Not long ago I purchased Vue 5 Infinite and now I find myself needing to purchase a new computer. I like Dell very much and would prefer to buy from them, however when I try viewing their website I find myself being bombarded with different options that I can't make sense of. Quite simply, I would like to know what kind of system would be adequate enough to run Vue 5 and roughly how much would I expect to pay ? Obviously, I don't want to spend a fortune or pay for a bunch of features I don't really need. Most of my work is still imagery but I would like to try making some short animations. Any suggestions ? Thanks so much, I appreciate the feedback!

Attached Link: http://market.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2647693

Go with an AMD processor - it renders faster than Intel.  They run hotter, so make sure the case you get has extra cooling fans.  I put together a really nice AMD duel core system for $1100.  The two most important things after picking a processor is having 2 GB of memory and a really good video card.  You don't need to go overboard on the video card, but don't get one of the cheap $95 cards.  Don't forget that Vue 5 Infinite has network rendering available, so don't junk your old computer - put it to work on the farm!

Peggy

Peggy,

How does one use the old computer as a render farm?

You will need a network of some type.  I use a 4 port wired hub since both computers are in the same room right next to each other.  Go wireless if the computers are farther apart.  For the software, the render cow program needs to be installed on the cow and your new computer.  The install program is on the Vue installation disk. 

Instructions for network rendering are in the manual.  It's really easy - just start the render cow software on both computers, start Vue, select render and check the little box in the lower left corner of the render settings that says use HyperVue. 

Just a note though - network rendering is a bit sensitive.  Always reboot your computers before doing a render and don't do any editing on the picture you are rendereing - it should be all ready to go.  Seems the more stuff you do before, the more likely one or more of the computers will crash.  The computer running both Vue and the rendercow should have at least 2 GB of memory.

Peggy

Ok...now Peggy that brings up an interesting point. Let me ask you this, lets say I go ahead and purchase a new computer and probably it would be a Pentium D or one of these new type chips. I have my old Pentium 4 operating at 2.26 GHz so would it really be compatible with the newer machine if I wanted to network them together using the Render Cow program ?

Also, and this is probably a whole seperate discussion but what about the effect of Vue 6. I mean supposedly its going to be released this summer I believe. Does anyone really know at this point what that might do or how it could change things ? Thanks so much, this has really been helpful.

The rendercows talk over the TCP/IP protocols. There is no compatibility issues regarding hardware between machines; if it certified as network capable, it has to meet certain standards. About the only difference will be the time per frame each system has. As for Vue 6..... The only ones who know are e-on and the beta testers, who are under an NDA. It is probably a safe bet that there has been some technology changes, if for no other reason than they have ILM's feedback, although the community has been fielding a pretty consistent list of 'wannas' for some time. We shall see....

I think you can even mix Macs and PCs using the rendercow, so there is no problem using different systems or operating systems. 

I can only dream of what Vue 6 will have, but it was one of the reasons I used to justify buying my new computer. 

Well Peggy all I can say is you must be doing pretty well there financially because if you can afford a new computer AND an upgrade to Vue 6 that's pretty good! :) I'll be lucky if I can do one. let alone two!! Oh well, just gotta keep trying I guess!!

Lucky for us e-on has been pretty nice about upgrade prices.  The only price I am not happy with is the Xtream plug-in.  They want almost $500 for it.  Ouch...  Still standing on the fence on this one. 

This is an expensive hobby, that's for sure!

May be a real stupid question, what's the best place to buy an AMD PC. Like how Dell lets you costumize your PC and then build it for you? Also how can you tell which chip is the fastest one?

Quote - May be a real stupid question, what's the best place to buy an AMD PC. Like how Dell lets you costumize your PC and then build it for you? Also how can you tell which chip is the fastest one?

A popular place for the "upscale" crowd      http://www.boxxtech.com/

I live in Canada and got mine here         http://www.hageycomputer.com/  (Check the BYOB page for price configurations)

I believe Hewlett Packard also has a line of AMD computers.

The "sweet spot" for pricing (performance vs. price) seems to be the AMD Athlon 4400 duals (dual cores.

Attached Link: http://www.newegg.com

Attached Link: http://www.tomshardware.com

Thanks for all the information.

Hi Peggy,

Thanks a lot for the rendercow advice. I will have to try that.

Ok, here's probably another stupid question. As I looked for an AMD PC, I noticed the highest cpu speed I saw was a dual core 2.2ghz. When I looked at Pentium based Pc's I saw that the can go dual core and at 3ghz or more. So is the AMD cpu still better than those Pentium ones? Or am I missing something?

Attached Link: http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51588