Overview / Usage

As both a civil engineer and avid gamer, I wanted to design a PC capable of keeping up with CPU intensive engineering design software as well GPU intensive games. As we all know, the hardware requirements of programs have been steadily increasing since the invention of the computer. Now more than ever, there is a need for a powerfully robust machine that can deliver high performance in all departments. The name Innovation & Immersion represents the union of the fundamental facets of engineering and gaming respectively. Innovation is the heart of engineering; the pursuit for creative new solutions is essential for the progress of civilization. Immersion on the other hand, is the ultimate goal of any gaming experience and is compounded by a PC build that can accommodate the most visual and aesthetic performance settings. My PC will deliver on these key values with the latest flagship Intel processor, a high-end graphics card, DDR5 RAM, and other premium hardware.

Methodology / Approach

When brainstorming for this project, I had to decide upon an environment in which I could both work and play. I believe what I show in my renders to be optimal for not only long periods of work, but for really any type or length of interaction with the computer. Because of the large desktop table, space will not be a concern. It leaves ample room for whatever I may need, whether that be my drafting materials during work, or numerous peripherals during a long gaming session. The high-refresh-rate Samsung ultrawide monitor is also multi-functional, as it allows me to both view more of whatever I'm working on during the day, as well as immerse myself more in a game. The extra width also allows for more a comfortable split-screen experience. The Razer mousepad provides both a comfortable resting surface and enough real estate that my hand won't slip off when making a flick-shot in an FPS. The Logitech speakers allow for a comfortable and high-fidelity audio experience, and if I'd like something a little more personal, I can easily hook up my Bluetooth headset to the motherboard's integrated wireless module (Intel powered!). Finally, the centerpiece of my project is of course the desktop computer. The exterior is decorated with both a large Intel logo, as is only natural given the abundance of powerful Intel parts inside, and a silk-screened decal on the side, which makes one consider the intermingling of people and technology. On the inside, the desktop PC is an absolute powerhouse, ready to take on whatever I might possibly throw at it. During my day job as an engineer, the CAD software that I use has very straightforward requirements - a video card with ample VRAM, and more importantly, as much single-core performance as you can throw at it. The Intel Core i9-12900K is the absolute best chip for this use case, as it cleverly divides its core up into both "performance" and "efficiency," meaning that the performance cores are able to clock extremely high, while the efficiency core can run less important background tasks, or be called on under heavy loads. While gaming, this processor will allow me to crank the settings all the way, something I've never been able to do before. The Intel Optane SSD 905P will also accelerate reads and writes such that I'll be able to load up large work files or complex video game scene near-instantaneously.

As an aside, I also look forward to eventually pairing my Intel-powered build with my Premium Intel Arc graphics card which I will be receiving sometime later this year, as I placed in the top 100 of the Intel Xe HPG scavenger hunt. This will be (I believe) the first time ever that someone will be able to have a powerful fully Intel PC in all the places where it matters (CPU, GPU, SSD)!

Technologies Used

Hardware provided by Intel:

• Power supply: Seasonic FOCUS PX-850
• SSD: Samsung 980 PRO SSD
• GPU: MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 3070
• Case: Be Quiet! Silent Base 802 White
• Keyboard: Corsair K68 RGB Gaming Keyboard
• Mouse: Logitech G502 HERO Gaming Mouse
• Heatsink: MSI MEG CORELIQUID S360
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi
• Memory: 2 x 16 GB DDR5
• CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K

Self-provided hardware:

• Intel Optane SSD 905P Series SSD 960GB ($600)
• Ikea Table ($125)
• Samsung G5 Odyssey 34" Curved Gaming Monitor ($500)
• Razer Goliath Extended Chroma Mousepad ($60)
• Logitech Z333 Speaker System ($100)
• Corsair LL140 RGB Case Fan ($40)

Software to be installed:

• Windows 11 Pro
• Blender
• Adobe Premiere
• Paint.net
• Autodesk Civil 3D 2022
• Steam
• Epic Games Client