In need of the Ultimate rig for ~$3000

Hardware Hub Build a PC
1

Hello, my first post here. Been a subscriber of RtW for a long time now but i finally decided to see what's up in this part of town :P

anyways, I'm here to request some assistance and any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Firstly, I have a budget of about $3000 and I need a rig that is long lasting [atleast a decade] and fast. The reason it has to be long lasting is because i do not shit money and i'm not able to afford a new computer every year.

I'll simply put my uses for the rig and you guys can reccomend the ultimate build. Keep in mind i don't understand that much about hardware so i'd appreciate it if you laid out your suggested components with clear headers and the model number and everything because i will be taking the list to shop nearby that will simply purchase and assemble the computer for me because i don't have the time nor patience to build it myself.

The uses are the following:

- Heavy Graphics Design and lots of 3D work ~ AutoCAD, ProDesktop, All of the Adobe Creative Suite, and Cinema 4D

- Programming ~ I have been blessed with the knowledge of code from an early age and so i'd like to apply my knowledge into a long, big project that will probably be a game but i need the computer that can run it with ease and no stutter/lag

- Music and Video Production! ~ a VERY important aspect of my life. I record music, i'm in a band; I mix music, I was a party DJ and lastly I need to beable to produce videos. I aspire to work in media for a long time so a computer that will run heavy files and programs with ease would be absolutely amazing

- Gaming ~ I am by no means a hardcore gamer but i would like to have the ability to play the latest games for atleast the next couple of years.

I put alot of thought into writing this thread the first time around (since it's my first thread and all) but my laptop crashed and i lost it all, so i retyped it in a hurried and sloppy manner. So please exceuse me)

The budget must include monitor(s) the more you can add in the better, although i wouldnt need more than 3. Also the case must look sexy, sleek, modern, and just eye-candy. It must obviously do it's job well in ventillating the heat and containting the hardware but attention to the overall aesthetic would be appreciated. Another thing is, this computer is my first upgrade from a 6 year old laptop, I do not have the money to buy new components or a new computer every year so please make it long-lasting. Thanks in advance for taking the time to do this :3

Lastly just as an extra, please leave a comment at the end on which OS that would be the best for me. I'm experienced with windows and i considered a mac instead of building my own pc, but then again i always have the option of a hackintosh. So as you can see, i am a very confuzed person... lol xD

 Note: I am only gathering a laundry list of the components to buy but the actual build will take place sometime in June/July so if there are any upcoming hardware choices that would be better suited to my build by then, please do include it in your reply.

2

Instead of buying a single $3000 computer, spend $1000 on a computer every several years, and reuse your monitors. Start off with a 27" 2560x1440 and add 2 more later on. NO INDIVIDUAL COMPUTER WILL LAST COMPETIVELY FOR 10 YEARS. However, is you really want a $3000 computer, I would recommend this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x2rR. Without spending $5000, that is pretty much the best you can do for a balanced system. But don't buy it - buy 3 separate computers, not 1 massive system that will last for 4 years before a necessary change/upgrade. You could reuse a lot of the base parts if you built 3 systems: buy a SeaSonic 1250W PSU and you can use that in all 3 systems. Get a good 512GB SSD and you can reuse that. Get a nice case, and the same. It is more economical and reasonable to build 3 separate $1000 systems to last for a few years. Also, don't buy Mac. Never buy Mac. Macs make your computer last just long enough for the new Mac to come out. They are overpriced, underpowered, and completely locked off internally for upgrades. Linux is my suggestion, seeing as it is both free and becoming much more popular in the gaming community. When Steam comes outofficially for Linux, Windows is dead. Windows will be a mobile OS, and nothing more. Save yourself the pain and build 3 separate Linux beasts to destroy a single $3000 system. Please don't buy a $3000 computer - please!

 

My regards,

Brennan Riddell

3

I have thrown together a $2000 setup that could last you 4 years, and contains many parts that you could use again on a new build. It includes a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and the computer itself: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x2Gf This computer would destroy most games at ultra settings for the next 3 years before any necessary upgrades. Unless you have a high-quality surround sound system, a sound card isn't worth it. However, if you really want one, buy an Asus Xonar STX - fantastic sound! Enjoy building your computer, just realize that it won't last 10 years, even if you spent $10,000 on it, 10 years is pushing it; A LOT. Hope I helped!

 

BTW, this build is themed white and blue - change the case/CPU cooler to fit your color preferences; they both come in multiple colors.

4

Wow, thank you so much mate :) I think i might definitely go for that 2000$ build. Oh and like i said, i'm not a hardcore gamer so I just need 10 years of compatibility with production suites :P My Core 2 Duo, Vista, 2GB ram laptop can run most of the cs4 adobe suite fine which satisfied me for quite a long time now.

It's not really about the tools, it's about what you make of what you got. and this is what i've made so far http://arcanearts.jux.com [<<<feedback is appreciated! :P *plug plug* *wink wink*]

But if the capability to upgraqde arises, i want to use it. My parents allowed me a 3000$ budget because they understand my suffering. Anyways thanks again!

if we take out the mouse ~ (because i really don't need a 70$ mouse [it translates to over 250 Riyals which is honestly way too much]) ~ and go up to 2500$ could you upgrade to anything that would notably change the performance? More ram or a better CPU maybe?

5

To go to $2500, you could add 32GB of RAM total and use a closed-loop water cooler, such as an Antec Kuhler or Corsair Liquid h100. However, on that processor/CPU cooler on my setup, after hours of use, it is still only 35 degrees C. The Phanteks PH-TC14PE is a great cooler. I will make a new list that upgrades it a bit more, with a larger SSD/soundcard, etc. Glad I could help - expect the new list within a few hours (in a class currently.)

6

Here: I upgraded it in pretty much everywhere: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x3vN Go ahead and buy several Corsair AF 140mm case fans, as well. Very good fans - keeps your case very cold. You won'y need anything more than an i7 3770k for a while - you won't access the true potential of a 6 core processor based on what you are using. It uses a different socket than the i7 3770k. The 3rd generation processors (incuding the i7 3770k) use an 1155 socket, but the Sandy Bridge-E processors use the 2011 socket. The 6 core processors are good, but use a 32nm manufacturing process, compared to the 22nm of the 3rd gen CPUs.

 

7

For flashy cases, the NZXT Guardian 921 RB is ssoooooo coooooolllll.

And like brennan said, get high quality parts that would obviously be reuseable, like psu's.

8

It says that there are potential compatibility issues, is that a problem i should worry about or?? also, do you reccomend the build that RtW uploaded (below $3000 or the below $3200) possibly wiith some modifications to make it more modern? I'm so indecisive! :L But thank you so much for all the help and the HUGE bundle of patience :3