Need a new computer fast...help me please (Maya Animator)

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Heres' my setup.
It's a P3 933 with 256 MB of RDRam, a 30GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA HD, Dual booting win98/win2k(nothing fancy). Just last week while working in Win2k my computer started to hang....so I rebooted. Then when I tried to go into Win2k I got an error and it wouldn't let me get into win2k. Something about looking for system.ced file that wasn't there. I did my research and tried everything to repair the drive but nothing worked so I reinstalled win2k from win98 (which I could still get into.) Then just today the same thing happened. Although this time I had my ermergency repair disk ready with all my system info on it but it still doesn't work.

So....now I'm thinking my HD is damaged in some spots and is not repairable. So I'm gonna get a new HD for this computer and ship it our to my parents clean with a new OS and that's it(they need an upgrade bad from their p2 266 with 128mb of ram). It's not a super upgrade but for what they use it for it's fine. So Im' looking for a new computer. I have a little over $2000 to spend on a computer. I was thinking that I would get a pretty powerful processor (just one...I heard that 2 isn't really necessary for maya and animation which is what I use it for) but I'm not sure about video cards and HD's. I figure at least a Gig of Ram as well. Any ideas on places that could put together a machine for me for a resonable price that's screaming fast. I could do it myself proly but I don't really have the time for that. Any leads or recommendations on systems for using Maya for animation would be really really helpful. Thanks in advance.

Oh and I know about micropro.com "g" heheh but their website confuses the hell outta me.

[gmask]

micropro.com confusing???

I like it because it is so simple???

You can pick a sytem and then change the config or start with a mothe rboard and add CPU's and Ram then get a case and the other stuff.

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Proly because I don't really know what components to get in general and those that will be compatible together.

Ok so I'm trying it now..it's not that confusing. Anyways...I'm still looking for recomendations on systems. Especially video cards (ie. a Ti4600 or a ATI Fire GL 8800 Card or something like that? what about HD's?) I really want Maya to run smoothly and I want to be able to animate without too many things holding me back. if that's possible.

[gmask]

What I like about the micropro site is that they make it easy to get the right parts. When you picxk a motherboard you can select the ram and cpu from the menus and there is no worry about compatibilyt they have allready tested these parts together.

When you pick a suystem and change the options those options are tested.

Basically if you have a budget you can go with either a single p4, single AMD or preferably a dual AMD system.

You should get 512 ram at least... a 40-60gb IDE hardrive and a video card that is tested for the software that you'll be using. Micorpro makes nots on known porblems with certain boards and video cards so there is not worry about your card being compatilbe with your motherboard.

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I'm noticing that with the motherboard. That was really easy. Right now I'm looking at a dual AMD system with 1 Gig of Ram and a 120 GB HD. But for the Video Cards....they don't seem to have too many there that are for workstations (don't flame me...I just looked real quick and could be wrong). But yeah..your right. It's pretty simple. Now I guess I need advice about the video card and HD.

Thanks for the help so far it's appreciated. Can you buy a system say without the video card (or a super cheap one) and then put another one in later (I mean obviously you can but). I'm thinking if I can buy most of the parts from Micropro (ie motherboard...processors...ram...hd...etc.) kinda like the barebones of it and then I could just order parts that they don't have that I want from elsewhere???) But will micropro get the computer all setup for me with the OS and all the components I buy? Ok I'm heading back over there to do more research.

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One more thing....heheh......what OS would you recommend for Maya 4 and proly soon 4.5. I heard that WinXp Pro is a Ram hog and that it's better to run Win2k. Thoughts on that as well?

[gmask]

Can you buy a system say without the video card (or a super cheap one) and then put another one in later (I mean obviously you can but).

Yes.. I woul dget it with a cheap 8mb card just so you have something to test with and as a spare.. you never know when it may come in handy. Then either buy one of the budget cards from there.. I have a geforce 3 that I got from them for cheap and it's fine or buy a specialized card from some where else. Before you buy you mant to call the seller or research that it is compatible with your board but it pretty much should be.

[gmask]

Personally i don't like XP.. Some say it is basically W2k with more features but I don't need those features as there are mostly fluff. Both are ram hogs but with a gb of ram you'll do fine either way;-)

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So with Micropro...I can order all the parts....but when I go to checkout there isn't an option to put all these parts together for me. Are they just gonna send me all the parts, or are they actually gonna set the computer up for me and get it up and running and ready to go when it gets here? I didn't see any options for that when going through and just selecting the components I wanted?

[gmask]

They will assemble the motherboard,c pu's and ram for you by default unless you tell them otherwise. I think they will aslo assenmble it into the case as well for free or a small charge. Make a note about it in the order form. I will look to see what their policy is for you.

[gmask]

You might want to call them to make sure that they will put together a complete system that was not picked though their systems page. I know that they assemble the MO,CPU,ram. When I bought those components and acase they sent the motherboard installed in the case.

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ok I will. Which then brings up the case...if I buy a HD...will I need th mounting kit? I shoudn't right if I'm buying a case from them? (This is my first time configuring a system like this so I'm not sure what I'll need.) Right now this is what I have.

Tyan S2460 Dual CPU DDR Memory
Two Coolermaster SP5-6G31C CPU Fan. Two AMD Athlon MP 2000+ (266MHz FSB). 1GB PC2100 DDR266 ECC Registered.

Enermax UC-8FAB 8cm Case Cooling Fan

80GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache WD 800JB

16X DVD-ROM Black IDE Drive, Toshiba SD-M1612

48x24x48 CD-RW Drive, Plextor PX-W4824TA Retail

Microsoft Windows XP Professional (or Win2K? still undecided)

and a Enermax FS-710 Black Open Window Case (no P.S.)

I would like a coolermaster case but they don't have any there at micropro. This one looks like it's the one they use at alienware....??

Now I need a cheap video card (wish they had some $20 cards?) Can you think of anything else I might need? What about Power Supplies? What would you recommend. I don't know what the difference is between the 300+'s and the 400+'s. besides the obvious.

This configuration will be about $1600 which will then leave me with about 500 for a video card and a sound card. Which should be plenty.

Random question....how is mircropro different than say buying all these same components at like pricewatch or newegg? Besides that I can get them all at the same time which is really nice, is that just it?

[gmask]

Even if you could buy all these exact same components from seperate vendors for less you may end up payin gmore for shipping, they probably won't all arrive at the same time, you'll have to install everything yourself, micropro has good warranty and customer service whereas many cheapo places have none.

Seriously some places will try to make up their cost for those suspiciously low prices with high shipping and handling charges and then they don't offer the same value added services as putting together and providing support.

Micro will not do you wrong!

if they don't have the case you want just go with whatever they provide or the cheapest one and then get the cool case later. Down the road you'll probably need a second computer anyway. I have 8 systems alltogether and my main system is a dual AMD in a rack case from Micropro. I have two others twhere I got the motherboard and ,cpu's and ram from micro and had no problems.

[gmask]

ABout the mounting kit.. Most cases have several 3.5 slots for internal harddrives. CDROMs are 5 inches and there are usually two or three of thse. If you need to mount an HD in the 5 incgh slot you'll need the kit as most cases do nto came with 5 inch adpaters if they provide 3.5 slots. You can also just mount the drive to the edge of the 5inch slot as the mounting holes line up .. it is only connected to one edge but the is not really a problem and has worked in many of my systems. then there ar ethe systems where I have used duct tape or packing tape to secure the HD.. it works well enough when the right part is not obtainable.

[gmask]

If you picked a bare computer system and optimized it they put the whole system together. If you oicked a motherboard they will assemble the CPU and ram. Jus tadda note that you want the system put together befor ebeing hsippe din the notes section when you are placing the order.

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OK so now I was thinking I could save money on getting the dual processor board but with just one higher processor and then later puttting another one in when I have the money for processor number 2. So now I'm rethinking that (isn't it true though that when you go this route you will have to reconfigure Win2k or WinXP for 2 processors....I was told that if you just plug the second one in that it won't be used unless you reconfigure the OS to use 2?

But what I was replying about was....do you know for a fact that they will put the system together for me if I choose all my components myself and put a note in the order to put it together for me? Will they charge me a small fee or do this for free. Thanks again for all your help it's appreciated. I will proly be going through micropro then when I finally order the system. And I'm sure I could've gotten some of these answers from them when I called but........ Thanks again!!!!

[gmask]

I was told that if you just plug the second one in that it won't be used unless you reconfigure the OS to use 2?

This is true but it is a minor task to get it to work for 2. I can't remember the exact steps but you do not have to reinstall or anything like that. Is more like software option that needs to be set.

do you know for a fact that they will put the system together for me

When in doubt call them.

If you go with one of the preconfigured systems then yes
If you customize a bare bones system then yes
If you buy a motherboard,cpu and ram then yes

If you buy all individual parts with using one of their configurators then they will if you ask them to. I can't remember if they charge but if they do I think it is only $25-50 and may take a few days before they ship.

I think they have phone support & sales most of the time so call them. They will probably tell you to make a note in the order and they will email back with how much it will cost in addition to your order.

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Ok, Thanks so much for all the help.

[giedi]

I hope you haven't bought anything yet.
I've built about 20 different workstations in the past 3 years and have come to the following specs as the best for maya :

Intel 850e motherboard (Asus p4t533)
Pentium 4 B (533 mhz fsb)
RDram ( Rimm 4200 is the fastest one but requires the Asus p4t533 3400 mo/sec in Sandra)
A lot of fans are required too! it'll keep the system well ventilated and stable.
400 Watt power supply or more ( Antec true power or Enermax)

I don't recommend a dual system simply because it would be more expensive and not as fast in the viewport.

The main thing in Maya or any other Ram hungry application is a very high memory bandwith which is why I'm recommending this config. It is simply the fastest so far.

I would get a Fire GL 8800 for about 280 bucks on the net cause it's hard to beat. (That's what I got)

If you have any questions, I'll answer them.

Take care

Dave

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No I haven't bought anything yet. Thanks for the advice. I have RDram now and I don't really want it again though. AS much as I know it's fast...it's way too expensive. I had 256 and I Wanted to upgrade it to 512 and it was going to cost me as much as it would to get a new motherboard, and a gig of sd ddr ram. So I was planning on not getting that this time just due to costs. Maybe in my next system when it comes down in price. I was planning on gettting the Fire GL 8800, seems like a good enough card for the price. I don't see spending an extra 300 on the Quadro4 750 just for a small small benefit. Why would a dual system not be as fast in the viewport??? I mean I know that maya isn't a multithreaded program but wouldn't the viewport speed be mostly dependant on my videocard? I was told that dual processor systems do have benefits over single proc. systems due to the fact that when things start becoming processor dependant that's when it makes things go a little smoother? Anyways any more help would be great. I'm looking to get the system in the next 2 days. Thanks so much for the help.