And after peeing in his Kryptonite Cornflakes. Got any thoughts on a PC build @mnementh or anyone else for that matter? ![Grin ;D](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-computing/$1000-usd-cad-and-rendering-workhorse-getting-the-balance-right/msg2516457/#msg2516457
Y'all know
I just rebuilt my AM3 beast in a new case with a modern GPU... Well, that was in preparation for doing a complete update to modern hardware. I wanted to break the pain up into manageable chunks.
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
Don't get me wrong; with the additional $50 outlay for my current FX-8350 (4GHz\8-Core) processor, I DID achieve my modest objective of 1080P/60FPS on STEAM while leveraging my investment in RAM and MB a little longer by pretty much maxing out my aging chipset.
However my ensuing research showed me just how abysmally far behind the times my machine still is.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
Which is to be expected; it's a 10 year old platform. With all I've done so far, it is barely an entry-level gaming rig, and render times are horrifying.
All that said, I've determined that right now is the WORST possible time to be buying a new MB, especially AMD. The 570x chipsets will be shipping in a few weeks, which will be the first pcie4.0 optimized boards from AMD. They will NOT support 1st Gen Ryzen, but are optimized for Zen2 architecture. On top of this, we don't know yet what families of RAM they will be optimized for. We expect faster DDR4, but possibly DDR5 on the horizon.
Along with this, I'm reading lots of press from chip manufacturers, indicating another quantum jump in RAM manufacturing process is about to go live due to simple turnover; new hardware, new processes being implemented just because the old machinery is outdated and worn out. I'm expecting RAM prices to drop like 2008 again; with 32/64GB Quad-channel builds becoming cheap as chips.
If you're NOT going Threadripper, then you want to wait for the 570x boards to come out so you know what RAM to buy. For a media-rendering build you for sure want the bandwidth of pcie4.0 and Zen2 family processors. But wait... Current market news indicates you're going to be looking at all of $40-60 more for all this quantum-leap in bandwidth, so older chipsets will be heavily deprecated quickly.
If you're looking for absolute best bang/buck, again I'd wait because the bottom is about to fall out from under the current 470/350 chipset boards, and especially 1st Gen Ryzen builds because no pcie4.0 and in some cases not even nvme. You'll be able to pick up current flagship MBs much cheaper and get into a lower level Zen2 CPU which will serve well for several years, and still remain relevant with a later CPU upgrade. Don't look at ANY board without at least one, preferably 2 nvme capable slots and at least quad-channel RAM, as you'll soon be able to double up whatever RAM you buy now for a song.
This is where I'm at right now... As much as I wanna see triple-digit framerates on my new 32in 1440P gaming monitor; I really think the best thing for me and you to do is wait a few months.
mnem
*sent by tickling my Android phone's most tender bits*