Messages

1

Hardware / Worth building a 3rd PC just for rendering? (~€1050 – 5950X + RTX 3050)

« on: 2025-06-08, 17:40:29 »

Hi everyone,
I'm a solo freelancer working full-time in architectural visualization (3ds Max + Corona Renderer). My current main system is a Ryzen 9 5950X + 64GB DDR4 + RTX 3060, and I’ve just ordered a brand new workstation with Ryzen 9 9950X + 96GB DDR5 + RTX 5060, which will soon take over as my primary machine.

Now I’ve come across a solid deal on another 5950X, and I’m considering building a third PC, very similar to my current one — slightly improved in storage and airflow.
Initially, I’d use it as a Corona DR render node, but in the near future it might serve as a dedicated workstation for a potential assistant or collaborator, or just as a flexible extra system in a growing studio setup.

Here’s the build, available locally for around €1,050:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X – €330

Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO – €115

RAM: 32GB DDR4 3600MHz (already owned) + buying 32GB more to make 64GB – €65

SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB PCIe 4.0 – €115

GPU: MSI RTX 3050 6GB VENTUS 2X OC – €190

PSU: be quiet! System Power 10 650W – €110

Case: be quiet! Silent Base 601 – €135

Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360mm – brand new, still sealed – €0 (already owned)

💬 My thinking:
This setup would help offload CPU-heavy renders, shorten delivery times, and support a future team setup. I know the GPU is weak, but it's fine for CPU-only Corona DR. I’m not trying to future-proof in terms of platform, just build something cost-effective and reliable that still holds strong performance for the next 3–5 years.

➡️ Would you go ahead with this build at this price, or invest elsewhere?
I’m curious how others see the long-term value of a third PC in a solo/small-studio workflow.

Thanks in advance!

2

[Max] General Discussion / Re: An unknown bitmap is showing on top of a material

« on: 2022-07-17, 16:44:29 »

Hi,

this could be because a. you set your enviroment HDRI map with wrong mapping (it should be spherical and not screen), or b. there is reflect BG override activated in your wood material and enviroment texture plugged directly into it.

Thank you for replying so quickly,

I understand your reasons, but if you can see in the first image, that bitmap is also stretched according to the UVW map of the object.
Also here are images of the material, scene.

I am trying something now, just renaming the wood texture and reloading them in the material and see the results, hope this works.

3

[Max] General Discussion / An unknown bitmap is showing on top of a material

« on: 2022-07-17, 16:25:38 »

Hi there,
I have been working on a scene with 3Ds Max 2022 with Corona 8 and there appears to be a bitmap (an image of an exterior of a building) on top of a material, wood (see the picture attached), and I have tried to locate that bitmap in the material editor, but no such map is present in the scene. I have also reset settings inn the render setup, still same thing. I'm asking here if anyone knows something about this problem.
Thank you in advance