Calling all Techies, comments requested

2

Comments

  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    3drendero,     THANKS        this one, from your list, seems like a good purchase  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP8558252

    CPU Main Features   64 bit 8-Core Processor

    I should have mentioned that I am not a "gamer", but I figure that the speed and grapthic quailty of "gamer" computers is ideal for CG modeling, rendering, and animation work.

    I have a good flat screen monitor, and don't need new mice, or keyboards.

     

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • SileneUKSileneUK Posts: 1,975
    vwrangler said:

    Ah. If it is humanly/financially possible, I'd suggest you spend an extra $100 (or thereabouts) and get a license for Windows 10 Pro. The main advantage of Pro over Home is that you can more easily defer updates, and for longer periods of time. Microsoft is explcitly using Windows 10 Home as the testbed for a lot of things before rolling it out to their corporate customers, so that they know where the pain points are. (Hence the recent Windows 10 build 1809 fiasco, in which Microsoft pushed out an OS that simply wasn't ready, and it backfired on them and especially on users, quite badly.) 

    Thank you.. I will if I don't buy a wee tablet with keyboard to surf the net and stuff. Will decide next year.   Cheers!  yes Silene

  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    In general, the most important purchase for a PC is a backup device. For example a USB stick or portable harddrive. It will save you from botched Windows updates and hundreds of other problems, if you remember to backup everything monthly.
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    You are welcome Flash. The cheapest fast 8 core I could find right now. It is a bit limited with its 300W PSU, if you want to upgrade to a bigger GPU in the future since GPU rendering is popular. But 400W desktops are 700+...
  • 3drendero,

    At my budget limit, some sacrifies have to be made. No way to avoid it. My main creative focus would be to create new still imagery, with animation being secondary so maybe the "budget graphics card" won't be too much of a problem.

     

  • StezzaStezza Posts: 8,116

    my video card is only a NVidia GeForce GT640

    but I don't play games or do any serious animation.. and don't use DazStudio or Poser.

    only recently I have thought about maybe updating the card but thought nuh... not yet, no need to. yes

  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    I found these basic specs for the NVidia GeForce cards mentioned here, for comparison.

    GeForce 600 series  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_series

    GeForce 10 series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_10_series

    So if I understand this stuff, the Amazom computer I listed has a very fast video card plus it's 8 cores.

    However, I have never heard of the brand name Shinobee before. A lot of good reviews, but I don't want to purchase a digital turkey that breaks down too soon, or is crawling with bugs.

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • TangoAlphaTangoAlpha Posts: 4,584

    As always, 128GB SSD is far too small. I'd suggest 512GB as the minimum requirement for your C drive, otherwise you'll be spending all your time shunting stuff off it to avoid disk full errors.

    Otherwise, if you go for it, check that you get what you ordered (screencap the specs page), as the reviews seem to suggest there's some variation in the product supplied.

  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    edited December 2018
    Avoid the Shinobee, it has the old AMD FX CPU which is basically half the speed of the new AMD Ryzen CPU. The previous HP would be about 2x faster at Carrara rendering. Also, stay away from weird small resellers at Amazon.
    Post edited by 3drendero on
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    Only found 1 decent rig on Amazon for a decent price. 715$ with a better GPU that can run some GPU rendering like Luxrender. Otherwise like previously a fast 8 core Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD. https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaCentre-Computer-i7-7700k-Bluetooth/dp/B07CP3SQ4M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1544634722&sr=8-9&keywords=Ryzen+7+desktop
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    edited December 2018
    Regarding the GPU in Carrara, usually not used at all, but FLUIDOS the fluid sim has GPU support and also Luxus plugin for Luxrender 1.6 can do GPU rendering. Also future proof for other 3D renderers and general Windows workstation use for 5+ years. EDIT the 700$ desktop also has a 400W PSU which probably lasts longer than the 300W PSU of the cheaper desktop. Important if you will render a lot for a long time.
    Post edited by 3drendero on
  • 3drendero  Thanks

    Just out of curiosty, what is the absolute best desktop computer for CG graphics image and animation creation for those who have so much money that they don't know what to do with it.

  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    AMD released their 32core beast 2990WX to beat the Intel 18 core 7980x. Both are 2000$ CPUs that need rigs for another 2000$ with watercooling to support overclocking. The core wars started this year. Next year is going to even better... 64core desktops are rumored to be shown at CES.
  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    One of the desktop computer pages listed the model number for the computer casing.. Out of curiosty I checked to find out how much the casing, by itself, would cost and to my surprise I found that the casing was being sold in a variety of colors. I like silver.

    Almost all desktop computers are not offered in a variety of colors which annoys me, but a good number of laptop models are, some even light blue.

    So, in short would it be difficult to move components from inside one casing into another casing of a different color scheme, or would it require a specialist.

    In the late 1990s, when I had money, I had a a local computer store build me a desktop and I asked for a silver casing. It looked great, and that computer lasted a long time.

    I have never built a desktop from the bottom up, just replaced or added components once in a great while.

    So for me it's Silver, or that aluminum look from science fiction space films of the 1960s.

     

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,289
    edited December 2018

    I think you can house a computer in anything if you have the right mounting, even a bar fridge cheeky

    it depends how handy you are with a philips head screwdriver and a soldering iron

    Post edited by WendyLuvsCatz on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,289
    edited December 2018

    not the best idea by the way, too much moisture 

    a cage is actually the best case with a powerful fan and maybe liquid cooling 

    Post edited by WendyLuvsCatz on
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    The cyberpowerpc on the first page was built with standard parts, so that is "easy" to move to another standard PC case. The OEM PCs (HP, Dell) usually have custom parts that often have unique interfaces and high chance of a difficult case move.
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    edited December 2018
    On the best high cost workstation PC, I forgot to add a 3-4 pack of GPUs for rendering in Octane or Luxrender. For example 4x 2080 Ti for 5000$ to get a total of 10000+ dollars. Next year it will be possible to break the 30k$ for a workstation. Intel will introduce a 10k$ CPU. Nvidias new RTX Titan will be 10k for a 4way pack. Then the custom PSUs, industrial grade cooling (3kW) and so on will be at least 10k. Note that a 6kW rig needs an upgraded electrical system in your house, apartments are out of question.
    Post edited by 3drendero on
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    edited December 2018
    Alright, now we are getting somewhere. Amazon has a new PC part picker site for DIY builders. It is smart enough to show compatible parts and warn for problem. Built you a 700$ 8-core rig with the cheapest silver box I found. Can handle overclocking and the Nvidia GPU should be able to render in most apps too. Play around with it... https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pfgTRJ
    Post edited by 3drendero on
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    My bad, pc part picker is another company. Amazon has a new similar function, but not as good. https://www.anandtech.com/show/13657/amazon-launches-pc-hardware-compatibility-checker
  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026
    If you already have an old harddrive you can re use, i would buy an 240gb SSD for fast booting and app starting. But load all 3D content on the old drive.
  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    Wendy_Carrara,  A silver cage ....   what about dust getting into it real quick.    Maybe a hamster in it too, Ha, hah

    A can of silver paint would do it for the casings.

    The way things are going here I may have to wait till next year sometime to purchase a new desktop. Meanwhile I have my 2012 laptop which is still working fine, and a cheap spare blue Chromebook in case the laptop croaks.

     

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • Wendy_Carrara,  A silver cage ....   what about dust getting into it real quick.    Maybe a hamster in it too, Ha, hah

    Maybe a can of silver paint would do it with the casings.

     

     

    well apparently the fans are set up to actually blow the dust out not suck it in which makes sense
  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    3drendero   Thanks for the PC part picker help. Sorry I am answering so late but I had to do some clean-up stuff here and I was offline until now.

    Wendy_Carrara   The cage has special "dust fans" then as well as regular type "cooling fans? My desktop fans just did cooling, and whenever I opened up the case there was dust all over the place. I doubt if they could have cleared all that dust even if my case had been an open cage.

     

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,289
    edited December 2018

    3drendero   Thanks for the PC part picker help. Sorry I am answering so late but I had to do some clean-up stuff here and I was offline until now.

    Wendy_Carrara   The cage has special "dust fans" then as well as regular type "cooling fans? My desktop fans just did cooling, and whenever I opened up the case there was dust all over the place. I doubt if they could have cleared all that dust even if my case had been an open cage.

     

    I have the side off my case and it actually gets much less dust than when it was not open but I guess it depends on the case and fans, it cannot be sealed or fans will not blow out the air so it has to be also sucked in

    Post edited by WendyLuvsCatz on
  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    Wendy_Carrara    Being a slob about cleaning too much of time, I should probably keep desktops with one of their side lids off, and maybe a small light beaming on the inside, so that I am forced to see the dust build-up and clean it up before it becomes a mess.

    This got me thinking about room temperature superconductors in home computers, and I found this .https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AwrUiTkrFhNc_i0AbSgPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?qid=20091119044650AAXRmTC

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • Retro LadRetro Lad Posts: 471
    edited December 2018

    3drendero  Wow, that PC part picker is great. Your parts choices all look good to me. I am pooped from house chore labor today, so tomorrow I will monkey about with the "part picker options.

    Post edited by Retro Lad on
  • 3drendero.

    Wait a minute ..... Am I supposed to assemble and build my new computer from the parts they send to me from PC part picker? I would probably elecrocute myself, or place something in "reversed" and get it fried to a crisp complete with a mini mushroom cloud. Do they have a "we assemble it for you" option?

    If I did assemble it I would have to be extremely careful. Every cent counts in this desert flophouse.

  • 3drendero3drendero Posts: 2,026

    Yes, it is for hardcore DIY:ers only. If you can log about 10+ hours on Youtube learning about DIY PC building, it should be OK.
    But yes, in theory you can burn down your house...

    Here are cheaper options without proper GPU, just the integrated Intel graphics that suck at everything, but Carrara runs well:

    Brand new 300$ modern quad core (2018) with 8GB RAM and 500GB HDD (slow):
    https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883101686&Description=TC-865-NESelecti3&cm_re=TC-865-NESelecti3-_-83-101-686-_-Product

    Refurb old 140$ good quad core (2012) with 8GB RAM and 500GB HDD (mail in rebate):
    https://flash.newegg.com/Product/9SIAHRS7ZG7192

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