Need advice for an extreme PC build (open budget)
Posted by thenoopcoder@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 18 comments
I want a machine mainly for:
- Heavy Blender rendering / simulations
- Unity + game development
- Programming / compiling large projects
- Local AI models (Gemma, LLMs, AI tools)
- Gaming at max settings
- Unreal Engine, 3D work, multitasking
- Future AI workloads
Budget: Flexible / open
Questions:
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Intel, AMD Ryzen, or Threadripper for this type of workload?
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Best GPU for Blender + AI + gaming? RTX 5090? Multiple GPUs?
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RAM: Should I go 128GB, 192GB, 256GB… or even more?
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Is 8TB–20TB NVMe storage overkill for long-term projects?
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Air cooling vs custom liquid cooling for days of rendering?
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Best motherboard for future upgrades and heavy workloads?
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What would YOU build if the goal was “buy once, keep for years”?
I’m trying to build something closer to a workstation than a normal gaming PC. I want opinions before spending stupid money.
Enough-Afternoon8011@reddit
If money is no object, RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell will be your best card, but it'll more than likely eat most of your budget.
liggieep@reddit
pick one
Enough-Afternoon8011@reddit
Okay money could be no object, but if he builds a $15000 PC with the RTX 6000, it'll be over half that cost alone
CaptainPigtails@reddit
Honestly I would never build a PC like this unless I understood my workload requirements better. It would be way too easy to spend way more than is required. Just saying if I was about to drop $10k on a PC I'd at least have enough experience to know where to start.
Jenkinswarlock@reddit
Here is my pc I’m going to build for my situation, I couldn’t justify the 5-10% for the 9950X3D2 compared to the 9950X3D, I am choosing the extreme board since it has the best chance to run 256gb reliably, I’m only starting with 32gb since I’m broke boy but after the bubble pops I will pick up 256gb, I have pc part picker set up to not pull from Amazon or RBC or Vuugo since I don’t want the chance of stuff being switched or shipping not being included, I would love to have the 5090 alongside my 4090 but that will come in time, and then I gotta upgrade the PSU, and upgrade my wiring in office to support 240v since I’ll need a massive PSU 1600w+, but yeah this is my machine I’m making for much of the same reasons as you, but the market is just rough right now
PCPartPicker Part List
HumanWebAnt@reddit
If you need an open budget build then a cloud subscription with live streaming to your monitor is probably way bigger than you'd get from any home labbing situation. But I understand that's probably not what you were asking.
MajorLuscasa666@reddit
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mBrZZQ
Honestly, can't be better than this. 9950X3D2 will DEFINITELY take care of your blender/game development needs, gaming too. 5090 will let you play anything at 4k max with high frame rates, is also amazing at rendering and developing. 128gb ram I think is the sweet spot for your work needs, gaming and running LLMs. Also put 10tb of storage, I think it should be enough but it really depends on how you use your applications. Good pc overall
a4840639@reddit
For the CPU platform, I think you can choose between a Threadripper if you have more emphasis on productivity and a 9950X3D if you want top notch gaming performance + decent productivity performance
User_of_redit2077@reddit
For GPU in professional tasks RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell will be better than the 5090 (and in games 15% faster). The ×3 gb of Vram (96 in 6000 vs "only" 32 gb in 5090) will give you a boost in professional tasks.
SignalMagician1163@reddit
5090, 8TB storage, Threadripper? I’m too broke to be in this thread, I’ll let myself out.
erriiiic@reddit
Would 1Tb for OS and 8TB for storage be better?
Low_Twist_4917@reddit
Dm me let’s talk and I’ll give insight from bottlenecks I had with prior multi 5090 set up. I’m running a multi rtx6000 pro BW server chassis currently for similar workloads.
fist003@reddit
If multiple 5090s, then use a psu above 1200w
tk427aj@reddit
Honestly sounds like you're looking more for a workstation level computer than a custom PC.
Maybe more like a high end personal computer with a high end workstation on your network that you can offload intensive workloads onto
iwanttodiebutdrugs@reddit
My gtx 1060 6gb mini zotac is pretty good at 2560x1080
TheDregn@reddit
In this case it's not about task but about VOLUME. Is the AI, Simulation and stuff only hobby or professional and if professional how serious.
From simulation perspective, for certain tasks a 12-16 core cpu or like a 4080 can be enough, but for a demanding simulation task, like a fragment-optimization in LS-Dyna, you should get an EPYC with 96 cores or for a true 6DoF CFD simulation of a shell with innate generator blades with 30 mil Elements, you need around 512 GB RAM.
This is not that simple, because there is always a better rig, so you should either know the specific performance needed, or have a budget limitation.
thenoopcoder@reddit (OP)
I’m not trying to flex budget. I genuinely want something for Blender, AI, rendering, programming and long-term use. I’d rather spend more once than rebuild later.
PenFar9334@reddit
cant answer most of these since im not much of a work guy but ill answer the ones i can
1+2. yeah dual 5090 will help with performance alot (only exception is gaming since that only utilizes one) though you will need a motherboard that supports 2 full pcie 5.0 x16 lanes in which case its usually the threadrippers.