Question First build

[Cassimiras]

I’m new here, I’ve been working in the data entry/data analysis and office management side of things since bios was the main focus and windows was just a program in its infancy stages, way before windows was considered an actual o.s……. Anyway, I’ve been reluctant to retire my old 17” touchscreen laptop, it is 15yrs old and I cannot update it to 11. It’s completely full.
Anyway I need something that will run any architectural software that I throw at it. After some shopping around looking at prebuilt, I’ve decided I can and it’s cheaper to just buy the parts and build my own. That way I also get exactly what I want. (Once upon a time I had done this before, I believe it’s been made a heck of a lot easier. At least easier than it used to be.)

But I want to know some opinions about

AMD’s threadripper pro 7995wx?

Also the GeForce rtx 4070 ti super OC
edition

Gigabyte trx 50 ai top
Thoughts on performance and compatibility?

 

[In2Photos]

Welcome to the forums!

My first question is if you have been using a 15 year old laptop up until now why is a threadripper system its replacement? That's quite a bit of a difference in horsepower! Have you been using the laptop for your architectural software?

 

[BoomerD]

Jump to a $9500 CPU, a $900 mobo, goes cheap on a 4070 GPU…

 

[Cassimiras]

Welcome to the forums!

My first question is if you have been using a 15 year old laptop up until now why is a threadripper system its replacement? That's quite a bit of a difference in horsepower! Have you been using the laptop for your architectural software?

No heck no, lol that’s the problem, the old girl can barely open my email without falling on her face.
My husband needs to learn a few architectural softwares xactimate being one of them, since I’m the savvy one it’d be wise for me to just handle it and then I can explain it to him. Because nothing can fuel an argument in a relationship like technology. When one person that can maneuver confidently through a computer that’s trying to learn a program, and their trying to explain it to someone who can’t, if you don’t know your stuff well enough to explain it to him, in detail, ugh, argument, every time guaranteed. He will ask questions like “why can’t I just move the file here “ If all I can answer is “because you just can’t “. That’s not good enough. So I’m not messing around, he’s recently moved from the contractor physical labor side of things, to the sales and paperwork side of things, it’s a bit of a 180 as far as how tech has changed, but he needs to learn this for insurance claims, therefore since he cannot screw it up, ill have to know it so I can proof read everything (or sometimes just do it for him) lol Therefore, I’m definitely not playing around having to wait on my computer to catch up. Plus I have a game that I will most likely be wanting to play on there also. (Hidden City) I have 9/10yrs playing that in my late night spare time, so I don’t see myself giving that up. 🤣

 

[Cassimiras]

Jump to a $9500 CPU, a $900 mobo, goes cheap on a 4070 GPU…

Well then what do you suggest? I just went with what Corsair suggested was compatible. He’s talking about getting a computer that will just handle the work load and then some. I’m talking about getting something that I won’t have to worry about for the next decade. Other than the obvious updates.
So now do you see where I’m going with this, he prefers a cat, I prefer the biggest ugliest monster dog I can find, like my Neapolitan Mastiff.

 

[BoomerD]

How about listing the various architectural software you're planning or considering ao we can make a recommendation based on that?

 

[Tech Junky]

He will ask questions like “why can’t I just move the file here “ If all I can answer is “because you just can’t “. That’s not good enough.

Then get him a MBP and then do whatever you want with your system. KISS works wonders and it's really hard to F up a MAC.

 

[manly]

(Without a lot of BF deal hunting) It's rarely cheaper to DIY build, but the advantage is you get exactly what you want.

Without knowing much about your actual needs, Ryzen 7 9700X makes sense. Bump up to 9800X3D if you're into AAA gaming.

Or is this some kind of satire thread?

Edit:
I have no idea what the markup is like from say a Puget Systems. But honestly if I was spending $12k on a system, I'd actually prefer to pay the markup and have a professional build. DIY is great for our $1500 systems, but a high end workstation is another thing entirely.

Assuming a business tax write-off of some kind, I don't think targeting for a 10 year build is the best move. You could be spending 3 times as much as for a Ryzen 9 build, but get just double the longevity.

And welcome to the forums.

 

[Cassimiras]

How about listing the various architectural software you're planning or considering ao we can make a recommendation based on that?

Ok: xactimate is one of them

https://xactimate.com/home/(insurance end of it)

Then any of these choices below to put the house on, show the damage and be able to show the owner what their choices of repairs would look like and render a cost estimate.

Auto CAD
Sketch up
virtual home design builder
Rhino7

How about listing the various architectural software you're planning or considering ao we can make a recommendation based on that?

Here’s a link explaining what I would consider minimum requirements, since 3D architectural software is constantly evolving just like any other. It’s always going to require more and more. So that’s why I figure just go for the top end of everything and I shouldn’t have a problem for a long while. Right now I’m not too worried about the software end of it just as long as I am sure I am going to have the machine to handle it first.

https://www.easyrender.com/a/building-a-machine-for-architectural-visualization.

Here’s anotherexcept this place builds for you and they seem to have a lineup of set packages)which I don’t care for because they usually give you a decent processor and a crappy graphics card or a great graphics card and a crappy processor. That’s why I decided building my own would be the better option.

Virtual Production

Our workstation for Virtual Production are tested and optimized to give you the best performance and reliability.

www.pugetsystems.com

Here’s the recommendations listed for 2024:

Blog - How to Build or Buy the Best Workstation Computer for 3D Modeling and Rendering in 2025? (updated) | BIZON

BIZON custom workstation computers and NVIDIA GPU servers optimized for AI, LLM, deep learning, ML, data science, HPC video editing, rendering, multi-GPU. Water-cooled AI computers and GPU servers for GPU-intensive tasks. Our passion is crafting the world's most advanced workstation PCs and servers.

bizon-tech.com

 

[Cassimiras]

Then get him a MBP and then do whatever you want with your system. KISS works wonders and it's really hard to F up a MAC.

Right, I know everything else I have is apple, tried explaining to him that while yes I went to school for computers and started when windows was in its baby stages, but it’s not like I kept up with it every little thing they did for the last 30yrs. I mean, if I spent a whole day or two with a program, sure I can figure it out, but I need that time to acquaint myself with it, you can’t just say put this together for me out of the blue and expect it done perfectly in the next 30min. So you can walk out the door and hand it to a client.
On my own POS laptop I’ve only kept up with whatever I’ve had to deal with at home, for finances, taxes, the occasional resume etc. However, now I have lived with it for so long and gotten so frustrated with it, I’m at my wits end with it and his instant results expectations, so now I’m ready to go all out, with both middle fingers pointed up at them both.

You guys will probably laugh when I tell you what laptop, 2008 Dell Inspiron 3542 4GB running Win.10 Home. Not only is it full, I think it’s over full! 🤦🏼‍♀️

 

[Cassimiras]

(Without a lot of BF deal hunting) It's rarely cheaper to DIY build, but the advantage is you get exactly what you want.

Without knowing much about your actual needs, Ryzen 7 9700X makes sense. Bump up to 9800X3D if you're into AAA gaming.

Or is this some kind of satire thread?

Edit:
I have no idea what the markup is like from say a Puget Systems. But honestly if I was spending $12k on a system, I'd actually prefer to pay the markup and have a professional build. DIY is great for our $1500 systems, but a high end workstation is another thing entirely.

Assuming a business tax write-off of some kind, I don't think targeting for a 10 year build is the best move. You could be spending 3 times as much as for a Ryzen 9 build, but get just double the longevity.

And welcome to the forums.

Well, yes I suppose he could write it off, but then he would have to be the one buying it. Which I guess that’s easily remedied by transferring the funds to him.
And No, no advanced gaming for me, I play hidden city hidden object game, I have since 2013, so that’s 12yrs invested in that game. The most complicated game I get into is Animal Crossing on the WII or the Switch. Maybe Tetris if they could revive the old Nintendo…….. lol but all the fast moving 3D stuff makes me dizzy.
So this is going to be for professional purposes and my personal home stuff, I just want recommendations for something that will handle a home design app with 3D rendering and the Xactimate insurance software without lagging, and leave plenty of room for the photo captures.

 

[manly]

Puget Systems will customize a build however you want them to. Yes there is some markup involved, but system integration is worth something. You'll have to decide whether DIY building makes better sense for you.

I'm no domain expert, but it's not obvious that you need to build a high-end ThreadRipper system for your intended use cases. Easy Render's guide recommends it, but their spec list is also two generations old. The 7995WX is the top-end SKU, so my hunch is that's massive overkill (96 cores, but the base clock is quite low).

As for the GPU, you can wait for the upcoming GeForce 5070 Ti or 5080.

In comparison to 3D modeling/rendering, the Xactimate system requirements are quite modest. After all, they even have a mobile app that runs on an iPhone.

If you're still going to DIY build, then use PCPartPicker to put together a components list.

 

[BoomerD]

I used autocad when I went back to college almost 20 years ago. For my home system, the P4 Northwood I had handled the workload pretty well, but my GPU struggled. Looks like their system requirements aren’t as demanding by today’s standards…

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-AutoCAD-2025-including-Specialized-Toolsets.html

Sketchup is pretty easy also.

https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/system-requirements

Xactimate is pretty simple.

Xactimate System Requirements

Check the minimum and recommended specifications for hardware, software, and network settings to get the best experience using Xactimate.

www.verisk.com

Sure, you CAN spend $10,000 or more on a custom PC that will do a very nice job…or you can build a system for $3000 that will do the job nearly as well.

 

[manly]

I used autocad when I went back to college almost 20 years ago. For my home system, the P4 Northwood I had handled the workload pretty well, but my GPU struggled. Looks like their system requirements aren’t as demanding by today’s standards…

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-AutoCAD-2025-including-Specialized-Toolsets.html

Sketchup is pretty easy also.

https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/system-requirements

Xactimate is pretty simple.

Xactimate System Requirements

Check the minimum and recommended specifications for hardware, software, and network settings to get the best experience using Xactimate.

www.verisk.com

Sure, you CAN spend $10,000 or more on a custom PC that will do a very nice job…or you can build a system for $3000 that will do the job nearly as well.

The first time I played with AutoCAD, it was version 1.x (might have even been a 1.0 beta) and it ran on an 8088 CPU. Actually, I've never used any newer version since then.

For almost everybody, a Ryzen 9 9950X + GeForce 5080 is a beast rig.

FWIW I've looked at that Easy Render article a few times, and it's problematic. I can't even take them seriously TBH.

 

[Cassimiras]

Thanks for the recommendations, at least I can see one or two directions to go now, instead of 50!
Lol, I can focus a bit better and make a decision. The only reason I seem more involved in this than most people would think that I should be, (since it IS his business and his job) but like I said earlier, he’s a bit older and the physical labor part of construction over the last 40yrs has kicked his A$$.. So with him not being very computer savvy and me being the one who is able to figure out all the little technical details quite a bit faster. (Besides the fact that I’m at home right now, for a bit longer anyway, and he’s supporting me, since my accident at work, where I almost lost my left leg below the knee). It’s the least I can do, helping him get all set up and switch over to the new way of doing things, hopefully not needing me as his personal secretary/assistant any longer.

(after that many years in the field, he’s so accustomed to figuring out things in his head, or with pencil and paper, complex math and all, I don’t want to come off as portraying him as ignorant by any means).

He’s just accustomed to doing everything old school, which is admirable in my opinion. I wish I could be as fast at numbers in my head. Anyway, we both agree that I’m going to be the more efficient choice when it comes to picking out an upgraded system, figuring out how it will come together, then figuring out the right software and getting it up and running for him to do the job and especially be able to get through it “on the road” on his own and print out an estimate right there in a driveway.

Anyway that was a longer thank you than intended. But thank you for helping me narrow things down.

 

[tcsenter]

You guys will probably laugh when I tell you what laptop, 2008 Dell Inspiron 3542 4GB running Win.10 Home. Not only is it full, I think it’s over full! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Some conflicting info you have given. Inspiron 3xxx was not available in 17". Inspiron 3542 is 15" model from ~2013 with 4th gen (Haswell) processor that can support up to 8GB SO-DIMM module (it only offers one slot). And was available (optional) with discrete GeForce 820M or 840M graphics. Even with the integrated Intel graphics, it can run Windows 11. You just need a trick to bypass or override MS hardware compliance checking. Copy and paste the text below into a plain TXT file (e.g. notepad) and then save it with any filename you want but change the file extension to .REG then run/merge to add these entries to the registry (each of those lines are explicitly separate, not wrapped):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHC]
"UpgradeEligibility"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup]
"AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU"=dword:00000001

This will allow you to install Windows 11 as an 'upgrade' (preserving user accounts, apps, and user data) on the current system, e.g. running SETUP.EXE from the install media while in Windows 10. There is a way to do clean install but a few more steps and a bit more labor to create modded USB installation flash drive.

I, too, am curious about the necessity of such high end specs if just five years ago you were satisfied with running your apps on a laptop that was just low-middling in performance, far short of the high-performance DTR mobile workstations that were available 10 years ago. There are lots of people doing professional CAD, design, modeling type stuff swimmingly well on lesser processors than you have inquired about and an older middle-shelf professional workstation card like the Quadro P4000.

The kind of specs you have initially inquired about are the level needed for like....a Boeing 747, 400 bed hospital complex, or an entire housing sub-division, not for a house (not even a big two story one). Unless you want uber realistic textures and finishes applied to everything, be able to zoom in or do fly-through-arounds and see texture on the walls, reflections in the stainless steel appliances or mirrors, etc.

 

[tcsenter]

Here you go, saved you at least one thousand dollars.

@ Ebay Refurbished Dell Precision 3640 Workstation (Tower), Intel i9-10900 (up to 5.2GHz MAX) 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 8GB - $530 delivered (plus tax)

Easily upgradeable to 64GB RAM, add in more storage, upgrade the GPU if it isn't up to your needs.