Computer thread!!!

[Wschnitz]

For what you want to do and wanting it to be mobile like a laptop your gonna probably drop a decent chunk of change, Integrated and discrete graphics do work for things like PS/AE and AutoCAD but it will struggle.

If its a work PC ask if your employer will help foot the bill and get an Elitebook/Zbook from HP or a Dell Precision. That should have usually an i5/i7 and a quadro for doing tasks that require a small amount of oomph.

[TurboJake]

I want to be able to run things like AutoCAD and Photoshop/Capture, etc. Battery life isn't a concern, when doing "work" it would be plugged in or on a dock. Also should have said 2 external monitors not just 1.

When it's not on the dock, would just be dicking around on the web/youtube/bookface/etc.

Are you going to be doing any motion simulation, Dynamic simulation, and/or Finite element/stress analysis in Inventor? All are very CPU intensive. Just doing 3D modeling really isn't so much though. 2D is nothing.

Solidworks and NX are even more so. I run NX on my little acer with an I5 3317U and HD4000 integrateed graphics. But I wouldn't dream of doing motion simulation on it or stress analysis on it. That's what bigrig is for. I can model and build assemblies on the go, save them and open on bigrig, and do analysis or simulations on that nice and quick.

Almost anything handles photoshop just fine nowadays. AE/PP/ME are another story

[z31maniac]

No, AutoCAD isn't even very likely. I'm selling my gaming rig/sim chair setup, but still want a computer.

So one I could do freelance work with would be great. At a previous job, we had one purpose built computer just for FEA stuff.

[TurboJake]

No, AutoCAD isn't even very likely. I'm selling my gaming rig/sim chair setup, but still want a computer.

So one I could do freelance work with would be great. At a previous job, we had one purpose built computer just for FEA stuff.

Then it sounds like you really don't need much, just something that'll last a couple years and be reliable. With some processing power to do photoshop.

If you want to get the best you can get for 1k. Go sager. If you do, I'd highly recommend doing a boot drive SSD. Customizing the NP2650 with a 256gb crucial comes in exactly at 1k. Not necessary, just really nice.

http://www.sagernotebook.com/15-Laptops/

But, you can probably get something much less than 1k and fit your needs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232370

Honestly, hop into best buy or something of the like. You'll be shooting for an i5 or i7 ultrabook. Battery life and decent processing power.

[DrewSkii]

I'm trying to update my set up slowly..

Running Windows 7 Profession 64bit
3.4ghz Quad Core PhenomII 965 Processor
8Gb DDR3 memory
1TB HD
Xfx DD Edition R9 280 Graphics card
Gigabyte motherboard (can't recall which it is, I'll have to look it up later)
630W power supply
in a Rosewill case

Let me know what your opinions are on this and what you think I should upgrade first. :)
Computer doesn't see much heavy duty usage.. Been stuck on Project Cars lately lol

[UlrichFennec]

My setup is pretty average, and handles most things up to high without much issue.

Win 7 Ultimate 64x
1TB Western Digital HDD
AMD FX 6100 Hexacore CPU at 3.58ghz
Asus GTX 650ti 1GB video card
Asus Motherboard (can't be arsed to remember)
8GB DDR3 RAM
Sentey Optimus Black GS-6000 Case with Fans
Rosewill RD600 600w PSU

I've got a nice mouse (Logitech G500) and keyboard setup (G105) with a decent enough ASUS monitor. I wish it was 120hz though, so I could take advantage of hitscan weapons in games and bump up my FPS in shooters. I have a second old LCD monitor for dual screen use for browsing while playing games.

[TurboJake]

I'm trying to update my set up slowly..

Running Windows 7 Profession 64bit
3.4ghz Quad Core PhenomII 965 Processor
8Gb DDR3 memory
1TB HD
Xfx DD Edition R9 280 Graphics card
Gigabyte motherboard (can't recall which it is, I'll have to look it up later)
630W power supply
in a Rosewill case

Let me know what your opinions are on this and what you think I should upgrade first. :)
Computer doesn't see much heavy duty usage.. Been stuck on Project Cars lately lol

DDR3 1600?

If so (Or higher), Go straight to a g3258/z97 build. I just did one. You're all set for video card/ram/hdd (SSD Boot disk for $50 would be FANTASTIC). Later on if you need more horsepower, you can go straight to a Haswell refresh i5/i7 with next to no downtime. It'll be roughly the same performance as your current setup, but will allow the path of upgrade for dirt cheap right now. Otherwise, go straight to a z97 and core i5 4690K. Boom, setup for quite some time.

The G3258 can be had for $50. Motherboard (This build was an ASRock Z97 Pro4 I got for $100. Overclocked the G3258 to 4.7Ghz on air with a dirt cheap Raijintek Aidos, and it's working fantastic.
If you want a case and are on a budget, I can't extol the corsair 200R enough.



(Ignore the GTS450. It isn't a gaming rig, meant for Photoshop and light video editing that the SO does with her business)

OCCT Power supply test and prime95 24 hour at the same time test. Fully stable.

[DrewSkii]

DDR3 1600?

If so (Or higher), Go straight to a g3258/z97 build. I just did one. You're all set for video card/ram/hdd (SSD Boot disk for $50 would be FANTASTIC). Later on if you need more horsepower, you can go straight to a Haswell refresh i5/i7 with next to no downtime. It'll be roughly the same performance as your current setup, but will allow the path of upgrade for dirt cheap right now. Otherwise, go straight to a z97 and core i5 4690K. Boom, setup for quite some time.

The G3258 can be had for $50. Motherboard (This build was an ASRock Z97 Pro4 I got for $100. Overclocked the G3258 to 4.7Ghz on air with a dirt cheap Raijintek Aidos, and it's working fantastic.
If you want a case and are on a budget, I can't extol the corsair 200R enough.



(Ignore the GTS450. It isn't a gaming rig, meant for Photoshop and light video editing that the SO does with her business)

OCCT Power supply test and prime95 24 hour at the same time test. Fully stable.

Thanks for the input! I'm definitely going to look into that and see what my options are.

Looks like you got yourself a clean, solid build :D I'm gonna have to clean my stuff up, looks like a mess sadly

[Maximum_E30]

Water cooled the pc last night, and passed the 24 hour leak test after I found that 2 bits power rotary fittings were bad. Turned out pretty well for my first custom loop though.

[Maximum_E30]

Another shoot with the side panel on

[kickinindian]

how do you handle all that light? i always want my PC to blend in and not exist, those lights would bug the crap outta me.

[Maximum_E30]

how do you handle all that light? i always want my PC to blend in and not exist, those lights would bug the crap outta me.

I turned the lights of in the room for the picture so it's really not too bright especially since the window is tinted.

[Wschnitz]

Keep us filled in on how long your setup lasts. Leaks, Gunk, ETC. I have never heard from someone who did custom watercooling on how long it lasted. Ive been sticking with good old air cooling because of not having to worry at all.

Plus there was no added benefit besides looking sick.

[lambo]

Man I've been watching a bunch of videos on custom loops. I totally want to ditch my reference cooler for a custom water block already...

This is bad.

[Wschnitz]

Youll want to ditch it when you realize the maintenance of a water cooling system.

Edit: was i high when i wrote this sentence?