Upgrading The Computer!

[Sockratease]

It's time.

Any advice?

I need a Graphics Powerhouse. That is my only requirement.

I may build it myself to save money.

Anyone have any favorite graphics cards or other things I am clueless about? My computer knowledge is over 20 years old. I never caught up!

[BlueA86]

As fas as graphics you can't go wrong with a nvidia or ATI card. My old computer had the ATI Radeon card and it was fantastic, and this new computer I'm on has the Nvidia card and it seems like a good one also. There's many different models of each, so that would just require doing some research on their respective sites, or find some review sites and just pick which one meets your needs the best. Some models of each card are better for gaming etc. So you just need to pick the best for you. But I recommend one of these 2 brands from experience.

[BlueA86]

Also they make Macs now that run Windows if you can't choose between which one you want to go with. I've always used PC's, except my first computer was a MAC. So I'm sure you'll get an even split on the way to go on that from everyone. I think it's just a matter of how easy it is to get software and or computer accessories when it comes to deciding on PC or MAC. Where I live it's just easier to get PC equipment/parts/accessories, so that's why I'm with Microsoft.

[Sockratease]

I need one suited to all forms of animation. I know in 3D work some cards support more light sources and others have different results with shaders and other weird terms I am only passingly familiar with.

I will ask at some computer stores, but I don't trust salesmen!

[gumbie_goodhead]

All the graphic artisits I know won't touch a pc. They use these awesomely powered Macs.

Me? I am not only a slave to Mistress Taylor, but MIstress Microsoft as well. But I'd change the second one if I had any cojones...

[beanguy]

Sock:
Nviidia has a gaming edge over ATI right now, I do not know which would be better for your purposes. Stay away from the cheapies, video is the first place they scrimp on.

[Sockratease]

After much thought, and a little price shopping, it may need to be a windows toy. A good mac is quite a bit more money, and scant few of the programs I use would work there. One key program would require buying the mac version as it is sold separately!

So... there.

I'm hoping to get it this weekend, so any last minute thoughts are most welcome.

[BlueA86]

Yep as beanguy said, and you probably already know this, but I'll mention it anyway, make sure it has a "dedicated" video card and not an integrated one. It will always say it in the "specs" somewhere. A integrated one, is just a chip on the motherboard and won't be able to handle what you wanting to do. If you can get either of the brands, ATI or Nvidia, as a dedicated card you won't be disappointed. But again, make sure it has a actual card for the video and not just a chip. It's a world of difference.

[Sockratease]

It is done.

I am beginning the process of transferring all my most used programs over to the new machine!

I have a lot to learn now. Vista is ... different.

I already found the controls to turn off the nag messages about permissions, but the little things are now bugging me. They renamed a lot of standard features and I am unfamiliar with the new words. It just slows me down, doesn't stop me!

I have a lot of transferring to do now...

So far only one program wont work - my 3D Modeling Program!! (Not the animation and basic 3D art program, the one that makes models for use in the other program).

I'm sure to find more, as I use a lot of OLD software on a regular basis.

On the bright side - all my Fractal Generators installed, and only one is running "quirky" - but that is a beta version of the program anyhow, so I guess it's to be expected. Still... I REALLY enjoyed that one (Mutatorkammer - It's 3D Feature fails in animation consistently and it crashes a lot more than it used to on my old machine running XP.)

And I've only had the thing a few hours!

I got it at a Comp USA store. The chain is going out of business, so I was able to get my first New Monitor in over 10 Years!

I went from a 12 or 14 inch (never measured) monitor which wouldn't even go to 1024 x 768 until I upgraded my video card last year - to a Massive 24 widescreen inch monitor that swivels for 90 degree rotation (great for Hippy Artists!) and 1920 x 1200 resolution!

A Fancy-Schmancy Video Card, a Terrabyte of memory, over 3 GB of RAM, ports built in for all sorts of media cards from cameras, etc - and even those wonderful little rca jacks right on the front panel for input from my old video tapes of The Space Giants!!

My old computer started acting up just as I was getting started with some Serious Projects too. So this is Long Awaited and one or two people here may be pleased to know that I'll be finishing that stuff off VERY SOON now - I Promise!!

Sorry for the delay - but I pushed what I was doing past the limits of a glorified word processor and needed a real computer for it. I just need to finish transferring programs and then I get right to work on it!

[beanguy]

Sock:
You are brave to make the move to Vista, Microsoft has a tough sell there. I am jealous of your new speed and storage. Are you watching movies on that big monitor?
I have a ? for some of our more expert users here. One of Flat's threads had a copy of XP in rar form. The instructions say to "extract to .iso"-what exactly is that and how is it done? Is that on the hard drive, or a CD?

[beanguy]

Nothing major here, just added a Raid card, allowing me to add a 3rd hard drive(up to 4 actually) AND get around size limitations of my hardware. A 200 MB drive brings me up to 440 in total, just in time.
Sock:
How does that big monitor look while watching a movie? Or are you too busy to have tried it out?

[jackiecarter]

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