Ideal Modelling/Animation/Gaming PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lord Olav Rekve III
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Lord Olav Rekve III

Hello folks
Thanks for a lot help lately. Just wanted to know what you would consider an
IDEAL machine (complete bundle) included Screen and eventually dongles etc..
for this kind of work and "futureprrof" at least for 3 or more years in
gaming and Programming:

I use those prgrams actively:

VS . NET 2003
Adobe CS
Discreet 3D Studio Max
Alias Maya
SoftImage XSI
MyDVD 5
Premiere Pro

Want to be able to play HL2 and Doom and games to come. So i plan on a PCI
express machine and now when AMD comes out with Nforce there is more beef on
the market to choose from. But i would love to get input from you folks what
you think i should get.
The main obstacle is proabably that i only can use 3000 US dollar.
Thanks for all help in advance
Olav
 
Hello folks
Thanks for a lot help lately. Just wanted to know what you would consider an
IDEAL machine (complete bundle) included Screen and eventually dongles etc..
for this kind of work and "futureprrof" at least for 3 or more years in
gaming and Programming:
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as "futureproof" for 3 or more years.
 
" The main obstacle is proabably that i only can use 3000 US dollar. "


Even building one of the following systems, you still can't guarantee to be
playing high-end games on it in three years time.

- 2x AMD Opteron Model 250 2.4Ghz (skt940)
- IWill DK8ES Nforce4 SLI http://snipurl.com/acj9
- Kingston HyperX KRX3200AK2/2G (2.5-3-3-7-1)
- 2x PCI-Express GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB

- AMD Athlon64 FX-55 2.6Ghz (skt939)
- MSI K8N Diamond Nforce4 SLI http://snipurl.com/acjd
- Kingston HyperX KHX3200K2/2G (2.5-3-3-7-1)
- 2x PCI-Express GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB

The first option smashes your $3,000 budget, with the second coming close to
it. You then have the rest of the system to think about.
 
Cuzman said:
" The main obstacle is proabably that i only can use 3000 US dollar. "


Even building one of the following systems, you still can't guarantee to
be
playing high-end games on it in three years time.

- 2x AMD Opteron Model 250 2.4Ghz (skt940)
- IWill DK8ES Nforce4 SLI http://snipurl.com/acj9
- Kingston HyperX KRX3200AK2/2G (2.5-3-3-7-1)
- 2x PCI-Express GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB

- AMD Athlon64 FX-55 2.6Ghz (skt939)
- MSI K8N Diamond Nforce4 SLI http://snipurl.com/acjd
- Kingston HyperX KHX3200K2/2G (2.5-3-3-7-1)
- 2x PCI-Express GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB

The first option smashes your $3,000 budget, with the second coming close
to
it. You then have the rest of the system to think about.
Click to expand...
I do believe that if you wait about 5 to 7 months, depending upon Intel's
release of their new processor line the second system could be had for under
$3,000 ($2,200 to $2,500). What do you think?
 
Lord Olav Rekve III's log on stardate 02 stu 2004
Hello folks
Thanks for a lot help lately. Just wanted to know what you would
consider an IDEAL machine (complete bundle) included Screen and ^^^^^
eventually dongles etc.. for this kind of work and "futureprrof" at ^^^^^^^^^^^^
least for 3 or more years in gaming and Programming:
Click to expand...
^^^^^
These 3 things can go together if you add additional zero(s) to your
budget.
 
VS .NET really depends on the project size. I recon a modern (standard)
computer is good enough. It runs well on an Athlon 800.
Adobe CS should run well on it too on a Athlon 800. I need to say that I
made only small documents (couple pages with few pictures).

3D studio max I don't know. Maya too. XSI too.
For complex projects I recon you should leave it processing over night.

MyDVD 5? Get yourself a old Pentium II.
When you get a DVD creation program just ensure you have a high disk
throughput (two disks with either RAID or a little planning). They tend to
copy 4.3 GB of data, so that takes a while...
MPEG conversion is slow, however the Athlon XP 2400 can do full-res PAL for
DVDs in 'real-time' (or faster, don't recall know exactly). (MPEG conversion
that is part of premiere 6.5)

Premiere Pro?
Just get a decend hardware capture card. Here is an Athlon XP 2400 with a
Pinnacle DV500 (I believe) which allows some effects (pinnacle ones) to be
applied in realtime. If you don't make your projects too hard such a card
makes the difference even more than the processor.
Processing of a movie of 30 minutes length just takes a few minutes.
Transitions (pinnacle ones are done hardware) and overlays (two channels are
done hardware). Of course the video encoding and decoding was done by
hardware.
One warning about the DV500, the card has a driver that causes Explorer to
crash on some PNG pictures (if they get too big?). Also they don't support
it anymore and they are not going to fix the error (nor allow me to give it
a shot).

Just take a look at what 3DsMax and Maya need. If they can use the hardware
on your graphics card, just buy a decent one (not the most expensive, rather
upgrade over 1 or 2 year. Really the most expensive card just isn't worth
it. If you just upgrade you get much better performance at the end for a
lower or the same total price).
Games can usually be tuned to suit any system and will run on older systems
too.

Just look up where the bottlenecks of the applications you use are and try
to get the best to solve these bottlenecks. Its just a big trade-off...
Just lookit at video cards there isn't a big gap any more between the AGP
and PCI-E prices, so PCI-E would be a good choice for the future...

Usually sufficient memory will make a system significantly faster. I had a
system that needed 3 times more RAM than was available. A memory upgrade
made the system 2 times faster appearing to me. Especially one thing took 15
seconds to start prefore, now I get inpacient when it takes 2 seconds,

- Joris
 
Well dude
You dont use 3d studio max . maya and softimage xsi in anything less than a
P4 2.4 ghz 512 ram or your rendering will take FOREVER!!!!
I wanted a ideal computer.. not JUNK!
I have a P4 2.4 ghz with a Radeon 9700 PRo and 512 Ram from before.. DO U
SERIOUSLY THINK I WANNA STEP down from that??
No i want a PC with at least 2 gb ram and a graphic card on at laeast 256
Ram.. preferably a 512 Ram card like Realiszm 800
So hence the 3000 $ tag.
 
Bubba:
These 3 things can go together if you add additional zero(s) to your
budget.
Click to expand...

His budget is $3,000. Adding zeros would increase his budget to $30,000 or
$300,000. Seems a bit extreme for a home PC don't you think?
 
Bubba:


His budget is $3,000. Adding zeros would increase his budget to $30,000 or
$300,000. Seems a bit extreme for a home PC don't you think?
Click to expand...

Yes, it seems extreme to try to futureproof a PC for 3 years
ionstead of just buying what's needed now then upgrading
again as needed... like everybody else does.
 
Lord Olav Rekve III's log on stardate 04 stu 2004
I wanted a ideal computer.. not JUNK!
Click to expand...

I fail to see why you don't understand the simple fact: yours 3k$ is
_not enough_! You could squeeze if you didn't have to buy monitors...
But with complete configuration, you simply have too big requirements.
No I want a PC with at least 2 gb ram and a graphic card on at laeast
256 Ram.. preferably a 512 Ram card like Realiszm 800
Click to expand...

Realizm 200 has 512MB RAM, but not that it matters now. What matters is
following:

a)Card cost 1300$
b)2 GB RAM cost 700$

Solving a simple equation, you have about 1000$ left, to buy:

a)MBO
b)CPU
c)storage
d)monitor
e)misc.
So hence the 3000 $ tag.
Click to expand...

And you, naturally, want it to bee age proof, right? So, are you just
trolling or want to work on serial port terminals instead of monitors?
 
Mac Cool's log on stardate 04 stu 2004
His budget is $3,000. Adding zeros would increase his budget to
$30,000 or $300,000.
Exactly.

Seems a bit extreme for a home PC don't you think?
Click to expand...

First of all, no one mentioned "home PC". IIRC, it was _ideal *machine*_.

So, as I see it, my ideal machine would be, for example, Sun Fire V880z,
one with 4 Sparcs, 32 GB RAM and 2 Sun XVR-4000. With a decent monitor and
additional storage system, I'd need 200k$. As you see, modesty is my
trait, as I could have said SGI Onyx4 or such...
 
Bubba:
First of all, no one mentioned "home PC". IIRC, it was _ideal
*machine*_.
Click to expand...

Nice try, but it *is*, "Ideal Modelling/Animation/Gaming PC"
So, as I see it, my ideal machine would be, for example, Sun Fire
V880z, one with 4 Sparcs, 32 GB RAM and 2 Sun XVR-4000.
Click to expand...

How well will that run Half Life 2 or Doom3? Will it run all the
*specific* software that he uses? A PC is a general purpose computer
used by an individual. The V880 is not a general purpose computer, it is
not a PC.

If you want to be helpful, why not spec a machine that will come closest
to meeting his goals, if you can. If it won't fit his budget, that's his
problem.
 
Mac Cool's log on stardate 04 stu 2004
Nice try, but it *is*, "Ideal Modelling/Animation/Gaming PC"
Click to expand...

Like it makes any difference. Ideal is not an adjective that goes with
3000$, even in PC world.
How well will that run Half Life 2 or Doom3? Will it run all the
*specific* software that he uses? A PC is a general purpose computer
used by an individual. The V880 is not a general purpose computer, it
is not a PC. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^^^^^
But it can be transformed to PC... All you need is a free PCI slot. :p
:)
If you want to be helpful, why not spec a machine that will come
closest to meeting his goals, if you can. If it won't fit his budget,
that's his problem.
Click to expand...

Again, he is asking for _ideal_, _future proof_ PC for 3000$!?

If he is doing what he says he's doing, I can't imagine working without
2 quality 21" CRTs. Ooops, there goes over 1k$, plus his super duper
card, and he has whole 500$ for completing his, let's not forger, ideal
and future proof, system. Go figure...
 
Bubba:
Again, he is asking for _ideal_, _future proof_ PC for 3000$!?
Click to expand...

It's impossible to future proof a PC, however I don't think it's
unrealistic to build a PC for $3,000 that he can use for 3 years without
upgrading. If that's all he can spend then that's all he can spend.
Recommending $25,000 machines is no help. Compromise is part of almost
every build.

My machine is 3 years old and cost me ~$1,000. The only upgrade I've made
is the video card, from the original Ti4200, to an FX5900XT. I bought the
5900XT because I got a good deal on it and I occasionally play games. But
I don't do 3D modelling. The last time I did it was on a Pentium. I
haven't kept up with the technology but I'm sure it boils down to a fast
processor, lots of ram and professional opengl card; is that about it?
 
Bubba:


It's impossible to future proof a PC, however I don't think it's
unrealistic to build a PC for $3,000 that he can use for 3 years without
upgrading. If that's all he can spend then that's all he can spend.
Recommending $25,000 machines is no help. Compromise is part of almost
every build.
Click to expand...

The more realistic approach may be spending $1800 then
upgrading with the remaining $1200 in 18-24 months.


My machine is 3 years old and cost me ~$1,000. The only upgrade I've made
is the video card, from the original Ti4200, to an FX5900XT. I bought the
5900XT because I got a good deal on it and I occasionally play games.
Click to expand...

5900XT is a great card with lots of potential. I
volt-modded one here and it's now faster than any 6800 for
anything pre-DX9... though it's now probably the most power
hungry-> hot running card ever known to man, but that's all
relative, I just slapped a low-profile pseudo-1U heatsink on
it and all is well.
But
I don't do 3D modelling. The last time I did it was on a Pentium. I
haven't kept up with the technology but I'm sure it boils down to a fast
processor, lots of ram and professional opengl card; is that about it?
Click to expand...


IF the app is optimized for P4, that might run it faster.
If not, A64 probably is. nVidia wins for OGL support at
reasonable prices, though a modern gaming card is more than
needed for modeling. Lots of memory, fast memory.
 
Mac Cool's log on stardate 05 stu 2004
It's impossible to future proof a PC,
Click to expand...

That's so untrue.
however I don't think it's unrealistic to build a PC for $3,000 that
he can use for 3 years without upgrading.
Click to expand...

I don't think you've got the idea of a future proof computer. Let me
give you an example.

I got my future proof PC for les than 25$. As you can see, it's waaaay
less that 3k $, still, I assure you that it is perfectly future proof.
It's an ADSL router, based on Pentium era configuration and I'm
definitely sure that it will meet my requirements in even 5 years time.

However, that is server future proofed, however, on workstation it's
not so simple. I consider future proof workstation one that will be
able to do my job reasonably in future. With that hypothesis, I
assume that my job will grow and expand and that's why i want future
proof computer. For now, guy can do work in Photoshop with 10 MB TIFFs
and in Premier with 1GB movies, however, it is assumption that he will
overcome his current requirements, so he needs to be sure his computer
will be able to cope with new, harder tasks. For that reason, it is
impossible to make such PC for 3k $.

Naturally, if Photoshop is going to be used for editing family pictures
and Premier for editing holyday films, than I withdraw all I said in
last paragraph and I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, I believe
yours is rather more probable than my, but...
If that's all he can spend then that's all he can spend. Recommending
$25,000 machines is no help. Compromise is part of almost every
build.
Click to expand...

Well, 25k$ is too much for workstation, however, with 5k you could
live...
My machine is 3 years old and cost me ~$1,000. The only upgrade I've
made is the video card, from the original Ti4200, to an FX5900XT. I
bought the 5900XT because I got a good deal on it and I occasionally
play games. But I don't do 3D modelling. The last time I did it was
on a Pentium.
Click to expand...

Well, one of "my" machines is 15 years old, and it handled role of mail
server better than 2366 MHz faster Xeon. :)
I haven't kept up with the technology but I'm sure it boils down to a
fast processor, lots of ram and professional opengl card; is that
about it?
Click to expand...

Yes, but as I said, depends on what does he consider as future proof.
 
Bubba:
Mac Cool's log on stardate 05 stu 2004

That's so untrue.


I don't think you've got the idea of a future proof computer. Let me
give you an example.

I got my future proof PC for les than 25$. As you can see, it's
waaaay less that 3k $, still, I assure you that it is perfectly
future proof. It's an ADSL router, based on Pentium era configuration
<snip> However, that is server future proofed,
Click to expand...

That is not future proofing. Future proofing has a definition, you can
look it up... future proof means that the technology will never become
obsolete. You have repurposed an obsolete computer.
however, on workstation it's not so simple. I consider future proof
workstation one that will be able to do my job reasonably in future.
Click to expand...

Your definition is imprecise because it lacks a time limit. You expect
it to do it's job *reasonably* in the *future*. 'Reasonably' is arguable
and 'future' is not specific. I refer you to two points of reference
that agree on a common definition of future proof so that everyone is
consistant:
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/futureproof?view=uk
http://www.wordspy.com/words/future-proof.asp
Yes, but as I said, depends on what does he consider as future proof.
Click to expand...

He already stated his idea of future proof along with his specific
requirements, all of which you ignored. Basically the guy wants the best
machine for 3D modelling that he can get for $3,000.
 
Hey Bubba
Thanks for all rweplies.. i really aprectiate all help i have got and all
advixes... im sorta wondering if this setup could actually work for three
years.. Will add more mem and HD later tho:

Either Option 1:

Nforce 4 Motherboard
AMD 3800+
2 GB RAM
74 GB Raptor for Operative system and Programs
250 GB HD for storage of final products prior to DV burning out ond Dual
layered DVDs
Dual Layer DVD Player/burner
Have Monitors from before. 2 X Viewsonic 21 " Monitor
Audigy 2 for the occasional Music (im hardofhearing)
Keyboard and Mouse i have from before.. Zboard with Adobe Keys and Maya
Layer... want a XSI one if it ever comes out.


Option 2:
925X Mobo
3.4 ghz Processor (mobo processor combo at tigerdirect)
2 Gb Ram
74 GB HD RAPTOR
250 GB HD
Audigy 2 *(any better suggestions??)
Dual DVD player/burner
Have monitors
have keyboard and mouse



All help or suggestions are welcome
Thanks :)
 
Mac Cool's log on stardate 07 stu 2004
That is not future proofing. Future proofing has a definition, you
can look it up... future proof means that the technology will never
become obsolete. You have repurposed an obsolete computer.
Click to expand...

Computer technology != computer purpose. That way, nothing is future
proof, since new hardware comes out of the factories every day.

If you look it that way, future proof is an idiotic term. It defines
subjective relation of owner and hardware. So even that my hardware is
obsolete (thus non future proof), and is perfectly competent to do its
job, to call it future proof, it has to be 4x 3.6 GHz Xeon and 32 GB RAM
hence cost 10000$ bucks, even though it would make no difference (except
financial one)? C'mon, gimme a break, your definitions are made by
manufactures marketing and self-called PC magazines gurus...
Your definition is imprecise because it lacks a time limit. You
expect it to do it's job *reasonably* in the *future*. 'Reasonably'
is arguable and 'future' is not specific.
Click to expand...

Future was defined, 3 years. Reasonably is that by linear rise of job
you will not linearly lose your performances or if such occurs, impact
on your productivity will no be severe.
He already stated his idea of future proof along with his specific
requirements, all of which you ignored. Basically the guy wants the
best machine for 3D modelling that he can get for $3,000.
Click to expand...

Well, it is truth that I overreacted... :)
 
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