What do you think of this for an a graphics workstation?

[Warrenton]

SuperMicro SC760-A $153.00
MSI 694D Dual Socket370 (VIA 694X Chipset) $159.00
Pentium III 800EB $264.00 ($528.00)
2 X 256MB ECC PC133 RAM (512MB Total) $307.00 ($614.00)
Matrox G450 $145.00
Tekram DC390U3W SCSI Controller $189.00
Seagate Cheetah X15 18.4GB 15,000RPM $569.00
Plextor 40X $92.00
Plextor 12/10/32 SCSI CDRW $319.00
SoundBlaster Live! Value $47.00
Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro $39.00
Karna Boomslang 2000 Mouse $99.00
2 X ALPHA PAL53t $28.00 ($56.00)

Total $3006

21"
ViewSonic GS815 $814.99
*ViewSonic P815 $835.98
ViewSonic P810 $748.98
*Sony G500 $999.98
Sony F500R $1664.98

19"
ViewSonic PF790 $444.99
ViewSonic GS790 $408.99
ViewSonic PF795 $534.98
Sony G400 $566.98


Those are just my list of prospective monitors so far, if you want to add something tell me. And yes it will have two monitors, what ones, I do not know. Just if matrox made a PCI version of the G4x0 stuff.

 

[urbantechie]

Yay! Intel!! I'd go with Adaptec for the SCSI controller but the Tekram is fine. I'm not sure on the specific models for the monitors but you can't go wrong with Viewsonic.

 

[Warrenton]

Actually Adaptec has been sucking it up lately in the driver dept for win2k. Thier Ultra160 cards in win2k perform worse than their U2W cards did. Thier CPU usage is aweful, in excess of 10% sometimes.

Obviously its all SCSI. BTW this is for my cousin. Though it took some convincing to get her to not want a G4. After I showed her the price, and she played on my single 800Mhz P3 with 512Mb system, and she discovered that this P3 is much more stable (never crashed, EVER during her photoshop). When she used a G4 at work before it would crash every couple hours at least, i mean REBOOT, all data lost. Plus overall she said it was considerably faster, in the order of half as much time to do stuff usually. Sometime the G4 was faster she said, but she can live with it taking longer on those things that she rarely used anyway (mostly distortions)

Not to mention she said that the Win2k interface isnt as damn ugly at MacOS9 was. Plus she likes the idea that she can actually play games.

I can't imagine how good that G450 would look on my Sony G500 monitor, which is what I am prefering she use. Though the F500R would rock.


For those interested I configured a comparative Mac G4 system, and WITHOUT monitor it was $5500 or so.

 

[Warrenton]

ttt,bump,^,whatever the heck you want!

 

[yazz]

drop the SCSI drive to a 9gig SCSI and get a 60gig ide drive. make a 500megabyte partiton on the SCSI drive for SWAP and use the 60gig for your boot drive and storage. Drop the G450 and get two 3DLABS GVX1s or VX1 for dual monitors. 3DLABS have fully developed OpenGL support and awesome 2D performance.

 

[Radboy]

I like it. That's a nice system config. Not sure about non-Intel chipsets. Check at 2cpu.com bbs for any compatibility issues. Maybe an IDE HDD for cheap mas storage.

Flat monitors are the way to go. Have u looked at the Iiyama's? Nice - especially the ones that use Mits flatty.

 

[Ben]

That's nice but why waste your money on the SCSI RAID. You could go IDE RAID for pennies on the dollar. Promise has a full line of new cards out now that are just as good as SCSI RAID.

There, how did that sound?

 

[hans007]

you might want to get a g400 marvel.. its probably around the same, but she might enjoy the tv tuner and video editing stuff, its around $60 more, less ram though, but that really isnt important as much unless its a 3d workstation

 

[Ben]

Seriously though, it sounds good.

 

[cws101]

A note of caution: if this is intended fr a 3d workstation, then you'll have to go for another graphics card, Matrox will NOT cut it. See above for 3dLabs suggestions, or look into upcoming quadro2s (ELSA synergy or gloria IIIs), or FireGL1/2/3. If it is purely 2d (photoshop as you mention), then the Matrox should be fine given their excellent track record on 2d performance. I second the motion on IDE raid, unless your cous' is into heavy files (like 'posters'or video edit/stream).
Good luck.

 

[The Stigenator]

I agree with Cws101, the matrox wont cut it for 3d.
however for 2D its fine.. thought the G450 has memory bandwidth issues.. in that case you can go with the G400 Max (dual head or single) and if you go single, then add in a Oxygen VX1 PCI.

Now what you can do with drive space is since data is only going to be stored (this is what I do for our systems at work.. unless its a pre-built system). Put the OS and Swap and install on the SCSI drive - 9 GB is a little tight, but will do but 18 GB doesnt hurt.. 18GB is only $300 for a 10,000 RPM. Put in at least a GIG of swap, also define a good amount of swap in Photoshop. Get a few nice IDE harddrives use them for data.. it might take a while longer to load, but IDE drives are more reliable and wont break down due to heat - like SCSI. Also IDE is cheaper on the cost effectiveness wise.

If you are going for a SCSI setup - be it OS drive or everything.. go Quantum Atlas II 10K drives.. the most reliable ones I have found to date.

 

[Warrenton]

For one its not ever going to be used for 3d artwork. 2d only.

Yes she will be doing heavy file work so SCSI is a must, were talking 500MB+ files. CDR will be the storage medium for completed works. There may be a IDE drive added if needed, but 18GB is probably enough. Plus the X15 is only $100 more than a 10K drive. I admit this drive thing is a toughy, as there are so many variables. But SCSI is demanded, esp when dealing with large files because you do hit the swap file with 512MB RAM.

That brings up another issue, if there is room in her budget, do you think 1GB of RAM would be good? Its another $615 though.

IDE RAID IS SUCK. Remember IDE RAID still uses your CPU for the calculations, that would have a 20% CPU load on both CPU's when doing disk accesses. That is not acceptable.

Video editing will not occur, she has access to a real video editing studio.

I have heard there are some issues with the VIA chipset on the Tyan board, and the very early revisions of this board. But I have also heard they are now corrected.

Of course this will run Win2k!!! Does anyone know if win2k has the ability to do file sharing with MACs for a network? Also does the Mac OS have support for the UDF file system (PacketCD, DirectCD)?

 

[Zeeliv]

Of those monitors, I'd scratch off all Viewsonics that aren't PF and replace the ones that have a corresonding PF model...like the PF815. Not that the others aren't decent, but you really should be going with a flat screen to do this system justice, and their PF line is the only one that actually is.

 

[Warrenton]

Why do you think that I am leaning heavily on a F500R as the primary monitor and a G200 for the secondary?

Sony FD screens, one very kickass for the editing and a good one for a copy of the original to sit on, and the palettes.

 

[Fozzie]

I would recommend a full 1GB of RAM, or at least 768MB, three 256MB dimms would do it. Also you may want to think about two seperate video cards for the two monitors, Matrox's dualhead is not the same as two video cards in capability and you will run into bandwidth problems and refresh rate limitations on the second monitor at high enough resolutions. Dualhead is nice, don't get me wrong, just not as nice as two excellect 2D video cards.

Two singlehead G400's are an option, not to mention a hundred other good 2D cards like G200's or VX1's as previously recommended.

I would think a single 30-80GB IDE drive would be an inexpensive but useful item, you can get a 30GB 75GXP for less then $150, esp with coupons. Hardly a dent on the total system cost but it would be handy to have.

Lastly Macs can certainly read UDF drives, though you may need to get software from Adaptec for full support. Is this computer intended to be installed on a Mac network or is it her own personal setup? You may just have to use TCP based file sharing such as FTP or Hotline if its a remote setup, unless you want to invest hundreds into a software package like DAVE. Er, you'll need to do some research into that unless your expecting her or her company todo so.

 

[Howard]

Two G400 SHs won't cut it. Why? Because they only come in AGP format, and no board has 2 AGP slots.

Other than that, you should get more RAM. 768MB should be fine.

If you get a monitor other than the Sony F500R, you should at least think about getting the KDS AV21TF first. It's got pretty good specs, and a FD Trinitron tube.

KDS AV21TF

 

[Howard]

BTW, Razer makes the Boomslangs, not Karna.

 

[Howard]

Also, you may want to get 2 P3 Coppermine 700Es in dualie setup and overclock later if you want.

 

[nuttervm]

random note: i dont think the scsi plex 12x10x32x are available in the US yet, only in Japan. maybe i could be wrong, but you might have to get the 12x4x32

 

[beer]

Ben-

IDE RAID is Software RAID. It does not process everything on board the controller for you, etc. etc.

There was a thread earlier on it.

IDE RAID IS NOT HARDWARE!!!

 

[M00T]

Don't forget a wacom drawing tablet. If she's doing graphics, she'll love the tablet.

 

[Ben]

Elemental, I was being sarcastic. I guess I'm not very good at it.

Go look at the IDE RAID IS NOT HARDWARE!!! thread. I was one of the big mouths.

 

[Ben]

Hmmm. Unless your being sarcastic too and I didn't get it. LOL!