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    Building a Sketchup Computer... on a $1000 budget. UPDATED

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    • jujuJ Offline
      juju
      last edited by

      @cyberdactyl said:

      My two cents is when you pick a video card, pick one that support dx10 such as the nvidia 8800 GTS.

      Hmm, I don't quite know how DX10 will benefit SketchUp (at this point in time) as it uses OpenGL API for best GFX accelleration. Maybe if you intend on building a machine for gaming under the guise of a work machine.

      Save the Earth, it's the only planet with chocolate.

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      • M Offline
        Maggy
        last edited by

        Microsoft will not release a DirectX 10 version for Windows XP.
        http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20060525104034.html
        And as far as I know XP is still the best OS for SU.

        Dual or quad core and 64bits all sound great, but AFAIK SU6 runs at its max on a single core 32 bits processor. Of course other software does benefit.

        [Maggy]

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        • KrisidiousK Offline
          Krisidious
          last edited by

          Maggy,

          yes all true... I have been experimenting last night with a Bargin Intel Pentium D 805 2.66g...

          bought the board PCCHIPS P23G and the CPU for a C Note... ($100.00 US)

          working pretty good in sketchup... although it is having major temp problems running at 65c to 70c on a case fan and the stcok intel cooling unit... so not good... not good at all... reviews are similar...

          the E4300 is running in the base system at 37c so needs more testing

          By: Kristoff Rand
          Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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          • M Offline
            Maggy
            last edited by

            Never trust stock Intel coolers!


            Regards

            Maggy

            [Maggy]

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            • KrisidiousK Offline
              Krisidious
              last edited by

              really? you think it's all the cooler? it does seem very slow... it's a 3400rpm fan that seems to only run about 2400 even at 70c and the auto fan settings are enabled in the bios... I'll get another fan and see how it acts...

              By: Kristoff Rand
              Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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              • KrisidiousK Offline
                Krisidious
                last edited by

                ok this weekend I had some time to hit this again and got the system up and stable...

                here are some screen shots...

                now I have to make up my mind on what motherboard to use... any opinions?

                right it's running great on this crappy P23G PCCHIPS Mobo

                look 33c thats pretty sweet even thought it's just OC'd to 2ghz right now. and that is with the stock fan... running at 900rpm. and 1.28 volts
                http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/DSCF0013.jpg
                http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/Screenie.jpg
                http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/Screenie_2.jpg

                By: Kristoff Rand
                Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                • KrisidiousK Offline
                  Krisidious
                  last edited by

                  ok...

                  I have the new motherboard... and video card...

                  Asus P5N-e Sli mobo...
                  Verto 512meg Nvidia 8500GT

                  after getting everything installed... here are the stock setup screenie vs the overclocked @1066fsb

                  NOTICE THE TEMP!!! NO CHANGE!!!

                  I'll post my review tomorrow...
                  and then I'll jump it up to 3ghz...

                  so far... worth every penny... some $600.00
                  http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/1066.jpg
                  http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/Stock.jpg

                  By: Kristoff Rand
                  Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                  • KrisidiousK Offline
                    Krisidious
                    last edited by

                    New MOBO Installed Photos
                    http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/DSCF0023.jpg
                    http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/sas/CornerBar/DSCF0019.JPG

                    By: Kristoff Rand
                    Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                    • jujuJ Offline
                      juju
                      last edited by

                      This machine complete now Kris, all running sweet? How does it do under load? Details dude, details...

                      Save the Earth, it's the only planet with chocolate.

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                      • M Offline
                        Masta Squidge
                        last edited by

                        Hate to barge in here, but if you guys are looking for a video card, you dont want to go with one made for gaming, and DX10? Wont do a damn thing as far as the rendering work is concerned (correct me if im wrong). See if you can scrounge up someone with a student discount and score a new Quadro for like 300 bucks. (If you really want good rendering)

                        I say this because there is a way to change a fx5500 card into a quadro (albeit not a very good quadro) and i can say for certain that as a Quadro my card performs in SU several times better than it does as a fx5500, and yes, its an old card, im broke what can i say.

                        My only issue is that i play more games than i use SU, so i went back to using it as a gaming card.

                        My point is that you would be far better off trying to get a hold of a rendering card on ebay seeing as they are crazy expensive for a new one. Go the extra mile and make sure you are getting parts related to the application, as gaming cards (and dx10 unless im wrong) arent made for rendering.

                        And yes i realize this was posted several months ago.

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                        • KrisidiousK Offline
                          Krisidious
                          last edited by

                          yes you do have a point, on the card but this is not a system for professionals per say... this was a under $1000 build and this 8500 gt affords the user future updates in which DX10 maybe needed and it affords the user cost effective graphics for around $150.00 brand new with warranty, and an extra slot for future adding of another card to take advantage of the SLI setup. bringing the total of ram on the card to 1 gig.

                          with in modeling software, I have not noticed any lagging so far. and I work on some large models. the main reason to use one of those high end cards is to cut down on rendering time.

                          if I were to buy one of those cards I would buy new, I know, I know they are extremely expensive, outrageous even. but I would say 40% of cards on ebay have issues or are bad altogether. it's a real gamble to get the real card they advertise, and it working with no glitches or issues. and video cards being one of the most problematic of peripherals. I like having a company to gripe out and threaten when need be.

                          I do concede though, if you're wanting to fill out the budget a little more, and risk finding the "working" used high end cards, you won't find me telling you not too. it is a better machine for it. and your render times will likely drop in half.

                          By: Kristoff Rand
                          Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                          • M Offline
                            Masta Squidge
                            last edited by

                            Its just a matter of finding someone with a student discount who doesnt need the card. Or, take a look at Newegg.

                            You can find "PNY VCQFX1400-PCIE-PB Quadro FX1400 128MB 256-bit DDR PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card" for about 350 bucks, which is good as far as rendering cards go, or, you can go even cheaper, and get a rendering card for as low as 150 dollars.

                            I dont know how far under 1 grand you were at, but its just a suggestion.

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                            • M Offline
                              Masta Squidge
                              last edited by

                              @krisidious said:

                              yes you do have a point, on the card but this is not a system for professionals per say... this was a under $1000 build and this 8500 gt affords the user future updates in which DX10 maybe needed and it affords the user cost effective graphics for around $150.00 brand new with warranty, and an extra slot for future adding of another card to take advantage of the SLI setup. bringing the total of ram on the card to 1 gig.

                              $150? Man, lookie here:

                              http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150245
                              $90 for one of those. Did you have a look at newegg? Or have prices gone down since you bought yours? For 30 bucks more than you are talking for one, you can SLI two of them now.

                              Dont want to seem rude or anything, i just like to look around and see whats the best deal.

                              Also, have you run a 3dmark test on this setup yet? You should do a test on this one and an older machine of yours to see where it stands.

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                              • KrisidiousK Offline
                                Krisidious
                                last edited by

                                no, I bought two mother boards and two video cards from Newegg.com and all four were bad out of the box... read the fine print, they repackage and refurb and resell returns.

                                it's like ebay but a better chance of getting crap... although they do have a better return policy...

                                I bought my PNY Nvidia 8500 GT 512 meg at bestbuy for $140.00 before tax.

                                I'll run some benchmarks this weekend and upload them... this thread has been dead for sometime, but maybe we can bring it back to life...

                                I'd love to watch someone build a higher end system... Paul's system is quite nice... maybe we could get him in here.

                                By: Kristoff Rand
                                Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                                • M Offline
                                  Masta Squidge
                                  last edited by

                                  Wow really? ive bought tons of stuff from there and never had a bad part.
                                  Ive had ton of friends who have bought stuff and the worst ive ever seen was a MOBO that was DOA. You must have bad luck

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