quickly. I worked at a TV station for about 6 years, and it didn't take long to run out of space on dual 320GB hard drives on an Avid system.

If you've already thought of this, then sorry for wasting your time, but I'd hate to see you spend that kind of money and be constantly running out of space.

 

[mindless728]

well for either build, you don't need that size of PSU, a good 550w would power either build, though i would go for 650w for headroom

this could give you some monetary headroom to add a standard HDD (Say Samsung F3 1TB)

i would actually use the Samsung F3 drives as you editing drives (2 x 500GB) and short stroking them to 300GB, would be a bit faster than the Velociraptors, this would also be cheaper (~$110 vs ~$300)

 

[Solar_X]

Thanks, I just did some reading on the F3 drives. I was unaware of their performance. I think what I'll do then is:

- Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000 1000W PSU
- ASUS P6X58D Premium ATX Intel Motherboard
- 12 GB Crucial Ballistix 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600
- Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
- 4 x Samsung F3 500GB HDs
- Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme 120mm
- DIAMOND Radeon HD 5850 5850PE51G

As for storage, to answer the earlier post it's not big of a deal. All of my resources are on my 16TB DroboPro. I just pull what I need to the machine when I am working on a model or doing any editing, and most of the editing is short items (less than 10 minute videos).

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You're wasting money on that overpowered 1000W PSU. A quality 750W PSU will easily power your system even if you add another 5850 in Crossfire later.

Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified PSU $129.99 - $25 MIR

That CPU cooler is pretty overpriced. You can get about the same performance for a lot less money.

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler $29.99

 

[Solar_X]

i'll check the psu and cooler out.

question, since this is primarily going to be used for rendering would i benefit any by building a system around dual xeons or would the i7 be as good?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The Xeon CPU's are just glorified Nahalem chips. I wouldn't waste your money on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeon#Nehalem_based_Xeon

 

[Solar_X]

So this will be a pretty good system for what I'm looking to do and my budget?

- Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W
- ASUS P6X58D Premium ATX Intel Motherboard
- 12 GB Crucial Ballistix 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600
- Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
- 4 x Samsung F3 500GB HDs
- COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 120mm
- DIAMOND Radeon HD 5850 5850PE51G

Question, since the company is paying for this and not me, if you could go crazy and price wasn't an option what would you upgrade?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The build looks good. The only upgrade I'd make is to the GPU if you've go money to burn. I also don't trust the Crucial Ballistix RAM. This G.Skill RAM is excellent. It runs at 1600MHz with CAS 7 timings at 1.5v. It doesn't get any better than that.

G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI - Retail

 

[Solar_X]

I ordered it this afternoon. The components should be here this weekend. The final build is as follows:

- Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W
- ASUS P6X58D Premium ATX Intel Motherboard
- 12 GB G.SKILL PI Series 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
- Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
- 4 x Samsung F3 500GB HDs
- COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 120mm
- DIAMOND Radeon HD 5850 5850PE51G
- Antec Twelve Hundred Case

It's going to be a fun weekend building. Thanks for the help everyone. I'm thinking my office really needs a good HTPC now to match my 60" LCD that arrived last week.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

That's a nice looking build. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Solar_X]

Will do.

Another cool thing is, I found 2 GTX 260s in my desk. Forgot I had purchased them a while back. Now, where would my performance be best? 2 x GTX 260s or 1 X HD 5850. Think if I get the time I'm gonna try each and run some benchmarks.

 

[MaizeNBlue2]

Will do.

Another cool thing is, I found 2 GTX 260s in my desk. Forgot I had purchased them a while back. Now, where would my performance be best? 2 x GTX 260s or 1 X HD 5850. Think if I get the time I'm gonna try each and run some benchmarks.

Wow, I wish I had you job. How do you forgot you bought over $500 worth of hardware? LOL.

I'm getting my video editing rig ordered today as well. Good luck!

 

[Solar_X]

Just wanted to give an update and I can say, this thing is a beast. With just minor tweaking I have it OC'd on air to 3.6. Went with the two GTX 260s I had in SLI and it doesn't even blink when I hammer it. Building another Thursday almost identical to this system except going to run two HD 5850s.

Thanks for the help again.

 

[MaizeNBlue2]

Just wanted to give an update and I can say, this thing is a beast. With just minor tweaking I have it OC'd on air to 3.6. Went with the two GTX 260s I had in SLI and it doesn't even blink when I hammer it. Building another Thursday almost identical to this system except going to run two HD 5850s.

Thanks for the help again.

Glad to hear it's working well for you. Your building another one!? Seriously, I want your job! LOL.