Good Evening all,
I am starting my 3d animation thesis project soon and it's becoming apparent that my current computer isn't going to be able to do it alone/at all. Right now I have an HP HDX18t laptop with a 2.53 mHz dual core and 9600m and 4 gigs of ram. I'm using Maya 2009 and rendering with mental ray is taking anywhere from 6-20 minutes for a basic test frame.
I started browsing around Tom's and some other places and put together something I think I can afford.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next 2 weeks
BUDGET RANGE: 600-800 Before Rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: 3d modeling/rendering, compositing/photoshopping, surfing the internet, watching movies, playing games
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, tigerdirect.com if they have better deals (don't seem to), and I'll buy the CPU at the Microcenter near MIT, good deals there.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: MA, USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel chips, I'm open to most other things
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, I've never done it but it wold seem to help my situation greatly.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 is what I'm running now, I don't really want to go lower. I'm currently running two screens as well. The laptop screen (at 1920x1080) and one of the ASUS flat panels with the O-stand, 21.5".
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've read a few of the overclocking articles and I think I need some sort of additional cooling. Right now I guess it would be one of the fans Tecmo34 has in his recommended build posts. I'm going to add another monitor soon as well, I've grown quite dependent on the dual monitor set up in my work.
What I've hashed out...
Mobo - ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
GPU - XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB
PSU - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V
Case - Antec Two Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
HD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
DVD - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA
I hope to add another 4gb of ram when I can afford it, it should help with rendering. Is the system set up to utilize 8gb of ram? I know Maya will take it if it's there. It is my understanding that the GPU matters more for real-time rendering in the view ports.
So, that's why I have for now. Let me know if I'm way off, missed something, whatever one may feel like adding. May I add I love this site, it's become a daily read.
Love,
MagicMangoWagon
I am starting my 3d animation thesis project soon and it's becoming apparent that my current computer isn't going to be able to do it alone/at all. Right now I have an HP HDX18t laptop with a 2.53 mHz dual core and 9600m and 4 gigs of ram. I'm using Maya 2009 and rendering with mental ray is taking anywhere from 6-20 minutes for a basic test frame.
I started browsing around Tom's and some other places and put together something I think I can afford.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next 2 weeks
BUDGET RANGE: 600-800 Before Rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: 3d modeling/rendering, compositing/photoshopping, surfing the internet, watching movies, playing games
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, tigerdirect.com if they have better deals (don't seem to), and I'll buy the CPU at the Microcenter near MIT, good deals there.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: MA, USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel chips, I'm open to most other things
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, I've never done it but it wold seem to help my situation greatly.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 is what I'm running now, I don't really want to go lower. I'm currently running two screens as well. The laptop screen (at 1920x1080) and one of the ASUS flat panels with the O-stand, 21.5".
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've read a few of the overclocking articles and I think I need some sort of additional cooling. Right now I guess it would be one of the fans Tecmo34 has in his recommended build posts. I'm going to add another monitor soon as well, I've grown quite dependent on the dual monitor set up in my work.
What I've hashed out...
Mobo - ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
GPU - XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB
PSU - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V
Case - Antec Two Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
HD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
DVD - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA
I hope to add another 4gb of ram when I can afford it, it should help with rendering. Is the system set up to utilize 8gb of ram? I know Maya will take it if it's there. It is my understanding that the GPU matters more for real-time rendering in the view ports.
So, that's why I have for now. Let me know if I'm way off, missed something, whatever one may feel like adding. May I add I love this site, it's become a daily read.
Love,
MagicMangoWagon