Seeking Advice for Graphics Workstation CPU

Budget:
<$7000

Expectations:
Workstation for Graphic Design

Usage:
Professional Graphic Creation: Heavy Photoshop, Cinema4d

Special Needs:
Balance between single-threaded Photoshop speed/C4d modeling and multi-core Cinema 4d Rendering.

Specifications:
Workstation CPU selection help needed.

I work for a small marketing firm as a graphic designer, and need help deciding which processor would be best for a new workstation. Most of my time is divided between Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Cinema 4d. The Photoshop work involves imaging and retouching some really large files (can be greater than 2gb), and the Cinema 4d work involves both modeling and rendering (thus the need for as many cores/threads as I can get without sacrificing single threaded speed). Multitasking and bouncing between multiple apps is the norm.

Another thing to consider - the company tends to buy a workstation and use it for up to 8 years with little or no upgrading. So I think whatever I get, I need to plan to live with it for a long time.

I’m really leaning towards the new AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970x (32-core, 3.7GHz – 4.5Ghz)
The other considerations are
The Xeon W-3245 (16-Core, 3.2GHz – 4.4GHz)
and the i9-10980XE (18-Core, 3.0 GHz – 4.6GHz)

Are there any real advantages to the Xeon features, such as ECC memory and 6 memory channels outside of a server environment?
I’ve never had an AMD machine, but from what I’ve read, the 3970 looks really appealing. But then the new Intel i9 has the best price point – money I could allocate towards memory and video card. But like I said, I have to live with the machine for many years to come, so I can probably talk the boss into spending more if it’s really needed. Any reason to not go with the AMD?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum MatthewF!

Powerful work build...You went with max CPU cores and RAM... I stick to Intel myself and probably would have gone with the i9-10980XE that can be Overclocked fully, so I’ll stay out of the AMD v Intel debate.    Given what you are using now, you are in for a big performance increase.   

ideas...

Use the Lumos or Velox cases instead for much better airflow and more case fans.    You will keep the case cleaner if you can see the components inside.

Use the excellent Corsair LL or best and quietest ML case fan upgrade...more effective cooling, 2 yr warranty for LL and 5 yr warranty for ML.    Control lighting creativity using Corsair iCUE software, including lights off if needed.    The ML have magnetic levitation bearings for lower friction and will last the longest.   The case fans are the first defense for longevity and daily performance of your expensive component choices. Stock low bid DS fans have only a 1 yr warranty.

Given your usage listed as a Photo & graphics content editor/creator, was surprised you only went with a RTX 2080 Super.    I would have thought you would be much better served with a RTX 2080 Ti 11 GB VRAM, or a Titan RTX 24 GB VRAM.    More GPU processing cores, more VRAM.     Either way, you go, you should know that for Adobe users, earlier this year NVidia turned on Adobe color spectrum and Adobe Creative features for all NVidia RTX video cards that were previously reserved only for Quadro commercial GPU’s.    Big work use boost for RTX card users.

I'm noting you only configured a single jumbo fast 2 TB M.2 NVME Drive1 and no other drives.    Normally we would advise doing a 500 GB or 1 TB Drive1 for the op system and a few important programs, and a larger Drive2 for all other programs & content storage.    You have 2 fast M.2 slots on the motherboard to use.    It would be easy to add more M.2 space later on as it just plugs into a port on the mobo.   Assume you will have other work drives to use.

DS 1 yr Parts Warranty can be boosted to a max 3 yr part replacement coverage...an easy sell for a work funded machine with the boss.

The Corsair AX1200I Platinum Efficiency PSU is my all time fav PSU.   If for budget room you need to drop to the Corsair 850W Gold Efficiency model, yes it would be enough for 1X GPU.
The Corsair AX1200i would allow you enough power headroom to acquire a 2nd GPU in SLI/NSync if ever needed.

Agree....NVidia will be selling fewer Quadro GPU now as they have finally recognized that many users also want to game after work with their home based work rigs.   Activating those RTX Adobe colorspace perks will sell far more RTX GPU’s and should keep far more powerful RTX cards coming down the line soon.

Good rig changes that should serve you very well.   Be aware that, to be different. lol, the DS Velox case places the motherboard and GPU upside down and thus the window on the right side.   The Lumos has the normal main window on the left side and motherboard is right side up.    Your rig is nicely designed CPU-Heavy and I suspect you will have cores and threads to spare for years to come using the AMD CPU.    Budget wise, you could easily add a 2nd SLI/N-Sync RTX 2080 Super if you find you need a reasonable GPU performance boost later on...or just plan on a GPU upgrade replacement in 3 yrs when something stronger appears from NVidia.

Let us know how the DS Order experience goes for you...

Sorry to hear about the delay.   Same thing happened in December with long US Customs delays in releasing the DS re-supply of the black Velox cases.   

You should really like the Lumos ( Corsair Crystal 570X ATX case) as a bit more modern looking design with excellent airflow.   Really puts your components and RGB fans on show, and makes you keep up in keeping things clean...lol.    

Lol... I know they are still clearing production backlogs and dealing with part shortages from China, but you are clearly on final approach! This part you really want them not to hurry...as they will place your rig under full load and we want any component failures to happen on DS time...not on your time. Hang in there...good stuff coming soon!    

Edited by HockeyBuck - 05 Feb 2020 at 11:46am

Edited by MatthewF - 05 Feb 2020 at 12:33pm

Update - The system arrived last Wednesday (Feb12th), but when I hooked it up, couldn't get a video signal.  Tried three different monitors and multiple cables, but nothing.  Spent the rest of the day on the phone with tech support (which was excellent) trying to diagnose / remedy the problem, but in the end had to settle for an RMA and ship it back.  They suspect the mobo, since there was NOTHING going to the monitor.  So sad.  .  I'll post again when it comes back and is up and running!

I am sure that tech support asked this question.

Were you plugging the monitor cable into the connection port on the graphics card and not to the video connection on the motherboard?

Can you recall the post code on the motherboard?

Here is a link to the manual which contains the list of LED codes:

https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7C59v1.1.pdf

Very sorry for your issues. I feel for the frustration you must have over this. Electronics can be so... meh.