harware advice please

[chalky]

This one may have been done before but am newbee.

 

am presently using a B/W G3 Mac 350mhz at home and am looking to upgrade for something that is a bit faster at rendering.

 

Have been thinking about a dual 1.25 G4 but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions regarding the comparison with PC's/Mac's with regards to VFM.

 

I have a budget of around £1000 - 1200 (UK) though would like to keep costs down as would need to transfer a few software licenses for a PC. What sort of spec would you look for in a PC of around the same price as a G4 and would it be any better with regards performance also what can you get off the shelf.

 

most of my modelling is of an architectural nature using Vectorworks and use C4D for rendering though am starting to explore C4D's modelling.

 

Sorry for the PC ignorance but it's been a while.

Thanks in advance for a thoughts/suggestions.

 

Chalky

[Greg Hess]

I recently did tests on a Dual GHZ G4 (DDR) at work vs similarily equipped xeon's running both cinema bench, and lightwave.

 

The Mac was not competitive against any of the pc's. Not even by a long shot. 1-2 year old pc's were besting it.

 

Here's the cinema bench thread.

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000350;p=3#000036

 

With that in mind, I'd consider the powermac a decent platform for doing cg work (modeling/animating), but the instant you hit render its far behind in performance.

 

This is coming from a guy whose been using one for the past 3-4 months.

 

www.3dluvr.com/crossbow/incoming/Photos/Work/lab9.jpg

 

With your budget, your probably looking a dual 2400+ Athlon MP system.

[David Knourek]

Um Greg, The first link is toast On a lighter note the second link with the photo, nice mouse I didn't know the M$ mouse would work on a G4.

 

-dave

[Greg Hess]

Hey Dave,

 

The cinema 2003 bench was moved to this forum just look for it.

 

Or just go here

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000146

 

The newer G4's work with pretty much any usb device. Everyone prefers the microsoft mice over the default ones, they fit in the hand better, and you actually have multiple buttons...and a working roller wheel .