Need some Core 2 Extreme Education

[MegaPixel]

Looking at specing out an XPS system from the Dell website for a Max9/Vray workstation. I've been confronted with an option to purchase an 8mb cache 2.66 or a 4mb cache 2.96. The 2.66 8mb cache chip is almost $300 more expensive. Cache is better for repetative tasks right but not necessarily rendering? If my goal is to get the most out of my renderign performance, then I should go for the 2.96 and save soem money right?

 

While I'm at it, I'm looking at throwing in a GeForce 8800 GTX 765mb card with it. I've never been imnpressed with Quadro performance and since MAX 9 has been optimized for direct X 10, I'm thinking there's no reason why a highend gaming level card won't do just as good a job or better then an open gl based quadro line, am I wrong?

 

Thanks in advance - Dave

[AJLynn]

There are two Core 2 Extreme chips - the 6800 and the QX6700. The 6700 is 2.66GHz with quad cores. The 6800 is dual core. The 2.66 quad is much faster for rendering.

 

As far as the video card, 768MB would be so overkill I don't have the words for how overkill it would be.

[MegaPixel]

Wow, so the name "Extreme" doesn't necessarily mean that the chip is a Quad core? According to the Dell website, both chips I mentioned above were labeled as Quad core options so now I'm confused.

 

As far as the video card goes, I had a feeling all that extra memory was seriously overkill, it's just that they don't give you many options on the Dell site to single out a particular variation of the video card.

 

Actually, I'd prefer to go with a Boxx system, but they want to throw Quadros in all their workstations and they seem to average another $500+ more then the equivelant Dell systems overall. Any advice their?

 

Thanks - Dave

[ihabkal]

according to last years arch viz survey made by Jeff and published in a 3d world supplement, almost a third of all arch viz artists use Dell systems, so they must be good. My previous US employer had all Dell systems, so does most arch firms in the US. can't go wrong with them.

[AJLynn]

Dell desktop system are... sufficient. Boxx is better but way too expensive. I would not advase Dell for laptops, but desktops are pretty hard to screw up and Dell is a good choice based on cost/benefit. The reason Dell is so widely used has less to do with quality than with other factors such as price, perception, skill at marketing to businesses of varying sizes and sense of inevitability.

[Macpod]

I just built my own system. do some research and you'll be fine. Good small local computer shops are also good. This is the only way you'll get exactly what you want and nothing you dont. Most hardware are backed by manufacture waranty.

 

My suggestion:

 

dont bother with extreme. An E6600 is the best value chip on the market right now. the performance differences between it and a x6800 is not worth the price difference. Wait for the (real) quad cores to reduce your rendering time.

 

Definately get a 8800GT(maybe not GTX). Its about twice as fast as a 7950GT, the 8800GTX is only marginally faster than a GT.

 

saVe the money for 4 GB of 800mhz ram if you are running vista or 2GB if youre running XP. XP only support 2gb (3 technically but running 3 is not efficient)

 

if you are inclined, the E6600(2.4mhz) can be overclocked to 3.4mhz without too much trouble. needess to say that gives everything a nice bump. no point overcloking 8800GT since its damn fast already, it runs surprisingly cool with the stock coller though.

 

>>>>heres the most important bit

 

GET A GOOD POWER SUPPLY AND CASE. Excuse me for the caps but that is really important. a good silverstone powersupply is whisper quite and actually keeps your hardware cooler. also get a good antec (P180 or solo) so everything is nicely vented, quite and it looks very nice as well.

 

oh, and get a good gigabyte motherboard with raid.

[AJLynn]

Good suggestions, but a Dell can not be overclocked and you only get one case and power supply choice. (This is why I built my own for home.) Overclocking is where the real value is in the Core2 series.

 

Is XP-64 an option for the operating system? I'd say that's the best one to have for the forseeable future (see this)

[Macpod]

Buy an OEM XP from someone.

 

As far as overclocking. Im pretty sure my current config will be fine until atleast beginning of 2008. by then the temptation of a quady will be too much.

 

I would have bought an overclockable motherboard if i had the money and balls to overclock. Im told the intel board i have now is not overclockable....

 

I suppose i could always buy an overclockable motherboard that supports both the new quads and my current E6600 when the time comes. But then i probably wouldnt want to risk burning my new Mobo for an old e6600 when a new quady would be 300USD......choices....

[AJLynn]

Which Intel board? Some of them will overclock pretty well.

[Macpod]

DP965LTCK. thats the board. can i overclock it?

[AJLynn]

Looks like a no.