Computer geeks- what system to build?

[mrfitz]

I think it is safe to say that you and I have very different
approaches to life (and computers).

lol!

Not really! But unless you are wanting to do 3DS Max really fast...there simply is no need for ultra expensive machines for even fairly heavy users...

And hell man your wallet must be real thin! lol

 

[mrfitz]

No not really you need a capture card, that takes the heat off the
cpu big time.

Rendering speed doesn't matter at all?

You surprise me! Of course it does, but you know that a dedicated
capture card does most of the hard work dont you?

This is something that I'm not into (so excuse my ignorance if I am
wrong here), but isn't a capture card merely a NUMBER CRUNCHER for
DIGITIZING? It does NOT DISPLAY the video on the screen in real
time. THAT is why I would expect SLI video cards to be a major
advantage here. Make sense or am I still "not getting it"?

Some programs take advantage of graphics cards when video
editing...true...

I have seen modest pc's with expensive capture cards run like
hell......

Well the capture card crunches the numbers, but frees up the cpu, which is the main workhorse for rendering...

You are right to say graphics can make a difference, with the high end apps sony vegas etc...but the bottleneck is the cpu mostly...

Though when full 64bit support comes online, it will help no end...

I like your power systems though, even if we have slightly different ideas.

I do mostly quiet pc's so its a compromise on noise/performance....

 

[psideburns]

Hey IG, dont want to mess with my current system, just leave it be and make the new one for ME. I'll need a network when the new one is up and running- got ethernet lines already installed but would like wireless also for future laptop- thats another thread-lol. But how would I check to see what it is anyway? Is it in device manager? -p

 

[trh]

Use the ATA connector!

Whats ATA?
--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

 

[mrfitz]

Use the ATA connector!

Whats ATA?
--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

Or IDE....same connector that you use for your optical drives....
Shouild have 2 at least...

 

[trh]

Use the ATA connector!

Whats ATA?
--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

Or IDE....same connector that you use for your optical drives....
Shouild have 2 at least...

I have one with 2 DVD/CD burners on it.

--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

 

[mrfitz]

Use the ATA connector!

Whats ATA?
--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

Or IDE....same connector that you use for your optical drives....
Shouild have 2 at least...

I have one with 2 DVD/CD burners on it.

--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

You should have another one.....its no big deal...

Of course you always have the option to buy a pci card to add SATA, and or IDE ports....raid etc.....

They are pretty cheap too....

 

[irish-george]

No not really you need a capture card, that takes the heat off the
cpu big time.

Rendering speed doesn't matter at all?

You surprise me! Of course it does, but you know that a dedicated
capture card does most of the hard work dont you?

This is something that I'm not into (so excuse my ignorance if I am
wrong here), but isn't a capture card merely a NUMBER CRUNCHER for
DIGITIZING? It does NOT DISPLAY the video on the screen in real
time. THAT is why I would expect SLI video cards to be a major
advantage here. Make sense or am I still "not getting it"?

Some programs take advantage of graphics cards when video
editing...true...

I have seen modest pc's with expensive capture cards run like
hell......

Well the capture card crunches the numbers, but frees up the cpu,
which is the main workhorse for rendering...

You are right to say graphics can make a difference, with the high
end apps sony vegas etc...but the bottleneck is the cpu mostly...

Though when full 64bit support comes online, it will help no end...

I like your power systems though, even if we have slightly
different ideas.

The OP just happened to catch me at the right time...I JUST tried putting together (on paper) and pricing what I'd put together right now if still employed (I find it a fun exercise once in awhile and haven't done it in a couple of years). In spite of what I listed, I AM very sensitive to price/performance ratios. I once had my own business and paid $150k for a computer that is totally eclipsed by today's cheapest Dell...in fact, when I added 1MB of memory to it, that was $6k and the 300MB drive was $30k. I DON'T miss those days at all...cheap PCs for everyone is so much better.

I do mostly quiet pc's so its a compromise on noise/performance....

For what application(s)?

 

[mrfitz]

For what application(s)?

Desktops to workstations

 

[emfoto]

Try AMD - you will probably need it for the gaming. Go for PCI Express graphic card.

Maybe wait for Vista...