Good Setup For VFX?

v.e.r.b.a.l

Hi,

My old computer has died (RIP), and I need a new one. Was looking at this pretty amazing Dell and I'd love some advice!

I've listed the spec below. I'd be using it as a personal computer for all the normal bits'n'bobs as well as working on my VFX portfolio for college and hope to have the thing last me long enough to be my PC in years to come for possible freelance work, portfolio updates etc.

I'd be using The Foundry's Nuke and After Effects CS5 mostly (compositing) along with Autodesk's Maya, 3DS Max and Houdini. All need the graphics card to be OpenGL 2.0 compliant (which I'm pretty sure this is).

I'd also like to (possibly) try a dual-monitor setup. The PC below comes with a HD screen and I have another monitor from my old PC to go with it. Dunno how well this would work, but I'd like the option. I think I can do this with this machine also.

What do you think?

Base Intel® Core™ i7-2600 Processor (3.40GHz, 8MB)
Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Memory 16384MB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz [4x4096] Memory
Keyboard Logitech MK520 Wireless Combo UK
Monitor 23in ST2320L UK/Irish Full HD WLED Widescreen Monitor (VGA, DVI-D and HDMI)
Video Card NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1.25GB GDDR5 Graphics Card
Hard Drive 2TB Dual Hard Drive RAID 0 "Stripe" (2x1TB - 7,200 rpm)
Mouse Mouse Included in Wireless Keyboard and Mouse option
Network Card USB 3.0 PCI Express x1 Card
Optical Devices Blu-Ray ROM combo (Blu-ray read only, DVD, CD read & write)
Sound Cards Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCIe Card
Speakers No Speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Wireless Networking Dell Wireless 1520 Half Mini Card (802.11n)
Shipping Documents English - Documentation with UK/Ire Power cord
Gedis Bundle Reference D02X8330
Standard Warranty 1 year Collect & Return Hardware Support included with your PC
Enhanced Service Packs 1Yr Collect & Returns Warranty – No upgrade selected
Digital Photography Adobe® Photoshop® Elements + Premiere® Elements Bundle
Order Information XPS Desktop 8300 Order - Ireland
Dell System Media Kit XPS 8300 Resource DVD
Accidental Damage Support No Accidental Damage Support
Online Backup DataSafe Online Backup 2GB - 1 year licence
Call Dell Experts One free Dell Expert call to help with your PC queries within 60 days of purchase
DataSafe Datasafe Local 2.3 Basic
Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook
Protect your new PC McAfee® Security Centre - 15 Month Protection - English
Operating System Recovery Options OS Media MUI Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT) Resource DVD

ACCESSORIES
Logitech® Z506 5.1 Surround Speakers - 75W Total Qty 1

Torqay

Good stuff... and since you need one now, I suppose there's no point in reminding you that the 3rd Gen Core CPUs are about to be rolled out.

v.e.r.b.a.l

Torqay wrote: »

Good stuff... and since you need one now, I suppose there's no point in reminding you that the 3rd Gen Core CPUs are about to be rolled out.

I see... Would there be a big difference in speed / power do you think? Bearing in mind that I'm not very rich and the above is costing around €1,650 (which seems like great value, no??)

Torqay

They wouldn't develop a new generation if it wasn't more powerful, but hey, waiting for the next best thing is a losers game.

As for the price, if you want to build it yourself, you'd probably get a machine with 2 Xeons on an Intel server board for this money. But if you want to buy a ready built stock machine you'll always have to pay a premium and Dell's aren't the worst, btw. what is it? Optiplex? XPS? Anyway, do NOT, under no circumstances, buy any accessories, you'll get that cheaper elsewhere. get the machine and nothing that is not included in the deal.

v.e.r.b.a.l

It's an XPS 8300. I know not to get ANY extras!! I've had a Dell before!!

As for building one, it was an option. Would it really save that much money? I'd just worry that I'd mess something up along the way...

Torqay

Just as a comparison and since money is an issue: komplett.ie offer an ASUS with similar specs for 899 (same CPU, 8 GB RAM - 2 TB HDD - GT530). 8 GB extra memory (if required) and a decent monitor, should amount to much less than 750 Euro.