Building high performance PC for designing under $ 2500

[abuyi]

Approximate Purchase Date: Probably by the end this month
Budget Range: Money is no problem but looking for great money value. ready to shed up to $2500 USD


System Usage from Most to Least Important: mostly used for interior designing, image rendering, video editing, simple animations and CGI pics and also for photography and picture editing. when not working on designing then surfing net, playing games and watching movies and videos.


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.com ( I live in Bahrain. not many sites have shipping options to my country. Also I be going to the market personally to get all the parts)


Country of Origin: Bahrain


Parts Preferences: by brand or type : Processor Intel and OS windows7. Everything else best quality with money value. brands doesn't matter


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Yes


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200


Additional Comments:

Hi guys, this is my first post here. I like the passion you guys share in what you do and I admire you guys for it.
well I loved the iRaiden's $2000 Intel Gaming Rig from the BestConfigs Poll - High-End Intel Gaming PC from the forum (http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/317198-13-bestconfigs-poll-high-intel-gaming)
One of my friends have asked to set up a high performance Pc for her and I am thinking to go with iRaiden's config. The thing is she is not a gamer but a designer. She works with 3dmax,Vray plugins, adobe cs5 and autocad and certain similar designing software simultaneously and also sometimes have to deal with animations and video editing. She loves photography and listening to music. So she also does photo editing. She is not a MAC user so she doesn't know anything about Mac OS.

Now I need your expert view and advise on what to change from iRaiden's configuration to best fit her computing needs. Also open for different configurations.
what she told me is she wants multiple display upto 3 screens to work individually on each screen and sometimes as one display like AMD eyefinity feature. Also main concerns are desktop monitors. how well this would work with a touch screen HD monitors compare to normal high resolution flat screen monitors.
Also she needs loads of memory and back up memory. her projects take good amount of hard disk space and she cant afford to lose her work in crashes. so good back up system.

This PC will be for her professional use at home. so she doesn't mind spending good amount of money on the system but I would really appreciate if you could help us focus on best value for money than just expensive bling. for us brand doesn't matter but product does.

Looking forward for your suggestions

thanks
abuyi

 

[jerreddredd]

wow, that's one heck of a design spec. I'm in Kuwait, so the availability of parts in the market is about the same.
How into all this is she? is there any reason to go with a dual xeon system for the blazing speed of 2 x 6 core processors? or do you think one processor will do?

I would base the computer around the i7-2600K (LGA 1155) CPU instead of the i5-2500k. you can drop down to 2 HD 6950's, add another set of 2x4GB of ram for a total of 16gb (though I would pick different memory). Bump the M4 SSD up to the 128GB version to make room for her software.
add 2 more WD 1tb drives in RAID 5 to give her 2GB of fault tolerant storage. (you can go with bigger drives or more drives if she needs more storage)

I have to defer to someone else on the touch screen question. Generally you don't want to use touch screens for designing and photo editing (finger prints and photo editing/designing don't really go together)

 

[abuyi]

thanks for replying jerreddredd, sometimes it is very annoying to get certain parts from here like i cant seem to find Asus P8P67 motherboards but there is demand here for gaming motherboards so sooner or later i will find it through someone.
One of the reason I am helping her is because she doesn't know much about PC configurations and she would just go and buy a very expensive piece from the shelf of some shopping mall to save time and then wont be that happy with the outcome.

For now I think one processor would do but once I remember she was telling me that sometimes in her office system freezes while shifting one project through different applications simultaneously. I don't know exactly what her office system is but Iam certain its a a good config of i5 base. So dual xeon system is not a bad thought. later on if her work load gets hectic and if she needs to spend very long hours on her system then her PC should be able to give best results throughout.


thanks for your suggestion I would go for an i7-2500k cpu and i would definitely take your suggestion on the HD, ram and graphic cards.

She is just very hipped on touch screens, i recommended her a wireless drawing tablet instead of that. It depends on her. what good for her is she dosnt have to spend so much on software because she can get them all from her office IT department.

I am open for any other configuration even AMD if it proves to be more logical.

wow, that's one heck of a design spec. I'm in Kuwait, so the availability of parts in the market is about the same.
How into all this is she? is there any reason to go with a dual xeon system for the blazing speed of 2 x 6 core processors? or do you think one processor will do?

I would base the computer around the i7-2600K (LGA 1155) CPU instead of the i5-2500k. you can drop down to 2 HD 6950's, add another set of 2x4GB of ram for a total of 16gb (though I would pick different memory). Bump the M4 SSD up to the 128GB version to make room for her software.
add 2 more WD 1tb drives in RAID 5 to give her 2GB of fault tolerant storage. (you can go with bigger drives or more drives if she needs more storage)

I have to defer to someone else on the touch screen question. Generally you don't want to use touch screens for designing and photo editing (finger prints and photo editing/designing don't really go together)

 

[jerreddredd]

I was thinking and this is what I would do:

Motherboards that you may be able to find at market, at least I have seen a lot of Gigabyte down in the Souk here in Kuwait.
the MB all have at least 2 PCIe x16 slots that will run at x8 x8 and dual SATA Raid controllers. The Marvell SATA will host the SSD drive in AHCI mode and the intel SATA will run the Raid 5.
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4-B3
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Motherboard-GA-Z68X-UD4-B3-LGA1155-Express/dp/B0057BRWBM/ref=pd_sbs__8
GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD5
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z68XP-UD5-Intel-Motherboard-GA-Z68XP-UD5/dp/B0054OWTCO/ref=pd_sbs__6
GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054OWT6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312616900&sr=8-1

CPU Intel Core i7-2600K Processor 3.4GHz 8 MB Cache Socket LGA1155
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-2600K-Processor-3-4GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXSA/ref=pd_sim__1

RAM you should be able to find this down in the Souk stick with name brands and try to get the sticks without the tall heat spreaders.
Corsair, Mushkin, G.skill,Kingston HyperX
2 sets of 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 1.5v CL9 or CL8
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-1600mhz-PC3-12800/dp/B0058J1Q7O/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617787&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-PC3-12800-CML4GX3M2A1600C9/dp/B0056J1GTO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617787&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modules-1600MHz-KHX1600C9D3P1K2-8G/dp/B004Y4X9GK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617933&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-Ripjaws-X-F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL-PC3-12800-unbuffered/dp/B004I763AW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618057&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/G-SKILL-Ripjaws-1600MHz-PC3-12800-F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM/dp/B004KY719A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618057&sr=1-1

CPU Cooler
Coolermaster is very popular in the Souk here so you should be able to find a Hyper 212+
the Cooler master V6GT/V8 or Gemini II S will also do for a good inexpensive cooler. Theramal Take is also popualar so TT Frio would be good choice.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=++cooler+master+hyper+212&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-GeminII-Aluminum-Heatpipes/dp/B000ZEVNYS/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618193&sr=1-11
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Overclocking-Universal-Cooler-CLP0564/dp/B003DW0GO2/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618356&sr=1-4

CASE you want a mid to full tower. a Corsair 600T, 800 or 650D would be my first choice other than that it would depend on how flashy or sedate she would want it.
CoolerMaster HAF 932, 922, 912, X or even the centrurian line would be good choices.

SSD you will want a 128GB Cucial M4 (any of the 2 models) or a Samsung 470 128GB (any of the the models)
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT128M4SSD2-2-5inch-Retail-Speeds/dp/B0058FVPTC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619141&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-128GB-Solid-State-MZ-5PA128/dp/B003Z6Q8Y8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-128GB-Solid-State-Retail/dp/B004J7D7OQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MZ-5PA128B-2-5-Inch-Internal-Norton/dp/B005E8MW04/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-5

HDD this is where you can save money or go with enterprise level (made for Raid hard drives)
Made for Raid
3x 1TB=2TB, 4x1TB=3TB, 5x1TB=4TB storage these run about $115 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Enterprise-WD1003FBYX/dp/B003SANWI6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619398&sr=1-1
3x 500GB = 1TB 4x500GB = 1.5TB, 5x500GB = 2TB storage, these run about $75 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Enterprise-Drive/dp/B003SALVN4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619411&sr=1-1
SAVE money Raid
3x 1TB=2TB, 4x1TB=3TB, 5x1TB=4TB storage these run about $60 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619797&sr=1-1

DVD/CD get what ever DVD/CD Blu Ray drive you find on sale

GPU This is where you can spend a lot of money or just get what works. I am an nvidia person. their multi-display and surround is simple - 2 cards, SLI bridge and connect 3 monitors set load drivers and you done. the ATI Eyefinity solution requires a display port to DVI adapter and there is a lot of confusion where it needs to be active or passive, dual link or single link etc... but it can be done on one card, where nVidia requires 2.
since she isn't a gamer any of these will be enough to drive 3 displays smoothly. if she was a gamer I would go with 2 x GTX 580 3GB cards

2 x GTX 560 Ti they make 2GB ram version of these cards, get it if the cost difference isn't a lot
2 x GTX 560
2 x GTX 550 Ti
i recommend EVGA, ASUS, GIGABYTE brands

Alternately you go with ATI HD 6950's would be plenty of power or to save money the HD 5770 or 6770's would do the job.

PSU I'm not sure what is available in the souk, i have really looked lately. I would go with quality - Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, XFX a 750W should be enough for even the GTX 560 Ti's. 2x GTX 580's will need a 850W
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-750HX-Professional-Certified-Compatible/dp/B0029F21LK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312621932&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Compatible-platforms/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312621998&sr=1-21

 

[abuyi]

I will keep you updated once I start building this PC and the out comes. Thank you very much for helping me out.

I was thinking and this is what I would do:

Motherboards that you may be able to find at market, at least I have seen a lot of Gigabyte down in the Souk here in Kuwait.
the MB all have at least 2 PCIe x16 slots that will run at x8 x8 and dual SATA Raid controllers. The Marvell SATA will host the SSD drive in AHCI mode and the intel SATA will run the Raid 5.
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4-B3
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Motherboard-GA-Z68X-UD4-B3-LGA1155-Express/dp/B0057BRWBM/ref=pd_sbs__8
GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD5
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z68XP-UD5-Intel-Motherboard-GA-Z68XP-UD5/dp/B0054OWTCO/ref=pd_sbs__6
GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054OWT6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312616900&sr=8-1

CPU Intel Core i7-2600K Processor 3.4GHz 8 MB Cache Socket LGA1155
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-2600K-Processor-3-4GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXSA/ref=pd_sim__1

RAM you should be able to find this down in the Souk stick with name brands and try to get the sticks without the tall heat spreaders.
Corsair, Mushkin, G.skill,Kingston HyperX
2 sets of 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) 1.5v CL9 or CL8
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-1600mhz-PC3-12800/dp/B0058J1Q7O/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617787&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-PC3-12800-CML4GX3M2A1600C9/dp/B0056J1GTO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617787&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modules-1600MHz-KHX1600C9D3P1K2-8G/dp/B004Y4X9GK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312617933&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-Ripjaws-X-F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL-PC3-12800-unbuffered/dp/B004I763AW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618057&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/G-SKILL-Ripjaws-1600MHz-PC3-12800-F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM/dp/B004KY719A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618057&sr=1-1

CPU Cooler
Coolermaster is very popular in the Souk here so you should be able to find a Hyper 212+
the Cooler master V6GT/V8 or Gemini II S will also do for a good inexpensive cooler. Theramal Take is also popualar so TT Frio would be good choice.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=++cooler+master+hyper+212&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-GeminII-Aluminum-Heatpipes/dp/B000ZEVNYS/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618193&sr=1-11
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Overclocking-Universal-Cooler-CLP0564/dp/B003DW0GO2/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618356&sr=1-4

CASE you want a mid to full tower. a Corsair 600T, 800 or 650D would be my first choice other than that it would depend on how flashy or sedate she would want it.
CoolerMaster HAF 932, 922, 912, X or even the centrurian line would be good choices.

SSD you will want a 128GB Cucial M4 (any of the 2 models) or a Samsung 470 128GB (any of the the models)
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT128M4SSD2-2-5inch-Retail-Speeds/dp/B0058FVPTC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619141&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-128GB-Solid-State-MZ-5PA128/dp/B003Z6Q8Y8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-128GB-Solid-State-Retail/dp/B004J7D7OQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MZ-5PA128B-2-5-Inch-Internal-Norton/dp/B005E8MW04/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312618953&sr=1-5

HDD this is where you can save money or go with enterprise level (made for Raid hard drives)
Made for Raid
3x 1TB=2TB, 4x1TB=3TB, 5x1TB=4TB storage these run about $115 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Enterprise-WD1003FBYX/dp/B003SANWI6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619398&sr=1-1
3x 500GB = 1TB 4x500GB = 1.5TB, 5x500GB = 2TB storage, these run about $75 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Enterprise-Drive/dp/B003SALVN4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619411&sr=1-1
SAVE money Raid
3x 1TB=2TB, 4x1TB=3TB, 5x1TB=4TB storage these run about $60 a piece
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpoint-3-5-Inch-Internal-HD103SJ/dp/B002MQC0P8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312619797&sr=1-1

DVD/CD get what ever DVD/CD Blu Ray drive you find on sale

GPU This is where you can spend a lot of money or just get what works. I am an nvidia person. their multi-display and surround is simple - 2 cards, SLI bridge and connect 3 monitors set load drivers and you done. the ATI Eyefinity solution requires a display port to DVI adapter and there is a lot of confusion where it needs to be active or passive, dual link or single link etc... but it can be done on one card, where nVidia requires 2.
since she isn't a gamer any of these will be enough to drive 3 displays smoothly. if she was a gamer I would go with 2 x GTX 580 3GB cards

2 x GTX 560 Ti they make 2GB ram version of these cards, get it if the cost difference isn't a lot
2 x GTX 560
2 x GTX 550 Ti
i recommend EVGA, ASUS, GIGABYTE brands

Alternately you go with ATI HD 6950's would be plenty of power or to save money the HD 5770 or 6770's would do the job.

PSU I'm not sure what is available in the souk, i have really looked lately. I would go with quality - Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, XFX a 750W should be enough for even the GTX 560 Ti's. 2x GTX 580's will need a 850W
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-750HX-Professional-Certified-Compatible/dp/B0029F21LK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312621932&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-Compatible-platforms/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312621998&sr=1-21