Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2025 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Here's a view of my current setup. The Mac mini is connected to a 24" monitor on the right, and to the 50" TV on top. That's my Genesis version of Marlin Fingle on the screen. I probably couldn't read the thumbnail descriptions from across the room. I took the photo with my iPhone, and didn't get any flash.
Here is my sugesstion for a future proofed system - with great upscaleability... and a 1000 USD price tag...
i opted for a cheaper motherboard - but still with 8 RAM slots...
Very quite CPU cooler -> i am not sure.. but i think RAM close to the cooler must be low profile -> corsair low profile RAM should fit in all slots...
Case - > great features for 100 USD... (coolers will be added when needed (additional GPU cards)
CPU -> compromise.... Intel Xeon E5-1620 V3... (plus 400 usd -> Intels Core i7-5930K
Graphic card 740 4GB -> add a better one as soon as possible (970 or better)...
1000 Watt powersupply.. (if you have a old 500 - 600 watt.. use that for the start and spend the money on RAM or GTX 960 instead 740)...
SSD is enough for OS and programms -> add old HD's for storage at first.. (second hand, cheap.. or use one of your old ones)..
You can add later a larger M2 SSD and use the Samsung for storage..
I hope a Windows Key is allready available ?
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wpXDpg
AndyGrimm, thanks for the response. I'm a bit slow. I finally realized the link you shared took me to an actual list that you put together! I saved it as a PDF file and printed it out as well. (I have to use my magnifying glass to read the text!) It's great to see a potential build for around $1,000!
i am still not sure about the CPU - cant make my mind..... but finally decided that for a GPU system having 40 PCIe lanes (Intel Xeon E5-1620 V3).. is better then more cores (and just 28 PCie lanes.(cheapest I7 for x99) .. (SSD's need PCIe lanes too).....
the XEON scores ok - not the fastest.. but as said.. full 40 PCIe lanes! and affordable : http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E5-1620+v3+@+3.50GHz
i changed the RAM to DDR4-2133 low profile... this guarantees 100% compatibility with CPU and Mainboard and cooler (size) without tweaking.
Switched the cooler (more reserves for CPU's with high wattage)...
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Gh3r23
Ron, as a fellow retiree I can simpatize. I use a 27" screen for my main monitor and everyting is scaled up. The software engineers at daz all have great vision so they don't see a problem with microscopic pictures and text. One thing I did that helps besides making everything bigger on my screen is I bought some clip on magnifying lens for my glasses and boy what a difference they made. They also work for doing things with small objects. I got mine for about $5 dollars on sale at Harbor Freight. Don't know if you have one near you but you can check with your local hobby shop or check Amazon. I hope things go well with your eyesight.
We know that the issue of support for high PPI screens is being worked on.
Silver Dolphin, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you found a way to cope. My vision must change from time to time. I was able to put both monitors back to their default resolution. I un-docked Content & Smart content and put them on the 24" screen. Works for me.
$1500 could get you a good Alien Ware or another brand.
If you don't have time to learn how to build, if you want to call one phone # for support or warranty that won't turn into six weeks waiting for an answer that turns into "it's not your ASUS GPU, we think it's your Corsair PSU - contact Corsir." or my $400 GPU doesn't fit in this $50 case or this $200 mobo, or this RAM does not like this version of my BIOS and the vendor does not have an update for it in anything but Mandarin. While these things are rare they are hardly out of the question.
the extra $100 - $200 you saved may or may not be worth it depending on your comfort level and your tech savy.
StratDragon, I know you're right in that regard. Years ago, I built my own PCs and started having a bunch of problems. I got tired of it. Then I switched to all Macintosh computers. But those Macs don't give you the upgrade choices PCs offer. I'll sit on this idea for awhile. I really don't know where I'd get the money.
@StratDragon ...
I just checked out Alien Ware.... the difference to my setup above is 1000usd (Area 51 (x99).. starting from 1949.-. but only 8GB RAM (max 32GB) only 750Watt Powersupply)... and my suggestion offers way better upscale abilities. Today it is a lot more easy to build a PC yourself then 10 years ago . The only problems you can face in a full tower case is that the cpu cooler is to low in position for standard RAM size (that's why i included low profile RAM in my build suggestion above).
For somebody which never did it are a lot of good videos/tutorials in the net (not like 10 years ago)...
Here a very good one:
AndyGrimm you made a good point there!
I personally suggest (if you aren't comfortable building your own system, regardless of how easy it has become) that you find a reputable local builder. Lots of computer places that build cusotm systems. The upcharge shouldn't be too much. Some places (MicroCenter, etc.) will let you pick out your hardware and will then assemble it for you for a fee (usually $100-$150) and may even install the OS (if you buy a copy there as well.) Plus, if anything goes wrong, they do service too.
Failing to find a reputable local builder, there are quite a few well-respected online custom system builders (iBuyPower, eCollegePC, etc.) You will pay a bit more (about 15%-50%), but they do warranty and have good reputations. You just have to deal with shipping and the delays that can cause, and of course the added expense.
Using custom builders has the advantage of knowing exactly WHAT is going into your PC. With HP/Dell/Lenovo/etc., you don't know a lot of what is being used, or what its ratings or quality are, or how expandable/upgradable they are.
So, to sum up:
Cheapest/MostDifficult - Build it yourself.
Moderately-Cheap/Pretty Easy - Big name systems
Moderately-Expensive/Fairly Easy - Local Custom Builders and Budget Online Custom Builders
Expensive/Easiest - High-End Custom Builders (like Puget systems....)
@hphoenix ..
And now hphönix made a really good point... finding a reputable local builder is a great option for those which hesistate to build their first one by themself... the savings should still be 25-50%...just dont let you talk in a skylake build if your goal is to render IRAY as fast as possible using multiple GPU cards (more then two).
A similar x99 build as mine above would cost 1517usd at ecollege.com...
Using the I7 5820k instead of the XEON E5-1620 V3 (same price class - but i vote for the xeon with 40 PCI lanes.... the i7 maybe faster but is limiting to 28 lanes which is a pitty on a x99 board with 4x pci slots.... ( the idea/concept of this build is to use 3 - 4 pci cards in the lower price segment (740/960/970 - or hotter runing ones with a additional cooling system).... stacking in cards whenever the budget is available... and in 2 or 3 years buy a then way cheaper highend 2011-v3 CPU (and you will be up to date again)...
The motherboard i picked is the ASrock Extrem 4 with similar specs as the Gigabyte GA-X99-SLI.
Yes. I used to build my own, but no longer have the steady hands or patience. I ordered a complete system (components) and took the new case and a tote box with all the new parts and five salvaged drives to a local shop. They charged me their bench diagnostic rate for the build and their standard Windows install rate for 8.1 pro downgraded to 7 pro. Total construction/windows price was $340 and included a 24-hour burn-in/diagnostic on the cpu and memory.
so no more problem of being sent a dead mobo, bending a CPU pin, applying too much thermal grease and having an improper seal on a cpu fan which overheats and throws a bsod on the bios, no more bad contact on a broken Molex from the PSU to the GPU? that just doesn't happen any longer? No more problem with being able to identify where a problem is, how to contact the vendor and how to get a replacement for an overseas part when stock for the part is no longer from a vendor and has to come from the manufacturer. I'm missing out on a golden age - well that and Newegg sold me an $1,100 brick they rode out the RMA on and denied me access to my account. So yeah, if you can build and you feel confident identifying an issue and knowing how to address it, you can build yourself a honey of a system, I've done it many times, and still do. You can also watch a youtube video and learn how to rebuild a transmission which enough mechanics have told me if I could too when I fix their computers, thankfully aptitude does not come into it, but I feel more confident when I take the transmission to my dealership.
it's not a airplane - people which do their first pc build dont risk their life .
. in the worsest case a part is damage.. and still the selfbuild is cheaper just replacing that... blowing up a cpu and mobo is VERY VERY RARE (and usally hapens only with extrem OC). But yes - it is not for everybody.. but we talk about the ones which like to try (or did it in the past allready).. and it is a BIG difference having the infos and even video tutorials online today.. my first build was a 6 month journey in the 90ths.. there i had to contact manufactures many times .. simple because parts was never 100% compatible or because of missing and buggy drivers.. today that's more or less automatic.
And yes - i did like hphoenix suggestion to go to a local builder and tell which parts are wanted or just order the parts when it is cheap and then let it build.
I'm getting older and don't have the patience or ability to do all this stuff myself. If I ever get rich, I'll pay someone to build the dream system for me.
Well Ron Knights - you started the thread asking for building parts.
But yes - i fully understand your situation. Most of us have their wishes and dream builds and just a few are able to realize right now. There is nothing wrong with imagine and building just in theory while learning about the subject -- until it is affordable or for whatever reason dosent have the same high priority anymore...
I'm not bailing out of the thread. I'm getting valuable information here. However, I won't have any money for any tech for at least a few months.
Ron, another idea would be to find a local college computer club, most likely a linux club and join. Most Linux heads are die hard PC builders and will be more than happy to help you build a system if you supply the pizza and pop. If they are 21 and older then you can substitue beer. Good German beer usually gets me into a great PC building mood, but I'm a beer snob : )
Silver Dolphin, thanks for the tip. Have a wonderful day.