Ultimate Graphics PC

[Curly]

Hi guys, would like to get into 3D modelling and need some help in getting a good deal here in HK. What specs, where and for what price should i be looking at?

People have mentioned that Dell offer some good deals here but i can't believe that to be true

Any help appreciated!!!

[KnowItAll]

What is it about Dell that you cant belive?

One thing .. on the higher / custom end, it might be easier to get a good system builder to build the PC for you.

[Lammarite]

Dell is promoting a dual core laptop at the moment in the Wanchai Computer Centre- it seems a pretty decent bit of kit- and this coming form an owner of 3 Macs!

[JohanSWE]

People have mentioned that Dell offer some good deals here but i can't believe that to be true

Must have been Discobay going at it again :P

Anyways, as it seems 3D something that your just starting with i would go with entrylevel specs.
And if you are just gonna do modeling and not too much animation or realtime stuff you could do just fine with a single cpu around 2-3Ghz, 1gb ram should be well enough, and a graphic card with 128Mb+ ram, it all depends a little on what software you intend to start with.
I guess 3Ds MAX is what you have in mind, so make sure you get a DX9 compatible graphics card.
I use ATI x800GTO with 256mb ram and its more that enough, and it allows to use DX9 shaders in MAX.

Anyways the best advice is dont buy the top notch because at entry level you just wont need it, and you have ended up paying for preformance you have no use for, and when you have reached that level the preformance you paid for is already outdated.

You can PM me, with what you have in mind what software you intend to use and ill try my best to help you out.

[Max]

Agree with KiA on this one...

A very good friend of mine is in a similar field and uses high-spec machines running 3DS MAX for rendering. He ALWAYS gets his PC's custom assembled. Try talking to some of the vendors/retailers at the Wanchai computer center and see what suggestions they provide.

[JohanSWE]

Honestly, when it comes to the staff working in the computer centers, they usualy know dick about 3D graphics and redering, unless thats what they speialize in.
They just try to sell you things you dont realy need, they are the theory guys, the read a book about something or heard someone say it and then adapt it as a fact even if its complete nonsense. Fact is if its just on a hobby/entry level you have no need at all for a high spec machine.
Even a low spec rig will let you run 3ds MAX just fine.
And like i said unless your gonna do huge amounts of animation and render sequenses you will do just fine with a singel core CPU.
Its would even be better to spend the money on some 2nd hand comps and build a render farm rather than to buy a dual core if its just for rendering.

[MrMoo]

I would find it highly unlikely you could find many shops that sell the latest Quadro or FireGL cards, you would have to buy online from Dell or even a smaller vendor based in the US or Oz.

[jayinhongkong]

IMO go with a Dell. They work very well. Just bought our 5th Dell laptop this week. It should arrive Monday. I'm on a Core Duo 2.0 E1705 and I love it. The 256 Geforce Go 7800 I'm using might not be enough for you though...I've consistently found my Dells work better than the custom-made PCs I've bought.

[JohanSWE]

Mr. Moo
Actually there is a shop that sells the Quadro cards, and fireGL.

Jayinhongkong:
It would be well enough for an entry lever user, even for a advanced user a 7800 it enough.

You dont really need a super high end card unless your gonna shuffel a billion polygons in realtime with 20+ light sources and Uber huge textures.
I built models with well over 2million polys on my notebook with a ATI6200
64mb ram card, its all how you display geometry, if you hide what you dont need then its just fine.

Ofcourse if you apply 10levels of mesh smooth then your gonna get stuck, but thats not likely.

[Curly]

Thanks heaps guys, very helpful!

I might try Dell and see if the price and specs meet my needs.