Hardware - PC Build SU+V-Ray

Va7h

Hello everyone!

This is my first post in a forum, while I'm actually following and learning from it for a long time.

I'm architecture student and I find Sketchup a great tool.

Time has come to build new workstation, because I'm getting tired of my mobile Dell M6600 performance.
I need something stationary and as much powerfull for the value as I can possibly get.

I've done a lot of reaserch, and more time I'm spending on that task, more confused I get.

I built last PC few (like 5) years back, and got some things to catch up.

I'll focus on most important stuff: CPU+GPU (rest I can handle myself)

CPU:
clock speed>core number
core number - 2nd important but sill, it'll my only rendering workstation

I decided to go for i7 over Xeon due to its better clock speed/price rate.
Still wondering on i7 generation, I consider 2nd hand parts. Rather than upgrade in the future, I'll change whole rig after 2-3 years, so maybe older 4970k would be a choice, or newer 6700K/6800K?

GPU:
Here is far more fishy.
GPU is responsible for viewport smoothness and RT renderin (witch i find great for learning V-Ray)

I found CUDA cores are responsible for RT rendering preformance so Iconsider few options:

1050ti - cheapest/newest budget version
980ti - aftermarket expensive oprion
Titan Z - oldest but has about 5k CUDA cores (so it should get me boost for RT and enough viewport smoothness)

Can you help me with a bit of practical feedback?
How does CUDA cores really affects render speed and is going for GPU all the way for that is worth it?

Any help appreciated.

filibis

@va7h said:

CPU:
clock speed>core number
core number - 2nd important but sill, it'll my only rendering workstation

Higher clock speed will be beneficial for SketchUp and higher core count will be beneficial for Vray rendering. Take a look at AMD Ryzen series.
Check the list, compare CPUs performances:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

@va7h said:

I found CUDA cores are responsible for RT rendering preformance so Iconsider few options:

1050ti - cheapest/newest budget version
980ti - aftermarket expensive oprion
Titan Z - oldest but has about 5k CUDA cores (so it should get me boost for RT and enough viewport smoothness)

Simply check those GPUs you found in benchmarks results:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html
https://benchmark.chaosgroup.com

You might as well see more options in the list to consider buying.

I recently bought Ryzen 1700x with GTX 1070 (Also don't underestimate the importance of motherboard and compatibility of RAM).

Paul Russam

I’m in the process of doing something similar and found this site https://pcpartpicker.com
You can pick and change your parts, read reviews, check compatibility etc and most importantly (to me anyway) ensure you don’t miss anything. It’ll then tell you where the parts are available and at what cost.

Be sure to change your country in the top right.

You can save your setup, here’s what I’m thinking about getting: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/NBcXgL Once I realised that coloured components are no more expensive I decided to try a white themed setup as it’ll match the office better. I’m going for a SU/Lumion setup so my requirements are different to yours.

solo

Paul, I looked at your choices, not a bad machine for what you need it for, the only thing that concerns me is the PSU, running Lumion will draw a lot of power to your GPU and to be safe I'd go for 800w plus. (just a thought as I recently built a rig with 2x 1080 ti's and a Ryzen 1800x and went for 1200w platinum PSU)

Paul Russam

Cool thanks, I was looking at the Ryzen 1700x, whilst I haven’t settled on the i7 yet the “does it work with ryzen” question was keeping my awake at night. If I can get a 100% confirmation that Lumion works with (or even better with) ryzens I’d go with it in a heartbeat.

solo

@paul russam said:

Cool thanks, I was looking at the Ryzen 1700x, whilst I haven’t settled on the i7 yet the “does it work with ryzen” question was keeping my awake at night. If I can get a 100% confirmation that Lumion works with (or even better with) ryzens I’d go with it in a heartbeat.

Everything works great with my Ryzen 1800x, Lumion loves the 1080ti (only utilizes one) where Thea uses all 16 threads and 2x 1080ti's (amazing speed) SU is smooth.

I will suggest a good sized SSD, I went for a 1TB Samsung SSD and a 4TB WD mechanical 2nd drive, everything starts faster from Windows to SU, Photoshop, Lumion.

Va7h

Thank for the replies guys.

@filibis said:

Simply check those GPUs you found in benchmarks results:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html
https://benchmark.chaosgroup.com

I've found that Passmark charts are like "generalised" and I dont trust them 100% in a case of SketchUP.

Chaosgrous benchmark also are tough nut while they're tested on x20 core platforms and compared with 4x 1080ti setups.

The most important thing that troubles me is CUDA cores and their performance on workflow.

I can't afford 1080 ti

It's:
GTX 1070Ti: (12338 G3d Mark) 2430 CUDA Cores - 2 000 PLN (NEW)
VS
GTX 980Ti: (11314 G3d Mark) 2816 CUDA Cores - 1 500 PLN (Aftermarket)
VS
Titan Z: (7718 G3d Mark) Old piece but still has 5760 CUDA Cores! - 1600 PLN (Aftermarket)

If CUDA Cores measure V-Ray render performance I'm blindly going with old GPU.

@paul russam said:

I’m in the process of doing something similar and found this site https://pcpartpicker.com
Great base, thanks, it comes handy!

filibis

@va7h said:

I've found that Passmark charts are like "generalised" and I dont trust them 100% in a case of SketchUP.
It's the way of benchmarking really. Sometimes core numbers or clock speeds barely doesn't make sense, so comparison is a must. These kind of websites provide it quite reasonably.

@va7h said:

Chaosgrous benchmark also are tough nut while they're tested on x20 core platforms and compared with 4x 1080ti setups.

First pages are like that but did you look to other pages? There you can see single 980Ti performances.
980ti
1070ti

db11

@solo said:

Everything works great with my Ryzen 1800x, Lumion loves the 1080ti (only utilizes one) where Thea uses all 16 threads and 2x 1080ti's (amazing speed) SU is smooth.

I will suggest a good sized SSD, I went for a 1TB Samsung SSD and a 4TB WD mechanical 2nd drive, everything starts faster from Windows to SU, Photoshop, Lumion.

[attachment=0:157a2ukd]Capture.JPG[/attachment:157a2ukd]

Sounds like an amazing build, with performance to match. What was the final $$ damage for it?

solo

@db11 said:

@solo said:

Everything works great with my Ryzen 1800x, Lumion loves the 1080ti (only utilizes one) where Thea uses all 16 threads and 2x 1080ti's (amazing speed) SU is smooth.

I will suggest a good sized SSD, I went for a 1TB Samsung SSD and a 4TB WD mechanical 2nd drive, everything starts faster from Windows to SU, Photoshop, Lumion.

[attachment=0:1lnf51xs]Capture.JPG[/attachment:1lnf51xs]

Sounds like an amazing build, with performance to match. What was the final $$ damage for it?

At the time it cost $3600 but that same setup now is around $2800.

db11

@solo said:

At the time it cost $3600 but that same setup now is around $2800.

Though in no way cheap, that's actually less than I would have thought. Thanks.