Elliot

Itzik,

Thanks for your response. I build these boxes like every two to three years and I try to make them in a way they will last. This time I am more confused than ever trying to decide. Too many options and too many opinions.

The reason for the SCCI is because I already have several big SCCI drives on my existing machine. I use Solidworks and Viz. I do some small video editing and a lot of Photoshop and Indesign.

Of the last 6 machines I built, some of them have regular Intel's, some Xeons and two of them with AMD's. I feel that Xeon's are a little bit more stable. Maybee this is just a feeling.

My favorite motherboard is MSI. Their support is excellent as far as I am concerned. I also got results with Supermicro. Their support is also good. At least these have been my experiences. This maybe the main reason for the board selection.

However, my primary area of concern is that I may be overdoing this. I have read several reports that claim the dual Xeon's are better for the people doing renderings. On the other hand I have some single processor machines and the difference is not that much. I have a laptop that works very good and I would say it is acceptable for renderings. Is all this reporting - analysis and over blown hype by the marketing and sales people to get the average user to spend more on machines. Are these machines needed because people like Discreet and Microsoft are turning out power hungry software.

I wonder if we do and in-house survey of our people on this forum.... How many of us are using double processor High end Machines versus single processor machines. On the average I can get the same results on all my machines. The difference is just a little bit of speed advantage. Do I need this speed.... I don't know..... if the awnser is that too get this speed I have to put 5 to 8 thousand dollars every 2.5 years.... it is simple.... No I don't need the speed.

I have several architectural firms as clients, from small to medium size. The main reason why the principals are turned off against 3D Virtual Reality is because the constant upgrades on software and machines. Of course they are also concerned at the specialize staffing and the lack of use os 3D reality as a contractual documment that will assign responsibilities to the contractors. On all the projects I am working these contractor - owner - architect relationship is a big issue. Renderings are not important too many of these people. Yes, they al like the renderings but the main focus is on cost overuns and change orders. This is the big time issue. If on top of the real life situations we throw the up-keep of the virtual reality needs their decisions are predictable.

Do wee need these machines, do we need this software? Does Discreet and the industry rely on our up-dates so Bill Gate keeps doing more. Can a skilled person do most of the work on a average computer using Viz 3. Do we trust the magazines and their reports. I am working on Realviz, how customer un-friendly group! However, the magizine reporters and "editorial experst" claim they are good. Most of their competitors sell programs with similar capabilities for 25% of the cost. There is even one German that makes a better product and gives it away free of charge. I guess a similar story with Radiance.

How many of you are using single machines....????? Should we keep funding the industry....? Like Discreet.... look at how many dollars we have spent on them, they launch un-finished buggy software requiring expensive machines to do renderings not entirely appreciated by the industry and on top they charge us when we call with questions about their inefficient programs.

Thanks
Elliot

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Elliot