jclarke88ok :
Our company is looking for 10 desktops that are capable of editing pictures processing them and printing them out for customers.
Also we need different software for us to do this so we are trusting you to know what software we can use for this.
We also need a network to be set up for us so that we can send and communicate with each other securely without data being lost or taken by hackers.
So we would need some anti-virus set up in each desktop as well.
We would also like for you to find some high quality monitors for us to use while editing and creating photos to high standards so this is very important that we can see what we are doing in high detail.
Some printers that will also be needed to connect to the network would also be very helpful for us.
And our budget is 50 grand.
Any quires don’t hesitate to ask.
jclark88ok,
Specification of this kind of system will be dependent on: input rate, file size, file sharing, kinds of effects processing, output size, output rate, output automation, the kind of printers used, and the number of applications that need to be shared. The more specific the specification to the variety and level of performance for each task, the better the allocation of expenditure. If all the computers have the same function on the same kinds of tasks, that's simpler, but if for example, there is only a small percentage of work extracting 2D images from 3D models and rendering, there would be less need for graphics cards with very high 3D capabilities, or seeing it another way, the very high end card would go into systems that had to make or navigate complex 3D models.
In general, to start the conversation I'd say:
Desktops: 10 Dell Precision: These might be all nearly dentical and have a general, good cost / performance specification , e.g.: Xeon E5-1650 v3, 32GB DDR4-2133 ECC, Quadro M4000 (4GB), 500GB SSD, dual or quad Ethernet (?), BluRay optical, card reader. In the case of very large, complex project- say the firm was plotting large, custom oil exploration maps, better use of the costs may be to have a two-level hierarchy where there were a couple of super-duper systems with dual Xeon E5-2600 series CPU's, 128MB RAM, Quadro M5000 or M6000. If any of the work is analytical, for example ArcGIS MATLAB, there will be other variations in hardware.
My experience is that an office should have one system that is beyond any expectation of need, as it's too late to upgrade when you really must do. That's true of software as well. several times I've found I need to buy and learn software to do a project and by then of course, it's too late- or the project will be.
There is an argument too that there might be two kinds of systems, mostly editing //processing /rendering,- image manipulation, and then one or two systems are output systems- someone who receives the print-ready images and is the master printing boffin, setting up colour calibrations and print /plotting queues. the graphics card could be more basic and a slower CPU. One system might also be a system dedicated to communicating with clients- sending out printer drivers and calibrations tables, and receiving and documenting: setting up client, order number and order process, time keeping, etc.,and then distributing the files for the image processing. There are a lot of possibilities.
20 monitors: Possibly the most important hardware choice. For this, I suggest each system has two monitors, for example, two 27" with one monitor a 10-bit color correcting / calibrating monitor for editing, plus one 27" monitor for menus and output software. this could also be done as one 30" and one 24" and so on. It's important to have the staff using these to see the monitors in person and check the colour calibration carefully, the way the controls work, reflectivity of the screens and son on. If possible, buy without reflection coatings as these put a milky veil over the image. It would be preferable to darken the work room or hang black cloth behing the user than to waste the monitor quality. However, if the room must be very bright, there may be no alternative. I bought a pair of Dell Ultrasharps and the coating was supposed to be minimal, but all my projects appear to have sites where it's a bit foggy all the time and I tend to make renderings overly saturated to compensate. There are some very good professional monitors by Eizo, NEC, Viewsonic, Samsumg, ASUS.
Server: You'll need a reasonable server, though it's impossible to characterize it closely without knowing the amount of daily throughput, storage required and son. What is certain is to contract for a high-level professional, instant response maintenance and vigilant security monitoring. I know of a surprisingly small firm that would lose up to $30,000 per hour if the server went down or caught a virus.
Imaging Software: Given industry standards, you couldn't go too far wrong by acquiring- well, subscribing to- Adobe CS and the level depends on the works as the Master collection includes video and sound programs that the firm may or may not need.
Printing Software: While Adobe CS has fairly sophisticated page setup, printing subprograms, there is a possibility that you might have specialized printing programmes. I don't know this software personally, but I've spent a lot of time in firms plotting architectural drawings and they have proprietary software to control the complicated networking of the output devices.
Anyway, there are some first thoughts.
Cheers,
BambiBoom
1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz > 32GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K4200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 5064 > CPU= 13989 / 2D= 819 / 3D= 4596 / Mem= 2772 / Disk= 4555] [Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1014 OpenGL= 126.59 FPS] 7.8.15
Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA HBA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)
2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3490 / CPU = 9178 / 2D= 685 / 3D= 3566 / Mem= 1865 / Disk= 2122] [Cinebench 15 > CPU = 772 OpenGL= 99.72 FPS] 7.8.15
Pending upgrade: PERC H310 PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X WD Black 1TB (RAID 1)(Converts disk system from 3GB/s to 6GB/s)
3. HP z420 (2013) > Xeon E5-1620 four core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz > 24GB DDR3 ECC 1600 RAM > AMD V4900 (1GB) > Seagate 500GB > Linksys WMP600N WiFi
[Passmark system rating = 2372 / CPU = 9001 / 2D= 712 / 3D= 1353/ Mem= 2261 / Disk= 712]
4. Dell Precision T5400 (2008) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB DDR2 667 ECC> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card / Linksys WMP600N WiFi > HP 2711X, 27" 1920 X 1080 and Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit >
[ Passmark system Rating = 1859, CPU = 8528 / 2D= 512 / 3D=1097 Mem= 730, Disk= 929]
5. Dell Precision 390 (2007) (Revised): Xeon X3230 quad-core @ 2.67GHz > 8 GB DDR2 ECC 667 > Quadro K600 > 2X WD 320GB >Linksys WMP600N WiFi > Dell 24" > 1920 X 1200 > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
[ Passmark system rating = 1296], CPU = 2953 / 2D= 382 / 3D=862 / Mem= 853 / Disk=569]
Pending Upgrade: PERC 6/i SAS/SATA RAID controller, 146GB and 300GB 15K SAS drives from Dell Precision T5500 (Original)
6. Dell Dimension E520 (2007)( Revised): Core2 Duo E6700 dual core @2.66GHz > 4GB DDR2 667 > GeForce GT440 (1GB GDDR5) > 2X Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
[Passmark system rating = 1219, CPU = 2024 / 2D= 457 / 3D=978 / Mem= 828 / Disk=576]
7. HP Elite m9426f (2007) Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz > 8GB DDR2 667 > AMD Radeon 6650 > Seagate 750GB > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > EMU 0404 PCI MIDI duplex sound cardDell 17" LCD
8. Dell Poweredge 2600 (2009) (Server) Xeon X3230, 16GB DDR2-667 ECC, 2X 73GB 15K SAS, 3X 146GB 15K SAS
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