So, it's about time for a new computer

[him61]

Hello everybody. I'm thinking about getting a halfway decent computer for myself. I would like to spend no more than $3000, but less would be preferable. I already have enough hard drives, an OS, a blu-ray burner, and a case. I have a decent 700-watt PSU, but it's a few years old, so I might want to replace that as well.

I mostly run highly taxing 3D rendering programs for large high poly count scenes that eat up RAM for breakfast, so I want as much as can be put in there. I don't run too many games, but I would like a halfway decent graphics card. A higher end processor would be nice as well, but I can negotiate down on those. The last thing I want is for my scenes to end up in virtual memory, thus the RAM issue being the most important.

I don't intend to overclock much, if at all. Also, monitor recommendations would be appreciated.

As always, thanks for any help!

[JPMiller]

Well with that kind of money, and HD real estate, your likely looking at a top end socket 2011 board and Proc.
16 gigs is probably enough, but with prices as they are, 32Gb isnt unrealistic anymore.
What case do you have and what exact power supply?


My Short list?
Newegg.com - ASRock X79 Extreme6 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Sandy Bridge-E 3.3GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 Six-Core
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Memory x4
Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for ISRT or large temp file for PS or other programs that allow manual settings for temp folder.
Which leave over $1,200 for video card, monitor, and extras.

This is of course on the highend and using all the budget...
If it were ME, I'd get a highend 1155 z68 board and a Intel Core i7-2700K Sandy Bridge

[him61]

My case is an Antec 1200 that is about 9 months old.
The PSU is this one:
Newegg.com - ABS Tagan ITZ Series ITZ700 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified Active PFC Power Supply

I tested it a couple months ago and it's still running good, but it's more the age (~3 years) and the potential amount of power that this new machine might require that makes me think about replacing it.

I also did a little research, and I figured that a 2700K is more along the lines of what I would like. Actually, if the Core i7-3930K was in stock, that looks like what I would go for.

[JPMiller]

Granted its a little long in the tooth, but its a solid high amp PSU and as long as the inside is clean, and none of the capacitors are bulging or leaking, its should be more than enough for most video cards...

[jonathan2340]

That's quiet interesting information that you have added here. keep it up.

[him61]

Any other suggestions?

[ShyguyXPC]

With the RAM JP listed, you'll want to make sure the CPU cooler has enough clearance around the socket for the RAM, those Heatsinks can interfere with a lot of cooler designs.

if you opted for a Watercooler kit like one of Antec or Corsairs coolers, it shouldn't be a problem, but many of the Tower Heatpipe designs, you'd have to make sure it has clearance to fit, or that the heatsink can be rotated 90 degree's to avoid the flanking RAM slots.

As to the video card, I'd love to suggest a newer Radeon 7900 series, but they just too damned high in price still, at least until Nvidia comes out with their new cards, GTX 600/700 Series (Supposedly some 600 Series are to be released to OEM's, but are really 400 or 500 series rebadges, and there's rumors that Nvidia may even skip the 600 Series name for retail cards altogether, and just name them the GTX 700 series).

since you don't game much, a Good card like a GTX 560 Ti, or even GTX 570 on the high end would be more than adequate.

But even a GTX 560 might be fine too.

What kind of Resolutions do you use? Single, Dual, Triple Monitor setup?

What games?

Does your 3D software utilize GPU's for Final Rendering, or only OpenGL/DirectX Preview rendering?

[ShyguyXPC]

Tom's has a nice "gallery" of newer Socket 2011 Coolers: In Pictures: 14 LGA 2011 Coolers For Your Core i7-3000 CPU - Akasa Venom Voodoo

At least give you some ideas of Active Fan Heatsinks to use if your wanting one of those.

[him61]

I believe that most of the rendering programs that I use, and definitely the ones I program myself, use as much GPU power as they can.