what are some good working computers nowadays?

Travis C

hey, so im almost a complete noob when it comes to hardware. my current pc is beginning to show some wear and tear and im looking to get a new one soon.

so im gonna be using this one strictly for maya, zbrush, ue4, 3d coat, photoshop, marmoset, etc.

what are my best options? there's just so much out there that it's kinda overwhelming and I really dont have time to spare to research and sift through everything, unfortunately. It just has to be fast as hell, handle big projects, and last as long as possible, and maybe be easy to upgrade.

preferably cheap as possible of course, but my budget is flexible and im willing to spent a decent chunk for this investment. If you think that you've got the awesomest computer for these purposes, ill just get whatever you're using.

Eric Chadwick

Don't wanna do the legwork, eh? Kids these days.
</gitoffmylawn>

You could try here
http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcforme/

ZacD

Well I'd get aim to get at least a GTX 770 and a i5 for working with UE4 for high end specs, for getting the most bang for your buck. If you were doing mobile work with UE4 you can cut back. If you do a lot of baking, I'd go for an i7 instead.

DriveJunky95

3.3Ghz+ CPU and more cores is better for rendering so go AMD. I don't care what others say about intel/hyperthreading, a workload split between more workers is more stable IMO. Tom's says so as well. ASUS motherboards have good overclocking options if you're into that. Just make sure the socket type is the same as the CPU.

$250 GPU would be fine. I still use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121418 and spent $180 on it. If I were to upgrade I'd get 2-3GB VRAM, ~1050MHz core clock and ~5GB memory clock. Higher memory clock the better. No need for 6GB VRAM lol. 3GB is a nice hybrid for current games but that is AMD/ATI only. If you like to game certain titles support some Phys-X feature for NVIDIA cards only that boosts the visuals a bit. UE4 also provides special support for this feature in UE4... but only do that if you're into particle effects.

8GB RAM will be plenty for having Maya, Photoshop, Marmo, UE4, some porn and a music player open simultaneously. You can alter a system file in ZBrush to utilize 16GB+ for rendering but that depends on how much you use ZBrush in your workflow. If your motherboard supports it (I'd be surprised if it didn't) buy 2 sticks RAM (slightly more money) for dual channel which runs ~8% faster. On a dollar per gig/efficiency basis it is worth the extra cost.

Use this link for calculating what PSU you might need. Newegg.com also has a calculator but it shoots a little high... doesn't surprise me as you'll spend more $$ that way. I know offhand 750W would be plenty with room to expand.
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

For OS(operating system)/storage I'd use your drives from your old PC. If you don't have one an SSD is a great investment and has personally sped my computer up the most out of any hardware upgrade I've done. Use your old drive for storage then, or buy a WD black for speed or a WD green for a lower power bill.

For the love of god get a case that fits your motherboard. No need for that watercooling shit unless you like numbers, and by that I mean slightly lower CPU temps, slightly higher CPU clock, and a decent increase in your power bill. One with 3 fans would be enough for good airflow. If not, no reason to just take the side panel off unless your cat fluffy likes to pee in small spaces.

ZacD

CPU Mark Relative to Top 10 Common CPUs
As of 21st of November 2014 - Higher results represent better performance
Intel Core i7-5820K @ 3.30GHz 12,951 (83%)
Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz 10,257 (65%)
Intel Core i7-4770 @ 3.40GHz 9,909 (63%)
Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz 9,630 (61%)
Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz 9,391 (60%)
AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core 9,017 (58%)
Intel Core i7-2600K @ 3.40GHz 8,584 (55%)
Intel Core i5-3570K @ 3.40GHz 7,164 (46%)
Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30GHz 6,487 (41%)
AMD FX-6300 Six-Core 6,355 (40%)
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 2,98

Clock speed and cores don't mean anything when you aren't comparing processors within the same series.

grimsonfart

If you have some extra cash to spend, go for a i7 5930k. AMD is much cheaper but much weaker, so your choice.

Cay

I currently have an Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 which is perfectly fine if you don't plan on doing any overclocking and it supports HyperThreading and all. I don't know if there's a new one out already, probably. edit: Oh and it doesn't have an integrated graphics thing, so that makes it a lot cheaper than i7.
No overclocking means that you need a different motherboard and I think it's even cheaper.
I also have a gtx 770 (the 2gb version), 4gb might be better though. Yeah and 16gb ram.

cost me about 1100 euros(200 euro monitor included)

btw.. unreal engine 4 is running nicely ^^

DriveJunky95

AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core 9,017 (58%) costs $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284

Intel Core i7-2600K @ 3.40GHz 8,584 (55%) costs $330
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070&cm_re=Intel_Core_i7-2600K-_-19-115-070-_-Product

Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz 9,391 (60%) costs $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116502

FX-8350 CPU performs 3% better than the 2600k and 5% worse than the 3770, and is half the price.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
Search for an AMD chip (ctr+F) and compare the next 4 chips above and below it with the price of the AMD chip.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-9370+Eight-Core&id=1989
AMD has the 3 top slots.

AMD's performance per price is MUCH higher than Intel

ZacD

Intel processors still kill AMD processors in power consumption and single core performance. they use typically about half the power and score ~40% higher in single core benchmarks. That's a pretty big difference but yes, you are going to be paying a lot more for not a huge gain many applications. But I'd rather spend more money now to save more later. Going off an average of 6 hours a day and a difference of 90 watts (comparing typical wattage of a FX-8350 and i7-4770K at $0.11 cents a kWh), that's $22 a year, that price difference between processors drops from $160 to $70 over 4 years.

thomasp

ZacD: if intel delivers so much better in single core performance, why would that not be a huge gain? as far as i'm aware that's the single most important one to benefit from when interacting with all those applications mentioned. multi-threading seems to offer only modest speed-ups outside baking/rendering - if any.

it's the reason i went with an i7-4790 at 4 ghz and four cores over some lower clocked model with six cores that scores higher in multi-threading benchmarks.

ZacD

I meant to say not a huge gain for baking or rendering. But yes, a lot of actions in applications are not multi-threaded.

Travis C

thanks for the replies guys. but are there any pre-built computer options anymore that are just as good, out-of-the-box? I ask this because 1, i currently don't possess the know-how of building my own computer yet, nor do I know about the technical jargon that I'm seeing everywhere in this thread (embarrassing, I know! but right now I can't seem to manage my time well enough to fit in time for learning about all this.). and 2, I seem to have the worst luck when it comes to technical difficulties or faulty hardware, so having support/warranty would be nice.

Or do you guys think going custom-built is the way to go? I've bought all my computers pre-built in the past, so I don't even know where to get started with that.

thomasp

i, too haven't bothered with building one myself since the penny-pinching student-days really. you can go with a big manufacturer like HP, Dell, Lenovo or Boxx. chances are you will end up with a decent machine in any case.

or you could have one custom-built by a company. plenty offer online-configurators where you have a little selection from components. tends to give you more bang for the buck then when going with one of the big vendors but might lack in warranty/support programs.

Cay

custom-built gives you all the stuff you need for less cash than average pre-built ones.. but yeah.. it takes a few days of reading into the subject.. there are forums where people will help you out.. and there's the risk that something won't fit if you don't have experience