CPU issues / Building A New Computer - Input Pls! / Temprah 17 years ago

Building A New Computer - Input Pls!

OK my current PC is about 5 years old, my specs are :

AMD Athalon XP 2100+ 1.74GHz w/ 2.5 GB RAM
vid card is an NVidea GeForce 7600GS 256k

I'm tired of 8 - 12 hours+ to render a picture (and we're not talking bigger than maybe 1800x1800!) and there's no way I can use Bryce it just isn't viable to render from there (even if what I tried was worth it *snicker* ) Just running Daz|Studio for long periods of time has my system jerky and if I try to render and do anything else.. *hahahaha*

Here is the rough guidelines of what I want :

Intel 2.0+GHz dual core 4GB RAM
GeForce 8600 GT w/ 512k or possibly dual 8500 w/ 512k ea (dream is dual 8600 but would settle for one now on an SLI ready board so I can add later)

Will be running XP Pro SP2

I want to build a system that will last me another 5ish years give or take with some small upgrades (memory, vid card etc) Should I go quad proc? I thought I had heard there were problems with those and compatibility with Poser / Daz|Studio and other things, or is that just Vista and I'm confused? Also if I was to compromise on anything what should it be? I have a budget of aprox $600 for all this and I need new case and all the goodies so I was thinking a good barebones since I still have my HDs but that's about all since I'd like to leave my current machine as intact as possible for a "spare". I am willing to go 2GB memory now and upgrade as funds permit so that's a little wiggle room I think.

And if anyone knows of someplace to get a sexy red case, mid tower or smaller but no micros (and no room for a full tower) please let me know.

Thanks for any input or leads =)

Verileah 17 years ago
What kind of hard drive do you have now?
Temprah 17 years ago
C is a75GB almost filled, secondary is 115GB also almost at capacity. There's 9 & 19 GB open on them. (That secondary is primarily all my programs, 3D installed items / downloads and image files as well as downloads and junk) I have an external case for a new 320GB I will be xfering all my 3d downloads and such to. Not sure if I want to make the 320 my internal secondary and have the 115 as an external for misc things or what. Probably will so that I have faster access to all that crap when I work.
Temprah 17 years ago
Thanks Sergon, I'm checking them out now!
Sergon 17 years ago
If you want to spend a little more on the processor I would go for the Quad Core

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018

If I was building a machine currently this is the set up I would use.

S
Temprah 17 years ago
so there wouldn't be any conflicts with current OS and programs and such with a quad? I would love the additional processing power but was afraid it wouldn;t be utilized.
Sergon 17 years ago
As Long as your using windows XP Pro or any flavor of Vista not XP HOME it will recognize and utilize all the cores. Im sure theres a hack to get home to work but I have always used Pro or Vista. There is a patch for multicore processors for XP thast should resolve any issues you might have. If you buy the set up Ill dig the links up for you.

S
Temprah 17 years ago
wooo... awesome! We do have Pro =D I'll have to see how I can stretch funds for the better proc, I would MUCH prefer a quad since I want this machine to have the maximum lifespan I can get from it.

Thanks so much!
Sergon 17 years ago
I would as well

You want to get atleast 5 years out of a desktop and atleast 3 out of a laptop. I will be getting another laptop in 3 years unless I have the room in a house to put a desktop.

Feel free to ask any questions. I consider myself an advanced intermediate when it comes to PCs since I dont make my living that way. It's always been a hobby for me.

S
Krassus 17 years ago
Temprah I JUST built one saturday with that quad core and all i can say is holy 2#@#. I am beyond happy with it. I bought that same quad core and a really good motherboard, but the quad core was running real hot. Let me recommend a motherboard, because you'll need a good one that runs cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219



Once I switched to that mb everything was fine. I am running XP so I used 2g of ram and an 8800 card as well. I don't render but I play Vanguard which is one of the heaviest cpu taxing games out there and its running amazingly well. Basically I used my old HD and bought a second. I run my OS on one HDD and everything else on the other. I actually upgraded from the same thing you did too heh, you will be amazed !!



Here are some screenshots I took with the graphics turned on raiding (was getting 40fps in a raid zone with tons of people around me, i used to get 5 fps hehe) -







Sergon 17 years ago
Shes on a budget occy. Speaking of which I did some more research on new egg and found you an open box board with SLI. I would use this on one your budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135047R

S
the---virus 17 years ago
from what i've learned, 4GB Ram is a waiste. it will barely make a difference from 2GB, unless you want to render 2 things at the same time
Krassus 17 years ago
I was on a budget too, spent 700 on MB + Processor + Ram + Case

Question about Ram, I only went with 2GB since I run XP Home. Can or should i put more RAM in ?
Mileron 17 years ago
Krassus;92939
I was on a budget too, spent 700 on MB + Processor + Ram + Case

Question about Ram, I only went with 2GB since I run XP Home. Can or should i put more RAM in ?

XP and Vista won't recognize more than 2.8GB of RAM.

You need a 64bit OS to recognize 4GB.
Sergon 17 years ago
Mil is correct without a 64 bit os anything over 2.8 gb is useless.

S
Temprah 17 years ago
hmmm but I really want to be able to do things while it's rendering without the system locking up and jerking. I have 2GB now but would say a quad proc make enough of a difference that it would still be functional to use it for things? Granted not talking playing EQ2 and rendering at the same time, but more like net surfing and an occasional file download while I do.

Can't wait for the hubby's bonus to show up so I can get started with this =D
Mileron 17 years ago
Temprah;92943
hmmm but I really want to be able to do things while it's rendering without the system locking up and jerking. I have 2GB now but would say a quad proc make enough of a difference that it would still be functional to use it for things? Granted not talking playing EQ2 and rendering at the same time, but more like net surfing and an occasional file download while I do.


It might work - you'd have to try it.

otherwise a second system would be ideal...

I remember Ryan Bliss (Digital Blasphemy) complaining years ago that he couldn't do anything on his rendering PC when it rendered so he drug one of his old boxes out of storage and used that for other things.
Temprah 17 years ago
Yep, I know some of those Bryce and Vue renders (like he did) would easily be 36 to 48 hour long renders. One of the reason I just can not use those programs right now *sigh* A second box might be a good idea but I'd have to see if I could fit it in. Space is somewhat limited in a study that has to hold both X and I along with all the accompanying equipment and gadgets. If I am able to build a complete syetm and not cannibalize the one I have now for anything other than HD's I would at least have one available to me.
Mileron 17 years ago
Temprah;92947
Space is somewhat limited in a study that has to hold both X and I along with all the accompanying equipment and gadgets.


You could sit out in the hall with really long cords.

OH OH or sit in each other's laps!
Sergon 17 years ago
Well your going from a single to a quad, a faster fsb, and DDR 2 memory. It will make a huge difference. I would say try to dig up a copy of XP 64 and 4 Gigs. I had it on the home machine and loved it. That will certainly do it.

http://www.techspot.com/review/36-intel-core2-quad-q6600/page3.html

http://www.techspot.com/review/36-intel-core2-quad-q6600/page6.html

That set up is really the best value for performance on the market.

S