Build for an architect

[dathai]

Hi,

I'm a total green horn when it comes to building systems but want to give it a go.

I'm an architect looking for a system that will handle CS5 Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro X (often with very large CPU workloads from big Illustrator files), AutoCad, 3dsMax (relativity small render resolutions,all still), SketchUp with the occasional bit of Premier Pro. Windows 7 is only option for OS although I have tried to keep the Hackintosh option open. A wide range of software, I know, but this is the nature of my job.

I currently have a have a Dell XPS m1530 laptop with Core2Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz, 4GB RAM, 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate and 250GB hard drive @ 7200RPM.

This does me fine for a lot of my work but for big files becomes too slow and crashy so I plan on building a desktop system.

I've been looking around and configured a system that seems like it will suit my needs:

Budget:
Under E1000

Build period:
By 01 Feb 2012

Motherboard/CPU:

Asus P8Z68-V Intel Z68
Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.60GHz Sandybridge CPU
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-063-OE

RAM:

Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-094-KS

CPU Cooler:

Corsair A50 High-Performance CPU Cooler
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-001-CS

GPU:

GeForce GTX 550Ti OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-131-MS

PSU:

OCZ ZS Series 750W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-057-OC

Storage:

OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-047-OC

Samsung SpinPoint F4 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-101-SA

Case:

BitFenix Shinobi Gaming Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-008-BX

Optical Drive:
None

I already have mouse, keyboard, tablet, 2x 24" 1920x1080 monitors so I don't need to include that and I will get OS Licence through student program so that won't be in build cost.

I've provided Overclockers.co.uk links but when I'm happy with the components I can shop around a bit more. I am interested in their overclocked bundle though.

I'd love to know if you guys think this system would be adequate/overkill. I want it to be as future proof as possible for the mentioned programs. Illustrator is my main program and I want a system that can always keep up with how fast I am working on large drawings.

Thanks for the help

 

[JustaTinkerer]

You might want to rethink the SSD, installing all that software is going to eat up the space.

I run OS from a 60gig SSD and I'm forever trying to find space.
Try for something a little bigger or get 2 and run raid0
Everything else looks quite good.

 

[Crap Daddy]

Hi and welcome. First, the bundle. For what you want an i7-2600K would be better. Overclock it yourself on Sandy Bridge it's very easy. For the motherboard I would suggest this ASRock:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-054-AK

A cheap HSF like the cooler master 212+ is a good option for overclocking up to 4.5-4.6 GHz.

If you want to play some games that 550Ti is pretty low end, if you want to use CUDA for render I'm not familiar with what the requirements are for those programmes, I only now that out of the box Premiere Pro supports the 570 and 580 but as far as I understood there are tweaks.

If you don't plan to SLI then a 550/650 W PSU will handle just fine even a top-end GPU. Look into Corsair, Seasonic.

You will need larger storage than the 320 GB Sammy so, even if they are expensive now, go for an F3 1TB

Others might help further.

 

[Steevo]

Keep the SSD but if you are really aiming for that level of performance you need two in RAID and a mechanical drive for backup.

 

[JustaTinkerer]

Hi and welcome. First, the bundle. For what you want an i7-2600K would be better. Overclock it yourself on Sandy Bridge it's very easy. For the motherboard I would suggest this ASRock:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-054-AK

A cheap HSF like the cooler master 212+ is a good option for overclocking up to 4.5-4.6 GHz.

If you want to play some games that 550Ti is pretty low end, if you want to use CUDA for render I'm not familiar with what the requirements are for those programmes, I only now that out of the box Premiere Pro supports the 570 and 580 but as far as I understood there are tweaks.

If you don't plan to SLI then a 550/650 W PSU will handle just fine even a top-end GPU. Look into Corsair, Seasonic.

You will need larger storage than the 320 GB Sammy so, even if they are expensive now, go for an F3 1TB

Others might help further.

Yeah if you wanna spend an extra £180 +/- a few quid (just went on OCUK prices)

EDIT NM just read "budget under £1000"..... for that you can make a system that will truly shine.

 

[kiddagoat]

Hi,

I'm a total green horn when it comes to building systems but want to give it a go.

I'm an architect looking for a system that will handle CS5 Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro X (often with very large CPU workloads from big Illustrator files), AutoCad, 3dsMax (relativity small render resolutions,all still), SketchUp with the occasional bit of Premier Pro. Windows 7 is only option for OS although I have tried to keep the Hackintosh option open. A wide range of software, I know, but this is the nature of my job.

I currently have a have a Dell XPS m1530 laptop with Core2Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz, 4GB RAM, 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate and 250GB hard drive @ 7200RPM.

This does me fine for a lot of my work but for big files becomes too slow and crashy so I plan on building a desktop system.

I've been looking around and configured a system that seems like it will suit my needs:

Budget:
Under E1000

Build period:
By 01 Feb 2012

Motherboard/CPU:

Asus P8Z68-V Intel Z68
Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.60GHz Sandybridge CPU
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-063-OE

RAM:

Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-094-KS

CPU Cooler:

Corsair A50 High-Performance CPU Cooler
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-001-CS

GPU:

GeForce GTX 550Ti OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-131-MS

PSU:

OCZ ZS Series 750W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-057-OC

Storage:

OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-047-OC

Samsung SpinPoint F4 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-101-SA

Case:

BitFenix Shinobi Gaming Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-008-BX

Optical Drive:
None

I already have mouse, keyboard, tablet, 2x 24" 1920x1080 monitors so I don't need to include that and I will get OS Licence through student program so that won't be in build cost.

I've provided Overclockers.co.uk links but when I'm happy with the components I can shop around a bit more. I am interested in their overclocked bundle though.

I'd love to know if you guys think this system would be adequate/overkill. I want it to be as future proof as possible for the mentioned programs. Illustrator is my main program and I want a system that can always keep up with how fast I am working on large drawings.

Thanks for the help

Hey there,

I would give this case or the Antec One Hundred considersation.
HAF 912

Either of these cases will provide much better airflow than Bitfenix case. I carry all three at my store and the Bitfenix look nice but there is little ventilation and the fans just don't cut it.

You will get more room in the HAF and Antec chassis as well. Plenty of room behind the motherboard trays to hide all your cables and you can add fans all over the place.

For your particular workload,
Corsair Force 3

A 120GB SSD would be preferred. This way you can get all those design and CAD applications on there and get the responsiveness from them.

All of those applications that you mentioned do support CUDA technology quite nicely and I would recommend at least a Geforce 560Ti to give you some headroom in not having to upgrade later. Although a 570/580 is on adobe's supported list, the software will detect CUDA acceleration and utilize it just fine.

I would look at the Arctic Freezer 7 or 13 for a heatsink. They are cheaper and have a better cooling capacity than the A50.

I see that you are interested in overclocking. I would keep in mind that for your particular applications, I would think stability would be more prominent than performance.

They advertise those packages but every piece of hardware responses differently to overclocking and not all settings every time are going to work.

 

[dathai]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm sold on the bigger SSD and Antec Case.

Does anybody know about Adobe's plans for GPU support outside of Premier, AE for future editions of CS?

Sorry if I'm outside of the topic of the forum but I've not been able to find a decent answer and it matters if I'm going to fork out the extra for the 560ti over the 550ti.

Thanks again

 

[dathai]

Thanks for the help. I've posted my updated build list here http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2528808#post2528808