Suggestions for new computer, please

Darktalyn1 · Post by **Darktalyn1** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:57 am

Hi guys,

I am planning to put together a new computer for doing 3d work at home.

I was thinking about a 3.4 or 3.6 Ghz Pentium 4. If you have suggestions for a good motherboard to get, and even what ram I should get, please post them here!

I'm not insanely knowledgeable on the hardware side of things so all tips would be great

Thanks

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Mon May 16, 2005 6:10 am

My only reccomendation is the video card

Quadro FX

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Mon May 16, 2005 7:16 am

I only use MSI or Asus boards. Abit is good I've heard. I really like the MSI's layout and features. I've always used Asus beforehand and for gaming boards. Both are dependable.

Gig of ram. Mushkin/Crucial, or Corsair. No less than a gig. You can get Mushkin for about $100. Get (2) 512mb sticks so you can run them dual-ddr.

I've always used Maxtors, I haven't lost one yet. Wait, yes I did, but I found it the next day.

Darktalyn1 · Post by **Darktalyn1** » Mon May 16, 2005 3:53 pm

Hi everyone

Well I ended up getting a 3.4 Ghz Pentium 4 & a Gigabyte motherboard. My last 2 motherboards were Asus and then MSI, and I had good experiences with both. I was seriously considering either of those brands but ended up going with Gigabyte based on what I read about that board with the particular CPU I bought. Although I have never had any personal experience with Gigabyte, so I guess I will very soon.... (crossing fingers)

I also got 2 sticks of Kingston 1GB DDR 400 ram - I bought Kingston RAM for my last computer and never had a problem

Based on what I was reaiding online every thing should work together, although this will be an adventure, I only ever built a computer once with my friends help... And that was years ago

I also picked up a couple 19" LCD monitors from Dell

The rest of the stuff I'm ripping out of my old computer

I would love to get a Quadro but damn they are so expensive!!! They also don't give the same boost in performace in Maya that they do in 3d Studio Max

Thanks, hopefully this will all work out. The parts arrive by Thursday

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:23 pm

BUBBALOU wrote:My only reccomendation is the video card

Quadro FX

No need -- get a 6800GT (or Ultra) and use RivaTuner to "change" it into a Quadro. Works quite well, we use a "modded" 6800 for SolidWorks.

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Mon May 16, 2005 6:44 pm

a good one... get a good one.

er oh yea.. one that takes more than one hand to lift.

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Mon May 16, 2005 7:03 pm

Go slow, and read up on installing the cpu heatsink. It's the only touchy part, getting that on cleanly. The rest is nothing.

Darktalyn1 · Post by **Darktalyn1** » Sun May 22, 2005 1:19 am

Just an update - I got it up and running!

Only took a long, determined, 15 hour day. Although the sound card still isn't installed, will do that tomorrow along with as many program installations I can handle.

For now, sleep

Darktalyn1 · Post by **Darktalyn1** » Sun May 22, 2005 8:47 am

Hi guys; another question for you...

I have the dual monitors set up and working. Everything is fine except that it wants to open dialog boxes in the direct middle of the two screens, so it's half on display a and half on display b.

I tried looking in the nview display properties to find the option to fix this, but no luck so far. Does anone know what setting I need to check to keep windows popping up on one display or the other?

Thanks

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sun May 22, 2005 12:52 pm

In display properties/settings tab, check the box marked extend my windows desktop onto this monitor for the second monitor, then go into the advanced button then the geforce tab, set the nview display mode to dualview and it should be fixed.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:47 pm

Grendel wrote:
BUBBALOU wrote:My only reccomendation is the video card

Quadro FX
No need -- get a 6800GT (or Ultra) and use RivaTuner to "change" it into a Quadro. Works quite well, we use a "modded" 6800 for SolidWorks.

i agree here, Quadro's are dedicated to 3d rendering.

and X2 to Grendel's comment. with Riva you can unlock the GPU's Quadro sections that are built into the chip.

you can also use some new coolbits registry tweaks. that unlock even further items.

FunkyStickman · Post by **FunkyStickman** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:41 pm

Testiculese wrote: I've always used Maxtors, I haven't lost one yet. Wait, yes I did, but I found it the next day.

Funny, I've thrown away more Maxtors than most people have ever laid eyes on. I even had two new ones that wouldn't format.

And I also run a Dualview setup when I use Windows. Make sure to use "Dualview" as the mode, not "horizontal span". It gives you a lot more possibilities, including saving individual program preferences. Krom's directions are right on the money.

FunkyStickman · Post by **FunkyStickman** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:58 pm

Sorry, double post.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Mon May 23, 2005 6:32 pm

I've seen lots of (insert any brand here) drives fail before, they aren't any better then (insert any other brand here)'s drives.