Build for Houdini

[MGibbs]

Hi all, I'm buying a machine specifically for use with Houdini simulations and VFX. I had the following build in mind but wanted to sense check the most important components before purchasing to see if it is capable of handling complex sims:

CPU: AMD Threadripper 7960X 24 Core (4.2GHz-5.3GHz, 152MB cache)
RAM: 128GB Kingston DDR5 4800MHz ECC Reg (2x64GB)
GPU: 16GB GEFORCE RTX 4060 Ti
SSD : 1TB PCS PCle M.2 SSD


Most important quality i believe is the RAM (as sims are quite data heavy) which is why i loaded a lot on that. Other specs are not much of a factor so can be very flexible with them.

This is slightly above my budget but will defo invest in it if will be a solid machine (Budget is around 3500).

Thanks for the help in advance and any mods / advice would be most welcomed.

Cheers

 

[SpyderTracks]

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

NB: These forums are not an official support channel. None of us work for PCS, we're all either customers or techies who just like to help out where possible. For any official support, you need to contact PCS directly either through your PCS account, or via the contact details on the main...

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[MGibbs]

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

NB: These forums are not an official support channel. None of us work for PCS, we're all either customers or techies who just like to help out where possible. For any official support, you need to contact PCS directly either through your PCS account, or via the contact details on the main...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Thanks Spyder for replying quickly. I added some more details around budget and use

 

[MGibbs]

Hi there, I've been doing some different configs for a (higher) end machine for doing VFX (Houdini, Blender, Nuke etc). I landed on this one which ended up being a bit cheaper than some other alternatives i had configured. Is this a stable build to get the most out of each component:

(cost 3000)
CPU : AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16 Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.7GHz)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2 (AM5, DDR5, PCle 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E)
RAM: 192GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 5200MHz (4x48GB)
GPU: 16GB RTX 4080 SUPER
SSD: 1tB COPRSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCle M.2 SSD.

On paper, this seems suitable as I need high RAM allowance and a solid CPU/GPU. However this one was a lot cheaper than the other build i was considering (which looks worse):

(cost 3600)
CPU: AMD Threadripper 7960X 24 Core (4.2GHz-5.3GHz, 152MB cache)
RAM: 128GB Kingston DDR5 4800MHz ECC Reg (2x64GB)
GPU: 16GB GEFORCE RTX 4060 Ti
SSD : 1TB PCS PCle M.2 SSD

Not sure what I am missing / if the top build is more cost effective for what i need it for (simulations and rendering mostly). Budget is around 3000-3500 which both roughly fit in to.

Any advice on each build vs cost drivers for the second would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi there, I've been doing some different configs for a (higher) end machine for doing VFX (Houdini, Blender, Nuke etc). I landed on this one which ended up being a bit cheaper than some other alternatives i had configured. Is this a stable build to get the most out of each component:

(cost 3000)
CPU : AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16 Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.7GHz)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2 (AM5, DDR5, PCle 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E)
RAM: 192GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 5200MHz (4x48GB)
GPU: 16GB RTX 4080 SUPER
SSD: 1tB COPRSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCle M.2 SSD.

On paper, this seems suitable as I need high RAM allowance and a solid CPU/GPU. However this one was a lot cheaper than the other build i was considering (which looks worse):

(cost 3600)
CPU: AMD Threadripper 7960X 24 Core (4.2GHz-5.3GHz, 152MB cache)
RAM: 128GB Kingston DDR5 4800MHz ECC Reg (2x64GB)
GPU: 16GB GEFORCE RTX 4060 Ti
SSD : 1TB PCS PCle M.2 SSD

Not sure what I am missing / if the top build is more cost effective for what i need it for (simulations and rendering mostly). Budget is around 3000-3500 which both roughly fit in to.

Any advice on each build vs cost drivers for the second would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

If you could continue on your existing thread please as otherwise it's difficult to keep track

 

[steaky360]

If you could continue on your existing thread please as otherwise it's difficult to keep track

Threads merged.

 

[TonyCarter]

I'm not familiar with Houdini, but from what I've read, the 3D/animation part is single-core and the FX simulation/rendering part is multi-core, So depending on where the majority of your workload lies could inform the choice of 'prosumer' Threadripper or 'consumer' Ryzen.

If it's professional, where time costs money, then the extra outlay on a Threadripper and the other components to suit may make it worthwhile; plus with more memory channels/controllers you have the ability to add lots of RAM, multiple GPUs, more PCIe cards, etc. (heavy duty components are more expensive).

Unless you're going for something that needs to run 24 hours day, and requires the extra accuracy of ECC RAM, then maybe the newer 9950X would be the best of both worlds.

It's about 10% faster on a single core basis, but 25% less cores, so ends up being about 15% slower when all cores are maxed out; however the 9950X is much cheaper, and much more efficient...using less than half the power of the Threadripper.

 

[MGibbs]

Thanks a lot for that reply Tony! I really appreciate it.

To be honest this will be for a less professional use and so probably won’t be maxing it all day. Sounds like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950 may be suitable - especially if it’s about 15% slower only.

I’ll mostly be using it for rendering / simulations and some 3d modelling too. I heard from a Houdini pro that RAM amount tends to be a bit of a bottleneck in terms of actually running the simulations and CPU impacts speed. Based on that if the first one has 192 GB presumably that would be better for my use case also?

Are there any other limitations in your opinion with the cheaper build which would prevent me from utilising the RAM for this purpose?

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[TonyCarter]

Thanks a lot for that reply Tony! I really appreciate it.

To be honest this will be for a less professional use and so probably won’t be maxing it all day. Sounds like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950 may be suitable - especially if it’s about 15% slower only.

I’ll mostly be using it for rendering / simulations and some 3d modelling too. I heard from a Houdini pro that RAM amount tends to be a bit of a bottleneck in terms of actually running the simulations and CPU impacts speed. Based on that if the first one has 192 GB presumably that would be better for my use case also?

Are there any other limitations in your opinion with the cheaper build which would prevent me from utilising the RAM for this purpose?

Thanks a lot for your help

We really need to see the whole config (the link in the 2nd post, and below will tell you how to post this) to see if all the components are on a level playing field, as you don't want high-end CPU with low-end motherboard/SSDs/PSU/case.

How to Post Your Specification to the Forum - Check this Spec

When creating a forum post looking to discuss a PC spec there's a really simple way to post the spec in question here. IF YOU HAVEN'T ORDERED ONE YET AND ARE LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON A BUILD follow this step. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ORDERED AND ARE ASKED FOR SPECS follow the next post. Click the...

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The CPU you want is the new 9950X, not the older 7950X.

The RAM (and VRAM) usage/performance will totally be down to your scenes/models. I don't know if more, slower RAM is better than less, faster RAM in your scenario...but if you know you need more than 96GB, then you'll have to get slower RAM for stability anyway. With your budget, an RTX4090 might boost performance with its extra VRAM and CUDA cores.

I'm also assuming you've already got SSDs/HDDs that everything is going onto, as a single 1TB SSD for everything is a bit concerning (and I'd stay away from a PCS-branded one; a much faster Solidigm Pro, Corsair MP600 Elite or Crucial T700 would be my choice).

 

[MGibbs]

Thanks Tony! After doing some more digging and small tweaks based on the warnings the two builds are as follows:

Build 1 - CPU loaded:

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 700 TOWER GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 24 Core CPU (4.2GHz - 5.3GHz, 152MB CACHE)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE TRX50 AERO D (TRX50, ECC DDR5 RDIMM, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
Memory (RAM)
128GB Kingston DDR5 4800MHz ECC Registered (4 x 32GB)
Graphics Card
12GB ZOTAC GEFORCE RTX 4070 SUPER Twin Edge - HDMI, 3 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/sR, 2950MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 200 TR4 Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
1 x 10GbE + 1 x 2.5GbE ONBOARD ETHERNET PORT
Wireless Network Card
ONBOARD Wi-Fi 6E / 7 (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 8 X USB PORTS (MOBO DEPENDENT) @ BACK PANEL + FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (6 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
48 HOUR INSURED PALLET DELIVERY TO UK (MON-FRI, INC. HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Price: £3,770.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-trx50-pc/CGNuHzEh4C/

Build 2 (i changed but the AMD Ryzen 9900 is not in stock and made the RAM compatible):

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 4000X RGB TEMPERED GLASS MID-TOWER ATX CASE - WHITE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16 Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.7GHz/144MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2 (AM5, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E)
Memory (RAM)
96GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 48GB) KIT
Graphics Card
16GB ZOTAC GEFORCE RTX 4080 SUPER TRINITY BLACK EDITION - HDMI, 3 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
4TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 128MB CACHE
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR iCUE H100i ELITE LCD XT RGB CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NONE OR ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (6 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 10:30AM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Price: £2,754.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/g3gYNfYgaq/

Second one is a LOT cheaper but CPU has less cores and RAM is less. I could upgrade to a 24GB 4090 too and it would still be cheaper than the top one too (which is a tad over budget but not extremely so). Assuming this CPU is not incredibly slow the cheaper option may be quite viable? Based on my needs and assuming no issues with everything else)

 

[TonyCarter]

Here's another option, which is somewhere between the two (I think you've selected the 7950X3D CPU in error)...with all the RAM you've asked for, but a better storage config (small & fast primary for OS/apps; secondary for projects; HDD for storage).

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 5000X RGB MID TOWER ATX CASE - WHITE - kept to the white aesthetic, but went up in size as powerful CPU and GPU combo requires more space to breathe
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16 Core CPU (4.5GHz-5.7GHz/80MB CACHE/AM5) - the faster (in pure single-core performance) than the X3D variant (which is really for gaming)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7) - newer spec motherboard, with wifi7, PCIe 5.0, and USB4
Memory (RAM)
192GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz (4 x 48GB) - doubled-up the RAM
Graphics Card
16GB ZOTAC GEFORCE RTX 4080 SUPER TRINITY BLACK EDITION - HDMI, 3 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 4700MB/sW) - fast OS/apps primary drive
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/sR, 3325MB/sW) - slower SSD for live projects
1st Storage Drive
4TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 128MB CACHE
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1200W RMx SHIFT SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIET - ignore the config advisory tool, it only tells you the power requirements based on published TDPs and doesn't take into account the 2x power spikes modern GPUs can deliver; plus running at a lower % of max will give better efficient
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR iCUE H115i ELITE CAPELLIX XT RGB High Performance CPU Cooler - no need for the expensive LCD version, unless it's something you really want/need
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NONE OR ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 10:30AM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Price: £3,156.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/8AVh3sTn8f/

 

[MGibbs]

Nice! Thanks for the build suggestion Tony - this looks like the perfect mix between the two tbh and is very good cost wise for my budget! Yeah i must've selected the wrong CPU in error - the one you selected (AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16 Core CPU (4.5GHz-5.7GHz/80MB CACHE/AM5) was the one i was thinking of.
The full 192GB is fantastic for Houdini usage and the 4080 will be great for rendering stuff! I like having the multiple SSDs and storage drives too because cache data alone is usually huge for Houdini!

Quick (silly) question - does the cooling system make any functional difference to the build other than to help regulate energy output?

Thanks for going the effort of looking at this! It's been incredibly helpful and helps me to understand more about what I am buying

 

[TonyCarter]

Nice! Thanks for the build suggestion Tony - this looks like the perfect mix between the two tbh and is very good cost wise for my budget! Yeah i must've selected the wrong CPU in error - the one you selected (AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16 Core CPU (4.5GHz-5.7GHz/80MB CACHE/AM5) was the one i was thinking of.
The full 192GB is fantastic for Houdini usage and the 4080 will be great for rendering stuff! I like having the multiple SSDs and storage drives too because cache data alone is usually huge for Houdini!

Quick (silly) question - does the cooling system make any functional difference to the build other than to help regulate energy output?

Thanks for going the effort of looking at this! It's been incredibly helpful and helps me to understand more about what I am buying

The cooler keeps the CPU in its most efficient operating temperature range, so it doesn't start to slow down when it gets too hot. That's also part of the reason for the larger case, as there's more area for the air to be drawn in from, and space inside to allow air to move away from hot elements before it negatively impacts the GPU/CPU.

There's also space for another 2 m.2 SSDs on that motherboard if you feel the need for more.

 

[MGibbs]

Awesome thanks for clearing that up for me! This probably will be the one I purchase tbh as it has everything I need. Thanks again for the advice- much appreciated