University Workstation Build

LodgeJ

LodgeJ

LodgeJ

Associate
Joined
29 Nov 2013
Posts
18
Hey everyone, I'm a second year architect student and am looking to build my first workstation. I have researched most components and have a good idea of what I want to get, just need some advice on if its the best I could get for my budget. Budget is around £1500, obviously happy if it can be lower but happy to pay around this :)

The programs I use the most are:
1.AutoCAD
2.Rhino
3.SketchUP
4.Adobe InDesign
5.Adobe Photoshop
6.Microsoft Word etc..

This is my current build after changing around for months, any advice is more than welcome:

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770k
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth Z87
Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB 1866 (Just look at it...)
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB
Case: Corsair 650d
PCU: Corsair AX760
GPU: Quadro K2000 (Not 100% but I won't be playing any games on this machine so been advised to go with a workstation card)
Fans: Thinking of using SP120 QE's on H100i and AF120 PE as an exhaust

Total cost: £1565

Anyone have any advice on possible changes to benefit my workflow? Preferably want it to be future proof for the rest of my Part 1 and Part 2. (5 years from now).

Thanks in advance guys!!
 
Coming from a technical support background I'd have to say you might want to think about backups if you want this to last you 5 years throughout your course.

I imagine you'd be pretty sick if you got to year 4 or something and lost a HDD through failure or whatever with all your work on it.

That GPU should serve you well, have friend who uses the same one at home and she loves it!
 
Thanks for the quick replies! It is very important for me to backup my work hourly, always have a 1TB external HDD to hand so I could us this as an 'extra extra' backup?
That's good to know about the K2000, was a bit skeptical as there are minimal customer reviews on the net (well I cant seem to find any anyway). Think I'll stick to that bad boy!

Now about the PSU, anyone have any opinions on the AX760 vs the RM750/850? The RM series is currently £20 cheaper but not sure which would benefit my workstation?
 
The AX is more efficient, the RM quieter - both good PSUs, just depends what's more important to you.

I have the RM850 in my new project and during testing it was silent as the fan doesn't kick in until the PSU is under load. Don't have any personal experience of the AX but see a lot of them in builds of others and not seen any complaints about them.
 
cahonis said:
The AX is more efficient, the RM quieter - both good PSUs, just depends what's more important to you.

I have the RM850 in my new project and during testing it was silent as the fan doesn't kick in until the PSU is under load. Don't have any personal experience of the AX but see a lot of them in builds of others and not seen any complaints about them.
Click to expand...

Brilliant thank you, the RM is very tempting with its minimum fan load but I think I'll go with the AX for now just because it has a better guarantee (and red accent to go with my red accent fans).

Will update when the new parts arrive and hopefully have a kick asse workstation to show you in the coming months!! :)
 
That's not too different for my spec, except I use it for gaming too and I use an i5 (my pc is around 2 years old now or so?). I'm on an engineering degree so slightly less graphical orientated software, but I need the number crunching power more.

It does me fine for CAD and other software such as FEA using Abaqus, and a few others. Your spec should be more than adequate, enjoy it.
 
Sorry for reply late guys, just had my work hand in! Now time to concentrate on the build....

I've gone with the AX760 and received it along with my z87 Sabertooth and WD 1TB Black HDD, just waiting until Christmas to get the rest and then I'll update with my build progress!!

Thanks everyone!!
 
Update:

Hello guys!
Received my Ax760, Z87 Sabertooth and 1TB WD Black HDD Yesterday so things are starting to take off!!
Just have one question that I'm slightly confused about, the H100i is the radiator I have chosen but I am confused whether to have this as an intake or exhaust? My rear 120mm will be an exhaust with front 200mm being an intake, so what would be better for the h100i? I know Corsair recommend having them as an intake but surely you would want to extract the hot air out of the 650d?

Any help would be brilliant and if anyone has pictures of their setup that would be really helpful! Will be replacing the stock fans with the SP120 QE's as well :)

Cheers!!
 
I would suggest having it as an exhaust, although with my h80i I tried to have it as an exhaust and i made a funny noise so have it as intake now. Should be fine as exhaust though.

In addition, I would ask you to once again activate your trust! I have something to mention regarding the case you have chosen.
 
Cleisthenes said:
I would suggest having it as an exhaust, although with my h80i I tried to have it as an exhaust and i made a funny noise so have it as intake now. Should be fine as exhaust though.

In addition, I would ask you to once again activate your trust! I have something to mention regarding the case you have chosen.
Click to expand...

Thanks, think I'll try out both and see what's more efficient, thinking the exhaust seeing as there's no dust filter on top of the case. Did you have it as push or pull?? Not sure what's best :/
 
Sorry for leaving this thread unattended for a while, been a really busy Christmas period!

Just a quick update:
Got the i7-4770k in the post last week and just placed an order for my new choice of case, the Corsair 750d. Heard really good reviews about it and is said to be the predecessor to the 650d, plus it looks unbelievably smart. Also have the H100i with 4xSP120 QE fans being delivered along with 3xAF140 QE fans to replace the stock fans in the case. Sticking with the white rings to keep a black and silver/white theme to the workstation!

Does anyone have any advice for fitting the H100i with a push/pull setup? I heard somewhere that you need extra screws... also heard a problem with the link software being buggy with Windows 8.1? Hopefully this is sorted out before my build is complete!!

It is slowly yet surely coming along so pictures and build progress will hopefully be on its way in the new year. Planning to get the build complete mid-January in time to return to my studies... Cheers guys!!
 
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