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After years of faithful service, my old workstation finally stepped aside to make room for a new build, optimized for Blender and AI development in 2025. This isn’t just a hardware flex – it’s the foundation for my content creation, live Python tutorials, and machine learning training setups.
This post is a beginner-friendly overview of my new system build – from unboxing to assembly – and how it compares with my previous setup. Whether you’re upgrading your own rig or just curious about hardware for Blender and AI, I hope this helps.
New System Build (2025)
The new workstation is built into the same Deepcool Tesseract BF case as the previous system. However, it has received a cooling overhaul, and most components have been swapped or upgraded:
Parts List:
- Case: Deepcool Tesseract BF (reused) with original 1 fan
- Cooling: 5x Thermalright TL-S12 120mm fans
- Motherboard: Used MSI B550-A PRO ProSeries
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT with integrated graphics
- RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) Timetec DDR4 2133MHz
- GPU: AMD Instinct MI60 (pending installation)
- Power Supply: SAMA G850W (ATX 3.1, future-ready)
It runs Fedora 42 – a modern, secure, and fast Linux distro that’s perfect for development and creative workflows.
Why This Matters for Blender and AI
Even without the discrete GPU (MI60) connected yet, this system is already a serious upgrade in CPU, RAM, and thermal performance.
- Faster rendering in Blender (especially Eevee and simple Cycles scenes)
- Better performance in AI model training, dataset preprocessing, and inference
- Smooth multitasking for development, recording, and streaming
- Quieter operation thanks to high-quality case fans
Once the MI60 is installed, it will unlock massive parallel compute for Blender GPU rendering and deep learning acceleration.
Old vs. New: Theoretical Comparison
| Component | Old System | New System | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-2600 (4C/8T, 3.4GHz) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT (6C/12T, 3.6GHz) | ~2x performance |
| RAM | 16GB DDR3 1333MHz (mixed) | 32GB DDR4 2133MHz (matched) | Double capacity & faster |
| GPU | EVGA GTX 950 (2GB) | AMD Instinct MI60 (16GB HBM2) | Massive upgrade pending |
| Motherboard | ASUS P8Z68-V LX | MSI B550-A PRO | DDR4, PCIe 4.0 support |
| Cooling | 1 stock fan | 5x TL-S12 fans + stock | Improved airflow |
| Power Supply | Thermaltake TR2 600W | SAMA G850W ATX 3.1 | Future-ready, more efficient |
Integrated Graphics Comparison: Intel HD 2000 vs. AMD Radeon Graphics (5600GT)
Even without the AMD Instinct MI60 GPU installed, the Ryzen 5 5600GT’s integrated graphics make a huge difference over the old i7-2600’s Intel HD 2000. Here’s a look at the improvements and what it means for real-world use in Blender, media, and AI experiments.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | AMD Radeon (Ryzen 5 5600GT) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2011 | 2024 | 13+ years newer |
| Architecture | Intel Gen6 | AMD RDNA2 | Modern design |
| Shaders | 6 EUs (~96 shaders) | 7 CUs (448 shaders) | ~4.5x more |
| Clock Speed | ~850 MHz | ~1.9 GHz | 2x faster |
| Video Decoding | Basic H.264 | H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 | 4K-ready |
| Linux Drivers | Legacy | AMDGPU (Mesa) | Actively maintained |
Viewport & Media Benchmarks
| Task | Intel HD 2000 | AMD Radeon iGPU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Viewport (Eevee) | 4-10 FPS | 35-60 FPS | Usable without discrete GPU |
| Blender Viewport (Cycles CPU fallback) | ~3 FPS | ~15 FPS | Still CPU-bound |
| 1080p Video Playback | OK | Excellent | Both handle well |
| 4K AV1 Playback | Not supported | Supported | Smoother performance |
| glmark2 Vulkan Score | ~400 | ~3000 | Significant improvement |
Screenshots And Screencast
Recommended Reading
- Learning Python (Amazon) – A beginner’s guide to Python from scratch.
- Mastering Blender Python API (Amazon) – Automate Blender with Python scripts and add-ons.
- Learning Python (Ojambo Course) – Great for hands-on Python learners.
One-on-One Help
If you need help getting started with Python, Blender scripting, or AI setup, I’m available for:
- One-on-one tutorials
- Blender installation and scripting support
- AI training or migration
Contact me here to schedule a session.
Final Thoughts
This new build may not be flashy with RGBs or liquid cooling, but it’s powerful, efficient, and practical for the kind of work I do – Python development, Blender projects, and AI training.
If you’re building your own creative workstation in 2025, feel free to reach out or comment below with questions.
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Installing Blender + AI Tools on Fedora 42 (2025 Setup Guide)
Edward is a software engineer, web developer, and author dedicated to helping people achieve their personal and professional goals through actionable advice and real-world tools.