PC Build / Upgrade Advice

MichaelElphick

Hi guys,

I've never built an PC before, but am looking to upgrade my current computer, an Mid-2010 iMac 27" (http://support.apple.com/kb/SP588i3 3.2 ghz, upgraded to 16GB Ram).

Ideally I'll be using it for ZBrush, Maya, Ndo2/DDo and possibly Mari.
I'm not looking for anything too high end, but if it can play games fairly well then that's a bonus. Ideally anything under £1000 would be great.

I had some insight from a friend who builds computers, mostly for gaming ( I think), so thought I'd get some insight from the 3D community to insure that it will be fit for 3D foremost.

The build I'm currently sitting on is..

Graphics
Asus GeForce GTX 660 1020MHz 2GB PCI-Express 3.0 HDMI Direct CU II OC
http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-geforce-gtx-660-1020mhz-2gb-pci-express-3-0-hdmi-direct-cu-ii-oc-89P1.html
£167.98


CPU
Intel Core i7 4770k Quad Core
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/processors/intel4thgencorei3i5andi71150socket/bx80646i74770.html
£249.97


HSF
Noctua NH-U12S
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noctua-NH-U12S/dp/B00C76RL5M/?tag=logicaincre05-21"]Noctua NH-U12S: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories[/ame]
£49.72


MOTHERBOARD
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H Motherboard
http://www.dabs.com/products/gigabyte-z87x-ud3h-s1150-intel-z87-ddr3-atx-8PXF.html?q=GIGABYTE%20GA-Z87X-UD3H&src=16
£144.99


Or


Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP
http://www.dabs.com/products/gigabyte-z87-d3hp-s1150-intel-z87-ddr3-atx-8PXH.html?q=Gigabyte%20GA-Z87-D3HP&src=16
£101.98


RAM
Crucial BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU Sport 16GB kit (Gbx2) ?DDR3-1600?
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007PNNTY4/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=computers"]Crucial BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU Sport 16GB kit (8GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 Memory Module: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories[/ame]
£85.00


HDD
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 - hard drive - 2 TB - SATA-600
http://www.dabs.com/products/seagate-2tb-barracuda-sata-6gb-s-64mb-7200rpm-hard-drive-7XD7.html?refs=52450000-56330000-52770000&src=3
£64.99

SSD
Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5 inch SATA Solid State Drive
http://www.dabs.com/products/samsung-250gb-840-series-sata-6gb-s-2-5--solid-state-drive-8BNX.html?refs=52080000&catid=15004&src=3
£127.99


PSU
500W Corsair Builder Series CX500M 80PLUS Bronze Modular Power Supply
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/Modular+650W+or+less/500W+Corsair+Builder+Series+CX500M+80PLUS+Bronze+Modular+Power+Supply+?productId=53655
£51.68


CASE
Gigabyte GZ-G2 Gaming Case with 2 Front Fans
http://www.dabs.com/products/gigabyte-gz-g2-gaming-case-with-2-front-fans-7YWL.html?refs=351080000&src=3
£38.66


Thanks guys.

m4dcow

Seems like a solid build to me. Your power supply choice will run what you have selected, but I might get the 600w version instead, incase you add a more powerful gfx card down the line.

You might consider getting a GTX 760 instead of the 660, but that won't make much of a difference in actual apps (Maybe UDK or Cryengine will run a bit smoother in large scenes though).

levigilbert

http://www.logicalincrements.com/ is helpful for this sort of thing.

poopipe

Hello Mike,

We're switching from the xeon boxes we had when you were with us to high end I7s for the next gen stuff. 32-64gb ram depending on the person and gtx680s for pixel pushing.



Ill leave you to figure out who I am

repete

You can get that i7 4770k over 4ghz no problem with the Noctua, 4.2 stable.

A Corsair 500W PSU is not enough: You will want to upgrade at a later date and 750W would be my recommendation at a minimum for this current build choice. Your SSD costs almost 3 times the PSU :poly122:

go for the Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H

I come out at around 750W using psu calculator (with a reasonable cpu overclock).

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Good luck with your build :thumbup:

mikezoo

wow thanks for that Logical Increments guide. Never knew it existed. :thumbup:

ZacD

Also keep in mind the logical increments guide is based around gaming, if you do a lot of baking having a faster CPU might be better than having the latest GPU.

kiaradlosh

That's one tough PC that you are building. All the specs look good.

MichaelElphick

@m4dcow Yeah, judging by what I saw over on Logical Increments the 500W seemed a tad low. Regarding graphic cards i'm thinking of getting one secondhand of ebay so am too sure what model i'll be getting, but hopefully the best I can afford for now.

@poopipe I've got a good idea! , hope your well. That's awesome, that's a ton of RAM in them systems!

@repete I've never built an PC before so overclocking is quite a mystery to me. I'm considering cutting out the SSD for now, Ive never owned one so am unsure on how 'must have' it is now-a-days. I went through LI for the SSD brand is there a cheaper alternative? Thanks.

Thanks guys.

m4dcow

Since you are on a budget stick with the 660 gtx because that's probably the biggest bang for the buck.

I would also go for the cheaper motherboard, and since you aren't overclocking just use the stock CPU cooler, if you notice heat problems down the line, you could always buy a cooler later.

Stick with the ssd though, that one is good, and a decent price. Out of every computer innovation in the last 10 years, the ssd provides the biggest improvement to system responsiveness.

MichaelElphick

Thanks for the help with the build, i'm fully up and running and works like a dream!

Minus a faulty Seagate drive which has been RMA'd

In the end end I managed to get some extra cash together and went for the Asus GTX760 and also upgraded to Corsair Vengeance RAM.

Now just to sell off my iMac to get a pair of Dell Ultrasharps!

Thanks again guys