WHAT SHOULD I BUY?! 4K* Video Editing Machine - Sub $3,000USD Budget

[MicheliCotroneo]

Hello!

Brand new to the forum, and would love some buying advice! I am a professional video editor and also dabble in simple motion graphics - as such, I require a powerful machine to help me get through the day.

My budget is $3,000USD for internal components only - all peripherals have been budgeted separately (or I already own).

I'm currently running my setup off of a top-of-the-line 2012 MacBook Pro Retina, which recently has decided to not work.

Disclaimer: Though I have built PC's before, it has been a while since I've been 'on the scene' - since 2011 to be precise. My entire ecosystem is Apple, but I cannot bring myself to purchase an underpowered, overprice trashcan at this point in time.

---

My needs:

1. Mac OS Sierra compatibility
2. Dual Boot functionality with Windows 10
3. Ability to connect and integrate with my Apple Airport Extreme/Express home network wirelessly
4. 4K video editing (if possible)
5. Optimized performance for the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of programs
6. Bluetooth support for peripherals

---

Big Questions:

1. WHAT SHOULD I BUY?! Meaning everything from which MOBO, to which case... literally everything - I'm so out of the loop and the industry has gotten pretty overwhelming in the 6 years since I've been involved
2. Dual GPU?
3. 32GB or 64GB RAM?
4. Multiple SSD's for dual boot?
5. And really all other questions that you can think of to answer

What I'm really looking for is a list of products that I can buy, assemble, then work through the mess of actually installing OS Sierra and getting it to work.

I want to be very proactive about getting this system built - so if you have any questions please ask and I will get back to you promptly. Currently my work-time has been increased by about 1,000,000% given that my main workhorse is nearing the end of its life.

 

[trs96]

Take a look at Stork's MyHero build.
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...og-maximus-viii-hero-i7-6700k-gtx-980.197284/

All you have to do is click through the links he has provided to order the correct parts.

You could replace the Samsung AHCI SSD drive with an NVME drive Since the one he used is no longer available.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820147596. $330
Purchase a standard Sata SSD for Windows. A Samsung 850 Pro would be a good choice.

You can also max it out with 64 GB of Ram if you will need that much for your projects.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=F4-3400C16Q-64GTZ-_-20-232-260-_-Product $670

Go with this RM650X PSU. I believe it's the one Stork used in his Hero build.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015YEIBJ8/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

I would also invest more $ into a better liquid cooler especially if you will push this system fairly hard for longer periods and overclock it. If you go with a larger liquid cooler, bigger radiator, make sure you get a bigger case that can accommodate it.

You can get the newer GTX 1080 instead of the 980 that he used, if that fits within your budget. Will really help speed up your workflow. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IR6LMLO/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 $470

Even with these upgrades you should still be able to stay within your 3000 dollar budget. Also feel free to post questions in Stork's golden build thread.

 

[MicheliCotroneo]

Take a look at Stork's MyHero build.
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...og-maximus-viii-hero-i7-6700k-gtx-980.197284/

All you have to do is click through the links he has provided to order the correct parts.

You will need to replace the Samsung AHCI drive with an NVME drive Since the one he used is no longer available.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820147596. $330
Purchase a standard Sata SSD for Windows. A Samsung 950 Pro would be a good choice.

You can also max it out with 64 GB of Ram if you will need that much for your projects.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=F4-3400C16Q-64GTZ-_-20-232-260-_-Product $670

Go with this RM650X PSU. I believe it's the one Stork used, he may have mistakenly called it the RX650 by Corsair.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015YEIBJ8/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

I would also invest more $ into a better liquid cooler especially if you will push this system fairly hard for longer periods and overclock it. If you go with a larger liquid cooler, bigger radiator, make sure you get a bigger case that can accommodate it.

You can get the newer GTX 1080 instead of the 980 that he used, if that fits within your budget. Will really help speed up your workflow. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IR6LMLO/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 $470

Even with these upgrades you should still be able to stay within your 3000 dollar budget. Also feel free to post questions in Stork's golden build thread.

Thanks so much for the suggestions here, really helpful! Currently with your recommendations buying strictly from Amazon (cheers to the 5% back on Prime buys with the Amazon card) the price comes to $2,475.24USD shipped - in case you were wondering!

Parts List:

1. CASE: Corsair Carbide Clear 400C Compact Mid-Tower Case --- $94.99
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017XPP9KK/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

2. FIREWIRE CARD: Syba Low Profile PCI-Express 1394b/1394a (2B1A) Card, TI Chipset, Extra Regular Bracket DS-PEX --- $27.51
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002S53IG8/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

3. WIFI CARD: 802.11AC Desktop Wifi Card 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC Bluetooth 4.0 OS X Yosemite 10.10+ PC/Hackintosh - Handoff and Continuity --- $59.99
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDLG51U/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

4. CPU: Intel Core i7 6700K 4.00 GHz Unlocked Quad Core Skylake Desktop Processor, Socket LGA 1151 [BX80662I76700K] --- $301.78
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012M8LXQW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

5. MOBO: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VIII HERO LGA 1151 DDR4 M.2 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 Type A Type C Intel Z170 ATX Motherboard --- $206.53
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0126R4F8W/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

6. GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Windforce OC GV-N1080WF3OC-8GD Graphics Cards --- $469.99
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IR6LMLO/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

7. PSU: Corsair RMx Series, RM650x, 650W, Fully Modular Power Supply, 80+ Gold Certified --- $109.99
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YEIBJ8/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

8. SSD: Samsung 960 PRO Series - 512GB PCIe NVMe - M.2 Internal SSD (MZ-V6P512BW) --- $329.97
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXS4TYB/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

9. RAM: G.SKILL 64GB (4 x 16GB) TridentZ Series DDR4 PC4-27200 3400MHZ For Intel Z170 Platform 288-Pin Desktop Memory Model F4-3400C16Q-64GTZ --- $754.50
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJB3ZUE/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

10. LIQUID COOLER: Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler, Black --- $119.99
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019EXSSBG/?tag=tonymacx86com-20)

---------------------------------------->

So, now for some questions if you would oblige!:

Case:
1. Will this case fit everything currently on the list?
2. Could I fit two 1080's in here?
3. Is this a "good" case, respected manufacturer, etc.?

Firewire Card:
1. What do I need this for? Is it literally just for firewire support? I run everything off of USB 2-3. Should I even bother putting this in the rig?

Wifi Card:
1. Is this the best option?
2. The description says that it supports OS Yosemite, does it also support OS Sierra?

CPU:
1. Is this the fastest CPU that I can support in a Hackintosh? If not, what is?

MOBO:
1. ASUS vs Gigabyte? I've read that Gigabyte is the "best" to support a Hackintosh build
2. Should I consider other motherboards?

GPU:
1. Do stable drivers exist for this card currently in a Hackintosh build?
2. Could I run two of these cards with this case?
3. Could I run two of these cards with this motherboard?
4. Could I run two of these cards with this CPU?
5. Could I run two of these cards with this PSU?
6. If I ran two, would I see significant increases in speed? Or is it not really worth it?

PSU:
1. Is this the best 650 option? Reliable?
2. Is 650 enough power? If not, what should I consider?

SSD:
1. This seems expensive, even for SSD, what is the benefit of going with this "onboard" SSD vs "internal" SSD (like this)?
2. If I want to run both OS Sierra, and Windows 10, would I need two of these?
3. Can this motherboard run two of these "onboard" SSDs, or would I run one "onboard" and one "internal"?
4. Could I simply run two "internal" SSDs and forget about an onboard for dual boot?

RAM:
1. This seems expensive for RAM, what are the major benefits?
2. I definitely want to run 64GB, is the best RAM to get for a 64GB configuration?
3. Will this current build be able to take full advantage of 64GB?

Liquid Cooler:
1. Is the liquid cooler I picked out a good one to use?
2. If not, what is a better option?
3. What is the benefit of a liquid cooler vs an air cooler?
4. Would this type of air cooler be a good option?

---------------------------------------->

Sorry to be such a dummy with this stuff, I really appreciate all of the help I can get. I know there are a lot of questions here, and you're probably looking at it all like, "what is this dude doing trying to build a hackintosh when he doesn't know the benefits of liquid vs air cooling" haha - but, might as well give it a shot right! Worst comes to worst, I can build it and have a decent PC to accompany my other Macs.

 

[pastrychef]

Corsair is one of the bigger names in computer cases. The one you picked will not have any problems fitting two video cards.

If you don't have any FireWire peripherals, you can skip the FireWire card.

The Wifi/Bluetooth card works with Sierra.

i7-7700K is a newer CPU and might be a tad faster. But in real world usage, it and the i7-6700K are extremely similar in performance. There are CPUs with more cores, but installation of macOS may not be as easy as with the i7-6700K. For best balance between ease of installation and performance, I feel the i7-6700K is best.

Gigabyte may have worked better for hackintoshing in the past, but that's not true anymore. You can most certainly use a Gigabyte motherboard if you prefer them, but there's really no advantage in choosing one over the other.

The Nvidia web drivers have been around for a long time. I used them with my old Mac Pro and am using them with my hackintosh. I have not encountered any instabilities.
I've never tried running two video cards in my hackintosh but I don't see why it would be an issue. CPU, motherboard, case would not be an issue.
Whether or not having two cards would improve performance depends heavily on the software used. For gaming, having two or more video cards will yield no benefit in macOS.

You can always purchase higher wattage PSU if it will make you feel more comfortable.

AHCI or NVMe M.2 SSDs are faster than traditional 2.5" SSDs. How much the extra speed will benefit you depends on how you use them.
You can have Windows and macOS on the same SSD, but I always prefer to have them on separate drives. It's up to you which you choose.
This particular motherboard only supports one M.2 SSD.

You can use whichever RAM you like just check with the motherboard manufacturer's website to make sure it's compatible with whichever motherboard you happen to choose.

I don't know about liquid coolers.

 

[trs96]

Your choice of case is excellent for your build. Here's some info from Corsair that verifies this:

• Compact design, full size capabilities: Don't let the compact dimensions of the 400C fool you -- it can house a full ATX motherboard and multiple GPUs.
• Liquid cooling capable: With room for front, top, and rear radiators, you can choose to quiet down your GPU and CPU with liquid coolers just about wherever you want to.

I would stay with the 6700K. When you overclock that CPU, which is a good idea for your needs, it performs identically to the 7700K. It also doesn't require faking the CPU ID. One less thing to have to tweak. The Asus Hero motherboard is incredibly easy to overclock, something you've probably got no previous experience with. It will be just as compatible with macOS as any of the Gigabyte offerings. Plus you've got Stork's expertly written, detailed Hero guide to follow. What's not to like there ?

I would recommend that you start with one 1080 GPU. Most programs you'll be using really don't take advantage of dual graphics cards very well if at all. You can always add one later on if need be. It's so many more times powerful than the graphics in your MBP that I'm certain you'll be happy with the performance of this one. The Nvidia recommended wattage needed for one is just 500W. A 650W PSU is more than enough power. If you will definitely use two then you could start with the 750W version to be ready for a 2nd 1080. My choice would be to go with a single 1080 Ti if you feel the single 1080 isn't enough horsepower.

If you intend to keep this build for 4 years or more it is best to go with 64 GB of ram. Ram requirements will only go up in years to come. This way you won't have to try and find matching ram modules 3 years later when you need to upgrade. You can check ram usage in Activity monitor or other apps and see how much you are using. Since you are still under budget it only makes sense to do this now. You can buy your ram kit from Newegg and get a better price if they don't charge sales tax where you are.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232260&cm_re=F4-3400C16Q-64GTZ-_-20-232-260-_-Product

It's best to put your primary OS, which i believe will be macOS Sierra, on your NVME drive. Put Windows on your secondary drive to avoid problems when dual booting. As mentioned previously you could use a 250GB Samsung 850 Pro to help keep costs down. If you will rarely use Windows you could even go cheaper than that. The Samsung EVO version costs less.

AIO Liquid coolers are designed to keep your CPU within thermal parameters better than air coolers under high CPU stress situations. Most video and photo editing programs, when used professionally, can easily "max" out the CPU for hours at a time. A good liquid cooler is essential when you overclock an I7-6700K and run your rig all day long for your work. You can come close in cooling performance with some Noctua air coolers but the heatsinks in those are quite massive and will take up much of the space in your Corsair case.

It looks like you can keep this build under $2500 and have a really capable system for your work. Once you've got it built, install Windows first and test out all your hardware to make sure there is nothing that needs RMA. macOS on PC hardware can have software configuration issues that might be hard to distinguish from hardware problems. This is why it's best to run your stress tests and initial "burn in" with Windows.

So, I think that covers nearly all of your questions. Take your time with your build. Get some help from an experienced PC builder if you have one nearby. Once you've completed this project you will be very happy with how your new build performs with Adobe CC suite. You are 100% right in that the $3000 2013 MP would not give you nearly the performance, amount or ram and storage per dollar that this will. The recent Nvidia Pascal support makes this an excellent Professional use build. Cuda cores are what you need most, not AMD and OpenCL support.

 

[JCMunsonII]

Good thread!

This is similar to what I'm doing - though I am going with "current" processor and z270 board (but it is the HERO version).

I went with a Corsair 540 Air case, and, truthfully, I love the thing. Yes, it is a bit bigger than a "standard" case, though not by much, however, the airflow and roominess are a huge plus - the case is very well designed IMHO. Very easy to work in and has lots of expansion opportunity built-in. Here is an image of the partial build (what I have to date).

As I've worked in several case sizes, from cramped to the 540, I definitely prefer the 540. If you ARE going to put in two video cards, and have the space for the footprint, you might consider it for the room it offers - really makes a difference on the hands!

 

[trs96]

Good thread!

I went with a Corsair 540 Air case, and, truthfully, I love the thing. Yes, it is a bit bigger than a "standard" case, though not by much, however, the airflow and roominess are a huge plus - the case is very well designed IMHO. Very easy to work in and has lots of expansion opportunity built-in.

I have looked at the 540 case and also think that it is very unique and well designed. I stayed with my FD Define R4 mid-tower as I keep it on the floor next to my desk and the 540 wouldn't work that well in my setup.

Make sure you take pics of your build and post a description in User Builds after you are finished. There aren't many builds that use the 540 posted there, I'm sure many will be interested in it.

 

[JCMunsonII]

I have looked at the 540 case and also think that it is very unique and well designed. I stayed with my FD Define R4 mid-tower as I keep it on the floor next to my desk and the 540 wouldn't work that well in my setup.

Yes, it does have a bit of a footprint, so it isn't for everyone.

Make sure you take pics of your build and post a description in User Builds after you are finished. There aren't many builds that use the 540 posted there, I'm sure many will be interested in it.

I am doing so and am currently posting them in my "Spec'ing" thread. Once the build is completed, and functional, I'll do a brief guide as others have done. Think[ing] Positive!

 

[Stork]

Some notes on MyHero build...the memory, I chose, was based on my past experience with G.Skill and that series was on HERO's QVL Memory document which you can get from the ASUS HERO support web page. Just make sure the memory/model series is on that list.

It's up to you whether you get the Z170 or Z270 version of the HERO, but from all I've read about Kaby Lake (7700) series of processors, you get more for your money with Skylake. FYI. I've decided to skip the Kaby Lake/200 series and await the debut of the Cannon Lake/300 series this Fall.

I like MyHero very much. It's the big brother to my Gene build, both have the same BIOS layout which is very easy to navigate and understand. You can't go wrong IMO in getting the Z170 HERO motherboard which I've seen recently on sale at Newegg.

I like trs96's suggestion to get one GTX 1080 to start with. Make sure your app's will take advantage of more than one of those expensive graphics cards. Or, one Titan (Pascal version). If your reason for a dual 1080 setup is for game...well, I have no experience there.

Finally, a note on M.2 SSDs. For a no hassle, build and use configuration, get a M.2 ACHI SSD, not the NVMe. Apple uses a modified (re: propriety) version of NVMe, so one has to use RehabMan's patcher script to over come Apple's non standard NVMe. You can get a feel what I went through to get a Samsung 950 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD working on my Gene build where you'll also find links to RehabMan's informative threads.

Good luck! You'll be impressed with your final build when it's done.

 

[trs96]

+1 for the Hero Z170. What you get for your buck after $30 rebate right now is a great deal.

Finally, a note on M.2 SSDs. For a no hassle, build and use configuration, get a M.2 ACHI SSD, not the NVMe. Apple uses a modified (re: propriety) version of NVMe, so one has to use RehabMan's patcher script to over come Apple's non standard NVMe. You can get a feel what I went through to get a Samsung 950 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD working on my Gene

Yes, I had forgotten to mention the extra work needed when installing macOS on an NVME SSD. So Micheli, if you really need your new build working ASAP it may be wise to go with an AHCI drive. Will make everything much simpler for you.