1) Start considering the actual hardware shortage.
Like T0M0 said, Maxwell Render didn’t improved so much in performance in CPU rendering.
I would focusing over GPU computing for the near future.
But seems to be one of the few Rendering Software easily scaling up with a loot of cores, so you can find valuable CPU for rendering with Maxwell.
2) AMD Threadripper are the best choose if you plan to render mainly with the CPU.
threadripper have some plus over other platform:
- ECC RAM SUPPORT ( Intel don’t support ecc on consumer motherboard)
- PCIE 4
- More pcie lanes for multy GPU setup and M2 storage.
The best CPU for rendering are:
2990WX
3970X
3990X
2990 WX you could use 64 GB ram
3970x work well with 128 GB ram
3990X require at last 128 GB ram, better 256 GB ram.
AMD Threadripper work better with high frequency RAM.
The safe spot is 3200 MHZ.
The best overall frequency is 3600 MHZ.
If you plan GPU computing with Maxwell Render, keep in mind only NVIDIA cards will work.
Maxwell render GPU COMPUTING is based around CUDA Cores.
So AMD GPUs would not work. ( for now ).
Best NVIDIA gpu for rendering:
1080-TI
RTX 2080 / Super
RTX 2080 TI
RTX 3090
Considering the GPU shortage your best price/performance solution would be buying the first option:
————————— OPTION 1 ———————————
4x 1080TI ( gpus ) used ( 1600€ on eBay 4 gpus)
1x 2990WX ( cpu ) new/used (around 1000€ Amazon)
1x Zenith Extreme ( MB ) ( around 600€ Amazon)
1x 1200 watt PSU ( 400/500 € Amazon)
64 GB ram 3600 MHz ( 300/400€ Amazon )
————————— OPTION 2 ———————————
If you want a little more performance and higher
CPU frequency.
3x 2080TI ( gpus ) used ( around 400 for gpu) on Amazon or EBay —-> 1200€ total
1x 3970x ( cpu ) ——> 2000€ ( Amazon )
1x Zenith Extreme II ( MB ) —-> 900€ ( Amazon )
1x 1200 watt PSU ( 400/500 € Amazon)
128 GB ram 3600 MHz ( 600/800€ on Amazon )
————————— OPTION 3 ———————————
Best performance
2x RTX 3090 (Gpus)
( actually good luck find them at a good price.
————-> 2500/2700€ for gpu on Amazon -( New )
————-> 900€ for gpu on Amazon ( used )
1x 3990x ( CPU ) —-> 4500€ ( Amazon )
1x Zenith Extreme II ( MB ) —-> 900€ ( Amazon )
1x 1200 watt PSU ( 400/500 € Amazon)
128 GB ram 3600 MHz ( 600/800€ on Amazon )
————————— ———————————
When Maxwell Render 5.2 will released I will post some benchmark with a dual 3090 configuration.
For any question I’m here.