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Computer Graphics Q6600 Build

W

wallabeex

n00b
Joined
Dec 26, 2005
Messages
32
Was hoping to get some feedback on a machine I'm building for the head of my CG studio. I don't know a whole lot about the Intel side of the fence, but it's obvious that's where to go now. He's got a big budget and says "He doesn't want to worry about needing to buy another machine for at least three years, so upgradability is key".

Power is also key: Quad core, 8GB of RAM, nice card, all a must. We'll be running Maya and Shake as well as a few other graphics apps with this, very high production. We'll probably stay away from over clocking. And before it's said, we can't wait the four weeks for the price drop.

Anyway, this is what I've got so far:
-----------------------------------------
Q6600 Kensfield 2.4GHz

ASUS P5N-E Motherboard

2 Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA drives to RAID 1 (for OS and programs in case of failure, can't risk downtime)

1 Seagate 750GB SATA drive (local project storage, have server)

Could use suggestions on 8GB of RAM (4x2GB)

Also could use a suggestion on a $500-600 video card (Quadro FX1500 or 8800 .. won't be gaming at all)

Antec Nine Hundred Case

Enermax Liberty ELT500AWT 500W Power Supply (again, I'd take suggestions, just want modular cables)
-------------------------------------------------

Thanks. Again, no games, just CG work. He has a concern regarding the low amount of RAM on the Quadro FX1500 because he's going to be doing stereoscopic work that outputs to dual monitors and/or dual projectors and wants a large framebuffer. I don't know enough about it to make the call either way.
 
If you want the best upgradeability as far as the processor goes, I would go with a mobo based on the P35 chipset. The Asus P5K's are pretty good based on the general consensus of [H]
 
wallabeex said:
He has a concern regarding the low amount of RAM on the Quadro FX1500 because he's going to be doing stereoscopic work that outputs to dual monitors and/or dual projectors and wants a large framebuffer. I don't know enough about it to make the call either way.
Click to expand...

I think you'll have trouble finding a workstation class card for $500-$600 if he wants more than 256MB. You can either live with the fewer OpenGL features of the 8800GTX, or pony up the dough for the Quadro FX 4600 or 5600. The FireGL 7300 might be another option.
 
If you don't need overclockability because you need complete stability:
http://www.apple.com/macpro/ + Bootcamp

-4 or 8 cores
-Eight FB-DIMM slots on two memory riser cards (four slots per card) supporting up to 16GB of main memory
-The Ram is ECC so less prone to errors but you need to use FB-Dimms like in servers tho.
-Firewire 400 and 800 ports
-3 Open full lenght PCI-Express slots (16X mechanical, number of lanes per slots is user changable depending on needs with a special utility. Info here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304122

Both CPU have been succesfully changed for faster PGA771 Xeon's so the CPU are upgradable.

Plus you'd have the ability to boot in Mac in the case you want to run Final Cut Pro which is always a nice plus =)
 
Cyant said:
Plus you'd have the ability to boot in Mac in the case you want to run After Effect which is always a nice plus =)
Click to expand...

Not to Macbash, but it would be easier just to run the Windows version of After Effects than reboot. :p I do agree the MacPro would make a nicer workstation than anything custom...
 
Cyant said:
If you don't need overclockability because you need complete stability:
http://www.apple.com/macpro/ + Bootcamp

-4 or 8 cores
-Eight FB-DIMM slots on two memory riser cards (four slots per card) supporting up to 16GB of main memory
-The Ram is ECC so less prone to errors but you need to use FB-Dimms like in servers tho.
-Firewire 400 and 800 ports
-3 Open full lenght PCI-Express slots (16X mechanical, number of lanes per slots is user changable depending on needs with a special utility. Info here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304122

Both CPU have been succesfully changed for faster PGA771 Xeon's so the CPU are upgradable.

Plus you'd have the ability to boot in Mac in the case you want to run After Effect which is always a nice plus =)
Click to expand...

I think he needs better upgradeability. And Apple = very little upgradeability.
 
bassman said:
Not to Macbash, but it would be easier just to run the Windows version of After Effects than reboot. :p I do agree the MacPro would make a nicer workstation than anything custom...
Click to expand...

Did I say After Effect? I meant Final Cut Pro doh heheh
 
WhiteZero said:
I think he needs better upgradeability. And Apple = very little upgradeability.
Click to expand...

Yeah because your PC have 4 times 16x mechanical user configurable bandwith PCI express lanes and Firewire 800, it also accept 16GB of ram and has 2x PGA771 sockets for Octo-CPU cores (so far) goodness? Entertain me, tell me how much more upgradable your PC is.
 
william_fontaine said:
If we're talking stability, then Solaris + SPARC > OSX + x86
Click to expand...

Yeah but then good luck getting the software you need... I didn't say anything about software stability, the only thing I talked about was ECC ram plus Intel 5000 server chipset is stable.
 
I appreciate all the responses.

Regarding the Mac Pro - it's something I *hadn't* thought of, honestly, but I can still beat it's price point and I don't need OSX. The above will probably run $2700 after the $500 video card and shipping, and it simply nails the $2500 Mac Pro to the floor. Just quick comparisons: 8GB of ram versus 1GB, 750GB of storage versus 250GB (not to mention the raptors!). Don't get me wrong - I personally run a Macbook Pro C2D and love it and I understand that the Mac Pro offers expandability and then some, but for our money right now this seems like a better option. I'll mention it to him, in any case, and thanks for reminding me.

Regarding stability - I never mentioned anything about it needing to be stable. Obviously it'd be nice to not deal with multiple crashes a day, but nothing from above says "Unstable" to me in the sense of a CG workstation. It might not be as stable as a server, but it doesn't need to be.

And thanks for the comment on the P5K, I'll look into it and likely take your suggestion! I think we'll probably just end up going Quadro, as well, and if he needs a different card later we'll just shuffle the Quadro to another workstation.
 
Since XP came out I've noticed virtually no difference between Windows and OSX stability. Shoot, my Dell has only locked twice in 2 years.
 
Cyant said:
Yeah because your PC have 4 times 16x mechanical user configurable bandwith PCI express lanes and Firewire 800, it also accept 16GB of ram and has 2x PGA771 sockets for Octo-CPU cores (so far) goodness? Entertain me, tell me how much more upgradable your PC is.
Click to expand...

My Dell Precision 690 is a whole lot more upgradeable. Plus it does SLI for Quadro 4500s (4600s now), can handle 64 gigs of ram and has four SAS ports and four hard drive bays, bring on your Mac Pro... ;)
 
If you don't need overclockability because you need complete stability:
http://www.apple.com/macpro/ + Bootcamp

-4 or 8 cores
-Eight FB-DIMM slots on two memory riser cards (four slots per card) supporting up to 16GB of main memory
-The Ram is ECC so less prone to errors but you need to use FB-Dimms like in servers tho.
-Firewire 400 and 800 ports
-3 Open full lenght PCI-Express slots (16X mechanical, number of lanes per slots is user changable depending on needs with a special utility. Info here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304122

Both CPU have been succesfully changed for faster PGA771 Xeon's so the CPU are upgradable.

Plus you'd have the ability to boot in Mac in the case you want to run Final Cut Pro which is always a nice plus =)
Click to expand...

I looked but the best video cards you can get stock are 7300GTs or Radeon 1900's. What about 8800 love?
 
Still looking for recommendation on RAM and a confirmation that the Enermax PSU is a good one.
 
Get either the g-skill or ocv, PC2 6800 (800 mhz) 4 gig kits. They're around 200 bucks for 4 gigs. I'd recommend crucial above all else, but I don't think they have out any 4 gig kits. Though the P35 boards can run faster memory, there's not much out in the way of 2 gig sticks for anywhere near a resonable price. At that point you might as well buy dual Xeons and FB-Dimms.
 
wallabeex said:
Still looking for recommendation on RAM and a confirmation that the Enermax PSU is a good one.
Click to expand...

For the powersupply, you can't go wrong with Seasonic or Corsair PSU ;) Enermax seems on the decline lately from what I've saw so try to avoid them.

 
Thanks for the suggestion on the PSU. And regarding the RAM, I hear you, I've always bought Corsair or Crucial and they're sort of lacking in the neck of the woods I'm shopping in. Since I've at least heard of OCZ, I'll probably end up going with them.
 
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