new computer, want comments!!!

[-ash-]

Thomas, in these days of lots of RAM and disk space bloatware is everywhere .

Sparrownightmare, what machine did you come from? I'm running a P4 2.0 Ghz with a 1GB of PC2100 RAM. I'm thinking of upgrading but I'm not sure if I'll get enough speed increase to justify the cost. I was looking at the Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200 with 1GB of RAM to start with then get another gig of RAM if necessary. My main focus would be to decrease render times.

As an aside, why so much RAM? I never seem to run out but I don't use a lot of hi-res textures at the moment. What sort of things would I need the extra gig for?

[Sarissi]

Ash, High Polycounts will eat your ram also.

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by Sarissi

Ash, High Polycounts will eat your ram also.

Thanks, Sarissi. Been doing 2D for ages but I'm relatively new to 3D so still feeling my way. The only thing I did so far was replace the Matrox G550 with a Radeon 9800pro in my current machine. The G550 is a great 2D card but just couldn't cope with any sort of 3D stuff.

As I've only just started seriously modeling stuff I'll try and spec for 2GB rather than just 1. That way as my models get more complex I'll be ready.

[Sarissi]

When I did the specs for my current CGI box, I already had a particular motherboard and video card in mind:

Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2 and PNY nVidia Quadro FX500 AGP.

The workstation card only has 128 MB. However, the concept of OpenGL in workstation cards is for preview only, so memory is not that much of an issue. I also made sure that I had 2 GB RAM on the motherboard.

[sparrownightmare]

I came from one I built a few years ago and upgraded last year. AMD Athlon 64 3000+ on a Gigabyte Motherboard with 1GB of PC3200 DDR400 RAM. Nvidia chipset. Video was Nvidia GeForce FX5400 with 128MB of RAM. About 800GB of storage between 4 Drives, all ATA133 IDEs.

I agree with you on bloatware but C5 uses a lot of CPU horsepower and the extra GB of RAM does speed it up a bit. Not as much paging out to the Hard Disks. It is always better to get as much RAM as you can afford to begin with.

I have never been a big fam of Intel chips. I have always found the AMDs to be faster and more stable for less money.

PC2100 Memory is much slower than the newer PC3200 and even newer standards coming into the market now. DDR533 etc. Faster RAM along with as much CPU horsepower as you can get will really speed up the system in general and make a noticeable improvement in all 3D apps. Keep in mind I use other 3D apps as well as C5. Maya is probably the biggest Memory hog of the bunch, and more RAM has definitely helped there.

Rich

Originally Posted by -ash-

Thomas, in these days of lots of RAM and disk space bloatware is everywhere .

Sparrownightmare, what machine did you come from? I'm running a P4 2.0 Ghz with a 1GB of PC2100 RAM. I'm thinking of upgrading but I'm not sure if I'll get enough speed increase to justify the cost. I was looking at the Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200 with 1GB of RAM to start with then get another gig of RAM if necessary. My main focus would be to decrease render times.

As an aside, why so much RAM? I never seem to run out but I don't use a lot of hi-res textures at the moment. What sort of things would I need the extra gig for?

[-ash-]

Thanks for the replies. My current system was spec'd for digital audio hence the need to upgrade the graphic card. Intel was the preferred platform as defined by the software, Emagic Logic Audio.

Been doing a lot of reading recently and AMD Dual Core seems to be the best choice at the moment. I'm very much into keeping things quiet as well so I'm researching that too but it does add to the cost.

[sparrownightmare]

Check out www.xoxide.com They have a lot of products to help you reduce noise in a system. I buy from them a lot and they have excellent service.

Rich

Originally Posted by -ash-

Thanks for the replies. My current system was spec'd for digital audio hence the need to upgrade the graphic card. Intel was the preferred platform as defined by the software, Emagic Logic Audio.

Been doing a lot of reading recently and AMD Dual Core seems to be the best choice at the moment. I'm very much into keeping things quiet as well so I'm researching that too but it does add to the cost.

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by sparrownightmare

Check out www.xoxide.com They have a lot of products to help you reduce noise in a system. I buy from them a lot and they have excellent service.

Rich

Thanks Rich, just come back in from clearing the snow so we can get the car out in the morning to finde your reply. Been snowing all day here in Dundee.

I had a quick look at xoxide but they don't ship outside the US. We do have a place called QuietPC.com here in the UK though that do a fair range of quiet stuff.

[sparrownightmare]

Also, there is always Ebay

Originally Posted by -ash-

Thanks Rich, just come back in from clearing the snow so we can get the car out in the morning to finde your reply. Been snowing all day here in Dundee.

I had a quick look at xoxide but they don't ship outside the US. We do have a place called QuietPC.com here in the UK though that do a fair range of quiet stuff.

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by sparrownightmare

Also, there is always Ebay

That there is, though, if I can afford it, I like to get a warranty. That way if anything goes wrong I can get a replacement.

Worked well for me when a processor upgrade went wrong and the guy that built the machine for me replaced the MB free of charge. Unfortunately they seem to be going out of business so I'm planning to build my own this time. I've never done it before but if all works out then I'll know exactly what is going on inside the box. That way I'll be able to fix any problems myself rather then relying on someone else

[sparrownightmare]

I know what you mean. Fortunately I have had good experiences online so far. Most of the parts for my current rig were purchased on Ebay with a few of the pricier ones purchased at Newegg.com Newegg has the best prices around and good service. Building one isn't that difficult. It takes longer to install the OS than to do the physical assembly. I did have one issue with this box and found out that Abit motherboards do not like Micron RAM So I just replaced the RAM and everything was perfect.

Originally Posted by -ash-

That there is, though, if I can afford it, I like to get a warranty. That way if anything goes wrong I can get a replacement.

Worked well for me when a processor upgrade went wrong and the guy that built the machine for me replaced the MB free of charge. Unfortunately they seem to be going out of business so I'm planning to build my own this time. I've never done it before but if all works out then I'll know exactly what is going on inside the box. That way I'll be able to fix any problems myself rather then relying on someone else

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by sparrownightmare

It takes longer to install the OS than to do the physical assembly.

Nice to know that. Between my own and my son's PCs I've installed OS's many times, from Windoze95 to XP

Also, I've installed hard drives, cd drives, fans, RAM and processors just never the whole thing before. I just need to make sure everything will work together. Since I haven't kept up with the latest hardware this will mean a lot of research

[sparrownightmare]

If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Hardware changes so fast today that it can be hard to keep up.

Originally Posted by -ash-

Nice to know that. Between my own and my son's PCs I've installed OS's many times, from Windoze95 to XP

Also, I've installed hard drives, cd drives, fans, RAM and processors just never the whole thing before. I just need to make sure everything will work together. Since I haven't kept up with the latest hardware this will mean a lot of research

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by sparrownightmare

If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Hardware changes so fast today that it can be hard to keep up.

Thanks very much. I'll get a spec together then post it for feedback. Cheers.

[Sarissi]

When installing the cpu heatsink/fan, don't push down on the top of it. Just use your hand on the side of it to hold in place while using the other hand to get the clip engaged on the socket hook (valid at least through AMD Socket A).

Generally, all connectors inside the case are labelled, and the motherboard manual will help you alot.

The first time is 'fun'. Just take your time and handle parts gently.