Hello, this is BIMBOX.Recently, many friends in our group have had questions about selecting and matching computer hardware, such as what computer configuration is needed for learning Revit, what configuration is needed for learning rendering software, etc. With the recent 618 shopping festival, many people want to take the opportunity to buy a computer.To this end, we have specially invited a partner from BOX who understands computer configurations very well, @Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night (we usually call him Twenty-Four), to talk to you about how to buy a computer suitable for our industry and help you effectively avoid pitfalls during the purchasing process.At the end of the article, we will recommend several configurations at different price points, and we will also set up a dedicated group for computer enthusiasts.Twenty-Four is a BIM worker in the civil engineering profession and also a DIY computer enthusiast. He has been interested in computer hardware for a long time, has repaired computers himself, and gradually gained a deep understanding of hardware. Later, he entered the DIY computer community.After entering the BIM industry, he gradually came into contact with rendering animations and found that rendering speed is closely related to computer hardware. Different models of hardware have different performance, and coupled with various misleading advertisements from merchants, clear thinking and reasonable matching are particularly important.For all of you, as long as you grasp the core components of DIY computers, you can assemble a cost-effective machine. The core components include: CPU, motherboard, graphics card, memory, storage, cooling, and power supply.Now let’s discuss them one by one.CPUFirst, let’s talk about Intel’s CPU.The Core series is the brand name, where “i9” represents the model, and the following five digits represent the generation number and product series. The meaning of the digits in “10900KF” is as follows:➤ The first two digits “10” represent the generation, which is often referred to as the 8th, 9th generation, with the 10th generation being the latest.➤ The last three digits are the SKU number, the digit “9” represents the performance level, with larger numbers indicating stronger performance.➤ The suffix “K” indicates that the multiplier is unlocked and has higher performance, while the suffix “F” indicates that the processor has no integrated graphics. “KF” represents a high-frequency processor without integrated graphics. A processor without a suffix is a regular frequency processor with integrated graphics.Generally speaking, only Intel’s CPUs with the suffix K or KF can be overclocked. If you choose an Intel CPU, remember to select one without an F suffix, as this will enable integrated graphics acceleration, making rendering speeds faster when using Adobe software like Photoshop.Next, let’s look at AMD’s CPU.Ryzen 9 3900XT, Ryzen is the brand name, “9” represents the generation, which is divided into 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th generations, while the last four digits represent the product series name.The last “T” indicates an enhanced version of the upcoming 3000 series.All series of AMD’s Ryzen support unlocked multipliers, with the suffix “X” indicating automatic unlocking, while those without it require manual unlocking.Now let’s talk about laptop CPUs.Laptop CPUs will have some suffixes, namely U, H, M, Q, and these suffixes can also be combined, such as HQ, MQ, HK, etc. What do these mean?➤ U represents low voltage, low power consumption, mainly used in ultrabooks and lightweight laptops, providing long standby times and portability.➤ H represents standard voltage BGA packaging, meaning the processor is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be replaced. It has better performance than U, Y, and M, and is used in most regular gaming laptops.➤ M represents standard voltage PGA packaging and is a replaceable processor, which we can ignore.➤ Q represents a quad-core processor, which generally does not appear independently but combines with other letters, such as HQ for a non-replaceable quad-core processor, MQ for a replaceable quad-core processor, and HK for high-performance integrated graphics that support unlocked multipliers.So when selecting a CPU, don’t just look at the generation; the performance of CPUs with different suffixes can vary greatly.If you’re a bit confused, let’s compare directly.The ranking of desktop Intel CPUs isXeon>i9>i7>i5>i3, while AMD’s ranking isThreadripper>Ryzen 9>Ryzen 7>Ryzen 5>Ryzen 3.For Intel’sXeon and AMD’sThreadripper, you don’t need to worry about what these two models are; just understand that they are the top processors from both companies, and in our normal work, we are unlikely to come into contact with that level of processors.As for mobile processors, the relative ranking of CPUs is:HK>H>U.Here are some recommended desktop CPUs that meet daily work requirements, including Intel’si5-10500, i5-10600, i5-10600K, i5-10600KF, i7-10700, i7-10700K, i7-10700KF, and AMD’s3600, 3600X, 3700X, 3800X, 3900X.MotherboardThe motherboard serves as a combination hub, and different CPUs require different motherboard models.The latest 10th generation Intel Core CPUs primarily pair with motherboards from theB460, Z490 chipset series. AMD’s latest CPUs mainly pair with motherboards from theB450, B550, X570 chipset series.Motherboards starting with B are generally more cost-effective compared to those starting with Z and X.It is important to note that 10th generation Core CPUs are not compatible with 9th generation Core CPUs. This is because the pin count of 10th generation Core CPUs has changed from 1151 to 1200, and if the pins do not match the socket, they cannot be used.So a special reminder to all partners: don’t force it, or else the CPU pins may bend or even break.There are many motherboard manufacturers, with popular ones being ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte, along with others like ASRock, Colorful, and Biostar.Each manufacturer has top, high-end, mid-range, and low-end motherboards, with further detailed distinctions leading to a plethora of models. However, the same model of chipset is the same; the differences lie in power supply, appearance, expandability, size, and cooling modules.Here, let’s focus on size; motherboard sizes are classified asE-ATX, ATX, M-ATX, MINI-ITX.The first is the largest board type, with top-notch specifications and materials.The latter two board types are commonly referred to as large and small boards. The ATX board type includes more components than the M-ATX board type, and the price is higher.The MINI-ITX board type is similar to E-ATX but is relatively rare in the market, with just enough ports and significantly poorer expandability.Other parameters of motherboards are relatively easy to understand; more power supply, cooler appearance, richer expandability, and more cooling modules generally lead to a higher price. Buying a high-spec motherboard without considering your actual needs may not be the best choice; selecting the motherboard that best matches your situation is the most suitable option.Here are some recommended motherboards for your consideration.➤ For AMD—CPUs in the 3600~3700X range, it is recommended to pair with MSI Arsenal series, ASUS TUF series, and Gigabyte AORUS series, ensuring the chipset is B450 or B550.➤ For AMD—CPUs in the 3700X~3950X range, it is recommended to pair with ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte’s X570 chipsets, all models are compatible.➤ For Intel—All models between 10th generation Core i5 and i7 are recommended to use B460 chipsets, brands include MSI Arsenal, ASUS TUF, and Gigabyte’s AORUS series motherboards.➤ For Intel—i9 is recommended to use all models from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte’s Z490 chipsets.The aforementioned X570 and Z490 chipsets can also be used by other manufacturers.Graphics CardThe graphics card is likely the most expensive component in the entire computer hardware setup, and a good graphics card significantly impacts frame rate smoothness. The key parameters for graphics cards are the number of stream processors and architecture.The number of stream processors directly determines the frame rate when running 3D software and games, commonly referred to as FPS.Architecture can be understood as a type of manufacturing process; the GeForce 20 series uses the latest Turing architecture, while the GeForce 10 series uses Pascal architecture, and the oldest graphics cards use Maxwell, Kepler, etc.To differentiate between these series, you can refer to the image below.Taking the 2060 as an example, the first digit “20” represents the series, and “60” represents the model; specific models include 2060, 2070, 2080, 2080Ti.Additionally, in the latest graphics cards released last year, three models were slightly upgraded to become 2060 Super, 2070 Super, and 2080 Super.In summary,2080Ti>2080Super>2080>2070Super>2070>2060Super>2060, and the ranking for the 16 series is:1660Ti>1660 Super>1660>1650 Super>1650 GDDR6>1650.The 10 series and 16 series graphics cards do not support ray tracing technology, but the 20 series does; thus, if you want to experience ray tracing effects, the minimum requirement is to purchase a 2060.Next, consider the graphics card’s memory capacity, memory bandwidth, memory frequency, and core frequency.➤ Memory capacity options include 24G, 12G, 11G, 8G, 6G, and 4G.➤ Memory bandwidth options include 384bit, 352bit, 256bit, 192bit, 128bit, 96bit, and 64bit. The bit rate indicates the amount of data that can be transmitted in one clock cycle; the higher the bit rate, the larger the amount of data that can be transmitted at once.➤ Memory frequencies include 15.5GHZ, 14GHZ, 12GHZ, and 8GHZ; these frequencies represent the transmission rate within one clock cycle.➤ Core frequency, like CPU frequency, also has a certain overclocking potential, provided that the graphics card has a robust build!When prices are comparable, try to choose the one with larger memory bandwidth, frequency, and capacity.For our daily rendering work, a minimum of 6GB of graphics memory is required, while 8GB can handle most scenarios, and 11GB of memory is only found in the 2080Ti graphics card.Here, we are only discussing NVIDIA graphics cards, commonly referred to asN cards. Apart from the GeForce series, NVIDIA also has Titan and Quadro professional graphics card series.It is crucial to emphasize: it is strongly advised not to purchase professional graphics cards, as their performance is generally inferior compared to gaming graphics cards at the same price point. The Titan series graphics cards are top-tier, similar to the Xeon and Threadripper CPUs mentioned earlier, and are also quite expensive.In addition to NVIDIA, there are alsoAMD graphics cards, starting with RX, including the RX5000 series, RX500 series, and RX Vega series.No recommendations for AMD graphics cards for now, despite their lower prices, most games are not optimized as well as NVIDIA’s, and Adobe software tends to perform better with NVIDIA graphics cards than with AMD. Additionally, none of AMD’s graphics cards support ray tracing technology.Regarding graphics cards, there is also a distinction between reference and non-reference versions; reference graphics cards are sold directly by NVIDIA and are known for their stability and uniform appearance. Most of the graphics cards we buy are non-reference versions, which are designed and sold by various manufacturers using NVIDIA chipsets. This is similar to how phone manufacturers buy Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset, customize their designs, and sell them as non-reference graphics cards.Each of these brand manufacturers has its star products, and each series of chipsets undergoes secondary processing, resulting in various models at different price points and specifications, where the only differences in the same row are appearance and price.
It is recommended to choose the 20 series graphics card whenever the budget allows, as this will enable the use of ray tracing technology.Moreover, the performance of graphics cards can never exceed the performance of their respective models, meaning that even the best 2060 Super cannot outperform the 2070 in terms of performance.Additionally, it is essential to pay attention to the types of connectors at the back of the graphics card; most come with a combination of 3DP and 1HDMI connectors. If you don’t have DP cables at home, remember to purchase DP to HDMI adapters. Currently, most cables on the market are DP1.4, supporting 2K resolution transmission; prioritize DP connectors, followed by HDMI connectors, as DP transmits images with greater detail.MemoryThe main parameters affecting memory modules are capacity, frequency, chips, and timing.Among them, chips and timing will not be discussed; let’s focus on capacity and frequency.➤ Capacity options include 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB. In our daily use, the most common configuration is 8GB single memory sticks forming a dual-channel setup, resulting in a total of 16GB. Dual-channel speeds are significantly faster than single-channel speeds, so when purchasing, try to choose dual-channel kits like 8GB*2 or 16GB*2 memory sticks.➤Frequency refers to the maximum data transfer rate of the memory module within a specific time frame. Common frequencies include 2666HZ, 2933HZ, 3000HZ, 3200HZ, and 3600HZ. For ordinary users, 3200HZ memory is generally the upper limit, as higher frequency memory requires motherboard support to function optimally.Currently, Intel CPUs support frequencies up to 2933HZ, while AMD CPUs support frequencies up to 3200HZ; be sure to check before purchasing.The major memory manufacturers include Galaxy, Kingston, Team Group, ADATA, Corsair, and G.Skill. Kingston is well-known, while Corsair and G.Skill offer visually appealing memory modules. If you prefer RGB lighting, you can choose their products.Other manufacturers are relatively similar in quality; here are some recommended options:Galaxy’s Blue series, Kingston’s HyperX series, ADATA’s XPG series, and Asgard’s Loki RGB series are all RGB memory sticks; if you don’t like RGB, you can opt for regular sticks, which will be cheaper. Additionally, there are bare memory sticks without casings, which are even less expensive than regular sticks.By focusing on frequency and capacity, you can select suitable and high-quality memory sticks.StorageStorage is divided into solid-state drives and mechanical hard drives; let’s discuss them separately.➤ Solid-State Drives affect boot speed, software launch speed, and large file transfer speed.Common solid-state drives on the market include NVME protocol-supported M.2 SSDs and SATA interface SSDs (2.5-inch SSDs). Here, you just need to know that NVME protocol-supported M.2 SSDs are faster and have higher transfer rates.The capacity of hard drives doesn’t need much explanation; it depends on your budget, and of course, larger is better.Here are some recommended M.2 SSDs that support NVME protocol, in no particular order:Western Digital SN750—500G, SN550—1T, Samsung 970EVO Plus, 970 EVO PRO—500G, Plextor M9PeG—512G, Kingston A2000—500G, Kioxia RC series—500G, etc.Mechanical Hard Drives are much cheaper than solid-state drives and can be understood as storage that prioritizes large capacity, but the speed of mechanical hard drives is significantly lower than that of solid-state drives.One advantage of mechanical hard drives is that data can be recovered through various techniques after deletion, while solid-state drives do not allow for such recovery. Therefore, for files that need to be stored long-term and are important, they should definitely be stored on a mechanical hard drive, so that even in case of an accident, data recovery is more manageable.Here’s the best storage combination recommendation:500G SSD + 1T mechanical hard drive as a starting combination.The recommended brands for mechanical hard drives include:Western Digital Blue 1T version, Seagate Barracuda 1T version, Toshiba P300 series 1T version.Power SupplyFor those DIYing their computers, the power supply is a very important component that cannot be overlooked.When purchasing, pay special attention to the power supply plan and energy conversion efficiency; a good power supply can stably and safely output voltage to various components during normal operation, protecting the components on the motherboard and reducing the risk of sudden power supply failures. A good power supply also helps with energy savings.Power supplies have an80 Plus certification, which is divided into titanium, platinum, gold, silver, bronze, and white; the higher the ranking, the higher the conversion efficiency, hence more energy-saving. Try to choose a power supply with 80 Plus certification, even a white one is better than one without certification.When buying a power supply, you will see the termcapacitor; simply put, it refers to the materials used in the power supply. Common types include Japanese capacitors and Taiwanese capacitors; other types of capacitors are not recommended.Power supplies are categorized into three types: non-modular, semi-modular, and fully modular. Non-modular power supplies have all wires fixed, semi-modular power supplies have some detachable wires, while fully modular power supplies allow all wires to be detached. Fully modular power supplies are the most expensive but are very convenient for cable management during installation.Power supply sizes fall into two categories:SFX power supplies and ATX power supplies. The former is a smaller power supply and is more expensive, while the latter is a standard-sized power supply and is cheaper.As for the finalwattage, it should be determined based on power-hungry components like the CPU and graphics card. Generally, when purchasing, just ask the vendor of the graphics card about the recommended wattage for the power supply. The wattage selection should focus on rated power, which is marked on the power supply’s label; try to choose a power supply close to the rated power of +12V.When buying a power supply, try to choose well-known brands for better quality assurance. Recommended power supply manufacturers include Great Wall, Cooler Master, EVGA, SeaSonic, SilverStone, Corsair, etc. Avoid choosing unknown or counterfeit brands.CoolingCooling is used to lower the temperature of the CPU; when the number of running programs increases or the surrounding temperature is too high, the CPU will activate overload protection, which can lead to reduced frequency or even blue screen crashes.When purchasing a CPU, the manufacturer will provide an original cooler, which has significantly less airflow than third-party coolers but can still meet daily usage needs.If you need to render videos for extended periods or perform video editing, it is essential to equip the CPU with a high-spec cooler.Currently, third-party CPU coolers are categorized into three types: air coolers, all-in-one liquid coolers, and custom liquid coolers.Let’s focus onair coolers, which are the most widely used and are also more cost-effective. There are several important parameters: heat pipes, fins, base, and airflow.➤ The more heat pipes there are, and the thicker they are, the better the cooling performance.There are types with 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 heat pipes. Some heat pipes are nickel-plated for better corrosion resistance and durability.➤ Generally, the larger the cooling fins, the better, as larger fins can better contact with air, resulting in improved cooling performance.The connection process between the cooling fins and heat pipes also affects cooling performance, with two processes: direct contact and soldering. The direct contact process is more common in budget air coolers, while soldering is more typical in high-spec air coolers.➤ The base is categorized into three processes: smooth mirror (also known as copper base welding), direct contact with heat pipes, and heat spreaders, with copper base welding providing the best cooling performance. Heat spreaders are mostly used internally in laptops, so desktop users can ignore them.➤ Airflow is also an important parameter; the greater the airflow, the better the cooling performance, but this may also increase noise. In recent years, many silent technologies have been developed to reduce noise.Here are some recommended budget air coolers.Deepcool’s Gammaxx 400, Arctic Freezer 34, Thermalright AS120, AX120, FS140, and Noctua NH-D15 are among the top-tier air coolers.When purchasing, always ask the customer service whether it is compatible with your chosen platform, or else you may encounter problems if it doesn’t support your platform.CaseThe primary parameters for a case are its size and compatibility. We buy cases to provide a home for these computer hardware components, and this home needs to be warm in winter and cool in summer, with good ventilation so that the hardware can function properly.Cases are categorized into full-tower, mid-tower, small cases, and ITX cases. Here, we particularly recommendmid-tower cases, as they can accommodate most mainstream hardware on the market, and due to ample space, the airflow is also designed reasonably, preventing the case from becoming a small heat trap.Small cases have less compatibility due to their smaller size, and are only suitable for components that do not generate much heat.For airflow selection, check the product teardown images, and try to choose cases where the power supply compartment is at the bottom, with cool air entering from the front and bottom, and warm air exiting from the top and back.As for appearance, choose according to your preference; those who like RGB lighting can opt for tempered glass side panels, while those who prefer a more understated look can choose cases without side windows.About LaptopsPreviously, we discussed mostly desktop purchases, so let’s briefly talk about laptop purchasing tips.If you often travel and need to use a laptop for rendering and modeling, be sure to choose astandard voltage processor, whether from AMD or Intel.Even if a processor has a high model number, if it is not a standard voltage processor, its performance will be significantly reduced. Many merchants do not specify whether it is a standard voltage processor, which often leads to misunderstanding.For graphics cards, choose NVIDIA’s GTX16 or RTX20 series laptop graphics cards, with memory starting at 8GB, preferably 16GB. The storage combination should be a solid-state drive paired with a mechanical hard drive, and for cooling, choose designs with multiple heat pipes and fans.Generally, laptops that meet these requirements are mostly gaming laptops, which tend to be heavier and have a more flashy appearance. This might be too ostentatious for some, but for most, it doesn’t matter. In the laptop field, performance and portability are always a trade-off.Here are some recommended value-for-money laptops.Lenovo’s Legion Y7000 series, R7000 series, HP’s Omen 6 Plus, ASUS TUF Gaming, Hasee’s God of War TX9-CU5DK, Acer’s Predator Helios, and MSI’s GS66 Stealth.Desktop SummaryFinally, here are the key points for selecting a DIY desktop:➤ When choosing a CPU, opt for the latest, and for design rendering, select multi-core and multi-threaded processors.➤ Choose a motherboard that corresponds to the CPU’s chipset to maximize performance; if you anticipate future expansion, buy an ATX motherboard; if not, a M-ATX motherboard will suffice. Always choose from the three major manufacturers, and ensure the motherboard has four memory slots.➤ For graphics cards, prioritize NVIDIA cards, and within your budget, aim for newer models rather than older ones; 8GB of memory can handle most scenarios. If you are unsure, consider the appearance and number of fans; usually, a cooler appearance and more fans indicate better performance.➤ Select memory based on the maximum frequency supported by the motherboard, starting with 8GB*2; 32GB can meet most work environments.➤ For solid-state drives, prioritize NVME protocol-supported M.2 SSDs.➤ Choose reputable brands for power supplies, ensure they have 80 Plus certification, and use Japanese or Taiwanese capacitors. Select wattage based on your hardware configuration.At the end, Twenty-Four also recommends several mainstream hardware configurations, ranging from 6K to 10K price points.➤ The 6K configuration can handle most daily work tasks, providing the best cost-performance ratio for modeling and rendering.➤ The 7K configuration is suitable for large-scale modeling and rendering. Compared to the 6K configuration, it increases the graphics card memory by 2GB, reaching 8GB.➤ The 8K configuration is suitable for even larger-scale modeling and rendering, while also increasing both memory and solid-state drive capacity. Additionally, an extra fan has been added to the cooler for better CPU cooling performance.➤ The 9K and 10K configurations represent a qualitative leap compared to the previous configurations, suitable for users with larger model sizes, long rendering times, and higher requirements for video editing and post-production.Finally, we have created a WeChat group for all those preparing to DIY their computers or purchase complete systems. If you want to consult about building a PC or simply want to ask for a complete system configuration, Twenty-Four will be waiting for you in the group. New members can also enjoy chatting with each other. (Once the group reaches 200 members, you won’t be able to scan the code to join; please contact the editor to add you to the group.)With attitude and depth, BIMBOX, see you next time!
