Advice for a Hardware Newbie?

[braddewald]

I'll be the first to admit, when it comes to hardware, I know very little. But I've gotten the boss's permission to improve our hardware setup, so I'm looking for some advice. Let it be known: I HAVE looked at the TechTalk posts at 3das. I thought I would give you all a little insight into my computer setup. Then, I was hoping, you could give me some advice on where my setup is most lacking, and where you would invest the money. Note: I do still architectural renderings using 3ds max 2010 and vray 1.5sp4a.

 

My computer: This is a laptop that I carry between home and work and the computer that I do 90% of my work on (it has a 19" screen). It runs Vista Home Premium 64bit.

 

HP HDX 18 Notebook PC

Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q9000 @ 2.00GHz, 4 Cores, 4 Logical Processors

4.00GB Physical Memory (8.19GB Total Virtual Memory-whatever that means?)

NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512MB is what it says)

(I don't know what else to include, but let me know and I'll oblige.)

 

The rendering computer: This is the computer that I send my rendering jobs to. Although all my computers are networked, I leave this one hooked up to the farm so I can send it a job and leave work with my laptop. The only purpose it serves is to "host" the render, and it donates 4 buckets to the renderings. It is running Vista Ultimate 64bit.

 

Lenovo 2757 CTO

Intel Core2 Quad Extreme CPU Q9300 @ 2.53GHz, 4 Cores, 4 Logical Processors

4.00GB Physical Memory (8.03GB Total Virtual Memory)

NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M (1GB adapter RAM)

 

The Renderfarm: RenderBOXX 10300 from Boxx Technologies. Specs. It is the old option with each half of the computer containing 2 quad-core processors for a total of 16 cores, but because of hyperthreading, I get 32 buckets with vray.

Edited June 9, 2011 by braddewald

[braddewald]

Would it be a good idea to invest in a workstation to keep at the office that has the specs that TechTalk recommends for their high-end system (below)?

 

Edited April 13, 2010 by braddewald

[AJLynn]

Well, you already have a lot to work with here. The notebook is, as notebooks go, no slouch, but it's not very powerful and it seems to me that it may be your weak link if it's being used as a workstation.

 

The Lenovo workstation is more powerful and its Quadro card is going to waste in a machine that's just for sending render jobs to. One thing I'd say is you could either repurpose the Lenovo to be the workstation - this would be a money saving option. Another way to do it would be to pull the Quadro card from the Lenovo and put an inexpensive video card in there, and put the Quadro in a new 980X based workstation like the one you referenced.

 

Unless you have heavy animation needs, your render farm is pretty powerful. Have you discussed adding a workstation with your Boxx rep? I meant the high end config to be a bit generalized, and in that price class and already having that infrastructure it might be better to get their help with setting something up to intergate things better because it doesn't sound like what you have is being fully utilized.

[braddewald]

Are you thinking a workstation from BOXX? Also, for a short-term fix, could I just switch the cards between the laptops? Also, given the specs I provided, if I did purchase a new system, what OS would you get?

Edited April 15, 2010 by braddewald

[AJLynn]

Wait a minute. Is the Lenovo a laptop? Oh, that changes things. That's a vey strange way to be using such a high end laptop. Make it your mobile workstation. Do you want to add a high end desktop or another laptop?

 

You can't generally move video cards between laptops. There are exceptions but usually they would have to be from the same product line - like, I once upgraded an Inspiron laptop's video card with one from a Precision that was the same form factor.

 

What is the new workstation going to be used for? If you feel there's a hole in you equipment and a desktop might fill it, and you've got the budget, you should get on the phone with somebody from Boxx. They're great at helping you figure out exactly what you need and what you'll use it for, but they're not cheap. If you just want to add a desktop workstation and you're confident in that approach, you wouldn't be going wrong if you got the 3DATS system.