Author Topic: New workstation for 3D  (Read 5484 times)

2016-10-04, 01:05:20

Jan Morong

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Hi everyone,

I´m planning to build a workstation for 3d work. The softwares i use frequently are 3ds max with V-ray, Corona (so mainly CPU rendering) and Photoshop. This PC it should be my main workstatation - from modeling to rendering tasks, so for one-thread tasks will Intel Core i7-6850K 3,6GHz work perfectly, I´d like to slight overclock it. My specs of workstation:

CPU: Intel Core i7-6850K (or i7-6800K) --- 660,- (450,-)
Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 --- 90,-
MB: Asus X99-A / USB 3.1 --- 275,-
GPU: Asus Turbo GTX 1060 6GB --- 295,-
Storage: SSD Samsung 950 Pro 256GB --- 180,-
               HDD WD Red Pro 3TB --- 180,-
RAM: Corsair 32GB DDR4 2666MHz CL 16 Vengeance LPX --- 160,-
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 --- 120,-
PSU: Seasonic X Series 850W --- 190,-

Total --- 2150,-


My budget is around 2300,- €

I hope to get some good advice from you guys, so what do you think about this configuration - is it sensibly balanced? Or can I take for example better cpu (i7-6900K) instead of GTX 1060?

Thank you in advance!

2016-10-04, 02:43:52
Reply #1

Juraj

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Save your money and go for 6800K, the difference is rather arbitrary, in PCI-lanes, which you wouldn't saturate even with multiple-GPU setup because they don't really matter as much. From over-clocking potential, they won't differ imho.

860W is bit overkill, but on other hand, it will run in passive mode every time except when you'll render and use GPU at same time. People sometimes buy it in this fashion and I even I have one 1000W Superflower for 500W build simply because it runs passively this way.
You could settle for 760W and save money and if you stay with gold-rated series like X, or go higher end and get 760W P-Series and still save some money (I just bought one for 170 euros).

Alternatively, since this isn't such super-high budget, you can go for even more reasonable, yet still super quality, PSUs like Superflower Leadex, where 750W comes up to around 130 +/- euros.

nVMe drives are attractive, but in day by day use, almost without benefit, esp. at such low capacity. We don't transfer 50GB of photography twice a day, we keep opening and re-saving 1gb big 3dsMax scenes, where 3dsMax takes 20 times longer than harddrive allows anyway.
I use 850 EVOs for every workstation and fileserver I have included. None of the TLC drawbacks like competitors and capacity always trumps. I use 500gb which costs around 150 euros these days. 256gb became too little for me already 2 years back.
But this is just option, nothing against having high-tech part in new build :- )

(I would say also buy the 4TB Red instead of 3TB if budget allows in the end).

Make sure you buy 4x8GB modules so you can upgrade to 64GB later. I would say buy 64 right now but if budget is tight, keep it as is :- ).
You can actually buy 2x16gb and have option to run 128 in some future :- ) Don't discount it, I already run 128... keep rendering 50gb scenes and have few big photoshops open. Priceless. Yeah it would run dual-channel until then, but that makes zero difference.

Beware that Asus Turbo is outside blower, they're thus louder, although 1060 doesn't make as much noise as higher series, I am still bigger fan of multiple inside blowing fans. I haven't yet read any comparative reviews, so I honestly don't know which one is best.
But Turbo will definitely make your semi-passive PSU investment worthless.

Rest is sound, Fractal and Noctua are all-stars, there isn't alternative worth mentioning :- )

« Last Edit: 2016-10-04, 02:48:33 by Juraj_Talcik »
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2016-10-04, 15:35:37
Reply #2

Jan Morong

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Juraj, thank you for very quick answer and for review of pc configuration! I slightly changed it per your suggestion, I chose GTX 1060 Gainward 6GB instead of Asus Turbo...

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K ---  455,-
Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 --- 90,-
MB: Asus X99-A II --- 300,-
GPU: Gainward GTX 1060 6GB --- 295,-
Storage: SSD Samsung 850 EVO 500GB --- 190,-
               HDD WD Black 4TB --- 220,-
RAM: Corsair 32GB(4x8) DDR4 2666MHz CL 16 Vengeance LPX --- 160,-
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 --- 120,-
PSU: Seasonic P Series 760W --- 180,-

Total --- 2010,-

Your comments helped me alot with building this workstation :)

2016-10-04, 17:02:45
Reply #3

Juraj

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Good swap on the MB, I forgot there was new revision of it. ( bastards also made it more expensive but oh well... )
Please follow my new Instagram for latest projects, tips&tricks, short video tutorials and free models
Behance  Probably best updated portfolio of my work
lysfaere.com Please check the new stuff!

2016-10-04, 17:20:25
Reply #4

Jann

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I'd still go for that 2x16Gb kit, but overall good build.

2016-10-04, 22:34:29
Reply #5

Jan Morong

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Yes, I changed the MB, because of new generation Broadwell CPU and bios update... Juraj, just another question - Fractal design case include 2x 140mm fans + Noctua D15 cooler for CPU - will be this configuration enough for slight overclocking (4,0-4,2GHz)? Thank you again for the help :)

2016-10-04, 22:55:30
Reply #6

Juraj

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Yes, I changed the MB, because of new generation Broadwell CPU and bios update... Juraj, just another question - Fractal design case include 2x 140mm fans + Noctua D15 cooler for CPU - will be this configuration enough for slight overclocking (4,0-4,2GHz)? Thank you again for the help :)

Depending on your luck ( not all chips overclock the same, it's lottery) NH-D15 should be able to support up to 4.4 +/- stable temperatures if your chips handles the overclock at decent voltages.
Anything more than that, or less luck with chips, you would need stronger cooler, like 240-360mm radiator of good AIOs (no CorsairHydro shit, which is barely more potent than Noctua Air).

For acoustic reasons, I buy one more Noctua 140mm to back and use both Fractals in front which can then spin at lower RPMs. I use the Define voltage regulator to run the default Fractal fans on 7V. (Define allows for 5/7/12).


Please follow my new Instagram for latest projects, tips&tricks, short video tutorials and free models
Behance  Probably best updated portfolio of my work
lysfaere.com Please check the new stuff!

2016-10-05, 10:07:10
Reply #7

Jan Morong

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Hi Juraj,
could you please recommend me the proper fan setup in the define r5 case? (with additional noctua fan, let´s say NF-A15 PWM) One fan is by default mounted front, second in rear position and third noctua fan could by in bottom as intake? In this field you have surely much more experience :) Thanks

2016-10-05, 10:09:20
Reply #8

Jan Morong

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Sorry, I don´t read properly your previous answer :)