CGTalk - Which New Computer

RoyCook

01-05-2009, 09:09 AM

I will be ordering my new computer at the end of this month, hopefully.

I so far have two favourites but am still undecided, Im not going to be making my own computer as we just had a terrible experience making my brothers computer wasn't worth the money saved really....

So far my two options are:-

1.

Intel Core i7 Processor 920 (2.66GHz, 8MB cache)
4072MB (4x1024) 1067MHz DDR3 Tri Channel EDIT that will be 6072MB now.
640GB Serial ATA (7200RPM) Hard Drive
256MB ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphics card
21.5" HD Screen or 23" Screen both 1920x1080

2.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Quad Core Processor (2.33GHz,4MB Cache)
8192MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
1024MB nVIDIA GeForce 9600GT - Dual DVI, HDTV, TV Out
22" Screen 1920x1080

Both are roughly £810 and run Vista 64bit. The PC will be used heavily for art and graphics, for things such as potentially billion poly scenes in Vue 7 aswell as being used for quite heavy use in Cinema 4D and ZBrush. Renders will be done at sizes of 8000x6000 (roughly) for prints so I need a PC that will handle this stuff with relative ease.

I tempted by the first one as it has the new i7 processor and DDR3 RAM but will 4Gig be enough? Im well aware that graphics card in this one though is pretty below par but I will upgrade it at some point but will be in no rush too,

The second one I like because of the 8Gig RAM and 1Gig Graphics card but seems if its being left hind slightly now what with the DDR2 RAM.....

I dont know can anyone help me out here I think at the moment Im slightly tempted toward the first one, which ever I choose it will be a massive upgrade from what I currently have.

Intel Pentium 4 2.00 GHz
1 Gig RAM
nVidia 6600 256mb

So yeah its very old.

Anything anyone has to say?

RoyCook

01-07-2009, 03:42 PM

Anyone have any advice?

JayG

01-07-2009, 04:31 PM

Are you getting a new mother board as well?

olson

01-07-2009, 06:05 PM

Both systems are configured strangely. Slower processor with a lot of memory or faster processor with insufficient memory. The Core i7 system would be better if you can change the memory configuration to say 6GB with three 2GB modules or 12GB. Cheers!

RoyCook

01-07-2009, 08:32 PM

olson

01-07-2009, 09:15 PM

Well obvoiusly each system would come with the appropriate motherboard.

Yeah Ive decided if I were to go for the i7 I would get 6Gig RAM but Im just unsure about the video card, Ive never had an ATI before. I know the videocard doesn't play a big part in 3D work but will it cope with millions of polygons on the screen?

Still thinking I will get the i7.

I've got a Radeon HD 3870 512MB at home which does everything pretty well. You'd be better off with a higher end card though, like the 3870, 4850, 4870. The 4850 is a great card for the money. Cheers!

RoyCook

01-08-2009, 03:09 PM

Okay then thanks, Ive decided Im going to go with the i7 I think, the video card will probably get upgraded at some point but I wont be in any rush to do so.

Thanks

aglick

01-08-2009, 03:32 PM

i think i7 is definitely the way to go at this point. You won't be disappointed.

RoyCook

01-08-2009, 08:59 PM

Would a 21.5" screen be good enough they've removed the 23" should hopefully be able to order it last day of January when I get paid, looking forward to it :)

CGTalk Moderation

01-08-2009, 08:59 PM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.