Can anyone pick it apart?
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CrZWBZ
Note:
Only to run at stock speed.
Using M.2 drive
Civil3d only, no rendering or solid works.
A little more info is needed give educated advice here.
- What hardware are you currently on?
- What software are you using? Maybe a GPU upgrade would not yield any benefits so the money could better be invested in a better CPU.
- Are there any other programms apart from the CAD-software will this machine see? (video editing, gaming, etc.)
- As you don’t have a cooler listed in the PCpartpicker, which one are you using?
- Does your PC case allow for ATX mainboards?
What hardware are you currently on? -->circa 2008
What software are you using? Maybe a GPU upgrade would not yield any benefits so the money could better be invested in a better CPU. ---> That was cheap pick. what would be a better CPU?
Are there any other programms apart from the CAD-software will this machine see? (video editing, gaming, etc.) ---> Nope
As you don’t have a cooler listed in the PCpartpicker, which one are you using? ---> I couldn't tell if the 9700 had a fan or not. i assumed it did, lookup unboxing noob mistake thanks
Does your PC case allow for ATX mainboards? ---> It is a mATX Board I believe
Gotsa fan
Sorry, I misread the title as “upgrading machine” 
okay, so build all new then
The stock fan may be okay-ish, I would recommend to get a good aftermarket air cooler.
Without knowing what CAD-software you are using (AutoCAD, Fusion360, Catia, Solidworks, etc.), it is impossible to make a good recommendation.
Also: What budget do you have in mind? (Does not have to be exact)
Without knowing what CAD-software you are using (AutoCAD, Fusion360, Catia, Solidworks, etc.), it is impossible to make a good recommendation. ---> Just AutoCAD
Also: What budget do you have in mind? (Does not have to be exact)---> not ludacris or Dell prices
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor ($469.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 Motherboard ($114.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 570 4 GB PULSE Video Card ($123.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA BQ 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $935.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-01-29 17:26 EST-0500
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Info on Civil3D is sparse, this is the only source I could find: https://youtu.be/BYC9Yfq7YB0?t=319 (timestamped)
Summary:
- Civil3D is essentially single-threaded, only clockspeed/IPC matters
- “Faster” memory is better (not sure how much better)
- Big projects need >16 GB of RAM
- Get a supported workstation card for 3D stuff (https://knowledge.autodesk.com/certified-graphics-hardware)
I would not invest in the Ryzen 9 3900X, since 11 of its threads will be unused. Photoshop benchmarks should be comparable, since PS is also frequency-bound. An i9-9600k should perform almost the same in your application, at a fraction of the price.
I would advise purchasing 32 GB of ram, especially if you’re planning on keeping this machine for as long as your old one. Unless you only ever do very small projects and use substantially less than 16 GB currently.
I’m not sure how important RAM frequency is to Civil3D. I would choose a 3200 MHz kit as a middle-ground default choice, as long as you can find one at a reasonable price.
I don’t know the professional graphics card market at all, so I don’t know which cards are a better buy at the moment. However, both AMD and NVIDIA have offerings in the $200 price bracket and up so some type of pro card ought to be affordable. I’m not in a position to recommend any particular part unfortunately, but maybe somebody else is?
I don’t think buying a gaming card will be much of a benefit. I’ve encountered minor graphical glitches while using SolidWorks on my desktop (gaming card) which are absent on my college’s workstations (pro cards).
Buying an aftermarket CPU cooler isn’t strictly necessary if you aren’t overclocking, but the system will be quieter in operation. The Fuma 2 is good, just make sure it fits in your case.
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Can anyone comment on buying refurbished Quadro cards?
i’m not seeing any documentation to suggest that civil 3d is frequency bound, but it does appear to be single-core bound.
Looks like roughly a 9% advantage for the 3900x in single core performance… I concede that the 9600k is much better bang for your buck if only this software is used, and only the present is considered (Autodesk/Cad has moved to multi-core support as of 2020). Considering likely software optimization, and the huge gains in any other 3d/rendering software I’m aware of (and almost anywhere else), I might still pick the 3900x. Unless budget was the primary concern.
As far as video cards - it doesn’t appear anything fancy is required:
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Only Single Core
I are the Q4’19 chips not available yet? Can someone please fill me in?
Now going with a Xeon W-2225 or W-2245 @wendell
The benefit of going with workstation grade parts is stability of the platform. There will likely be much more support for Xeon/quadro/firepro as time goes on. You pay a small premium for this.
For example: The Quadro P1000 (Maxwell I think) has a data throughput of 88 GB/s and the GTX 1660 squeezes 192 GB/s through it’s memory (GTX 1660 Ti is like 288 GB/s). The GTX 1660 should perform much better in autodesk, but you might find yourself in trouble if a new update messes the GTX 1660’s stability.
Example build for cost ($900):
CPU: Intel Core i5-9600KF 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($206.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho 120 SBM 55.81 CFM CPU Cooler ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B365M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($78.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN550 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB VENTUS XS OC Video Card ($199.99 @ B&H)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H17 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($38.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA BQ 500 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P14 72.8 CFM 140 mm Fan ($10.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P14 72.8 CFM 140 mm Fan ($10.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $856.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-02-01 17:41 EST-0500
This is a work machine so workstation grade required. If i run everything on stock settings do i need something more than a stock cooler?
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Save $200: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hmndnQ/intel-xeon-e-2124g-34-thz-quad-core-processor-bx80684e2124g
200 MHz is not much.
Work machine, don’t need to save, Just be good for another decade. I want this motherboard but cant see it on partpicker strange.
The stock cooler is guaranteed by the mfg to keep the chip cool enough to not fry. However, the maximum horsepower (literal horsepower; thermal energy per unit time) doesn’t really have to be any higher than that. A stronger aftermarket cooler might let the chip turbo more of the time, and will definitely be quieter. Intel stock coolers are notoriously loud. Overall it’s usually a good investment, especially since high-end coolers like the Fuma 2 and the Macho RT retail for sub-$50.
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The chip you listed doesn’t include a stock cooler
Does Level1 have affiliate links with neweggg? @wendell
How do i determine whether the fan will clear the ram?
https://www.corsair.com/ca/en/Categories/Products/Memory/VENGEANCE-LPX/p/CMK16GX4M4A2666C16
If you are in Canada: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16813145163
USA: https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813145163
They have the mATX boards as well.
The 9600k is a good choice here except when you want to multitask.
You will be unimpressed with your system unless you go multi drive. I dont care how fast your m.2 is if your OS is on there, it’ll lag a pinch. I have multipoint backups of my os drive and data drives. If it were to all hit the same drive (like a 2am work session), I would be very sad had I not spread the I/O load (messed that up build before current). Google drive, onedrive, git, and local syncing add a lot of background reads, indexing.
So far as the gpu is concerned, I wouldn’t worry about overpaying for refurbished quadros unless you need them for very specific rendering or compatibility. The 1660ti is a great card. A lot newer. Quadros still break down and an old one may not have a manufacturer warranty or support.