i7 980x for rendering or something else?

[sparkyb]

Hi,

Please can you help me?

I am looking to buy a fast CPU for 3D modelling which will reduce render times;

This will be my first PC build and is for my hobby of 3D modelling. Initially I was looking at a dual Xeon set up, but this become very expensive for fairly low speed Xeon’s.

So I am now thinking about either the i7 980x or a lower spec i7. I am not planning on over locking straight away but will do so eventually. Please can you tell me if I will see much of a speed difference with the i7 980x over a lower spec i7 or even a Xeon. Or if you think something else would be more suitable?

Thank you

 

[sparkyb]

About £1800 max, cheaper if possible!

As for my budget i am not going to use a quadro card as this has no benefit for rendering in Cinema 4D as far as i am aware. Thus this will free up quite a bit for other components

 

[sparkyb]

The 3D program is Cinema 4D. I have seen some benchmarks for a few PC set ups, but they seem to vary so much depending on graphics cards and overclocked / not overclocked CPU types. So i wasnt sure and wanted to keep it simple on my first build unitil i get a bit more confident to overclock later on.

 

[sparkyb]

The i930 does seem more sensible for value for money - although Praxxtorcruel did mention earlier that there would be an improvement from a i930 to a i980x. Would this be though overclocking or not?

 

[sparkyb]

Hi Gary and infernox,

thank you for the help.

I am ok for a monitor as i have a HP LP2475w 24". But as for the rest i need the lot! I am currently using a Packard Bell P4 2.53ghz, 512mb RAM, Nvidia MX440 64mb video card and XP home (SP2). I have had it for ages and it just about copes with my 3D and the video card - but only if i dont render!

Thats a good list, thank you:


Graphics card: Not so sure about the ATI card as people have had problems using them in Cinema 4D. I will go with an Nvidia but not aQuadro.

RAM: i think 12gb might be best for textures.

OS: 64bit version (vista has had some problems with C4D).

Case: I was looking at the case you have suggested, but have seen the Lian Li PC-A77F. The price is ok for me but is this case overkill as its quite big? i am also trying to find a review for the PC-A77f - do you know anything about it?

Thank you

 

[sparkyb]

Thats a really good idea and have not thought about building it this way. But for me, i think a single PC would be more suitable as i have limited desk space.

 

[sparkyb]

Hi E-I

Thanks for the help I really appreciate it.

Below are my results from Cinebench. The motorbike was rendered out at 800x600 RGB 8bit, but my screen is set to 1920x1200 RGB 32bit – I didn’t fill out theses parts in the results as I wasn’t sure which one to use

CINEBENCH R10
****************************************************

Tester :

Processor : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.53GHz
MHz :
Number of CPUs : 1
Operating System : WINDOWS 32 BIT 5.1.2600

Graphics Card : GeForce4 MX 440/AGP/SSE2
Resolution : <fill this out>
Color Depth : <fill this out>

****************************************************

Rendering (Single CPU): 1280 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU): --- CB-CPU


Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 1007 CB-GFX


****************************************************

It does seem more sensible to go for a cheaper i7 and then spend more on the RAM as i noticed that this was quite expensive.

Originally I was looking at a low spec HP Xeon workstation, but for the price it was a waste of money. I then read the April 2010 edition of Custom PC mag (am I allowed to say that here!?) about building a graphics rig. Which hinted about the 6 core i7 and so I decided on this. But the magazine chose to use a single Xeon.

I don’t think I will overclock straight away and so I need a fast CPU out of the box. To be perfectly honest I am unsure and a bit confused in what to buy. Briefly going back, do you think a single Xeon would be any good? The magazine used a W3520 as it was a direct comparison to the i7 920, but better for workstation use. Are there any benefits from using a Xeon instead.

 

[sparkyb]

Thank you for posting Cinebench results and links PC bundles.

After what you mentioned i think the Xeon route for me wont be suitable, the i7980x is definately better.

To be honest i am quite looking forward to building it myself, my first PC was an Packard Bell that was brilliant for upgrades - constantly enjoyed fiddling about with that. But my second Packard Bell was so limited and i havent upgraded at all. The only thing i am worried about is fitting the CPU, so i will have to do my research first and take my time!

I noticed on another post that the i7 990x will be out soon and a "sandybridge?". One comment mentioned it would be mad to purchase an i7 980x at the minute - i appreciate that technology moves quickly; but will i be stupid to purchase soon, which will probably be just before my holiday in August so that i can start building?

 

[sparkyb]

Thank you. I think i might hang on for a bit then to see if there is a cheaper version, which will suit me nicely as i was not planning on doing anything until August.

 

[sparkyb]

Covering earlier posts:

I have just been comparing the i7 980x with a Xeon W3680, they are very similar except that the Xeon supports ECC memory and the 980x does not. Also the Xeon supports more memory types and has better bandwidth;

Seeing as they are almost identical in price and specification, do you think that the Xeon would be better for 3D regarding the memory. Also is this Xeon ovcerclockable like the 980x. I appreciate that Evil-I mentioned about Xeons earlier, but now i cant seem to see which is best? Would it also be a problem to buy a overclocking motherboard for a Xeon?

 

[sparkyb]

Thank you. I am my own worst enemy - i read into things too much and like you said never get anything. Its my first build and i think i may be being over cautious. I dont fully know what i am doing to be honest and this could end up being the most expensive disaster of my life!

I wont change my mind again and so it will be the 980x!!