Need Dell workstation advice

[stevel]

Here's what I'm considering--I'd really appreciate your advice! I need to stick to limited budget, so I'm trying to put together a system for smaller amd medium-sized projetcs (no city blocks, for example!) which will work well with Sketchup, Vray, Max, high-poly trees, etc. I need a workhorse which will get the job done!

 

Here are my two choices (copied from the Dell site):

 

Intel™ Core®2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz/1333MHz/12MB L2) 375W

512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX1700

4GB, 800MHz, DDR2 SDRAM Memory, ECC (4 DIMMS)

C1, All SATA, NO RAID

500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 16MB DataBurst Cache

 

(Questions--I think I need the 800 mHz memory, but should I get 2 DIMMS, or will it really make any real difference? Do I need more wattage? I'm also told that I should go for a 7200 rpm hard drive--don't know if this one is)

 

or

 

Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5440 (2.83GHz,2X6M L2,1333) (or Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5430 (2.66GHz, 2X6M L2,1333)

512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX1700

C1 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 1 drive total configuration

320GB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst Cache

 

(Questions--is the increase from 2.66 to 2.83 worth the extra cost? Is the Xeon itself worth the extra cost--I think the total difference between the two systems is about 1K, which I would rather avoid, if I can).

 

Thanks in advance!

[AJLynn]

Those two systems are very close to equal, unless you really mean that the Xeon box contains two Xeons, in which case it would run most renderers twice as fast

[stevel]

No, it's only one Xeon--adding another is much more $!

 

if you think they are equal, I think I should go with the Q9550.

 

Any advice on the other questions (I think I need the 800 mHz memory, but should I get 2 DIMMS, or will it really make any real difference? Do I need more wattage? I'm also told that I should go for a 7200 rpm hard drive--don't know if this one is)?

[AJLynn]

Is 375W the wattage of the power supply? You'd want more. Is that something Dell has as an option?

 

1 or 2 or 4 DIMMs - this is about two things:

 

-You want an even number of DIMMs

-You want all your DIMMs to have exactly the same spec

 

Having 2 DIMMs in a 4 slot system means you can double your RAM later on if you want to.

 

And it's alomst completely (I'd say 90%) pointless to buy a Xeon system if you don't intend to use 2 Xeons.

[stevel]

Thanks for helping me, Andrew!

 

These are the power supply specs for the Dell 3400 (if I go to the next models up, it's Xeons):

 

Power

375 watt manual selection power supply

525 watt Wide-ranging Power Supply

 

Not sure what this means!

[AJLynn]

Yeah, you want the better power supply. 375 is really pressing your luck. I'm not sure why Dell would even sell systems like that, surely it costs them less than $10 to buy a 525 instead os a 375.

[stevel]

Unless I want to go to 64-bit for the 3400 525w, here are my processor choices:

 

Intel™ Core®2 Extreme QX6850 (3.00GHz/1333MHz/2X4MB L2) 525W [add $990]

Intel™ Core®2 Quad Q6700 (2.66GHz/1066MHz/2X4MB L2) 525W[add $320]

Intel™ Core®2 Quad Q6600 (2.40GHz/1066MHz/2X4MB L2) 525W[included in Price]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6850 (3.00GHz/1333MHz/4MB L2) 525W[subtract $10]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6750 (2.66GHz/1333MHz/4MB L2) 525W [subtract $120]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6550 (2.33GHz/1333MHz/4MB L2) 525W [subtract $250]

Intel™ Core®2 Extreme QX9650 (3.00GHz/1333MHz/12MB L2) 525W [add $990]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E8500 (3.16GHz/1333MHz/6MB L2) 525W [subtract $10]

l™ Core®2 Duo E8200 (2.66GHz/1333MHz/6MB L2) 525W [subtract $200]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E4600 (2.40GHz/800MHz/2MB L2) 525W [subtract $339]

Intel™ $90]

[AJLynn]

This is why I HATE DELL. So they'll sell you a computer with a 375W power supply and a Q9550, which maxes out at a Quadro 1700. If you want more watts, or a better video card, you must buy the 525W version, which does not allow you to use a Q9550 or Q9450. (BTW you were correct the first time - those are the no-brainer CPU choices from the Core 2 line.)

 

Let us compare. Both power supply versions have the Q6600 as an option.

On the 375W, going from a Q6600 to a Q9450 is $190.

On the 525W, going from a Q6600 to a Q6700 is $320.

The 9540 is better than the 6700.

 

Do you have to buy Dell? Is your company large enough to have an enterprise sales rep you can call about this?

 

Dell obviously only cares about the base configuration; I'm sure they've figured it out so that 375W is sufficient for that system, but if you ever want to upgrade your video card you'll be S.O.L.

[stevel]

I don't have to buy Dell, but the word I get is that they're reliable and well-made. I want the service backup as well (not being a computer person!). My current computer is Compaq--no problems at all except that it's old and not enough power for what I need to do.

 

I'm not computer savvy enough to trust a custom-built machine, and I don't have the knowledge to build one myself, so I'm forced to go to a big company. I hear you loud and clear when you say they're overpriced--lol!--and I'm sure they take advantage of thousands of people just like me, but that's what I have to work with, at least for now.

 

About the video card and the power supply--I would probably buy an entire new machine for an upgrade (go to a Boxx or whatever) when this new one has outlived its usefulness. One step at a time!

Edited August 15, 2008 by stevel

[AJLynn]

Then you might as well buy the 375W one.

[stevel]

I trust your advice--you're sure that won't blow up?

[AJLynn]

No I'm not sure. But I figure if Dell sells it that way, they know it works well enough. It will work if you're not making a lot of changes to it, and if it doesn't they'll be obligated to fix it.

[shaneis]

I'm not computer savvy enough to trust a custom-built machine, and I don't have the knowledge to build one myself, so I'm forced to go to a big company.

 

Not entirely true, there are smaller builders with good reputations, support and warranties. I can't recommend anyone in the US, but around Sydney here in Oz, there is

 

Enspire Digital http://www.enspiredigital.com.au/index.php

H-Digital http://www.h-digital.com.au/news/index.asp and

IPS http://www.ipspty.com.au/

 

Surely there is someone similar around your capitol city that could help you out?

[stevel]

Shane--

 

I know what you're saying--but (for now, anyway) I feel more comfortable with a big name, for better or worse!

 

Andrew--

 

I took a look at the Dell XPS line--check this out:

 

Intel® Core™2 Q9450 (12MB,2.66GHz, 1333FSB)

 

320GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache

 

4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs or

4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz -4 DIMMs

 

nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

 

750 watts

 

The Corsair is $420 more--is it worth it? How about the 8800 (Sketchup, Vray, Max)--I've read all the pros and cons on the forum until my head's spinning!

Edited August 16, 2008 by stevel

[AJLynn]

$420 more for high end RAM is not worth it at all. You probably wouldn't notice the difference. The 8800GT is very nice for Sketchup and Max and your video card has nothing to do with your ability to run Vray.

 

Unless this PC is more expensive it's probably the better option.