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New computer

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  • R Offline
    remus
    last edited by 23 Dec 2007, 18:59

    if you think like that solo, you'll never get anywhere though, as long as you dont fork out for an absolute top of the range machine you sould be ok.

    All the machines so far look pretty good, so i'd just go for the one that provides your prefered balance between cost and performance.

    good luck!

    http://remusrendering.wordpress.com/

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    • S Offline
      solo
      last edited by 23 Dec 2007, 19:20

      I am delighted by new technology, I even eagerly await the singularity...My point is the price one pays to stay ahead of the curve. Personally I build my own rigs, and even though over a period of time the costs pretty much even out, I firstly enjoy the challenge and I get to keep up in smaller bite sizes and more consistantly stay ahead of the curve by upgrading in bits and pieces. The other advantage is when you need to upgrade mobo's and chipsets you normally also get the new RAM standards required for optimal speeds, this leaves you with a bunch of odds and sods that can be used to assemble a less than 'cutting edge' rig for a family member that does not require a 'Mean machine'.

      http://www.solos-art.com

      If you see a toilet in your dreams do not use it.

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      • E Offline
        Edson
        last edited by 24 Dec 2007, 00:10

        @unknownuser said:

        Edson I agree the mac is a very good alternative and something I personally have been wanting to move across to for quite a while. The thing that always puts me off is that I use Autocad which is not available on Mac. I realise you can run in Bootcamp but I often have Autocad open while using things like PS and SU at the same time.

        dylan,

        i agree with you about bootcamp but there are other apps (parallels, for one) that allow you to run both OS without having to reboot to move from mac to windows.

        edson mahfuz, architect| porto alegre β€’ brasil
        http://www.mahfuz.arq.br

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        • B Offline
          boofredlay
          last edited by 24 Dec 2007, 03:16

          Thank you all for the advice so far. Keep it comin' πŸ˜„

          http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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          • G Offline
            gata
            last edited by 24 Dec 2007, 04:07

            Boofredlay,
            Balance your RAM, CPU, Videocard for your needs.

            The 'CAD expert' at work - who wants mainly AutoCAD, some games (if at home), and other little stuff - and myself - who want SU, Photoshop, maybe some future rendering, and other little stuff - settle on some similar specs.

            Keep all the primary hardware manufactured by the same company so it plays together nicely into the future: motherboard, CPU by the same company, like Intel.

            2.13 - 3 GHz Dual core Intel Processor
            2 GB RAM
            8600 GTS (or GT) 512 MB videocard, EVGA is a good brand (note the 8000 series nVidia cards are ready for DirectX 10, but DirectX 10 drivers for things like SU are not. Make sure you direct the videocard software to let the application control the graphics acceleration and/or install DirectX 9 for the time being to make SU happy).
            XP Pro (Dell and Nobilis still sell rigs with XP)

            The guy at work price out a nice Dell machine with those specs and a 20.1 Dell Ultrasharp LCD monitor for less than 1500 USD recently.

            I got a refurbished 20.1 Dell Ultrasharp widescreen LCD monitor for 300 USD from the Dell outlet store. That's 100 dollars less than new, but with the same 3 year warranty. Buying a Dell computer creeps me out because I don't like proprietary hardware - I like to control my hardware destiny. But the Dell Ultrasharp monitors are reeallly nice and pretty too.

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            • B Offline
              boofredlay
              last edited by 29 Jan 2008, 16:27

              So speaking of computer upgrades πŸ˜’
              My wife's schedule for classes is closer than she or I thought. She registers next week and is off and running...

              There is a place in Huntsville where my father had a computer built for him.
              Here is their pricing guides:
              http://www.northalabamacomputers.com/download.ivnu

              And here is the custom system price sheet:
              http://bellsouthpwp.net/n/a/nacahsv/System.pdf

              I will probably talk with them this week so any additional help would be great, thanks.

              P.S. to quote myself from above..."PC with XP.
              I want a simple machine with great speed and graphics for SketchUp, SU Podium, Photoshop, Autocad and maybe Revit (which I use at work) also some cool games. And all the basics as well... email, Office..."

              http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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              • B Offline
                boofredlay
                last edited by 7 Feb 2008, 19:41

                😎
                Ok, here are the specs on the computer I just ordered. It should be done Monday. I am having it locally built.

                Cheers and thanks for all the help, especially you Pete. πŸ˜„


                Specs.jpg

                http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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                • T Offline
                  tbd
                  last edited by 7 Feb 2008, 19:49

                  I am ordering a similar setup (but with 4gb RAM, 500GB Hdd, Geforce 8600GT).
                  what was the price on your setup ? also if it is ready Monday, can you post some tests/experience ?

                  SketchUp Ruby Consultant | Podium 1.x developer
                  http://plugins.ro

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                  • B Offline
                    boofredlay
                    last edited by 7 Feb 2008, 20:19

                    Just under $2300. A hair more than I originally wanted to spend but I have the cash.
                    I would be happy to do some tests, that is if I have the time. It is about to get hectic at work and I have my Form Fonts obligations as well.
                    But I will do what I can.

                    http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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                    • Mike LuceyM Offline
                      Mike Lucey
                      last edited by 8 Feb 2008, 00:15

                      Seriously, go for a Mac for two simple reasons! It is extremely
                      reliable and secondly, in 24 months time when you want to upgrade
                      the Dealer (if you pick the right one) will offer you a decent
                      trade-in price against a newer shiny Mac! It will be difficult
                      to get the price of a drink for a 24 month old Dell etc πŸ˜†

                      Dylan, as regards running ACad on the Mac. There are other options
                      available, Parallels etc. I have not tried ACad on Parallels but
                      imagine it should work okay. Check this out, http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=2867

                      Mike

                      Support us so we can support you! Upgrade to Premium Membership!

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                      • jujuJ Offline
                        juju
                        last edited by 8 Feb 2008, 13:42

                        Good specs on that machine Boo, let us know how it performs. BTW, make sure the RAM is running in dual channel mode when the machine is up and running. If you got 3x 1GB modules then I don't think it will run in dual channel mode, maybe some other memory config gives yo 3GB and have it run in dual channel mode.

                        Having the RAM run in dual channel mode speeds things up a little. Use an app like CPU-Z to check this.

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

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                        • T Offline
                          tbd
                          last edited by 14 Feb 2008, 13:56

                          so, how is the new computer ? 😍

                          SketchUp Ruby Consultant | Podium 1.x developer
                          http://plugins.ro

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                          • B Offline
                            boofredlay
                            last edited by 14 Feb 2008, 14:05

                            I set it up the other night but have not had much time to work with it. Also, as soon as I hooked it up either my router or modem died. I am waiting for the cable company to come out today to fix my internet connection... I am at work now.

                            http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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                            • B Offline
                              boofredlay
                              last edited by 17 Feb 2008, 04:15

                              Ok TBD you wanted an update... the computer is lightning fast, that is until you apply a transparency to a material or go to xray mode. I have tried turning off fast feedback and even turning off hardware acceleration with no success. It appears to be slower than my old machine when in xray mode, however I have not done a side by side yet (my wife is working too).

                              Any ideas?

                              http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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                              • N Offline
                                notareal
                                last edited by 17 Feb 2008, 15:35

                                @unknownuser said:

                                Ok TBD you wanted an update... the computer is lightning fast, that is until you apply a transparency to a material or go to xray mode. I have tried turning off fast feedback and even turning off hardware acceleration with no success. It appears to be slower than my old machine when in xray mode, however I have not done a side by side yet (my wife is working too).

                                Any ideas?

                                Perhaps some nvidia driver issue? 8800GT is fairly fast, but I think whole 8x00 series OpenGL support is ...what to say... a bit lacking. I wonder if the reason is to support Quadro FX sales. πŸ˜’

                                Welcome to try [Thea Render](http://www.thearender.com/), Thea support | [kerkythea.net](http://www.kerkythea.net/) -team member

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                                • S Offline
                                  solo
                                  last edited by 18 Feb 2008, 00:12

                                  I did some trials and tests to see if that phenomenon would happen to me, even in the most minimal way.
                                  I just could not get that result.
                                  In fact I accelerated on x-ray (at least it felt faster, maybe if I used an enormous model I would be able to get a more definite result) and stayed the same on transparency (again with bigger model a clearer result would be possible)
                                  I used an AMD dual core for this test with one 8800 GTX on single display mode. I am not sure if the fact that this rig has force-ware drivers and direct X 10 helps, I cannot mimic your rig as all my machines including my Intel Quads use the new force-ware drivers and DX 10.

                                  http://www.solos-art.com

                                  If you see a toilet in your dreams do not use it.

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                                  • G Offline
                                    gata
                                    last edited by 18 Feb 2008, 06:48

                                    I have a new Duo-Core Intel mobo, DirectX 9, 2 GB paging file, XP Pro, 2 GB RAM, EVGA nVidia 8600 GTS and no issues in SU other than occasionally some weird selection box outlines.

                                    Maybe there could be some more optimal BIOS settings for your card.

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                                    • B Offline
                                      boofredlay
                                      last edited by 18 Feb 2008, 23:40

                                      Pete & gata, thanks for the replies. Sorry I have not been able to check this agian for a while.

                                      It seems the slowdown I experienced occoured in one file alone. There must have been something off with that file, a glitch or something. I have modified it and it works just fine now. I also did a "side by side" with my work machine, old home machine and this new one... the new one definately smokes the other two even in xray mode.

                                      For now, at least, everything is hunky dory πŸ˜„

                                      http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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                                      • B Offline
                                        boofredlay
                                        last edited by 19 Feb 2008, 02:32

                                        I did a test with a much higher poly model too... new machine is laughing at me and saying;
                                        "Is that all you got man!?"

                                        http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

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