Need new PC (rendering-oriented)

[BOXXlabs]

Hi Phillipe,

Is this for work? Will you be doing commercial work on the system?

What is your budget?

I assume you will be buying a pre-built system, yes?

[PhilOsirus]

Hi Adam!

Actually I should have specified I'm more looking for info on components. I'm planning to buy the parts separately (probably through new egg, or ebay, etc.).

And yeah for personal use.

[olson]

The best bang for the buck is going to be DDR2 based systems like current Phenom (2.6Ghz quad core for $175) or Core 2 Quad which will run a little more than the AMD setup. A new Core i7 system will run considerably faster but will definitely cost more with the DDR3 memory and more expensive processors and motherboards. I personally favor AMD products since they offer more bang for the buck especially in the long term since their platform allows for upgrading to future processor architectures without changing the board and memory. Either way you go I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Cheers!

[BattlemasterXP]

I personally favor AMD products since they offer more bang for the buck especially in the long term since their platform allows for upgrading to future processor architectures without changing the board and memory.

Although you have to see that DDR3 is now the future.
When you aks me you definetly should invest a bit more money in a DDR3 based system.
The production focus will go towards the newer technique, which isn't DDR2 anymore.
The quad cores produced by AMD are good and worth the money, but regarding performance -especially 3D applications- Intel is a step ahead.
Surely Intel is very expensive atm. Nevertheless this will change during the next few month, as I already mentioned in another thread. AMD is going to release their newer Phenom II during the first quarter of 2009.I think it will make the Intel CPUs cheaper, caused by the market competition, and on the other side it offers you a good alternative.
Some sources mentioned that a 2,8GHz quadcore will be around 235 US-Dollar,
although the CES will show the truth, this sounds already good.

When you wait a month you can also buy the 260er card by nVidia for less money.
Their releases of the 290er series is planned in January, so the prices of the older generation will decrease.(The mainchange will be the core-clock, not really important for your needs, I think.)

[olson]

Although you have to see that DDR3 is now the future.
When you aks me you definetly should invest a bit more money in a DDR3 based system.
The production focus will go towards the newer technique, which isn't DDR2 anymore.
The quad cores produced by AMD are good and worth the money, but regarding performance -especially 3D applications- Intel is a step ahead.
Surely Intel is very expensive atm. Nevertheless this will change during the next few month, as I already mentioned in another thread. AMD is going to release their newer Phenom II during the first quarter of 2009.I think it will make the Intel CPUs cheaper, caused by the market competition, and on the other side it offers you a good alternative.
Some sources mentioned that a 2,8GHz quadcore will be around 235 US-Dollar,
although the CES will show the truth, this sounds already good.

When you wait a month you can also buy the 260er card by nVidia for less money.
Their releases of the 290er series is planned in January, so the prices of the older generation will decrease.(The mainchange will be the core-clock, not really important for your needs, I think.)

Obviously DDR3 is the "future", just like its successor will be the future, and the successor after that. What it comes down to is how much money you want to throw at it and realize the diminishing returns. There's a sweet spot and right now its not Core i7 with DDR3. For the money you spend the performance just doesn't add up yet. In a few months when competition forces the prices down it will probably be more reasonable, but spending hundreds on just the motherboard right now is ridiculous. Cheers!

[BOXXlabs]

Maybe this is nitpicking, I think it may not be helpful to define the different platforms or "generations" of computers by their RAM type (DDR2, DDR3, etc).

The speed difference and capabilities between those two types of RAM account for very little difference in actual application or system performance.

For people trying to understand what's important for overall application speed, it's important to know that processor family and clock speed are much better indicators.

[spardacus]

I am in the same boat.

I have been running 3DS Studio Max oHP Pavilion laptops (because I like the portability), but ned to update to a new workstation that is fast by today's standards - though doesn't cost 5,000.00.

I ave found an HP Pavilion Elite m950f Desktop locally for 1,129.99

Specs:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300
750 gb drive
Built in 802.11n wireless
8 gb system memory
768 mb graphics memory

How does this stack up to other systems - as well as - to building my own.
I am not against building my own system though would need to know component specifics and resources.

Thank y'all VERY much for this dialogue.

i AM spardacus

[tfortier]

Salut phil! dit allo a montreal pour moi!

Lowest cost solution would be a Q6600 system... you can build that for under 500$ I think... I would not spend more unless its for an i7 system. Keep your money for next year! you'll be able to build an i7 comp for less than 1000$.

[RobotClayton]

I've tried to build a Q6600 computer for under $500, no dice. It'll run you $550-$600 based on parts quality. Either way the i7 eats it for breakfeast. (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/compare,835.html?prod%5B2271%5D=on&prod%5B2194%5D=on) The Q6600 rendered about 50% slower than the slowest i7 in C4D.

Not to mention with the i7, you should be safe for a few years.

You can build an i7 box for about 1100 + OS.

I do agree that the Q6600 is the way to go unless you're going for an i7. It is a good over-clocker too.

[BattlemasterXP]

Keep your money for next year! you'll be able to build an i7 comp for less than 1000$.

That's something you can tell yourself every time the year.
You'll always have newer technology which will be released the following time.