I've been using an ancient dell dimension 4600 for about 7 years now, mostly for photoshop work, illustration and some 3DS Max work. Now that i'm hooked on ZBrush and it's really pushing my system to it's limit, it only has 1.5gb RAM, so after much financial juggling i've decided to get a new system. Now I don't pretend to know bugger all when it comes to the best spec for my above uses but after some research and advice I've decided to go for the following spec'd Dell PC:

Intel® Core™ i7 processor 920 (2.66GHz,8MB 4.8GT/sec)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 (64 BIT)
9216MB 1067MHz Tri Channel DDR3 SDRAM [3x2048 + 3x1024]
640GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive
1GB NVIDIA® GeForce™ GT220 graphics card

My main app is ZBrush and I need to know if it with run smoothly and allow a large poly count. I've never used a 64bit OS, what are the benefits?

Also I choose the SATA drive over a RAID as I have heard of licencing errors when using RAID drives, is this correct?

Tri or Dual Channel memory? I've opted for a large amount because I often like to have 3DSMax and PS running as well.

I have heard of mixed reviews regarding Dell, but based on my current old system they seem great. Others talk of building one myself but I am no way confident enough let alone qualified to build one.

Sorry for all the questions but It's a big investment and I would really appreciate the forum members thoughts.

Sinzalot

Hi Sinz !

The "machine" seems ok.

I am not a fan of Dell but they have a great support team !
when you have a problem with your computer they can help you within 48 hours and most of the time 24.

I did many test with 64 bits and 32... But if you want to have more than 3 go, 64 bits is the only system which can handle them...
I work with Vista Ultimate 64 bits since 2 years and I had less problems than a 32 bits system, XP or Vista 32 bits... Now many drivers exist and it will not be a problem to install all your peripherals...

Sata is really good and yes RAID makes some problems with license, ZBrush is one of those softwares which doesn't like RAID...

About memory I don't know, sorry...

If you use Photoshop a lot I recommend you to have 2 separate disks...
He doesn't like to run his exe on the same disk where you save your file... The better way is to have a system disk where you install windows and all your softwares and another disk for the data.
Some users recommend to have one disk system, one disk data and a third one with nothing on it only to write the photoshop cache. You can set this in photoshop parameters...
I use to do huge graphics in photoshop, maps around 3 and 8 gbits and when you did this there is not enough ram memory to handle this, so photoshop write a cache file and you can have a huge file ! with the last map I did, the cache file was around 20 gbits...
The best is to buy a high speed disk around 10000 rpm. I have a Western Digital Raptor. It's expensive but you really see the difference !
The bast is 2 raptors, one for the system, one for the cache and a third disk for the data. no need to be a 10000 rpm, 7200 are enough and cheaper !

I hope it helps !

See ya !

Cheers Gpepper,

Thanks for the feedback mate, I feel a little more comfortable buying one now, by the way what graphics tablet do you use? I've only just realised that my Genius' tablet pressure sensitivity doesn't work with zbrush, I wondered why I was struggling a bit with my modelling.

One day i'll get a good setup to work with.

Sinzalot

hi sinz!

i´ll write down something good tomorrow. at the moment im the my girl and she is nagging hehe

I have an Intuos 3 bought many years ago ! it starts to be a bit old !
They are the best compromise. Many people want a cintiq but it only have 512 points of pressure. An Intuos have 1024 !
I tried A4 and A5 size and A5 is the best. A4 is to big and you need a huge desktop to use it !

Hi sinz and gpepper!

As I´ve said before sinz I always build my own PCs.
The freedome you get is wonderful, but my second choise would be to buy a customised pc where you choose your parts and the shop builds it for you

The specs for the pc I used making the centipede (I have bought a new one a week ago )
were:

cpu: amd 6000+
ram: 4gig 800mhz corsair (dual channel)
graphics: Nvidia geforce 8800gts 320mb
Psu: 520W corsair
hdd: 1,32tb 7200rpm seagate (3 separate hdds)

and a Intuos 3 A4 tablet.


but after the gpu crashed and burned hehe.. I bought a started building a new pc.

cpu: amd phenom II 955 quad core (3,2mhz)
ram: 8gig 1333mhz ocz (dual channel)
gpu: Ati radeon 4890 1gb
psu:620W corsair
hdd:1,32tb seagate (same as above)

and I hope I´ll be getting my Intuos4 medium in the mail one of these days


a strong gpu is very important for smooth realtime viewports.
a large amount of ram makes you being able to subdivide higher.

now I have to go to work... dont wanna!!!

I´ll think of something more to write tonight when I get home

cheeers

Cheers Gman and Jonas, thanks for the response!

Energise: Uh ! Huge computer ! With a new Intuos 4 and your zbrush license, you know have no reason not to become a zbrusher !

Sinz: De nada !

yeah Im very satisfied with my pc and it only cost me 1400$ tops. cheaper that that is impossible in sweden

I´ve already created a zbrushcentral account even!

can´t wait to get my hands on zb 3,5 and goz!!


the mudbox help gives a VERY detailed view of which components gives power to what!

It says:

Importing polygonal models from other 3D modeling and sculpting applications (CPU performance)
Working with multiple models (CPU performance)
Sculpting on layers (RAM)
Subdivision levels (RAM)
Other software applications (RAM)

GPU:
Painting on layers
Painting on multi-tiled models
Painting on high resolution models
Using the Viewport Filters
Reflection (environment) maps
Using Shadows
Materials

hope this helps

how much do you have to pay for the dell you´re thinking of buying sinz?

Nice info Jonas, it'll be about £1300 for the above spec. I'm hoping it'll run Maya ok (got a copy coming soon!...never used it before though, I've always been a 3DS Max man)

And i'm really miffed that my Genius tablet doesn't have any pressure sensitivity when using ZBrush, it's fine in my other apps...but not Z...arrrgh!

Anyway, any system upgrade will be better than my current one, having my models maxing out at 3.5million polys is not good.

Think that´s a fair prize when buying prebuilt
It will run maya without problem!

I remember my first intro to 3D studio max r2.5 haha the good old days

I also started out in max but later crossed over to maya and have been using it since

You REALLY need a new tablet man! haha

at the moment I own a graphire3 A5, Intuos3 A4 and have a Intuos4 medium coming soon

computers and tech stuff is what I burn my money on hehe

Oh and with that new pc of yours I bet you´ll reach atleast the 6 million line!

With my new beast i can sculpt at 31 million without problems!!

Really think you deserve giving yourself a new pc and wacom tablet after this amazing win! I recommend an Intuos3 A5 or Intuos4 medium!

cheers mate!

I agree for the tablet choice...