Help with this new PC setup for 3ds Max and Corona rendering
Help with this new PC setup for 3ds Max and Corona rendering
PCPartPicker Part List:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jmFbL9
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5 GHz 16-Core Processor ($579.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 56.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($131.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX B650E-E GAMING WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($336.19 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($194.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus ROG STRIX GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB Video Card ($1449.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Meshify 2 ATX Mid Tower Case ($159.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: Corsair RM1000x (2021) 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.99 @ Amazon)
This is a 3ds max modelling and corona rendering build. gaming is second priority. I want ideas if i can get better parts for this build overall. Maybe save some cash also.
I was going for x670e boards first but i don't know what the difference is and from reviews i saw most people recommend b650 as they are cheaper and seem to do te job the same, as i dont need maybe all the ports. Don't know about performance though. If there is another model better than this i would appreciate the recommandation. Depending on the board i might neeed to change ram and storage probably.
IMHO, your entire setup is acceptable as it stands. You might reduce the build size by opting for a lower wattage PSU while remaining within the RMx lineup.
Here’s my revised submission with minor adjustments:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5 GHz 16-Core Processor
($579.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 56.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
($131.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
($219.95 @ Amazon)
Memory:
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
($194.99 @ Amazon)
Storage:
Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($79.98 @ Amazon)
Storage:
Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($139.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card:
NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB Video Card
($1329.98 @ Amazon)
Case:
Fractal Design North ATX Mid Tower Case
($139.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply:
MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($124.99 @ Amazon)
Overall Cost:
$2940.86
Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Submitted by
PCPartPicker
2023-10-13 08:07 EDT-0400
It appears you've designed a thoughtful system. Your decision on AMD is logical for demanding tasks like rendering and modeling, as well as for motherboards and RAM—all solid options.
The initial concern about your SSD choice was valid. When the 990 Pro launched, its performance, reliability, and durability were poor. Many users reported SSDs failing or showing signs of failure within a few months after purchase. By February, it seems these problems have been resolved, though staying updated on firmware releases is wise.
I’d recommend considering a swap for your graphics card. The AMD RX 7900 XTX outperforms the RTX 4080 in games, costs significantly less than it used to, and offers more video memory. If you’re doing any rendering or modeling beyond the GPU, this boost in memory will greatly enhance performance. With larger game textures, more video memory becomes essential for fast storage. A card with less memory won’t match a higher-capacity one as games evolve. The only reason to choose the 4080 would be personal preference for the Nvidia brand or access to their exclusive features like DLSS and Ray Tracing. I’ve linked to an Asus 7900 XTX here, priced around $1000, but other brands can offer similar models for as little as $800.
Regarding motherboards, there are fewer strict differences between tiers now compared to earlier generations. Even the lower-end B650 supports PCIe 5.0 NVMe, WiFi 6E, and plenty of expansion options. The main advantage of a higher-tier board is increased bandwidth, which translates to more USB ports. For example, X670 and X670E both support up to two USB 20Gbps connections, whereas B650 and B650E only offer one. You’ll likely notice the extra port on your chosen board is the USB-C near the WiFi antennas. Most users won’t benefit from the additional speed unless they frequently transfer large files via USB. If you plan heavy USB transfers, a higher-tier board might be worth considering.
Take care.
Thank you for your time. I evaluated the tomahawk and carbon options, which led me to consider the RXT 4080 Founders Edition. The Radeon 7900XT also caught my attention because it's more affordable. For the power supply, I plan to keep the 1000W limit due to past issues.
It’s not necessary to use an AIO for the 7950X; a decent air cooler will do.
The Strix mobo is too expensive, other models with similar features exist.
This applies to SSD and GPU variants as well.
An 850W unit could be adequate.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5 GHz 16-Core Processor
($579.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
($40.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
($219.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
OLOy Blade RGB 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory
($185.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:
Solidigm P44 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:
Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($97.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card:
Zotac GAMING AMP Extreme AIRO GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB Video Card
($1123.00 @ Amazon)
Case:
Montech AIR 903 MAX ATX Mid Tower Case
($72.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($109.99 @ Newegg)
Overall cost: $2480.82
Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-10-13 09:14 EDT-0400
Thank you for your detailed message.
When building a powerful PC, I opted for the 990 and also looked into the WD Black SN850X or 980 Pro. Were those options better?
Regarding the graphics card, this has been my main concern. As you mentioned, the 7900XT offers significant cost savings and doesn’t require a powerful GPU for Corona rendering. I’m not very familiar with DLSS and ray tracing, so I might follow your suggestions.
I don’t need many ports, but I thought the X670E could be more future-proof or durable. If not, I can stick to the 650 series.
Let's begin with your SSD. I would prefer sticking with Samsung. The only other option I'd think about is Sabrent. As I mentioned before, the 990 issues have been fixed, and it’s just a dollar more than the 980 for quicker speeds. Just monitor the drive closely. On the other hand, if you have crucial data that can't be lost, switching to the 980 might be wise. It offers solid reliability and durability, with real-world performance matching the 990.
If you don’t want to rely on Nvidia’s features, consider the 7900 XTX. It’s more affordable and delivers comparable or better results in rasterized games.
If you’re not committed to the ROG lineup, an X670E around $300 should be a good fit. ROG items come with a big price markup.
I also found a similarly priced X670E motherboard. I’d choose this over the ROG version since it provides more expansion options for the same cost.
I wanted to add my thoughts on the other recommendations too. The RAM, power supply, and cooler are all excellent picks. Your RAM choice is especially strong—it features very low CAS latency, low First Word latency, and AMD Expo support, making it ideal for Ryzen systems. The power supply is also a solid option. Unless you need extra power, it’s probably unnecessary to go over 850 watts just for the sake of it. I get why air coolers are favored—they’re much more reliable and cheaper, but with your budget, it really depends on what you value most. Arctic offers great AIO options. Hope this helps, take care.
Thank you very much for your assistance. I also looked into the tuf gaming x670e, but I wasn't sure if it outperformed the b650 models previously mentioned. For the cooler, I decided to go first with the noctua nh-d15s because its CPU is a hot type, and I preferred this case style over others. The price was almost the same, so it felt like the safest option.