New computer

Hi, I'm not so sure if this topic is supposed to be here but here I go.

I'm not the best in computer support but I know my way around some things.

Back at work, I got a new computer approuved for fulltime modelling.

What I was wondering is, what are the most important pieces to put money on if you want a faster sketchup response and a lower rendering time.

I know most pieces are supposed to be at the same level but since we don't do video rendering, videocard won't be that good anyway. Is the mother board the first thing to see or just go for the usual full ram?

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Permalink Reply by Render Plus on March 16, 2011 at 8:58am

The most important thing is the number of cores on the motherboard times to speed. But the I5 and I7 processors have made that more difficult to measure. Get more cores and more speed.

The videocard won't effect rendering with IRender nXt.

And 4GB of RAM is a minimum for rendering, but you will rarely need more. But going from 4 to 6 GB is about $125.00, so I would be tempted to go to 6GB so I would have it if I ever needed it.

Lets change the question a bit: "If I could get a new machine just for rendering, what should I get"

Even then cost is of some importance, otherwise you get get a multi-CPU machine each with multi cores, which would be great for rendering.

I am looking at the Dell site for price comparison. (Dual Processor Dell 5500 workstation)

One processor choice is: Dual Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5607, 2.26GHz (Price $1,589.00)

Another is: Dual Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5645, 2.40GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s [add $1,150.00 to the $1,589.00 price]

The Dual six core will render 50% faster than the dual quad-core, so you have to decide if 50% faster is worth $1,150.00?

(Since these two processors are about the same speed (2.26GHX and 2.40 GHZ), the one with 12 cores total will be about 50% faster than the one with 8 cores total)

At the top of the line: Dual Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5690, 3.46GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s [add $4,900.00to the $1,589.00 price], will be 50% faster again for another $3,750.00

(Both the last two options have 12-cores, but 3.46GHZ is about 50% faster than 2.40GHZ)

It's fun to look at these high end machines. But you need to see what you can afford.

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Permalink Reply by Alain Bonnefoy on March 16, 2011 at 9:10am

All pieces work together in fact but during rendering it's sure that processor and RAM do the job so, also the motherboard because datas go through it.

When you use sketchup, by zooming, moving around the model etc.. the graphic card is really loaded, especially if you set textures on (even if sketchup disable it during moves). In any case, I widely prefer to set sun off when working of course.

Now comparing the "same configuration" on laptop and desktop, laptop is almost half the power of the desktop one.

I'm actually using a DELL Precision M6500 (i7-840 8Go RAM DDR3 nVidia Quadro FX2800 M win indice 5.9). Previously I use a desktop A8N32SLI AMD Opteron 185 4 Go DDR3 nVidia GT8800) that didn't really change the behavior (a bit better anyway) in sketchup but it's really faster in rendering.

So you'd better change the motherboard first with processor and ram of course. Don't save money on ram.

Regards,