spittle
15th Jan 2008, 10:15 pm
I'm looking for opinions on this spec. I'm researching for a new work PC for myself. Any tips on specific components would be welcome.
I was asked to suggest a spec and here's what I propose. What do you think?
******
PC Specs. Hardware/Software.
These are based on enabling us to get up to speed with our 3D capabilities using software like Autodesk Inventor & 3DS Max. I think using this software is the best route for what we want to achieve.
These are my suggestions so far.
Operating System:
I suggest Windows XP 64bit or Vista 64, rather than XP 32bit which we’re currently using.
“The major differentiator between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows is in memory support. Currently, 32-bit Windows is capable of supporting up to 4 GB of system memory, with up to 2 GB of dedicated memory per process. Windows XP 64-Bit Edition will currently support up to 16 GB of RAM, with the potential to support up to 16 TB of virtual memory as hardware capabilities and memory sizes grow.” Microsoft.
Inventor is able to take advantage of large amounts of RAM (memory) so using on a 32bit operating system will reduce it’s performance. I have 4GB RAM on my home PC, only 3.25GB is recognised because the remainder of the 4GB address space is being used for graphics card memory etc. And windows can still only allocate max of 2GB to the software I’m using.
3DS Max also takes advantage of large amounts of RAM.
RAM
4GB min of a ‘brand name’ DDR2 memory. The faster the better, maybe 1066MHz. It’s worth checking which memory brand names the Motherboard manufacturer recommends.
Processor
For Inventor-
Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe E6850 3.0GHz, (1066MHz FSB) 4MB L2 cache memory (£179)
I would also be interested in hearing reviews on the new (about to be released):
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 ‘Wolfdale’ 3.16GHz, (1333MHz FSB) 6MB L2 cache memory (£204).
(The L2 cache is basically fast memory used to store the most frequently used information).
But if we we’re serious about Rendering and Walkthroughs with 3DS Max then go for a decent Intel Core 2 Quad core processor. For rendering, 4 Cores are definitely better than two and it’s the rendering that will take advantage of the Quad core.
If you had for example a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo Conroe and a 2.66GHz Core 2 Quad processor. There wouldn’t be much difference in performance as they both have a FSB of 1066MHz. If you were comparing the newer 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo Wolfdale Processor with the Core 2 Quad then the Wolfdale would be faster because it has a FSB of 1333MHz as appose to 1066MHz.
Maybe a little more thought is needed as the where a compromise is to be made, although if you wanted a Core 2 Quad Core to have the same performance in everyday 3D modeling as the Core 2 Duo’s that I suggested then you would be looking at the 3GHz Core 2 Quad Extreme range. (£550-£700 depending on whether you have 8MB L2 cache or 12MB).
All these use the Intel 775 Socket.
I currently am using a 3GHz Pentium D (800MHz FSB) at work and at home i'm using an Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB).
RE: Rendering – It’s possible to set up a ‘Render Farm’ – basically you connect a number of PCs onto a closed Network and use all of the processors for rendering tasks. I’ve read that it’s possible to make use of a stack of old (ready for the skip) PCs with slower Processors so they work together to make a fast Render Farm. More research is needed, and this would be a scenario possibly for the future.
Graphics Card
The Nvidia Quadro FX 3500 has excellent reviews, it even out performs some of the higher end Quadro FX graphics cards on certain tasks. I have a full review for several Workstation class Graphics cards. (about £500)
“The card itself contains 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM clocked at around 675MHz and connected across a 256-bit bus to deliver 42.2GBps of memory bandwidth - the highest of any Quadro-class card to date.” Nvidia.
(Apart from the just released Quadro FX3700 – 512MB and 51.2GB/sec of memory bandwidth).
Motherboard
Get a brand name (Gigabyte, Asus etc…). If we went with the Conroe Processor you’d need a motherboard capable of 1066MHz FSB to get the optimum results.
Will need a 775 Socket for either of the suggested Intel Processors.
Will need a PCI Express x16 Slot for Graphics card.
Or if we use a processor with 1333MHz FSB then we need the motherboard that will do the same and support the 1066MHz RAM. I t may be worth buying a motherboard that is capable of taking DDR3 RAM so it can be upgraded in the future.
Hard Disk
10,000 rpm SATA or SATA II to use for Windows and Programs and a SATA Hard Disk for storage.
Power Supply
Get a brand name, over 500W, ‘Tagan’ are reasonably priced and have good reviews.
I would be interested in hearing feedback from IT regarding their thoughts on my suggestions.
*******
Anyone able to comment on this spec? The aim is to use mainly for:
AutoCAD2008
Civil 3D 2008
Inventor 2008
3DS Max 2008 -Rendering
for doing stuff similar to:
http://www.3d-palace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16092
with more complex piping, with flange details etc.
I was asked to suggest a spec and here's what I propose. What do you think?
******
PC Specs. Hardware/Software.
These are based on enabling us to get up to speed with our 3D capabilities using software like Autodesk Inventor & 3DS Max. I think using this software is the best route for what we want to achieve.
These are my suggestions so far.
Operating System:
I suggest Windows XP 64bit or Vista 64, rather than XP 32bit which we’re currently using.
“The major differentiator between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows is in memory support. Currently, 32-bit Windows is capable of supporting up to 4 GB of system memory, with up to 2 GB of dedicated memory per process. Windows XP 64-Bit Edition will currently support up to 16 GB of RAM, with the potential to support up to 16 TB of virtual memory as hardware capabilities and memory sizes grow.” Microsoft.
Inventor is able to take advantage of large amounts of RAM (memory) so using on a 32bit operating system will reduce it’s performance. I have 4GB RAM on my home PC, only 3.25GB is recognised because the remainder of the 4GB address space is being used for graphics card memory etc. And windows can still only allocate max of 2GB to the software I’m using.
3DS Max also takes advantage of large amounts of RAM.
RAM
4GB min of a ‘brand name’ DDR2 memory. The faster the better, maybe 1066MHz. It’s worth checking which memory brand names the Motherboard manufacturer recommends.
Processor
For Inventor-
Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe E6850 3.0GHz, (1066MHz FSB) 4MB L2 cache memory (£179)
I would also be interested in hearing reviews on the new (about to be released):
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 ‘Wolfdale’ 3.16GHz, (1333MHz FSB) 6MB L2 cache memory (£204).
(The L2 cache is basically fast memory used to store the most frequently used information).
But if we we’re serious about Rendering and Walkthroughs with 3DS Max then go for a decent Intel Core 2 Quad core processor. For rendering, 4 Cores are definitely better than two and it’s the rendering that will take advantage of the Quad core.
If you had for example a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo Conroe and a 2.66GHz Core 2 Quad processor. There wouldn’t be much difference in performance as they both have a FSB of 1066MHz. If you were comparing the newer 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo Wolfdale Processor with the Core 2 Quad then the Wolfdale would be faster because it has a FSB of 1333MHz as appose to 1066MHz.
Maybe a little more thought is needed as the where a compromise is to be made, although if you wanted a Core 2 Quad Core to have the same performance in everyday 3D modeling as the Core 2 Duo’s that I suggested then you would be looking at the 3GHz Core 2 Quad Extreme range. (£550-£700 depending on whether you have 8MB L2 cache or 12MB).
All these use the Intel 775 Socket.
I currently am using a 3GHz Pentium D (800MHz FSB) at work and at home i'm using an Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB).
RE: Rendering – It’s possible to set up a ‘Render Farm’ – basically you connect a number of PCs onto a closed Network and use all of the processors for rendering tasks. I’ve read that it’s possible to make use of a stack of old (ready for the skip) PCs with slower Processors so they work together to make a fast Render Farm. More research is needed, and this would be a scenario possibly for the future.
Graphics Card
The Nvidia Quadro FX 3500 has excellent reviews, it even out performs some of the higher end Quadro FX graphics cards on certain tasks. I have a full review for several Workstation class Graphics cards. (about £500)
“The card itself contains 256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM clocked at around 675MHz and connected across a 256-bit bus to deliver 42.2GBps of memory bandwidth - the highest of any Quadro-class card to date.” Nvidia.
(Apart from the just released Quadro FX3700 – 512MB and 51.2GB/sec of memory bandwidth).
Motherboard
Get a brand name (Gigabyte, Asus etc…). If we went with the Conroe Processor you’d need a motherboard capable of 1066MHz FSB to get the optimum results.
Will need a 775 Socket for either of the suggested Intel Processors.
Will need a PCI Express x16 Slot for Graphics card.
Or if we use a processor with 1333MHz FSB then we need the motherboard that will do the same and support the 1066MHz RAM. I t may be worth buying a motherboard that is capable of taking DDR3 RAM so it can be upgraded in the future.
Hard Disk
10,000 rpm SATA or SATA II to use for Windows and Programs and a SATA Hard Disk for storage.
Power Supply
Get a brand name, over 500W, ‘Tagan’ are reasonably priced and have good reviews.
I would be interested in hearing feedback from IT regarding their thoughts on my suggestions.
*******
Anyone able to comment on this spec? The aim is to use mainly for:
AutoCAD2008
Civil 3D 2008
Inventor 2008
3DS Max 2008 -Rendering
for doing stuff similar to:
http://www.3d-palace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16092
with more complex piping, with flange details etc.