Am I overestimating my system requirments?

Tetsuo

Hi,

I've posted this in various forums but would like to get some answers from people who actually use this software on a daily basis and possiblt compare to what they are actually running. I couldn't find another thread, so technical talk it is.

So basically I'm looking at building a new PC from scratch. I'm currently running an AMD Phenom x4 with 4gb ram and would like some improvements.

At the moment I'm highly drawn towards the i5 2500k or the i72600k with 16gb corsair ram and so on.

However, I might be over estimating what I actually need it for.

This is what I want to do:

Be able to run Cryengine 3 or Unreal, 3ds Max, Photoshop all at the same time with no or little slow down (might as well throw either Mudbox or Zbrush in there as well just for benchmarks sake). Plus a few other programs like firefox, winamp, skype, msn and other random stuff. I'm really big on multitasking and being able to switch immediatly between software for workflow purposes.

I'm also going to be using the PC for architectural visualisation so rendering will be a large part of what I do. Also I'd like to be able to work on large scenes in my 3d application.

Now, I understand the system requirments of these software, but perhaps I'm building something overly powerful which I dont actually need?

Does anyone have any erecommendations on an actual good enough build? What do you pro guys use? Any advice?

Regards,

Tetsuo

sprunghunt

You can never, ever, have a PC too powerful for 3D. In two years time your machine will be considered to be just barely fast enough.

In this case your only limiting factor should be how much you can afford to spend.

Tetsuo

Cheers!

Tbh, I'll spend what i have to in order to get this level of production possible, as long as it isn't super crazy obviously. I think the £249.99 is my max for processor (the i7) but nothing stupid like some of them for £800-900. Of course if an i5 (179.99) is more than enough, then why pay extra for something I don't need? For 16gb of ram I saw for 69.99 which is a great price, going up to £99 for the higher level. Again, nothing stupid.

The main aim is not to go crazy and spend stupid amounts of money on something I probably won't utilise enough to justify the extra expenditure.

cptSwing

just remember to stick to nvidia cards, myself and many others have seen less than stellar performance with ATI cards (when used with Max/Maya etc.)

Butthair

I have to disagree about nVidia, being an ATI user myself. I can and usually do run all the programs you mentioned at once without any real issue (ram is the only thing that might suffer). Otherwise my setup is nothing awesome.

But as a new thing coming out, Windows 8 is a lot more flexible and dynamic. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it has all your programs "pre-cached" or whatever it's called to have programs boot faster. Basically microsoft is aware that there is a new mainstream level computer specs most people are going to have and want to do anything like play games or heavier on their system.

If you're largely working on architectural visualization and rendering (I'm assuming not in UDK or Cry, but Max or Maya?) then ram is always a good thing to have a lot of. More importantly would be a processor to handle everything and if you can find one that's designed to be a multi-tasking processor (this doesn't really matter on how many processors it has, although more usually means it can multi-task better) rather than one designed to focused largely on one task then go to the next.

These are just the opinions of one lowly earth dweller.

EarthQuake

The 2600K is an amazing value, at $300-ish it outperforms or performs equal to $1000 CPUs... so yeah, get it. Don't think too much about building a solid workstation, $300 on a cpu is fine, 16gb of ram is fine, I mean thats less than $100 isnt it? Ram is so cheap.

Ram and CPU are super important, don't buy the most expensive video card you can find($150 is good) or spend any money on crap you don't need like expensive and huge towers with blinking lights, mega wattage power supplies, water cooling, motherboards with 4x SLI and the best overclocking features, all stuff you'll never actually use....

But feel good about getting a top notch CPU and a good deal of ram.

poopipe

I've been a xeon fascist for a long, long time but was presented with an 8core i7 sporting 8gb and an nvidia 580 when i started my current job and i think I've been converted- not least cos the entire system costs about the same as 16gb of ram for the xeon box at home...

gateian

Yes I would definitely go with the i72600k. I have just got a new machine at work with similar specs to those and it runs like a dream. Photoshop opens in 3 seconds flat and i can have multiple instances of 3dsmax open at once and flick between them instantly. So 16gb of ram is definitely handy.

Make sure you invest in a nice and fast sata hard drive too. That'll make a big difference when you are chucking around big files.

I would back up these guys and say going nvidia/intel combination is the way forward. You may get faster ATI/AMD gear, but in my experience it comes with more unreliablity.

Kbrom12

I'm running an OC I5 2500k, 16 gigs of G.Skill Sniper ram with a Palit 2GB GTX 560 TI and I can run UDK, PS, Max, Zbrush, everything I need all at once without overheating or having any lag whatsoever when using or switching between programs.

but as sprunghunt says, you can never have to powerful of a PC, get the most you can for your money. I spent a little under a grand and it was totally worth every penny

Tetsuo

Thanks for the replies guys!

(this doesn't really matter on how many processors it has, although more usually means it can multi-task better)

True. If I wasn't turning to Intel I'd probably just get Phenom x6 Black or the new 8 core FX to save me the money, and get the processing speed necessary for rendering. Tbh though the benchmarks for the i7 have surpassed even these so I think this is the best decision now to just go with Intel. In an ideal world I'd wait for the 6+ core Intel processors to be released, but they'll most likely be out of my price range.

I have just got a new machine at work with similar specs to those and it runs like a dream.

That rig sounds fantastic, exactly what I need!

I'm running an OC I5 2500k, ...

Your set up sounds really similar to what I was looking at so that's handy! Funnily enough I'm looking at Msi GTX560 1gb Twin Frzr II for the GPU. But now I can't decide between the newer Twin Frzr III same model which is slightly more expensive, the GTX580 Twin Frzr II or the Palit GTX 560 as you mentioned. All priced differently, all different specs. I think a little bit more research is needed with these.

I think as many mentioned I'm gonna go for the i7 2600k and not waste anymore time, plus the benchmarks are all top notch! I'd like something that's gonna last a little longer so I think the extra investment is worth it I guess.

cptSwing

while my MSI GTX 570 is a nice card, i've had to flash its bios after frequent overheating at high load - apparently many of the "OC" cards in this batch can't handle the frequencies their set to during production. msi's support forums are full of complaints. ...so maybe go for the palit