PC from scratch for Motion Graphics - 1000 pounds max

[Tom_Maples]

Hi!
I am enlisting the help of a friend who can build computers to put together my own for home freelancing use, but hardware-wise I am at a loss as where to start. The main programs I use are After Effects and Cinema 4D, but the ability to dual-boot a MAC OS would be really useful for the ability to use Final Cut too if possible (this isn't essential though).

So, basically it seems like I'm looking for a new machine with a beasty processor and as much RAM as possible, but this is an area I know little about to your advice would be massively appreciated! My max budget is around 1000 pounds (UK), a monitor would be included in that.

Approximate Purchase Date: In the next 2 months

Budget Range: 800-1000(ish)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Motion Graphics (work)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: open to suggestions

Country: UK

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: Have been impressed with AMD before but open to suggestions

Overclocking: Maybe - it is something I don't fully understand!

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - see last point!

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Cheers!
Tom

 

[g-unit1111]

I can't see where overclocking would benefit on a workstation build - if you go with an i5-2400 that would probably be your best bet.

Here you go:

Case: Corsair Carbide 400R - £79.68
PSU: Corsair TX750 V2 - £87.00
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P - £112.42
CPU: 3.1GHz Intel Core i5-2400 - £147.78
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 1600MHz 1.5V - £39.36
SSD: 64GB Crucial M4 - £64.37
HD: 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black - £94.92
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - £14.38
Video Card: ATI Fire Pro V5800 - £299.50
Monitor: 22" Viewsonic VX2239WM Black HDMI/DVI/VGA 1920x1080, 100,000:1, 300 cd/m², 2ms Speakers - £116.66

Total: £1,072.85

A tad over budget but that includes everything you need sans OS - and I included a professional grade video card instead of a consumer / gaming grade video card. Up the RAM to 16GB if you're using maximum RAM. I'd recommend checking out X79 if you're running RAM intensive programs (supports 64GB max where Sandy Bridge / Ivy Bridge support 32GB max) but that's quite a bit more.

 

[Why_Me]

Hi!
I am enlisting the help of a friend who can build computers to put together my own for home freelancing use, but hardware-wise I am at a loss as where to start. The main programs I use are After Effects and Cinema 4D, but the ability to dual-boot a MAC OS would be really useful for the ability to use Final Cut too if possible (this isn't essential though).

So, basically it seems like I'm looking for a new machine with a beasty processor and as much RAM as possible, but this is an area I know little about to your advice would be massively appreciated! My max budget is around 1000 pounds (UK), a monitor would be included in that.

Approximate Purchase Date: In the next 2 months

Budget Range: 800-1000(ish)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Motion Graphics (work)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: open to suggestions

Country: UK

Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: Have been impressed with AMD before but open to suggestions

Overclocking: Maybe - it is something I don't fully understand!

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - see last point!

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Cheers!
Tom

Ivy Bridge is due out April 29th.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=138_711_1183 <----- Z77 boards already for sale in Australia. In the past few years the Aussies have been getting the goodies a month ahead of the US and Canada including Sandy Bridge and the 1155 boards. The Aussies have already pulled some of the 1155 Cougar Point boards (H61/H67/P67/Z68) from their site. In fact a lot of those boards are no longer for sale on that site compared to last month.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5166/ivy-bridge-overview <----- Ivy Bridge line-up of desktop cpu's.

Z77/Z75 motherboards (Panther Point chipset w/native USB 3.0) and PCI-E 3.0

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/overview.html <----- Quick and brief rundown of Ivy Bridge, PCI-E 3.0 cards and the new gen boards.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/index.asp?s=1155 <---- Asrocks Z77 and Z75 boards to date. They all get released with Ivy Bridge.

http://usa.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/Intel_Z77 <---- Asus Z77 board lineup to date.

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/list.aspx?s=42&jid=2&p=2&v=24 <----- Gigabyte Z77 board lineup to date.

http://us.msi.com/product/mb/#/?sk=Socket%201155%20(Intel%20i3/i5/i7) <----- MSI Z77 board lineup to date.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5626/ivy-bridge-preview-core-i7-3770k/9 <---- Ivy Bridge cpu review with benchmarks

I didn't throw in a video card for the fact more Nvidia Kepler cards are due out and with your purchasing timeline who knows what they will have out by then.


http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/Midi+Tower/Fractal+Design+Core+3000+Black+Midi+Tower+Chassis+?productId=45752 £49.19 inc. VAT
Fractal Design Core 3000 Black Midi Tower Chassis

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies+-+PSUs/Non-Modular+650W+or+less/550W+OCZ+ZS+Series+80PLUS+Bronze+Power+Supply+?productId=45457 £46.79 inc. VAT
550W OCZ ZS Series 80PLUS Bronze Power Supplyy

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Pro3 http://www.novatech.co.uk/ <--- will have this board soon.
ASRock Z77 Pro3

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5166/ivy-bridge-overview
Intel i5-3570K Ivy Bridge CPU 3.4Ghz

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Coolers+-+Air/CPU+Coolers/Cooler+Master+Hyper+212+EVO+Quiet+CPU+Cooler+?productId=47248 £26.38 inc. VAT
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Quiet CPU Cooler

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/16gb-(2x8gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-10-10-10-27-xm £100.99 Inc VAT
CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10 - 16GB (2x8GB) Corsair DDR3 Vengeance Jet Black, PC3-12800 (1600), Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 10-10-10-27, XMP, 1.5V

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/1TB+Seagate+ST1000DM003+Barracuda+7200.12+SATA+III+6Gb%2Fs+Hard+Drive+-+HDD+?productId=48501 £71.99 inc. VAT
1TB Seagate ST1000DM003 Barracuda 7200.12 SATA III 6Gb/s Hard Drive - HDD

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Storage/Optical+Drives/DVDRW+Dual+Layer+-+SATA/Sony+24x+Internal+DVD-RAM%2B%2F-+Writer+SATA+Black+Bare+Drive+?productId=48288 £13.09 inc. VAT
Sony 24x Internal DVD-RAM+/- Writer SATA Black Bare Drive

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Software/Operating+Systems/MICROSOFT+Windows+Home+Premium+7+SP1+64-bit+EN+1pk+-+OEM+%5BGFC-02050%5D+?productId=38272 £70.50 inc. VAT
MICROSOFT Windows Home Premium 7 SP1 64-bit EN 1pk - OEM [GFC-02050]

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Monitors+%26+TVs/22+inch+Monitors/22%22+BenQ+GL2240M+Widescreen+LED+Monitor+-+Black+?productId=49214 £89.99 inc. VAT
22" BenQ GL2240M Widescreen LED Monitor - Black | 1920x1080 Resolution, 5000000:1 Contrast Ratio, 250cd/m² Brightness, 5ms Response Time, 1x DVI-D, 1x D-Sub, 2 Year On-Site Warranty.

 

[Tom_Maples]

Wow thanks guys that's really helpful! Awesome, I'll look over these with my mate and see what the deal is, great start for ideas though !