Mid-Range Lumion Computer Buying Guide
Usage of a Mid-Range Computer
A system suitable for users who want to handle their daily tasks faster and save some precious time. Ideal for those who dislike waiting and expect their system to respond as quickly as they execute personal tasks, ensuring the computer keeps pace with their efficiency.
With a dedicated mid-range or moderately powerful graphics card, Lumion can be run with medium to high settings, offering relatively acceptable performance in editing, designing, and graphic applications. However, you may need to lower your expectations for running Lumion at 4K resolution or consider purchasing a more powerful system if you are more demanding.
Recent Developments
Processors like Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5-12400F and Core i5-13400 have been added to our list of budget-friendly options for mid-tier systems. Previously, we replaced the 8-thread Intel Core i3-10100 in this budget range with the Core i3-9100F, but the 6-core, 12-thread Core i5-10400F remains a decent alternative for a proposed replacement system. Meanwhile, the prices of 12th Gen processors and motherboards remain higher than those of the 10th and 11th generations.
In this price range, the GTX 1650/GTX 1650 Super initially stood out as the best options for graphics cards, followed by the GTX 1660 Ti and GTX 1060. However, newer models like RTX 3060/RTX 3070 and more recently the RTX 4060 Ti have replaced them, offering users a wider array of suitable options.
Despite the introduction of new Intel processors from the Comet Lake and Alder Lake generations, Z490/Z590/Z690 motherboards compatible with the newer generations remain premium-priced and unsuitable for low-to-mid-range budgets. Instead, H510/H610 and B560/B460 motherboards offer greater value for money in these price segments. Additionally, Core i3-10100/9100F processors, with their four physical processing cores, deliver performance comparable to 7th Gen Core i5 processors and far exceed that of 7xxx Core i3 models in some tasks, all while maintaining a significantly lower price point.
For more powerful performance, the Ryzen 5 3600/3600X and Ryzen 7 3700X/3800X processors require AM4 motherboards and can serve as excellent replacements for components in recommended builds. Meanwhile, AMD’s mid-range yet powerful RX 570/RX 580 graphics cards, priced slightly below the GTX 1060 but above the GTX 1050 Ti, remain solid options from trusted brands like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI. Users interested in these cards can consider them as main or substitute options for their systems. Recent optimizations in AMD’s drivers have significantly closed the performance gap with rival models, even surpassing them in certain applications.
Note: Cheaper motherboards such as H110/H310/H410 can also be used with 7th to 10th generation processors. However, they lack the additional features and upgrade capabilities offered by B-series models. You can review the detailed differences in the “Motherboard Chipset Series and Their Specifications” section of this article and make your decision based on your specific needs.
Remember that, apart from the Z-series motherboards, other models only support memory modules up to 2133 MHz for 9th generation, 2400 MHz for 10th generation, and 2666 MHz for newer generations. This means faster modules, such as 3000 MHz models, will operate at their default frequency, for instance, 2133 MHz. The same applies to the 200-series motherboards, where Z270 models support memory beyond 2400 MHz, while H270 and B250 models are limited to 2400 MHz.
Z370/H370/B360 motherboards officially support a frequency of 2666 MHz, but higher speeds in overclock mode are only possible on Z370 models. Similarly, Z490/H410/B460 motherboards officially support 2933 MHz, with overclocking support for higher speeds available exclusively on Z490 models.
We strongly recommend that buyers review the differences outlined in the “Motherboard Chipset Series and Their Specifications” section to select a model that best matches their actual needs.
When choosing a case, models like the Z2+ Hero or Z4 Astiak from the Green brand can be good options for different preferences, albeit at a slightly higher price. Additionally, CoolerMaster and DeepCool offer products with distinctive designs at similar price ranges, which may appeal to some users in the local market.
Mid-Range Lumion Computer: Processor, Motherboard, and RAM
Our selected quad-core processor from the Alder Lake generation, equipped with Hyper-Threading (HT) technology for simulating virtual cores, provides 8, 12, or even 16 logical processors accessible in the operating system. This processor, within this price range, delivers outstanding performance, leaving little room for comparison. Even in most applications, it offers performance comparable to higher-tier 7th-generation Core i5 processors, which were also quad-core, and often surpasses AMD’s six-core Ryzen processors.
Choosing a processor in this category is straightforward, and any recommendation other than efficient Core i3 or Core i5 processors based on Alder Lake architecture (compared to Coffee Lake and Comet Lake) or AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600/7700X processors would be less favorable and practical.
Motherboard Selection for Alder Lake Processors
For Alder Lake processors
motherboards with chipsets such as Z690/H510 are recommended. For Comet Lake processors, suitable chipsets include Z590/Z490, B460, and H410. For Coffee Lake processors, you can choose from Z370/Z390, H370, or H310 chipsets, while for Kaby Lake processors, chipsets like Z270, H270, and B250 are available. Each chipset offers specific features alongside shared functionalities, which are briefly explained here to help you make a better-informed decision.
The Ryzen 5 5600X processor, with its 6 physical cores and 12 logical threads, is also a powerful choice for applications like Lumion, offering competitive performance. Additionally, these processors can serve as an excellent option for systems intended for multitasking or software where the Ryzen series typically excels.
X570
- Overclocking: Supports overclocking for 2nd and 3rd-gen Ryzen processors.
- Multi-GPU Support: Compatible with SLI or CrossFire (CF) configurations.
- PCI Express:
- PCIe 4.0 for GPUs and M.2 SSDs.
- RAID: Supports RAID 0/1/10 for HDDs and PCIe M.2 SSDs.
- SATA Ports: 4 ports.
- USB Ports: Up to 14 ports (8 x USB 3.0).
- DDR4 Support: Memory speeds starting at 3200 MHz and higher.
- StoreMI Technology: Provides hybrid caching by combining SSD and HDD storage.
X470
- Overclocking: Supports overclocking for 2nd-gen Ryzen processors.
- Multi-GPU Support: Compatible with SLI or CrossFire (CF) configurations.
- PCI Express:
- PCIe 3.0 for GPUs and M.2 SSDs.
- RAID: Supports RAID 0/1/10 for HDDs and PCIe M.2 SSDs.
- SATA Ports: 4 ports.
- USB Ports: Up to 14 ports (8 x USB 3.0).
- DDR4 Support: Memory speeds starting at 2933 MHz and higher.
- StoreMI Technology: Provides hybrid caching by combining SSD and HDD storage.
X570 is the better choice for users requiring cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 speeds for GPUs and SSDs, or planning to upgrade to higher-end Ryzen processors. X470 remains a cost-effective option for excellent performance with PCIe 3.0.
Ram
Regarding RAM, with the increasing demands of software like Lumion, which requires at least 16GB of RAM for basic functionality and performs optimally with 32GB, users must consider their system’s memory capacity carefully. Lumion’s ability to render complex 3D visualizations and manage high-resolution assets places significant strain on system resources. Therefore, setting a baseline recommendation of 16GB ensures smooth operation without bottlenecks, while 32GB or more allows for handling larger projects and multitasking efficiently. This amount of RAM not only enhances Lumion’s performance but also improves overall system responsiveness, making simultaneous operation of multiple applications much smoother.
Benchmark of Mid-Range Lumion System Processor
Here, you can compare the single-threaded and multi-threaded performance of the selected processor in this budget category with some well-known processors from different generations. This provides a general idea of the capabilities of this processor. It’s worth noting that the performance of these processors in Lumion may exhibit slightly different ratios due to its specific rendering requirements and workload optimizations.
Mid-Range Graphics Card for Lumion Systems
When it comes to rendering in Lumion, the graphics card takes center stage in determining system performance. The higher the expectations for smooth and efficient rendering, the more carefully one must allocate the budget and select a capable graphics card. Our chosen card, the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, features the AD106 chip, 4352 CUDA cores, and a clock speed of 2535 MHz. This card delivers performance comparable to or exceeding the RTX 3070 in this category, ensuring reliable rendering capabilities for demanding Lumion projects, particularly when utilizing advanced features such as real-time ray tracing and high-poly model handling.
Alternative System Option 2
This system outperforms the main system mentioned in the article in terms of performance, delivering up to 30% better results in certain applications like Lumion. However, it is also approximately $380 more expensive. Some components, such as the motherboard, can be swapped with those from the primary build. Additionally, this configuration offers scalability to accommodate the fastest Core i7/Core i9 processors and the most powerful available graphics cards.
SSD
In this price range, we use SSD models with PCIe/NVMe standards to not only save costs but also achieve the best performance in operating system operation compared to mechanical hard drives, significantly improving system response times.
The SAMSUNG 860 EVO model, utilizing Samsung’s latest technology in its main controller, called MGX, and advanced TLC V-NAND chips, can achieve read and write speeds over 500 MB per second. In most tests with various mixed patterns, it can outperform other models in the same category.
The Ultimate SU800 model from ADATA, with sequential read and write speeds of 560 and 520 MB per second, Silicon Motion SM2258 controller, and Micron-made memory chips, is also a great alternative for inclusion in this system.
Mid-range Lumion Monitor
A system in this price range is best paired with a Full HD monitor with a size between 22 to 24 inches. The power of the graphics card and processor will be sufficient to meet the processing needs at this resolution for gaming and multimedia content, providing a good experience for using the system.
The Samsung C24F390 is a model with a VA panel and a 1800R curvature. The SAMSUNG LF24T350FH is also a suitable model for this range. ASUS VX228H features a TN panel and, with VGA, HDMI, and DVI inputs, provides ease and variety of connectivity to different devices, along with an affordable price. The ASUS VP228HE is another good option.
For 1080p resolution, our default choice would be using DVI or HDMI inputs, as these transmit digital signals, providing higher quality, especially when using longer cables, compared to VGA cables, which may cause signal degradation. Note that the monitor price is not included in the system specifications and is recommended as an optional choice.
