good motherboards for use with 3D applications?

[plastick]

I just want to get some ideas for motherboards out there that are good for use in 3D apps such as Max, Maya, zBrush, and all that. That's what I do, work with millions of polygons. I currently have a Chaintech NF3-250 board with an Athlon64 3000+ and 1gb memory (soon to be 2gb maxed out). Things are pretty good but it can get bogged down sometimes when I have a lot of stuff in a scene and I am trying to move around or just do whatever kind of work I need to do.

Could anyone recommend some better boards that I can use my cpu in and also upgrade to a better cpu in the future; plus I need to be able to put more than 2 gigs of memory in there. I'm going to look on newegg too, I just thought I would ask here first.

Thanks all.

EDIT: and should I think of going Pentium?

 

[myocardia]

Changing motherboards will change nothing. First, get yourself a much faster video card. Second, get 2GB of system RAM. Third, buy a faster processor, or overclock your current one.

 

[plastick]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Changing motherboards will change nothing. First, get yourself a much faster video card. Second, get 2GB of system RAM. Third, buy a faster processor, or overclock your current one.

You dont know what you are talking about. I already have a great video card: ATI Radion 9600XT

A better motherboard will help handle the scenes better. I suppose my motherboard is pretty good now, but I wanted something that can support more than 2 gb of ram. I figure there are better board busses out there now too. I may upgrade my cpu eventually as well.

Also, this is not for games. This is for intense 3d work in applications such as Max and Maya.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: plastick

Originally posted by: myocardia
Changing motherboards will change nothing. First, get yourself a much faster video card. Second, get 2GB of system RAM. Third, buy a faster processor, or overclock your current one.

You dont know what you are talking about. I already have a great video card: ATI Radion 9600XT

A better motherboard will help handle the scenes better. I suppose my motherboard is pretty good now, but I wanted something that can support more than 2 gb of ram. I figure there are better board busses out there now too. I may upgrade my cpu eventually as well.

Also, this is not for games. This is for intense 3d work in applications such as Max and Maya.

Actually, myocardia is correct. Your motherboard isn't going to speed things up (unless you jump to a new architecture which would have a higher FSB, but ever than is going to be a minor speed incease). If you want to speed things up, then get a rendering card (such as a quadro). This will speed up the setup of scenes tremendously... Even a Quadro 4 900 will make a dramatic change from a 6800 GT OC (which is what I went from on my previous machine).

Motherboard choise should be decided for what processor and video card you want--the function of the mobo is to support components that you need, and do it with stability.

EDIT: Also, you might want to be more respectful (or atleast nice to) those offering advise. You are showing your inexperience if you think a 9600XT is a great rendering card.

 

[crossrode]

Originally posted by: plastick
I just want to get some ideas for motherboards out there that are good for use in 3D apps such as Max, Maya, zBrush, and all that. That's what I do, work with millions of polygons. I currently have a Chaintech NF3-250 board with an Athlon64 3000+ and 1gb memory (soon to be 2gb maxed out). Things are pretty good but it can get bogged down sometimes when I have a lot of stuff in a scene and I am trying to move around or just do whatever kind of work I need to do.

Could anyone recommend some better boards that I can use my cpu in and also upgrade to a better cpu in the future; plus I need to be able to put more than 2 gigs of memory in there. I'm going to look on newegg too, I just thought I would ask here first.

Thanks all.

EDIT: and should I think of going Pentium?

Your choice for a new MB should emphasise boards that support dual core processors. There are any number of such boards out there. Intel board canditates include the 965, 975 or 680 chipsets. AMD's current MB's supporting dual core processors are the AM2 socket. AMD socket 939 supports dual core also, but will be discontinued. HTH.

 

[Lord Banshee]

plastick, are you being serious? 9600XT isn't a good card at all for CAD work. changeing the mobo will do nothing for as myocardia said you are quick to tell someone he doesn't know what he is talking about when you came to a public forum and ask a question that you didn't know the answer to, good one.

If i was you i would look on the guru3d rivatuner forums and look for the hack to turn your 9600 into a FireGL, back in the day turning my 9800Pro into a FireGL have 1.5x or more boost.

And if you are making money on using this application think about getting a good Quadro or FireGL card as these are not gamer card which you are using a 3 generation old gamer card for workstation CAD work.

Also increasing CPU performance will help i would not upgrade your system though if you are willing to speed 400 dollars, get a core2duo and mobo. But if you are looking not to speed a lot of money newegg was selling a 2.2Ghz 754 a64 for $50.

Also getting 2GB will help so get quick with that.

But over it boils down to this:

Viewport working/editing/moving
Video Card>CPU>RAM>ELSE

Rendering
CPU>RAM>ELSE

Also if you want a quick boost in performance find a AGP 6800series Card and flash bios with quadro hack (read guru3d rivatuner forum). My last system was your exact same mobo but with a 2.2Ghz A64 and a 6800NU quadro hacked to a Quadro FX4000 and it killed my 9800Pro as a FireGL X2 in all my 3d CAD programs i used at the time.

IF you are wondering what CAD program i was using at the time:
3dsmax, Rhino3D, Solid Edge, Unigraphics

 

[crossrode]

BTW. Lord Banshee is right.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Also, one can find excellent deals on Quadros and Fire GL cards that are server pulls on ebay... A bit of a risk, but I've had excellent luck in the past...