AJLynn Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Well, the Sandy Bridge motherboard market is back to functional levels and it's time for a refresh of this thread and of the workstation recommendations. The recommendations are here: http://www.3datstech.com/2011/03/april-workstations.html Please ask any and all questions about computer hardware buying advice on this thread. Don't be shy now. This month's update comes to you from the 3rd floor of the library at my school, where I've kicked out all the undergrads and finally got some peace and quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slinger Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Another great write up. Thanks for the hard work Andrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 You're welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkon Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Andrew, do you know anything regarding the claims that the new Quadro 400 is 5X faster than the gtx 580? It's less than $200 a card, so I don't know how that's possible. heres a link, source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 Michael, I'm going to give that assertion a definite no. This Quadro is not in nearly the same class in terms of outright processing power and the 580 would overpower it, through brute force alone if need be, in nearly anything you could think of. Read carefully: if you look at what they're referencing to get that figure, it's one benchmark (SpecViewPerf 2011's Pro Engineer test) that's undoubtedly depending on some Quadro-only feature (which is why it says "up to" 5x). The Quadro 400 is a GT216 core with 48 threads and 512MB - it's a Quadro'ed version of a Geforce 220, which was a low end model from 2009. The Quadro 580 could reasonably be called the current fastest GPU. I can't even give you a comparison on just GPU speed because I can't find anywhere where a 220 and a 580 are included in the same chart, but the 580's GPU would have to be easily 10-20x as powerful as the Quadro 400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Andrew, I built a machine a few years ago to act as a renderslave when using DR, but I would like to upgrade it to give my render times a significant boost. It doubles as an extra PC when my main workstation is tied up, but pretty infrequently. If possible, it would be nice to be able to turn render duties over to this machine, if I am overwhelmed with work, as well as being simply used during DR duties. This machine has: 8GB Ram Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz Asus P5N32-E SLI MB Nvidia Quadro 1700 Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Its Cinebench CPU score is only 2.70 pts and Open GL is 8.90 fps. (my main workstation scores 4.49 and 27.09 respectively) Is it possible to get significant gains with just a swap of CPU and, if necessary, MB? If so, with what? and If not, what else is needed? Thanks so much for you advice. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy L Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Andrew, I built a machine a few years ago to act as a renderslave when using DR, but I would like to upgrade it to give my render times a significant boost. It doubles as an extra PC when my main workstation is tied up, but pretty infrequently. If possible, it would be nice to be able to turn render duties over to this machine, if I am overwhelmed with work, as well as being simply used during DR duties. This machine has: 8GB Ram Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz Asus P5N32-E SLI MB Nvidia Quadro 1700 Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Its Cinebench CPU score is only 2.70 pts and Open GL is 8.90 fps. (my main workstation scores 4.49 and 27.09 respectively) Is it possible to get significant gains with just a swap of CPU and, if necessary, MB? If so, with what? and If not, what else is needed? Thanks so much for you advice. Dan I'll be watching the answer to this. I have 7 machines of the same spec! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I'll be watching the answer to this. I have 7 machines of the same spec! You poor soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Can't write much right nut the short answer is no. CPUs that are appreciably faster than that use different MB and different RAM so you need to upgrade those. Will add more later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 OK Andrew.....will wait for your long answer. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slinger Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 The best processor upgrade you could do is with a Q9650. You are running a set up on the LGA 775 socket, which is old architecture. You would be better off building a system based off Andrew's write up, if you can afford it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Well, If I were to change the motherboard and memory, wouldn't I get what I need and still save money over starting from scratch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy L Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I think replacing with an i7 2600 based machine actually works out about the same price but you end up with less machines. So for me I could upgrade all 7 old machines, or buy two complete i7 2600s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 What those guys said. i7-2600 is the best spot on the price/performance curve for most of this stuff right now and probably the entire computer except MB, RAM and CPU can be kept. Don't sweat the Quadro 1700 especially if it's a backup computer, it will be fine, and don't worry about the Cinebench OpenGL scores, they're not really that useful for non-Cinema4D users. For example, in C4D's full shaded mode the last couple generations of ATI hardware is so fast that my Radeon 5750 and i5-760 box was faster in that test than any nVidia box on the list at cbscores.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 So I understand...are we saying that is is better to build an entire i7-2600 machine from scratch or to upgrade our current systems with an i7 2600, new MB and RAM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 If you want the old system, plus the new one, build from scratch. If you only want the new one, pull the old motherboard, CPU and RAM and replace with new parts, and save some money. The new one should render about 3x as fast as the old one so maybe keeping the old one isn't a priority. The rest of the system isn't really going to have an effect on render speed so keeping the hard drive and video card etc. is fine. Just make sure the MB and case match (e.g., if you're replacing an ATX motherboard, replace it with another ATX board). Consider an i7-2600K instead of a regular 2600. It's $15 more but if you ever decide to overclock you want the K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 is this memory (sold at my local store): Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC-10666) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit mfg part# TW3X4G1333C9A (Two 2GB Memory Modules) The same memory as this (as listed in your buying advice): CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M4A1333C9 It looks like I may have to just buy 2 of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 I think it is, though if you can get a similar deal on... well, I don't remember the model number, but same product line, same speed only it's 2x4GB for a total of 8GB, leaving 2 slots free, that would be better. Recently the prices have gone waaaay down on 4GB DIMMS so they make sense now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Found the 2x4GB (same price for a total of 8GB): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315&cm_re=CORSAIR_XMS3_8GB-_-20-145-315-_-Product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slinger Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Personally I would keep your old system for a workstation and purchase a setup like http://forums.cgarchitect.com/64648-6-core-render-node-480-component-advice-please.html for a render node. So for $500 you get a kickass render node and keep your old setup to work on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 That is what I just did....I bought a Sandy Bridge 2600K, Intel P67 MB and RAM to go with. Cost $585.00. So I will install the new parts in my old system and will see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 OK...got everything today and started the install. I ran into a bit of a problem though. The MB does not have a connection for my DVD/CD drive. The drive I have has some kind of 40 pin connectors. Not sure what I should do because I wont be able to load the chipset. Do I have to now go out and buy a compatible cd/dvd drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 Oh heck, that's an ATA cable and the new Intel boards may not have ATA. Which motherboard is it? Two options: add a PCI to ATA controller card, or (and this is better) swap out the DVD drive for a SATA one like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Hey Andrew, Its an MSI P67A-GD65. I have the computer up and running, but cant update any drivers, connect to the internet etc. If I get a sata drive, does it just connect to any SATA connection on the mother board, like the hard drives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346835 This one is at my local store....will it work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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