[bLAZER76]

Hi.

I'm gonna buy me a new computer. I'm gonna build it myself and use it mainly for Maxwell/Maya + normal stuff, no serious gaming.

If I were to spend about $1000 on a CPU/Motherboard/RAM what would you suggest? do you get a Xeon for that kind of money and if so, is it faster than a CPU with socket 1156/1155? My CPU is 4+ years old so I'm not that familiar with the current CPU's.

[brodie_geers]

Basically whatever you can get that has the most processing power. Multiply the number of cores by the Ghz of each and compare. For your price range I think the intel 2600 is still king. Very good bang for the buck.

-Brodie

[numerobis]

yes, the i7 2600k has still the best price/performance ratio especially when overclocked... or the "old" i7 970 which gets sold out now and is only a bit above the 2600k but has 6 cores!

For ~$1000 i would buy a 3930k with 32GB RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116492
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813157282
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820233232
+ a good cpu cooler

= ~$1100

[brodie_geers]

make sure to get the 'k' version if you're overclocking (2600 can't be overclocked but 2600k can)

-Brodie

[polynurb]

For ~$1000 i would buy a 3930k with 32GB RAM

+1

that is best in cost, hardware vs. software vs. life-cylce

i just built a few machines running on asus p9x79 pro, 6 cores on 4.2 Ghz w. 32Gb (just 150€!!) transcend ram

very good render node.

[bLAZER76]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Yeah 2600K seems like a good deal. 3930k is almost twice the price here in Sweden, though. What about Intel i7-3770K? It's almost the same price as 2600k? I'm not sure if it has the integrated graphics?

Seems like a pretty good deal, here's a benchmark with Fryrenderer: (in seconds, lower is better)

[polynurb]

ivy bridge runs hotter than sandy bridge.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ivy-br ... 15512.html

also watch out for the socket as it is linked to maximum ram usage and number of ram channels.
socket 1155 boards have only 4 ram slots max.. so for 32gb you need these 8GB modules!

x79 chipset is best for performance. but you need extra graphics (~25€)

also for rendering, imho a gpu on die is counter productive.
we want to overclock, and that simply works better if it is not there.

***

assuming you want to spend 3000.-

3 x 3930k machines: ~1000.- = 3000.-
in theory (according to the benchmark you posted) gets you 211/3= 70 sek.

4 x 3770k machines: ~750.- = 3000.-
benchmark will be 297/4 = 74,5

and the latter costs you an extra windows license AND an extra render-node license so add another 250-300€ on top

[numerobis]

if 3960K is too expensive and if you can get the 3770K for the same price like a 2600K then this would be the better choice.
But only if you don't plan to overclock it (or only a bit), because the 3770K seems to run very hot when it gets overclocked.

2600K, 2700K and 3770K have all integrated graphics.

[Fernando Tella]

Maybe you can put two 3930K on a dual motherboard. I think Tyan has some models with that socket (I don't if it is as overclockable though) but it will go over 1000€

[polynurb]

Maybe you can put two 3930K on a dual motherboard. I think Tyan has some models with that socket (I don't if it is as overclockable though) but it will go over 1000€

afaik this does not work, because non xeon cpus lack a 2nd QPI link for multiprocessing.

@blazer76

sorry i sort of missed you want to build a single workstation.. in that case like numerobis pointed out you might want to take a look at the older 6 core i7 970. maybe you can get a good offer in sweden. across the rest of the EU you can get it for ~380-400€

you can find a good cinebench comparison here:

the 970 will preform like the 990x if you bump the clock for 260mhz, which is a piece of cake.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/0 ... k-review/4

[dmeyer]

3930k is the best single socket CPU out now as far as Maxwell is concerned. 3960k is twice the price for no additional performance.

[bLAZER76]

Thanks for all feedback guys, I think I'm gonna buy me:
i7-2600K
Corsair Vengeance 16 GB (2x8)
ASUS P8Z68-V LX motherboard
at my local retailer (in Sweden) I can get it for about $675

So instead of paying a shitload of money now for a better CPU, I can buy a new faster one in a year.

[numerobis]

i think i would take a z77 mainboard even for a 2600k since it's almost the same price and it's the newer chipset.

So do you want to overclock it or not? If not the 3770K could be the better choice.

[bLAZER76]

I'm not sure If I will overclock, I have my computer in my desk cupboard and it gets pretty hot. That's why I didn't want the 3770, but does it only run very hot when it' overclocked? So what's the benefit of a z77 mainboard?

[eric nixon]

Never keep your computer in a cupboard