I built my last computer in 2018, not long after I started my Hyperfine website. Fast forward 5 years and it's time to get a new workstation, and coincidentally I have just started this Revit Stuff website!
For close to 15 years now I've been building my own computers, so I'd like to share a bit about what that means, how you build your one computer, how you select the best computer components and then list the components I chose for this current build.
Scroll down to skip to the list of components I selected for my Revit computer. Or read on for some more detailed background.
BUILD YOUR OWN COMPUTER FOR ARCHITECTURE
I wasn't too far into grad school when I realized my MacBook wasn't going to cut it for the intensive rendering and photoshop work I was starting to learn. Plus, I really didn't know too much about computers then, and as a lifelong Mac user I began shopping for a PC for the first time ever. Interestingly, I happened to cross paths with a younger student who did know a lot, so I asked his opinion on the latest Alienware laptops. His response was that I should just build my own computer.
Build my own computer?!?!
I had no idea what he was talking about. I literally thought that meant I would have to solder microchips together and I really didn't even know where to begin. It turns out that “assemble” is probably a better term. You buy all the different parts that make up a computer, and then put them together. As I learned more about the process, I realized the student was right, and I haven't bought a computer since.
WHY BUILD YOUR OWN ARCHITECTURE COMPUTER
There are definitely some good reasons to buy a ready-made computer, but here are four reasons why I switched to building my own.
#1: You can get more for your money. When you pick and choose your own parts and assemble them yourself you will usually end up with a more powerful machine than if you bought one for the same price. If your budget is $1200, you could assemble a better set of parts than you would be able to purchase already put together for the same amount.
#2: You can customize it exactly how you want. Instead of searching forever for a computer with the exact specifications you want, you pick all the parts yourself, so you get only what you want and don't have to include any extras you don't need. You also don't get a ton of "bloatware" i.e. all the extra and undesirable programs and apps that tend to come on store-bought computers.
#3: You learn a lot about the link between the hardware in your computer and the software you use. This is a good thing, and I would say a minimum requirement if your interest is rendering and visualization.
#4: You can update (some of) the individual pieces over the years to improve functionality. The computer I'm replacing now was built in late 2017 and replaced a computer from December 2011, so its lasted more than six years. About three years ago I replaced the graphics card and installed more memory, which was a lot cheaper than buying a whole new computer.
DO YOU NEED THE FASTEST COMPUTER?
Probably not. I usually consider the expected improvement from my current computer, as opposed to the specs of the most expensive computers available right now.
For example, I have chosen to use the Intel i7-13700K for my next Revit workstation. This is a very good, high-end processor, but not top of the line. There are faster, more expensive processors out there right now. But the 16-core i7-13700K scores 486% higher on CPU benchmark tests than the 4-core i7-7700K processor I currently have! I expect MY computing power to increase quite a bit, and last me a long time, even without getting the most expensive processor I could choose.
And you can make this same cost-benefit analysis for most of the other components...motherboard, RAM, GPU, storage drives.
If it's been more than a couple years sine you've built a computer you're going to benefit from advances in the industry, whether you're on the bleeding edge or not.
You can check out a video of my Revit computer component selection for my last computer, as well as a video about how to put a computer together over on my Hyperfine page. While the parts list is dated, the fundamentals in that video are still good to review.
COMPUTER PARTS COMPATIBILITY
The most important thing to keep track of when choosing parts for your architecture computer is the compatibility of the different components. Computer components have various connections, interfaces and form factors. You can not randomly choose each component in its own...they have to be coordinated.
I'll cover some of the major compatibility items here:
PROCESSOR
Compatibility Check
Motherboard socket, supported RAM speeds
Thoughts
Every processor has a specific socket type and you need a motherboard with the same socket type. My i7-13700K processor is LGA 1700, meaning I need to find a motherboard with an LGA 1700 socket. Motherboards are available with similar features across a range of socket types, so won't be limited, just make sure you're getting the correct socket.
To a lesser extent you need to choose a RAM speed that's supported by the CPU.
MOTHERBOARD
Compatibility Check
Case Size, CPU socket type, RAM form factor, Storage Drive Form Factor
Thoughts
In addition to getting a motherboard with the same socket as your processor you will want to select the SIZE, known as Form Factor, of your motherboard. You will probably want an ATX or mATX motherboard. The motherboard form factor will then determine what size computer case you need to get, as cases will be designed for a specific form factor.
You will also need to get the correct RAM for your motherboard. The motherboard specs will list the supported RAM, letting you know the quantity of slots (usually 2 or 4) the size (288-pin DDR5), the speed (5600MHz) and the max allowable memory (192GB). Those are the specs for the motherboard I chose, but yours may be similar.
You'll also want to confirm the size and quantity of M.2 and SATA drives your motherboard supports. M.2 is a form factor of Solid State Drives that's like a stick of gum or a really thin USB drive. SATA is a connection type used for traditional hard drives or Solid State drives. More on these later.
VIDEO CARD (GPU)
Compatibility Check
Case Size, Outputs you want
Thoughts
Processors actually support graphics on their own, and you will have video outputs on the motherboard itself, so technically you could get away without a dedicated video card. BUT, life will be a lot better with one! Make sure you check the size. The specs on the case will tell you the max length of GPU supported. You'll also want to confirm how many PCIe slots the motherboard has, as the GPU will usually take up the biggest one.
THE BEST Revit Computer Components in 2023
Well, at least these are the components I chose to make my own Revit computer. So they are the best components in MY house. But they'll work pretty great for you too :-)
My budget for this computer was $2500. I did spend more on some components for aesthetic reasons...I wanted an all-white build that LOOKS great, in addition to being a powerful workstation. You should be able to easily shave a big chunk of cash on the price of an equally capable machine if you don't care as much about how it looks.
Without further ado, here's the parts list for my 2023 Revit computer.
Processor (CPU)
Intel Core i7-13700 13th Gen Raptor Lake 16 Core (8P + 8E) 3.4 GHz LGA 1700
Motherboard (MOBO)
MSI Z790 Edge WiFi Gaming Motherboard LGA 1700 DDR5 PCIe 5.0
Memory (RAM)
CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHZ
https://amzn.to/3O0PO9P I got two of these
Graphics Card (GPU)
ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti White OC Edition (PCIe 4.0, 8GB GDDR6X)
https://amzn.to/44oHHcE Saved some money by not getting top of the line GPU
Storage (Boot Drive)
SAMSUNG 980 Pro SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 M.2 2280 Internal SSD
https://amzn.to/437FIbu I got a 1TB SSD to serve as my C: drive. Windows and all my software will be loaded onto this drive.
Storage (Storage)
SAMSUNG 980 Pro SSD 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 M.2 2280 Internal SSD
https://amzn.to/46tipf0 I got two of these 2TB drive for storage, i.e. project files, music, pictures, documents, etc. With the motherboard I got I chose the "without heatsink" option for these M.2 drives since the motherboard has one already.
CPU Cooling Fan
Corsair iCUE H100i Elite CAPELLIX XT Liquid CPU Cooler
https://amzn.to/3D1bFYd An aftermarket CPU fan is usually a good investment, as opposed to the one that comes with the processor. This will be my first time using liquid cooling, wish me luck!
Case
Lian-Li O11 Dynamic EVO ATX Mid Tower Tempered Glass Computer Case, White
https://amzn.to/3NDkkVF A nice looking case with a big window to show off all the beautiful components I got!
Case Fans
Lian Li UNI Fan SL120 V2 RGB White Triple Pack with Controller - UF-SL120V2-3W (V2)
https://amzn.to/3D2O0ql Can never have enough airflow. These white fans have RGB lighting as well.
Power Supply (PSU)
CORSAIR RM850 CP-9020232-NA 850 W ATX 80 PLUS GOLD Full Modular Power Supply
https://amzn.to/3JGtzU3 Link is to the black version. I got a white one, but it's getting harder to find.
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro USB
https://amzn.to/3rgKvtR Definitely the most annoying thing to have to buy for a new computer, but you need an operating system. Make sure to get the Pro version. There are less expensive ways to get legitimate copies of Windows out there, but a USB sold by Amazon or NewEgg is easy and foolproof.
BUILD PICTURES COMING SOON!
I'm building this Revit workstation next week! Build pictures and hopefully video coming soon.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Of course you are always free to email me questions, though there are plenty of better, more knowledgeable people and resources out there. Here are a few that I like.
YouTube | Tech Source
How to Build a PC - Step by Step (Full Build Guide) One of the best how-to videos out there right now, this guy covers everything. I might have been slightly inspired by his component list.
PassMark CPU Benchmarks
Performance test results for every processor out there. There's no Revit test as far as I know, but these results should help you compare the general performance of different processors.
cgarchitect
An online gathering place for rendering artists and gurus. Always tons of discussions on recommended computer specifications.