Requirements...

[daft-crut]

actually your specification is enough to run Maya, but the recommended spec is 1 gb of Ram and 128 mb video cards, so your spec can run maya, but you will not be satisfied with the performance, especially when building a complex (hi-poly) model...

[NinjaSquirel]

If I upgrade to the two you specified will I be able to run it smoothly doing High Poly Models? Is my Processor strong enough for High Poly Models?

[rebo]

I used maya 5 on a 950 Mhtz Athlon with 256 mb, it was definitely useable and perfectly fine for learning the program thoroughly.

Of your spec, i think an upgrade will need to be mobo+memory+chip, as modern chips will probably use diff memory and mobo than what you have.

So yea go ahead and get maya, but dont expect miracles. It WLL be enough to learn the program, but when it comes to doing more serious work you will need at least $200 for new mobo+CPU+memory.

I wouldnt worry so much about graphics card. the mobo+CPU+memory is more imporant imo.
with my 950mhhtz i was running a geforce2 GTS which was 64mb, and that was ok. Also modern GPHX card will require AGP 8x or whatever and your mobo probably wont accept it considering you are using sdram.

Remember a better graphics card wont help rendering speeds.

[Vertizor]

Go download the FREE Maya PLE edition to see how well your current PC handles Maya. I have it installed right now and it appears to be the same exact toolset and (for lack of a better word) "code guts." Of course, there's the watermark EVERYWHERE, but it gives you the basic idea of how Maya 6 will run on your computer. Previously, Maya PLE was one major version behind the commercial offerings but currently it's Maya 6 across the board.

[intovidfilm2]

100%, get the Maya FREE PLE edition...it has watermarks...but who cares if you're learning....besides the material for learning maya sucks.. you'll be spending alot of money, half of the tutorials or more will suck.... Maya PLE comes on DVDs/CDS of the various alias books, which suck too...even the sucky material has some good stuff... but alot sucks - seriously

go digital tutors AND/or Gnomon

100%, i'd spend more money on learning material than upgrading the PC, period....

in addition, IF you have ANY problems with maya, it is probably your VIDEO CARD.... your cpu is fine... you may have image plane problems, etc..... go buy a GeForce FX5200 for $30 off of ebay or something..... if you want a better card, buy a real quadro... this card will outpace FireGLs to almost the highest level, and the only area it cannot perform in 100% speedy is ARTISAN if you were to go spend $300 for a 6800... that was a waste of $270 you could have used for training

so... spend in this order:
#1 learning material
#2 video card fx5200
#3 more learning material.... if you can make a full feature cg, or if you can make money, buy the commerical verion
#4 upgrade cpu...

the cpu will help you in your render times, you do NOT need more than a gig of ram

:)

[Lord Banshee]

100%, get the Maya FREE PLE edition...it has watermarks...but who cares if you're learning....besides the material for learning maya sucks.. you'll be spending alot of money, half of the tutorials or more will suck.... Maya PLE comes on DVDs/CDS of the various alias books, which suck too...even the sucky material has some good stuff... but alot sucks - seriously

go digital tutors AND/or Gnomon

100%, i'd spend more money on learning material than upgrading the PC, period....

in addition, IF you have ANY problems with maya, it is probably your VIDEO CARD.... your cpu is fine... you may have image plane problems, etc..... go buy a GeForce FX5200 for $30 off of ebay or something..... if you want a better card, buy a real quadro... this card will outpace FireGLs to almost the highest level, and the only area it cannot perform in 100% speedy is ARTISAN if you were to go spend $300 for a 6800... that was a waste of $270 you could have used for training

so... spend in this order:
#1 learning material
#2 video card fx5200
#3 more learning material.... if you can make a full feature cg, or if you can make money, buy the commerical verion
#4 upgrade cpu...

the cpu will help you in your render times, you do NOT need more than a gig of ram

:)
Don't waste your money on the fx5200. It would be better to buy a geforce3 pro or a Geforce 4 Ti.

[sdg0919]

Good advice above.

Slightly, OT, but still important none-the-less, is to make sure you thank your father for any investment he makes on this regard (whether it's software, books or computer) :) They like to hear it, and it let's them know you aren't taking them for granted.

Dave

[NinjaSquirel]

OK I got the learners version, the only thing that bothers me are the watermarks. Other than that its fine, I have yet to search for a good tutorial, anyone have a good one?

[Vertizor]

Well what do you want to learn, and what do you want to get out of a tutorial that you think you aren't getting now?

Read the electronic manual to get yourself aquainted with the interface. I know it's very mundane to have to read a manual, especially just to figure out how to navigate the interface. You're probably eager to just start using it and mess around, see what you can find on your own.

It has been said many times, and Maya has been heavily criticized for its learning curve. But then again most all programs have a learning curve. Seriously, start with the manual from the Help menu just to figure out how to create and modify geometry, then the tutorials will make more sense to you.

[rebo]

Get the FREE videos from 3dbuzz do them all from disc 1 to 3 and by the end you will know where to go next.

BTW i disagree on the videacard front. I think its far more important to have a fast CPU+ modern motherboard. If the videocard 'works' the upgrading it aint really gonna do jack. Remember maya isnt a first person shooter so low framerates when rotating the view are fine. But lack of UI response due to slow CPU isnt as acceptable as it really affects how you work.

[sundialsvc4]

I agree. Ignore the watermarks and focus on learning the program. Also while you are learning, take the time to get other programs (such as Blender ... http://www.blender3d.org ...), which is free; as well as any other educational-version programs you can get your hands on.

Your goal at this point is to learn as much as you can, as cheaply as you can. Save your money as long as you can. You can actually put up with a lot because you have the time, and you're really not going to be taxing the capabilities of the system while you learn. By the time you're ready to purchase production software for production work (unless, of course, your employer supplies it...), several new versions will have been released and the hardware you're using now will seem [even more] antique.

But thank your father sincerely.

[daft-crut]

Get the FREE videos from 3dbuzz do them all from disc 1 to 3 and by the end you will know where to go next.

BTW i disagree on the videacard front. I think its far more important to have a fast CPU+ modern motherboard. If the videocard 'works' the upgrading it aint really gonna do jack. Remember maya isnt a first person shooter so low framerates when rotating the view are fine. But lack of UI response due to slow CPU isnt as acceptable as it really affects how you work.
well what I've mean with performance is the viewport framerates, later if you starts to build complex model, you'll need better videocard or you'll be nuts to see how slow your viewport is. A cpu is a must for 3d application, but mainly helped a lot in rendering, but then again desktop pc will never be enough for rendering, especially complex model with hundreds of lights, and we'll have to agree with the current renderspeed, unless you want it faster then buy one Pure card (sorry for being slightly OT, you won't need it unless you are rendering an pixar quality animation)

my 2 cents

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