So tempted to purchase a new system.

[[BTF]Sigma]

The title pretty much sums up my thoughts.

I have been contemplating acquiring a new system to get me ready to start taking a 3d animation course @ Vancouver Film School. ( www.vfs.com )

I'm looking to be able to push some major poly's in Maya and Softimage.

I was using an Irix based Octane in HighSchool to handle my animation and I think I need to get back to something akin to that.

On to the real core of this thread:

I don't know where to begin on building a system that can handle 60fps realtime rendering of a selected object on a second monitor while I adjust verticies, NURBS points, and Shaders

Any help provided is good help.
How much should I spend?

[UUD-40]

I think you want one of these: http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/video/hw_companion/home.cfm
or one of these: http://www.3dlabs.com/?

I know both companies offer cards costing upwards of a grand  (USD)... so I guess it depends on how much you want to spend.

[[BTF]Sigma]

Was looking at this: http://www.sgi.com/products/workstations/fuel/

Here's a link for what we were using back then: http://www.sgi.com/products/remarketed/octane/





*edit: forot my [/url]

[{TNP}Dukie]

Sigma, you might try asking that question here...

http://boards.polycount.net/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=3

[[BTF]n0ctuary]

you should buy from these guys: www.xicomputer.com

They make top of the line computers. They're made for CAD stuff, which is pretty intense. They could probably build the kind of computer you need.

[UUD-40]

Oh, a whole system 

http://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/IntelliStation_workstations.html

[[BTF]Defiant!]

If you're playing q2, you really don't need much at all.  I would look around at rebuilding someone's box or upgrading your own.

If you want to buy and have experience, I've been happy with www.monarchcomputer.com.  They can provide parts or a barebones system which has the CPU, RAM, Mobo and verified no conflicts.  Advantages are that you get exactly what you want, you'll know better how to repair it, and you'll pay a little less.  Or you can buy a whole system. 

Another approach is to buy a lower end box from a major dealer and be sure it can upgrade beyond integrated graphics.  This can be a $450 box which will play great.  Absolutely critical that you check the specs first, some boxes aren't upgradeable.

Def

[[BTF]Sigma]

Gaming is fine on my current box.

I'm looking to get back into the swing of my 3D graphics. I recently setup a carpet install on this guys boat. Turns out he runs the local powerhouse graphcs school.

If I get back into the whole post production and 3D animation it means that I'm gonna need a beef system. Get a good HD Digital Vidcam and a sheet of Green to creat a studio.

I tinkered around with that stuff back in highschool. Had the wood working shop turned into a virtual bridge for a green screen project. Covered the table saw with green felt and post productioned over top of it a radar console.......ah good times.

[10zx]

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