Anyone Know Computers?
02-15-2005, 09:23 AM
#11
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
You mention rendering and graphics.
I do high res. image editing, and lone my workstation out to a graphic artist sometimes for 3D rendering. Here's what I've found works:
1.)Get a server M-board, they are much more stable and offer more available RAM slots.
2.)Dual Processor: Windows XP Pro for example will use 1 proc. to run the application program(lets say Studio Max) and 1 proc. to run background programs and your operating system. Very stable.
3.)Mirrored Raid array (read time is almost halfed, write time is slightly slower than a single driver) You have redundancey from the second drive(s)
4.)Good RAM. This meaning brand name matched sets of RAM. I personally use 1GB ECC sticks, but you don't really need ECC.(ECC slows down RAM performace in exchange for accuracy)
5.)Video cards are soo good now, it's almost impossible to go wrong with anything over $200. For image editing, you don't need much memory at all, but for rendering, I've found big improvements in speed by having as much memory as you can afford. I've got a 256 MB card right now, and it flies.
I am an advocate of multi-head cards for using multiple tool palets. But...I feel the average guy can get more out of putting his money into the best Single monitor he can afford. Why use low quality monitors just for the sake of having 2 of them?
One last comment about RAM. I have 4 GB on my box, and it's used by some programs, and others just ignore it. Some programs aren't designed to use large amounts of RAM, so find out from the software vendor how much you CAN use.
Adam
I do high res. image editing, and lone my workstation out to a graphic artist sometimes for 3D rendering. Here's what I've found works:
1.)Get a server M-board, they are much more stable and offer more available RAM slots.
2.)Dual Processor: Windows XP Pro for example will use 1 proc. to run the application program(lets say Studio Max) and 1 proc. to run background programs and your operating system. Very stable.
3.)Mirrored Raid array (read time is almost halfed, write time is slightly slower than a single driver) You have redundancey from the second drive(s)
4.)Good RAM. This meaning brand name matched sets of RAM. I personally use 1GB ECC sticks, but you don't really need ECC.(ECC slows down RAM performace in exchange for accuracy)
5.)Video cards are soo good now, it's almost impossible to go wrong with anything over $200. For image editing, you don't need much memory at all, but for rendering, I've found big improvements in speed by having as much memory as you can afford. I've got a 256 MB card right now, and it flies.
I am an advocate of multi-head cards for using multiple tool palets. But...I feel the average guy can get more out of putting his money into the best Single monitor he can afford. Why use low quality monitors just for the sake of having 2 of them?
One last comment about RAM. I have 4 GB on my box, and it's used by some programs, and others just ignore it. Some programs aren't designed to use large amounts of RAM, so find out from the software vendor how much you CAN use.
Adam
02-15-2005, 11:28 AM
#12
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 609
Originally posted by chevy truck guy:
well the first thing ya gotta ask your self does it gotta a hemi? if not then it's not worth it
(J/K)
well the first thing ya gotta ask your self does it gotta a hemi? if not then it's not worth it
(J/K)
As per the computer dealing with graphics.. go with a Mac, they are without any dought the top performers when it comes to 3d rendering..
[ February 15, 2005, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: Rockney ]
02-15-2005, 08:39 PM
#15
500 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 832
Awesome, thanks for all the info everyone.
I'll be using programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash, 3D Studio Max, Bryce, Premiere, etc.
I know Mac are amazing for graphics and such but they come with a rediculouse price tag. I'm sure I'll be more than happy with a PC type setup.
All in all, I want to get the biggest of everything I can afford eh! Thanks again, I got more reading to do!
I'll be using programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash, 3D Studio Max, Bryce, Premiere, etc.
I know Mac are amazing for graphics and such but they come with a rediculouse price tag. I'm sure I'll be more than happy with a PC type setup.
All in all, I want to get the biggest of everything I can afford eh! Thanks again, I got more reading to do!
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