Need advice for choice of computer

[Deluxe79]

The computer will be used for Photoshop work, rendering in VIZ with VRay, and other architectural work.

 

 

The choice is between the following to setups:

 

Setup #1:

• Intel® Xeon™ 5130 2.00 GHz, 4 MB cache, 1333 FSB Dual Core
  
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro
  
• 2 GB ( 2x1GB ) DDR2-667 ECC FBD
  
• 160 GB SATA NCQ 10.000 rpm (Western Digital Raptor™)
  
• 16X DVD±RW dual-Layer, Lightscribe
  
• Nvidia Quadro FX1500 256 MB PCIe
  
• Integrated Ethernet 10/100 Broadcom 5752 PCIe

 

Setup #2:

• Intel® Core duo 2® E6700, 2.66 GHz, 4 MB cache, 1066 MHz FSB
  
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro
  
• 2 GB ( 2x1GB ) DDR2-667 ECC
  
• Integrated SATA controller
  
• 2 x 160 GB SATA NCQ 10.000 rpm (Western Digital Raptor™)
  
• RAID 0 Configuration - Striped Mode
  
• 16X DVD±RW dual-Layer, Lightscribe
  
• Nvidia Quadro FX1500 256 MB PCIe
  
• Integrated Ethernet 10/100/1000 Broadcom

Anything else I need in any of the setups

 

 

The prices of the two setups are almost the same.

[manta]

Is that just one xeon or two ?

[AJLynn]

If it's one Xeon the Core2 system will be faster and the RAID will be very helpful especially for large Photoshop files. (With the RAID you can get away with saving money by getting 7200RPM drives with 16MB cache and spend the money on more RAM, and get XP64.)

[Greg Hess]

Just a reminder...

 

Raid 0 is not redundant. If either one of the two drives has any sort of problem which interrupts it from the raid, all data is lost.

 

I highly recommend that a Raid 0 is NOT used for the system drive, and if you do use a Raid 0 array, that you use it as a secondary one, with current work projects only. (Then save to the other drive or a mirror array).

 

If you are dealing with primary configurations, Raid 0+1 or Raid 5's are considerably more redundant.

[Deluxe79]

It is with one Xeon processor.

 

Ok, good idear about the 7200 RPM disk :-)

 

The raid 0 is only to get a faster disk read/write.We render and work on files local, but saves files to the servers when done.

 

Is the "Nvidia Quadro FX1500 256 MB" a fine choise for this type of machine?

[AJLynn]

I have that same Quadro card at work, and it's very good. Also, I'd recommend the RAID0 configuration, if you have regular backups - basically, by using 2 drives with no redundancy, you double the probability that you'll have a hard drive failure on any given day, so you need to be more prepared for that.

[gangle]

Please explain the redudndancy. My current system has a redundant system/storage drive and a smaller secondary drive for page file.

 

I can back up to a server, but haven't taken the time to make the move.

 

When I had the system built, the tech told me that it was the safest way to avoid a system loss (second redundant drive).

 

Replacing/preparing a workstation, with all its quirky plug-ins and apps, should be a once in a life time thing....if you need to have time to work for a living!

 

Gary

[Greg Hess]

I think the numbers are getting confused.

 

Raid 0 = Stripped Array. Both drives used to transfer and read data. Data is separated across both drives...if either drive fails, all data is lost.

 

Raid 1 = Mirrored Array. Data on one drive is mirrored on another. If one harddrive fails, the other drive remains functional with all data intact. Just replace the failed drive, and the array rebuilds.

 

Raid 1's are cheap ways to prevent a sudden harddrive problem from causing downtime or data loss. Even with a Raid 1, you should still be backing up on either some sort of server, or external media.

 

The only time I'd recommend a raid 0 is if it was being used for temporary work files, which were then shunted to a redundant system when work was completed. Raid 0's are most useful in video work, where the raw output of the drives can increase your efficiency.