New build advice for 2D/3D CAD & HD Video Editing

Mad Professor · 10 Aug 2012 at 19:07

Good day all.

I have been meaning to upgrade my main computer for some time, but never got round to it as it just about copes with my needs.

I only play what I would class as Basic games, Left 4 Dead2, Counter-Strike, Command & Conquer, Etc.

But I am now starting to do a fair bit of 2D & 3D Cad work at home, Plus I do a lot of HD video editing.

My current computer is not really up to the new tasks, so it's about time to upgrade.

Below are the details of my current computer system.

Processor: Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.0Ghz
CPU Cooler: Akasa Venom
MotherBoard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5DHX
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB Black WD1002FAEX
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-B083L
Graphics Card: nVidia 9800GTX+ 512MB
Power Supply: XFX XPS-850W-BES
Microsoft Windows 7 64bit Home Premium

I am so out of date when it comes to computer hardware, so I really need advice for my new computer build.

I am looking to keep with an intel processor, I am thinking around the i7 IvyBridge 3770K.

When it comes to the motherboard I would like one of the Z77 series, but I have no idea beyond that.

Memory wise, as above I do 2D & 3D Cad work at home, Plus I do a lot of HD video editing, so a 16Gb is a good starting point.

As I have already got a Western Digital 1TB Black, I might add a 64 or 128GB SSD for windows and apps.

Graphics Card, I don't know if it's worth upgrading, as I don't play a lot of games, but if I was I would like to stick with nVidia.

Cash wise I am still quite flexible at this stage, but looking around £600-700.

Can you please advice?

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards.

tamzzy · 10 Aug 2012 at 19:11

reuse your case, heatsink, hdd, optical drive, psu
YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK GeForce GTX 670 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £299.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £173.99
1 x Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £80.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
2 x Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CML8GX3M2A1600C9) £35.99 (71.98)
Total : £718.33 (includes shipping : £9.50).

you have free shipping, so its just a hair's breadth more expensive than 700 quid

stulid · 10 Aug 2012 at 19:15

The above spec looks more like a gaming setup to me and doesn't make any sense.

This on the other hands does,

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i7-3770K 3.50GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £251.99
1 x MSI GeForce GTX 560Ti Hawk 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £161.99
1 x Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £80.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Quad Channel Kit (BLS4CP4G3D1609DS1S00BEU) £67.19
Total : £653.54 (includes shipping : £9.50).

• 8 thread cpu
• 16GB RAM (you do have a suitable OS?)
• Nvidia card has CUDA support.

Mad Professor · 10 Aug 2012 at 19:39

Thanks for your replies.

I am running Microsoft Windows 7 64bit Home Premium, I have just updated my 1st post with that info.

stulid · 10 Aug 2012 at 19:42

Thats good then, you can use upto 16GB with that OS.

Mad Professor · 17 Aug 2012 at 10:53

I have been reading reviews on the items you have listed.

All the parts seem to have good reviews, but I am just thinking would it be worth me putting some more cash in, and going for one of the higher end motherboards?

When I built my old Q6600 system, from memory I spent around £160-180 on the motherboard alone.

I am willing to spend around that much again for the motherboard, if it means that I get better performance and stability.

The last thing I want to do it buy something only to find out that I have shot my self in the foot all for the sake of a few extra pounds.

Phusion · 17 Aug 2012 at 11:00

Mad Professor said:
All the parts seem to have good reviews, but I am just thinking would it be worth me putting some more cash in, and going for one of the higher end motherboards?

The Gigabyte Z77 D3H motherboard stulid suggested will be fine, the other Z77 motherboard have SLI features

Mad Professor · 18 Aug 2012 at 20:02

I have just noted that the memory stulid suggested is "Quad Channel" and the motherboard is "Dual Channel".

Is this going to cause any problems?

stulid · 18 Aug 2012 at 20:32

Mad Professor said:
I have just noted that the memory stulid suggested is "Quad Channel" and the motherboard is "Dual Channel".

Is this going to cause any problems?

Nope.

X79 boards/chips have a quad channel memory controller, so thats one stick per channel.

Z77 boards/chips have a dual channel controller, so you are just putting two sticks per channel.

devious93 · 19 Aug 2012 at 00:33

Mad Professor said:
I have been reading reviews on the items you have listed.

All the parts seem to have good reviews, but I am just thinking would it be worth me putting some more cash in, and going for one of the higher end motherboards?

When I built my old Q6600 system, from memory I spent around £160-180 on the motherboard alone.

I am willing to spend around that much again for the motherboard, if it means that I get better performance and stability.

The last thing I want to do it buy something only to find out that I have shot my self in the foot all for the sake of a few extra pounds.

People swear by gigabyte and others by Asus so motherboards are a pain in the ass to pick some times, I need to see the clear differences between these two specific motherboards before I decide. Multiple gamers/people in the industry have suggested the Asus P8Z77-V Intel Z77 where as people seem to also be looking at the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H Intel Z77.

Personally I would look at either of these as a more expensive motherboard option.