Building new Video/Design/Gaming Rig.

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B4RK0D3

Member
Mar 29, 2006
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I work as a graphic designer, so obviously I frequently use the whole Adobe CS3 suite. I've also been doing some motion graphics and video work lately, as well as getting into video game art asset development. That means modeling in 3DS Max too. Call me ADD, but I like to say that I'm just an artist with many hobbies and hats :)

I've been working on my 939 machine, which has served me well. It's starting to feel the pain when I'm working in After Effects, though. Besides a good video card, I feel a little overwhelmed with all the new processors and motherboards that are out now. Any ideas/suggestions?

Breakdown:

1. Lots of task switching, between programs like 3DS Max, Photoshop, After Effects, etc.

2. Budget: let's say max $1800.

3. I live in the US.

4. Brand preference: AMD, NVidia, EVGA, WD. I can be talked into other stuff though.

5. No overclocking, just default speeds. I'm not really educated in that area.

6. I'd like to build it over the next 6 months or so.

Thanks in advance for any advice, I appreciate it! :beer:
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Originally posted by: B4RK0D3
I work as a graphic designer, so obviously I frequently use the whole Adobe CS3 suite. I've also been doing some motion graphics and video work lately, as well as getting into video game art asset development. That means modeling in 3DS Max too.
Click to expand...
I'm sure most will guide you to current consumer cards. But just so that you know...

* 3ds Max supported graphic cards
* After Effects CS3 supported graphic cards
* Premiere Pro CS3 supported graphic cards


 
DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
4,902
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71
If you're not building for six months, there's very little purpose in assembling an exact list right now, as prices will undoubtedly have changed in one month, let alone six. If you buy parts slowly over the course of six months, then you run into another problem. If one of your six-month-old parts is defective by the time you actually build the system, you'll be outside the retailer's return period. Generally it's easier to get a replacement part from the retailer than from the manufacturer.

Edit: As a general list though, you'd probably be looking at something like this:

Core2 based processor
P45 motherboard
One high-end graphics card
500GB-1TB hard drive (unless you need more space for work)
4-8GB of DDR2 (although by the time you build DDR3 may actually be an option)
400-600W power supply, depending on the graphics card and future intentions

Even though it won't do you much good to price the whole thing out, it's still good to start your research now. Find out about what's coming up in the future, figure out what case you want, etc.

Speaking of six months - Intel's next processor line, being referred to as Nehalem, is set to debut some time at the end of this year or the beginning of next. When they first come out they'll be expensive and not targeted at individual consumers, but the more attractively priced chips should be right around the corner. Something to think about if you're not looking to buy for six months.
 
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B4RK0D3

Member
Mar 29, 2006
90
0
66
Blain - thanks very much for the extended graphics card info. I didn't even think to check if specific cards were or weren't supported by certain programs! Hopefully they'll add the NVidia Geforce 9800GTX to that list soon -- that's what I was hoping to get.

DSF - Yeah, I'm not really trying to put together an exact list. Mostly just putting my feelers out for anybody's experiences with newer processors and motherboards, etc. I'll definitely read up on the Nehalem though. I haven't heard of that yet.



What about quad core? I haven't heard much about the newer quads yet. Also, I'd still realllllly prefer to stay with XP. Am I going to run into problems trying to install more than 4 GB of RAM, as well as hardware compatibility? Should I just bite the bullet and go Vista?
 
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betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
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For the number and size of apps that you are going to be switching between, you really should be looking at a 64bit OS (and yes, for most ppl that means some form of Vista). You are likely to be running 4GB of RAM to start with (installed as 2x2GB), with the option to add more as necessary (most ATX/mATX motherboards allow 4 DIMMs these days). If you limit yourself to XP32, then your working memory space won't be much over 3GB (depending on other hardware resources).
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
It's not on the official "support" lists, but I think an ATI HD 4870 would be a nice card for your needs.
It's got performance, technology and price going for it. :laugh:

Just make sure you get as high a wattage PS as DSF can recommend.
 
DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
4,902
0
71
Originally posted by: B4RK0D3

What about quad core? I haven't heard much about the newer quads yet. Also, I'd still realllllly prefer to stay with XP. Am I going to run into problems trying to install more than 4 GB of RAM, as well as hardware compatibility? Should I just bite the bullet and go Vista?
Click to expand...

XP32 won't let you see more than about 3-3.5GB of RAM, no matter how much you have installed. There won't be any stability problems or anything, you just won't have the RAM available to you.

From what I understand, XP64 is actually even worse than Vista at this point in terms of compatibility, drivers, etc. If you're looking to use more than 4GB of RAM, Vista is the way to go at this point. Most of the kinks have been worked out.

At this point the games which truly take advantage of quad core are few and far between. Obviously that will change, but there aren't even many games which use two cores, let alone four. The question is not whether it will happen, but when. If you're intending to use the rig for two years or less before rebuilding, I think dual core is probably a better bet. After that point it's tough to say, and nobody would fault you for going quad. (If any of your work applications use four cores though, by all means you need to take that into account. I just don't know whether they do or not.)
 
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