Best 3D Workstations

[eiadahnim]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to buy a New Workstation!
I need a good advice on computer that can handle heavy mesh with ease & smooth motion.

I have heard that AMD opetron Quad Core is the best in 3D graphics, is that true?
I have a previous experience in collecting computer parts


any advice?

[--Strattus--]

Depends on how cutting edge you wanna go.
For a general purpouse PC, that is, good 3d rendering at an affordable price, I'd stick with an Intel + Nvidia combination. Something around a Q9450, which is a very cheap quad-core amazingly overclockable processor and a 9800GTX +, also very cheap, DX10 capable, and very fast. With growing physX techonolgy, Nvidia is once more becoming faster than ATI(AMD), for it now has integrated Physics into the GPU, rather than loading it all to the CPU.

BUT, if you want something more robust, mind-blowing, you can always go for professional stuff. That is, replacing those with dual-processor platforms, and adding up a Geforce Quadro to the mix. Quadros deal with polygons like no other card in the world, but it has it's price...a very salty price.
There is also professional 3d workstation resellers, such as BOXX. They have some pretty good stuff if you want to go crazy on speed and capability there.

My personal recommendation: Stick to the basic. Even if you need 2 nice "Gaming" sort of PC, I think it's still better and more affordable than professional tools, and they will deliver similar performance.

Well, I hope this little thing helps you in any way ^^
Good luck!

[eiadahnim]

Originally Posted by --Strattus--

Depend on how cutting edge you wanna go.
For a general purpouse PC, that is, good 3d rendering at an affordable price, I'd stick with an Intel + Nvidia combination. Something around a Q9450, which is a very cheap quad-core amazingly overclockable processor and a 9800GTX +, also very cheap, DX10 capable, and very fast. With growing physX techonolgy, Nvidia is once more becoming faster than ATI(AMD), for it now has integrated Physics into the GPU, rather than loading it all to the CPU.

BUT, if you want something more robust, mind-blowing, you can always go for professional stuff. That is, replacing those with dual-processor platforms, and adding up a Geforce Quadro to the mix. Quadros deal with polygons like no other card in the world, but it has it's price...a very salty price.
There is also professional 3d workstation resellers, such as BOXX. They have some pretty good stuff if you want to go crazy on speed and capability there.

My personal recommendation: Stick to the basic. Even if you need 2 nice "Gaming" sort of PC, I think it's still better and more affordable than professional tools, and they will deliver similar performance.

Well, I hope this little thing helps you in any way ^^
Good luck!

Oh Thank you so much --Strattus--

I like it when you were talking about the "Intel + Nvidia combination" can you go more specific. Because there are nvidia GPU or SLI & I have no idea where those can fit.

can you specify at least
processor "?"
memory "ecc or none ecc"
motherboard "?"
hdd "72,000 rpm or 100,000 rpm "
any other things


regards

[--Strattus--]

Ok, as for a processor, in that configuration I told you, you could go for a Q9450, which is very cheap and fast, or for a QX9770 if you want real power.
This is a smal price table, with some average prices:
QX9770 3,2GHz 1600MHz 2x 6MB 136W Q1 '08 $1399
QX9650 3,0GHz 1333MHz 2x 6MB 130W 12-11 $999
Q9550 2,83GHz 1333MHz 2x 6MB 95W Q1 '08 $530
Q9450 2,66GHz 1333MHz 2x 6MB 95W Q1 '08 $316
Q9300 2,5GHz 1333MHz 2x 3MB 95W Q1 '08 $266

I'd still pick the Q9450 though.

As for graphics card, I'd stick to the Geforce 9800GTX +, coming out this year. Again, there are more 3d-specific cards such as Quadros, the 5600 for instance. But those are well over 1.750 pounds...

So final recomendation:
Processor: Q9450
GFX: 9800GTX+ (Still gotta wait a bit for this)
Memmory: for heavy rendering, 4GB of RAM is enough. 1066 if possible.
Motherboard:Asus Striker II (Nforce 780i)
HDD: 500GB 7.200RPM
Nice cooler (could be the BOX one, but this one makes it "overclockable")

And this configuration would add up to about $1,325, at www.ibuypower.com
Its a full PC (exept for the OS, which is not included) and will work brilliantly both as a workstation and gaming platform. When I say gaming platform, it is not exactly for playing games, but can also be quite useful on developing them.

[DigitalPutty]

Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Sounds sexah!

[eiadahnim]

Wow --Strattus-- That was awesome man,

I have went to www.ibuypower.com they have what I was looking to.

Now, for the tablet. Should I buy the WACOM Cintque version of tablet or just the regular one based on your experience.

Thanks,

[--Strattus--]

Well, basically you need to keep in mind wherther you use it extremely often or not. If you use it pretty much as your mice, I'd suggest you to take the Cintque version. If not, well, you could even take a Genius one.
I have an 8x6 Genius tablet, and I have to say.. it works. ^^