CAD/editing/gaming PC for <500?

Master Skooter · 6 Feb 2015 at 11:32

Hi

A friend of mine has contacted me asking for help spec a system. His actual words 'a powerful one for gaming/3d work. The budget...<500' :rolleyes:

He'll need everything bar an OS.

Is it even possible? If anyone fancies a challenge some suggested specs to go back with would be great.

TIA
Skoot

porushinobu · 6 Feb 2015 at 11:34

Master Skooter said:
Hi

A friend of mine has contacted me asking for help spec a system. His actual words 'a powerful one for gaming/3d work. The budget...<500'

He'll need everything bar an OS.

Is it even possible? If anyone fancies a challenge some suggested specs to go back with would be great.

TIA
Skoot

second hand possibly. I think an AMD build may be enough but it may slow sometimes when using the 3Dsoftware.

Doomedspeed · 6 Feb 2015 at 12:31

What 3D software is he using? Is he modelling mainly or rendering/lighting?

I think Intel may have the edge, even at this low price range.

Master Skooter · 6 Feb 2015 at 12:37

Hi

Thanks for replying.

He's said mainly Solidworks and photoshop. Graphic rendering.

Thanks

Master Skooter · 9 Feb 2015 at 10:33

Anyone fancy a pop at this? lol

Smrtka · 9 Feb 2015 at 12:42

You are pushing the limit of what is doable, I would first look on some cheap B grade GPU....

Master Skooter · 9 Feb 2015 at 15:03

I'll go back and tell him it's not possible with that budget.

What would he need to spend minimum?

Cheers

ShivP · 9 Feb 2015 at 17:35

Without a GPU you could be looking around the £700-800 mark including a monitor, keyboard/mouse and an i5 - 16GB RAM would be beneficial too for editing
with a GPU it'd be more of a struggle, would he be opposed to a used GPU?

Little*Freak · 9 Feb 2015 at 19:41

Hello, best i could come up with was £662. All brand new parts.

24" AOC Monitor, i5-4460, 16GB Teamgroup 1600MHz ram, Msi z97 board, 500GB Seagate SSHD, Asus GTX 750Ti, Antec 450W PSU, Aerocool case, Microsoft KB/Mouse combo, a SteelSeries Headset and an LG DVD +RW.

From what i understand of rendering, you'd be better off sourcing a GTX 670/760 from the MM if you can. Need a better PSU if you do, though. Maybe a faster CPU too. Maybe you can get away with a GTX 750 instead, i'm not sure, it depends on the programs.

Sorry man.

Little*Freak · 9 Feb 2015 at 19:54

I know someone who uses Revit Architecture 2014, for rendering buildings in 3D etc. He has an i7-4770, 16GB of Ram and a GTX 770. He says it takes minutes normally but can take upto an hour or more etc.

Other people say that other programs make better use of the Maxwell architecture. Seems to be very program dependent.

Found this thread on another forum:- http://forums.cgarchitect.com/75337-3ds-max-gpu-impact-rendering-gpu-vs-cpu-2.html

Doomedspeed · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:26

Hi.

Sorry I didn't come back to this. Been a busy few days.

As said above it is very programme and use dependant. Solid works and Photoshop are both programs I have experience with so I can shed a little light for you.

Modelling in solidworks and editing in Photoshop are both single threaded task which use little RAM. These tasks are super simple to run. Rendering is the issue. To convey textures/lighting both programs need a lot of RAM, 16gb is ideal really. On top of this multicpre support is really important as that's where the power comes from (this is unless you set it up to render from GPU, which some programme don't support, I think SW doesn't support it [2011 didn't anyway]).

Typically rendering from the GPU is a lot quicker but (obviously) has its financial and technical (programme support) drawbacks.

So really if your gonna cut back on anything its the GPU for now.

As I can't spec you at this moment, on my mobile, but if you going new you'll be looking at a 4440 (i5) system with 16gb of quick RAM. This is doable within the budget.

I can give you a spec later if you still need It.

If your able/willing to look SH (Secondhand) you may be able to get a 2600k/2700k & 16gb for same/less too.

Master Skooter · 10 Feb 2015 at 10:26

Thanks everyone for the info/advice/suggestions.

If you have the time a spec would be great Doomedspeed, thank you.

porushinobu · 10 Feb 2015 at 10:31

Doomedspeed said:
What 3D software is he using? Is he modelling mainly or rendering/lighting?

I think Intel may have the edge, even at this low price range.

I hope so as AMD haven't served me too well in the past,

Harl0 · 10 Feb 2015 at 10:32

Yeah its possible, what resolutions is he wanting to use?

Master Skooter · 10 Feb 2015 at 12:24

Harl0 said:
Yeah its possible, what resolutions is he wanting to use?

Hi

He says he uses 2560x1440 on his mac at work.

Master Skooter · 10 Feb 2015 at 12:24

But I think (hope) he appreciates it's going to be a budget build!

Doomedspeed · 10 Feb 2015 at 17:03

Master Skooter said:
Thanks everyone for the info/advice/suggestions.

If you have the time a spec would be great Doomedspeed, thank you.

No worries,

Something like this would be good.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £149.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX316C10FBK2/16) £99.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £42.95
1 x Asus H81M-K Intel H81 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £37.99
1 x Antec VP450P 450W 85% Efficient Continuous Power Supply £32.99
1 x BitFenix Neos ATX Tower Black/Black £29.99
1 x LG 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM GH24NSC0.AUAA10B £13.99
Total : £407.84 (includes shipping : ).

savagesam117 · 10 Feb 2015 at 17:05

Doomedspeed said:
No worries,

Something like this would be good.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £149.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX316C10FBK2/16) £99.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £42.95
1 x Asus H81M-K Intel H81 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £37.99
1 x Antec VP450P 450W 85% Efficient Continuous Power Supply £32.99
1 x BitFenix Neos ATX Tower Black/Black £29.99
1 x LG 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM GH24NSC0.AUAA10B £13.99
Total : £407.84 (includes shipping : ).

But..

He also need Keyboard and mouse, Monitor.. budget blown in monitor alone

Doomedspeed · 10 Feb 2015 at 17:27

savagesam117 said:
But..

He also need Keyboard and mouse, Monitor.. budget blown in monitor alone

Yeah, i missed the monitor bit (i thought he said he HAD a 1440p, not USED a 1440p one and wanted one). Even a standard 1080p would cost £100 with a 1440p one costing £230-£260 minimum.

savagesam117 · 10 Feb 2015 at 17:30

Doomedspeed said:
Yeah, i missed the monitor bit (i thought he said he HAD a 1440p, not USED a 1440p one and wanted one). Even a standard 1080p would cost £100 with a 1440p one costing £230-£260 minimum.

Exactly, there's no hope i don't think with this kind of budget. Tower alone yes, not with all the other bits too though

CAD/editing/gaming PC for <500?

Soldato