looking to get socket 939, but....?

splotchsplotch
edited February 2005 in Hardware
So, I'm building a computer strictly for programs like maya, 3dsmax, also as an nle, and sound editor. Not a gaming rig. I've been scouring the internet and have all but sent off my money for a 939 3200+ winchester......now I'm starting to wonder about which graphics card and motherboard I should get.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Also, if I'm completely a fool for going with the 939 on this one let me know.

Comments

  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited January 2005
    No, for 64-Bit computing 939 is definitely the way to go.

    As far as MB's, I have the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum and like it very much.

    As far as the video card, there are others who could advise you better than I could. :D
  • splotchsplotch
    edited January 2005
    I've been taking a look at SLI, and I'm curious about it's use for non gaming rigs. Would sli really benifit a video/graphics/audio rig?

    With dual core processors around the corner,..... well, I'm having trouble
    deciding where I should invest.

    I'm leaning toward 6600gt nvidia for the graphics card... putting that in sli would certainly work, but I'm not sure that the benifits really out weigh the cost.

    http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q1/geforce6600gt-sli/index.x?pg=2

    Though this article starts out positive....the conclusion is not really to conclusive as to the long term benifits of the sli setup.

    Curious what people are thinking....?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    It wouldn't really help anything for a non-gaming rig, except maybe in the case of the 3dsmax/maya/lightwave viewport being a little snappier.
  • KingFishKingFish
    edited January 2005
    I've heard good things about the MSI K8N Neo2 that Prof was talking about above and would second that as a solid choice. I recently bought an Asus K8V with the KT800 Pro chipset and have really enjoyed it so far. Muddock will vouch for the Epox EP-9NDA3+ with the Nforce 3 ultra chipset. I think any of them would be a good choice for you in what you plan on doing. Dunno if the SLI setup would be what you'd really need for what you're doing. It all depends on how much you mind spending. The choice for socket 939 is quite solid and will be somewhat future proof.
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited February 2005
    I hate to say this bad word (MAC). Sploch, I thought the MAC OS was the way to go if you are only into Graphics programs. Of course they will all work with Windows too. I have them all working on my present system, Maya ,3DSMAX, Lightwave and Houdini Master and I am running with XP Pro because I like to game with the computer too.
  • splotchsplotch
    edited February 2005
    yeah, I considered it,.... but the combination of the expense of every step of a mac, from initial purchase to software....to upgrading (?).

    The thought of building my own is of interest, and then it's somewhat cheaper to go pc in general.

    I've worked on macs, and yes osx is nice, and that I've never seen much of a virus problem come up on a mac.....but,

    My issues have really been, and as I have yet to send off my money, still are, whether to go amd or intel. There is a lot to like about amd, cool&quiet, service pack 2 virus interaction, 64 bit integration, slightly lower price.....but for their end intels hyperthreading is a huge plus for what I'm trying to do, and is still the number one reason that I am hesitating.
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited February 2005
    Read, read and read a lot and ask a lot of questions. Good luck splotch.
    :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    Couple comments:

    Mac. Yeah, it might outperform a 939/64 setup out of the box (for your stated applications), but perhaps only marginally. But upgrading and price. Ouch! Not sure though, about the performance difference. You'd have to get Mac top of the line to compete with the 3200 Winchester. You'd be broke if you ordered it with the same amount of DRAM and high-end video that you can put in a home built AMD box.

    Those graphics programs (excuse my ignorance) - are they optimized for 64 bit processing? If so, the AMD 939 would outperform an HT-enabled Intel rig. HT works under intense multitaking, but its current state of implementation wouldn't match a true 64bit processor running 64 bit applications.

    Someone check me if I'm wrong.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    If I were building this system "today" I'd probably go with an AN8 with lots of performance ram and Realizm 800 graphics.

    Here is a older review of professional cards from October of last year ...Cadalyst Magazine.
    http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=128591&pageID=1

    You can find the R800 for right at $2000 or just under.

    How much do you want to spend though?
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited February 2005
    Very good article Mr.Ron LaFon wrote. I would like to quote him here.

    "So is now the time to move to a PCI Express system? The scope of this transition, for both system vendors and graphics card vendors, is great. It's not just a matter of buying a PCI Express system and plugging in a speedy new graphics card. During the course of preparing this article, I encountered new technology in motherboards with new drivers and new graphics cards with new drivers. There are numerous ways for problems and conflicts to occur, and in many cases they did. If you absolutely must get a new system right now, PCI Express systems are worth considering. If not, I'd say wait."

    Think I will wait and use the AGP system for now..... :usflag:
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    ronbo wrote:
    Think I will wait and use the AGP system for now..... :usflag:

    Not a bad decision really ...but I made sure to include that the article was written 4-5 months ago ...a lot can happen in that time.
    One thing about 3dlabs that I can attest to for sure. Driver updates are rare.
    I had a GVX1 and a GVX1-pro. The whole time I had each card I only updated the drivers once. That says a lot for good driver writing. :thumbsup:
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited February 2005
    Splotch,

    I deal with Softimage all the time and there's two ways to look at it. In case you didn't know...Softimage and Maya are very close and Softimage is 3DSMAX's big brother.

    For the majority of the time in any of those program's GUI you aren't going to be taxing a video card. It's all 2D. A big gaming card is not going to be a benefit.

    Lots of RAM, however, will. 1GB minimum and 2 if you can afford it.

    Where the video card get's taxed is when you are manipulating a 3D object in real time which is not very often compared to a game. You know the programs. You're usually working in a lower shader or wireframe...then when you are satisfied with the test frames...you render.

    So I'd put priority on CPU and RAM.

    Of course those 3D programs want you to use the NVIDIA or ATI approved vid cards which are just as or more expensive than high end gaming cards. It's the specific driver support that costs.

    ATI 9800 PRO will do you quite nicely or the NVIDIA model a few down from the top.

    Hard drive speed also is no benefit...space is of course so you'll be fine with standard ATA or SATA 7200 RPM drives. RAID 0 may get you a bit zippier loads of the program but that's about it.

    Dual processor is also quite a good idea. But then again you are starting to invest more money. Realize that even a P4 3Gig (or 939 2.4ghz) single processor will really shove those programs along nicely.

    MAC?

    Unless you want to get into Final Cut Pro...don't go there. No benefit. Your PC system equipped with Premiere (and look to matrox for the RTX10 card as it comes bundled with Premiere for less than Premiere just by itself from ADOBE) will really help you out for NLE (Non Linear Editing) and the same PC will double as the 3D station.

    If you want to buy the best...it'll cost you of course. You can always back off a couple of notches on the processor and save big bucks.

    Hope this helps.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    939 is the way togo if u can shell out cash. Now i bought a 754 before the 939 era and to me its not worth the extra cash to switch yet
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    One of the forgotten, but main reasons with SLI is that you can now run 4 screens like in a huge desktop or just split it. 3 or 4 screens would really help with apps like 3d studio and 3d modelling in general. I think mediaman uses 2 or 3 screens on his Matrox card at his work with media and stuff.
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited February 2005
    NLE, Photoshop, Illustrator, AEFX...definitely dual monitors.

    Softimage, Maya, 3DSMAX...single 19" minimum. You can get plugins from Matrox to support Softimage across two monitors.
  • floontfloont Texas
    edited February 2005
    Hey guys,

    I built a new system for video editing with Premiere Pro and Photoshop work, don't do much 3D modeling. The A64 3200+ on my Asus A8N SLI board works very well for my purposes. I am using a WD Raptor 74GB SATA boot drive and 2 300GB Maxtor SATA 16MB cache drive in a raid 0 stripe set. The whole system is very snappy and with the Dual 6600GTs it does very well in gaming too. Oh, also using 1GB Corsair ram and 2 19" LCDs. Very happy with the setup.

    floont


    BTW....I forgot the mention. It is a socket 939 if you didn't know already and it does seem somewhat faster than my socket 754 at the same speed. It runs MUCH cooler too.
  • splotchsplotch
    edited February 2005
    Hello, and thanks media man et al
    been out of town for a bit, and am really appreciative of all the advice. Now I can start ordering, almost.

    Lots of RAM, however, will. 1GB minimum and 2 if you can afford it.

    I've looked a bit, and started to price, but any obvious winners here?

    So I'd put priority on CPU and RAM.

    I was thinking of going with the 3200+ 90nm from amd. The 3500+ is 80 dollars more, and it doesn't seem that performance would be too much the better for it, but if this is just my ignorance.... I'd be curious to hear it.

    Of course those 3D programs want you to use the NVIDIA or ATI approved vid cards which are just as or more expensive than high end gaming cards. It's the specific driver support that costs.

    ATI 9800 PRO will do you quite nicely or the NVIDIA model a few down from the top.

    Now, are you saying that if I were to go with Nvidia that I should look at quadro cards a few down from the top? I have been considering just running with a 6600gt and getting comfortable with the programs, and then as needs appeared switching over to something more attuned to my needs. I've worked with these programs before, but it was always on someone elses time, and project, consequently I don't really have a feel for what they are when it comes to my own designs. Also, I don't believe they had a workstation graphics card, and the programs ran.....but then again, maybe I don't really know what these programs are capable of.


    Dual processor is also quite a good idea. But then again you are starting to invest more money. Realize that even a P4 3Gig (or 939 2.4ghz) single processor will really shove those programs along nicely.


    When thinking about this build I looked first at dual setup, but as I got further into research, and began to pare down my needs vs. simply buying the most ideal/expensive rig I've decided to wait on this as well. On this point I also am wanting to wait and see how much dual core processors will be able to change performance standards.


    MAC?
    Unless you want to get into Final Cut Pro...don't go there. No benefit. Your PC system equipped with Premiere (and look to matrox for the RTX10 card as it comes bundled with Premiere for less than Premiere just by itself from ADOBE) will really help you out for NLE (Non Linear Editing) and the same PC will double as the 3D station.

    I looked at this package, and honestly it looks good. This very well might be the first thing that I throw money at after everything is built and running.

    If you want to buy the best...it'll cost you of course. You can always back off a couple of notches on the processor and save big bucks.

    Hope this helps.

    without question.
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