First time workstation build suggestions $1500-$2000

[Regal Dreamer]

Hey all,

I'm attempting to build my first workstation for use with Maya and illustrator in mind, I don't really care to much about gaming for this build. Im really new to this so any suggestions on a good build would be awesome.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 1-2 months

Budget Range: $1500-$2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important:creating 3D animations, creating 2d animations, rendering VFX, and editing 4k video.

Parts Not Required: I don't need monitors, sound card keyboards etc, just tower specs please

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Liquid cooling would be really cool, other wise no real preference.

Overclocking: Yes, if needed.

SLI or Crossfire: Not too sure suggestions would be appreciated

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 x 2

Additional Comments: I really could use any advice and help you guys have to offer, this is for school and I really don't want to screw it up

 

[g-unit1111]

Parts Preferences: Liquid cooling would be really cool, other wise no real preference.

It's not really needed and I wouldn't risk it on a workstation build - it's too much risk for not a lot of payoff and you certainly don't want to spend all your overhead purchasing new PC parts.

Try this:

Case: Corsair Carbide 500R - $139.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MKII 950W - $149.99
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth X79 - $319.99
CPU: 3.6GHz Intel Core i7-3820 - $309.99
Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B - $59.99
RAM: 16GB (4 x 4GB) G.Skill Ares 1600MHz 1.5V Quad Channel - $89.99
SSD: 128GB Crucial M4 - $159.99
HD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda St 7200RPM - $109.99
Optical: Lite On Bulk DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 680 - $499.99
OS: Windows 7 Pro - $139.99

Total: $1,998.82

A little bit over budget - but comes barely close to topping $2K - but with this you get X79 - perfect for RAM hungry programs like Illustrator and Maya - where you need as much RAM as you can get - and you get the 680 for CUDA rendering which will be helpful when using MAYA. I think it'll be far better suited to your needs than any SB or IB build will.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Series-Gaming-CC-9011012-WW/dp/B005E983JW/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1332866663&sr=1-3 $118.98 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Corsair Carbide Series 500R Mid Tower Gaming Case CC-9011012-WW

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-ATX-550-Power-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1333673816&sr=1-4 $74.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
XFX ATX 550 Power Supply - P1550SXXB9

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157289 $259.99
ASRock X79 Extreme6 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492 $599.99 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73930K

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=pd_cp_e_0 $34.64 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

Add this fan down below to that CM 212 EVO cpu h/s for a "push - pull" effect to help bring the cpu temps down even more.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-BladeMaster-Silent-R4-BMBS-20PK-R0/dp/B0030DL37I/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1333218396&sr=1-5 $11.99 Free Standard Shipping (3-5 days)
Cooler Master BladeMaster 120mm PWM High Air Flow Silent Case Fan R4-BMBS-20PK-R0

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231557 $209.99
G.SKILL Ares Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-1333C9Q-32GAO

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236 $124.99
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-ST2000DM001-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal/dp/B005T3GRN2/ref=sr_1_3?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1333673441&sr=1-3 $119.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
Seagate ST2000DM001 Barracuda 7200RPM 2 TB SATA 6 GB/s NCQ 64 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-24xDVD%C2%B1RW-Serial-Internal-DRW-24B1ST/dp/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b $19.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
Asus 24xDVD±RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133272 $429.99
PNY VCQFX1800-PCIE-PB Quadro FX 1800 768MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card

Total: $2005.53


*** Optional 2x8GB RAM Kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231556 $104.99 FREE SHIPPING 20% off w/ promo code EMCNFNE44, ends 4/11
G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-1333C9D-16GAO


http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/carbide-series-pc-case/carbide-series-500r-mid-tower-case.html <---- a better look at that case

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=X79%20Extreme6 <----- A better look at that board, also get the latest bios for that board here.

 

[Regal Dreamer]

Thank you guys so much for the speedy response I really appreciate it and really look forward to getting started on my new build!!

 

[serialkiller]

@ gunit

your build is good for a gamer and a part time moddeling

 

[g-unit1111]

@ gunit

your build is good for a gamer and a part time moddeling

Well true - you could take my build and sub in the PNY Quaddro that Why_Me linked to or you could add a Fire Pro V7800.

 

[universal remonster]

Why Me's build is certainly more of what you are looking for. The video card and definitely the 950 watt power supply in gunits build have no place in a workstation that you are describing.

 

[mattyg_nz]

Whatever you do, don't get the GTX 680. Its architecture isn't made for computation (floating points) which are more important in modelling and editing then fps, which is important for games. The GTX 580 Fermi is a good architecture for computation. Get that instead (prices should be dropping).

 

[serialkiller]

Intel i7 3770k
Asrock z77 extreme4 or asus z77 v-pro
cm hyper 212 evo
corsair vengence 2x8gb 1600mhz ddr3 ram
Pny quadro 4000 or evga gtx580 3gb classified ultra.
Seasonic 620w 80+ bronze or pc power and cooling silencer mkii 950w 80+ silver
wd carvier black 1tb x2 in raid 1
crucial m4 128gb ssd
asus 24x dvd writer
corsair carbide 600T white edition
windows 7 pro