To improve 3dsMax 9 performance?

[archkre]

It is very difficult for me to navigate when trying to zoom/pan when modeling something like a spanish tile roof.

what would be more important to upgrade to improve 3dsMax 9 performance?

My PC:

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

OS Service Pack Service Pack 2

AMD Athlon XP-A, 1243 MHz (6.25 x 199)

Motherboard Name Asus A7N8X-X (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM, Audio, LAN)

Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce2 400

System Memory 2560 MB (DDR SDRAM)

NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)

Thank so much!

[Matt McDonald]

Its been my experience that system clock speed has a very significant effect on viewport performance. Given the age of your system, you could probably pick up a much faster processor off of ebay for very little money.

[AJLynn]

If you've got the budget I'd recommend a whole new computer - by today's standards the only thing you have enough of is RAM. If you can't do that, the upgrade that will have the biggest effect on modeling performance will surely be the video card. You could go with a newer Geforce card or maybe an AGP Quadro FX 3000 from Ebay. (Try searching for that with all variants by where spaces go.)

[archkre]

Its been my experience that system clock speed has a very significant effect on viewport performance. Given the age of your system, you could probably pick up a much faster processor off of ebay for very little money.

Which one you could recommend, please?

Of course my budget is very limited!

Thanks

[IceAged]

Archkre, go for a new processor if you want to speed up application performance. Max relies on the CPU for most tasks, including navigation, whilst a typical graphics card such as the GeForce is largely geared towards powering effects in games and won't make a great deal of difference.

You could try adding a Quadro but in my experience this doesn't offer as significant a boost when compared to a processor upgrade.

 

Your motherboard should take an Athlon XP3200 Barton, which will give you a noticeable all-round speed increase, (be sure to double check, and make sure your power supply is adequate).

[archkre]

I really don't have a budget... the less the better!

Suppose I change processor, do I have to change motherboard, ram, fan or I'll be able to use what I got?

The Quadro Fx was bought.., next step?

Thanxx

[AJLynn]

You can go up to the fastest CPU for your MB next, or swap out for a new MB and CPU that supports the rest of your parts.

[IceAged]

Depends entirely on your budget. Your current motherboard and RAM should support the XP3200, but, like i said, you should check that your power supply is sufficient for both the new CPU and the Quadro.

If you are using the fan that came with your original CPU then you will probably need to upgrade it too, and be sure to apply some new thermal compound whilst you are about it.

Don't forget to flash your BIOS before doing the upgrade, (check online for specific help on this).

[Matt McDonald]

I recently picked up an XP3200 off of Ebay for an a7n8x deluxe for about $100. That is as fast as you are going to be able to go there.

 

As for power supplies, I have a 460 watt Antec power supply. It has been suggested to me that it might be on the low side considering my personal setup (I have 2 HDs, 2 optical drives, an I-RAM, and a Quadro FX 1000). If you do much reading you will find that folks in the know highly caution you against cheap power supplies so you can expect to spend $100 there. Silentpcreview reviews power supplies and would be a good place to look for advice.

 

Also, there is a web site called nforcershq that is dedicated to the various nforce based motherboards. You should be able to find plenty of info there.