Pic build advice

Community Community & Industry Discussion
1

Hi there. So I did some homework and looked up minimum/recommended specs for game design; and came up with this rig for about $2300. Im rather new to this so I’d like some input on my choices.

So first is my intent. I need a pc that can design games at home and take me through school as a game designer. In 5 or so years I’ll be building a better rig so I don’t need anything beastly now. Just something that will start my journey without being slow or giving me headaches. So here it is.

Cpu: Intel core i7-5930K 3.5 ghz 6 core (is this too excessive? I see the recommended cou only saves 100-200$)
Cooler: corsair H100i 770 CFM liquid cpu cooler
Motherboard: undecided. I was using pic part picker to make sure it’s all compatible. Any suggestions would be appreciated
RAM: G.skill ripjaw series 32 GB 4x8 DDR4 2400
Storage : Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD Plus a standard HD For additional storage
GPU: AMD FirePro w7000 4GB (I was reading that you need a special type of GPU for workstation PCs and this was the ideal choice to be able to play games as well as design)
Case: undecided
OS: Windows 10 64 bit

Mainly I want to know if I’m going overboard on the CPU/GPU, Or not enough, and what other options/suggestions you have for me before I fork over 2 grand.

2

Change the CPU, Intel just came out with a new line of processors that replaces that line, get either the i7 6800K or the i7 6850K
It uses the same motherboard as the last generation though.

For the graphics card, get either GTX 1070 or GTX 1080. The Firepro is a workstation card, they have a very limited number of applications that they perform well in (like Maya) and even then they are a very poor value for the performance that they give. Gaming cards like the GTX 1070 are faster and still perform well in the applications that workstation cards are for, but they are a much much better value. If you’re doing game development get a good gaming card. The only reason to get a workstation card is if you are very wealthy and can afford the most expensive one because the cheaper workstation cards are not worth the cost.

3

Looks pretty good, but I’d definitely change the GPU. The AMD’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not ideal for game dev. The new nVidia GTX 1070 and 1080 are both worth looking at, and I’d also keep an eye on the GTX 980 ti. The 1080’s probably the best option, but if you can’t afford it the 980 ti is likely going to be a bit better than the 1070 (except perhaps for VR? Not 100% sure there). Also consider whether you’ll need additional case fans and cooling systems. Though unless you do something super fancy that shouldn’t cost more than $50-$100.

4

Thanks for the speedy reply. That’s good to know I’m glad I asked before buying.

So the workstation cards aren’t necessary then for basic home game development?

Also is the 32 gigs of ram excessive? For the price I’m paying on GPU and cpu I figured the RAM cost wasn’t too bad

8

I’d also say get as much RAM as you can, it might sound like a lot but you’ll likely have a few content creation apps open + browser windows and other stuff as well.
Also building static lighting with UE4 can eat RAM, as well as some other programs like world machine.

I’m not really aware of a good(!) reason to go with the i7-5930K/6850K over the 5820K/6800K, 6800K is ~$200 cheaper than the 6850K and unless you need those PCIE lanes it’s really the exact same thing.

9

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will prolly go with the i7-6800k as well as gtx 1080

Is there a need for more than 250 gigs on the SSD? I know SSD is faster than HDD Especially for startup. Will saving most projects games and videos on the HDD slow things down? Is it beneficial to have certain things on the SSD vs the HDD

10

I use a 250Gb (Only really need 125Gb) SSD for my My Documents folder (UE4 Projects), I also have UE4 and Visual Studio on my SSD.

11

250 GB SSDs fill up fast when using them for Windows, UE4, your applications, and projects. I would definitely go for 512 GB. They make a significant difference in speed when working with large projects, files, and applications. They are almost a necessity.

12

I would probably go with 2 SSDs.
A high performing SSD (125 GB) for OS and programs, and a slower(cheaper) higher capacity (512 GB) for application and project files.
SSDs are rumoured to hate frequent updates/deletes to files. It is said that the memory cells start to wear out.

In my case I moved most of the folders that are modified regularly (Downloads, AppData…) to a different physical drive to keep the main SSD healthy.

13

Thanks again for all the quick replies. while I wait for parts I look forward to browsing these forums and learning about the software.

14

Oh I forgot to ask but I get this message on pcpartpicker as a possible compatibility issue

Some Intel X99 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Broadwell-E CPUs.

What does this mean exactly. If I, buying a new motherboard will it already have the update?

15

Just make sure the motherboard you pick specifically stats that it supports the cpu you picked. There was some X99 processors that came out after the first line of X99 motherboards, support for those new processors can be added with a bios update. You’re probably better off getting a newer X99 motherboard anyone, but any motherboard manufacture should clearly state what CPUs each motherboard supports on their website.

17

Thank you guys. Much obliged.