Mac user returning to PC :( need advice please..

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31 Aug 2006
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Hi there, I have been a both a mac and pc user in the past (currently mac) but It looks as though its the right time for me to go back to PC for a while due to being a 3D Animator and needing to run 3ds Max which is Windows only.

Ok, So I am looking to build a nice system for running 3Ds Max on and other related apps i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, Possabily Maya etc

I have a spec in mind but would like a few of you to offer advice on the current "best buys" on the components..

I am thinking of basing it round a Duo 2 Core "conroe?" 2.4g Intel chip, Not sure on motherboard as I dont know which chipset is best at mo? 2gb of nice fast ram? a pretty good gfx card, "possibe Quadro" (Oh, I dont ever play games) 250gb hard drive, dual layer dvd burner, hmm think thats about it.. oh and a 24" windscreen LCD (which will also be used for TV, DVDS, etc

Ive got around a grand but could be tempted to spend more if esential..

Thanks everyone
 
Why not just buy a new Intel based Mac and have Windows on that too? :cool:
 
that was an option yeah but i heard its going to be around a year before the software i need to use is re-written or compiled or whatever to run properly in that enviroment, i can just see it causing me un-necessary head-aches and time, which will be very counter productive for me..

thanks anyway mate
 
Gainward BLISS Geforce 7900 GT "Golden Sample" 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £209.99
Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £197.99
Asus P5W DH Deluxe WiFi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £129.99
Crucial 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-8000C5 1000MHz Ballistix Dual Channel Kit £199.99
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 2500KS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM £44.99
Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 80GB 800JD SATA-II 8MB Cache £27.50
Subtotal £810.45
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £143.40
Total £962.80

And any case, Heatsink, dvd burner, etc you`d care to throw at it... you don`t really need a Quadro unless your doing animation involving heavy dynamics or particles. I may have over done it on the ram :)
 
thanks for that mate but a few questions.. why 2 hdd's? i think the one 250gig will be plenty for now..

how has this motherboard been performing with overclocks? id like to run the chip as close to 3gig as poss, what do u think?

also the ram, wow thats expensive! how about GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit instead? i may even consider to get 2 of them kits = 4gb
 
I always have a small one with 2 partitions one for OS to make it easy for any re-install and the other larger partition for scene files etc. The second drive would be for work and downloads n stuff... and maybe a duplicate partition using a synching program like alwaysynch (not sure of spelling) to mirror your scenefiles just in case of HD failure...

For me I can face losing downloads and final copies but scene files and other important project files that you can use to make your final work is a no no *shrug*

EDIT: As I said about the ram I may have over done it*grin*

The Geil would be fine :)
 
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