New Computer Choices - (3D and After Effects Work PC)

Nalouto

Hey guys and gals - so far I've been using my Macbook pro for all of my animation and design needs, but now it's time to move up to something beefier and more multi-core-i-er.

Not having a billion dollars to get the Mac Pro I'd ideally like, I'm going to go with an affordable, solid all-american pee cee box. I'm Wondering who is leading the race right now in reliable Desktops? Who are my best options?

(not looking to build my own at this moment, no time!)

I would be running mostly the things mentioned in the topic title:

Adobe After Effects (mostly this)
Cinema 4D
Adobe Premiere
Realflow


Budget is between 1000-1200 (Canadian) but of course I won't pinch pennies on this thing that will be making me all my money

Thanks in advance!

Raekreu

Nalouto wrote: »

Hey guys and gals - so far I've been using my Macbook pro for all of my animation and design needs, but now it's time to move up to something beefier and more multi-core-i-er.

Not having a billion dollars to get the Mac Pro I'd ideally like, I'm going to go with an affordable, solid all-american pee cee box. I'm Wondering who is leading the race right now in reliable Desktops? Who are my best options?

(not looking to build my own at this moment, no time!)

I would be running mostly the things mentioned in the topic title:

Adobe After Effects (mostly this)
Cinema 4D
Adobe Premiere
Realflow


Budget is between 1000-1200 (Canadian) but of course I won't pinch pennies on this thing that will be making me all my money

Thanks in advance!

Hmm, pre-built PCs aren't exactly known for being awesomeness in a box. I'd say that your best bet is probably to find something that runs for about 700-900 Canadian bucks and then ask for a memory upgrade. The extra memory would probably run about another $100-ish and is easy as pie to install.

Case and point:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006737%204022&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

Anything in this whole category would probably be a-ok for what you're wanting to do. If you throw in some extra memory, you'd be doing awesome. I'd do research on how adobe makes use of multiple cores on a processor - I think that for video editing/encoding/etc that more cores=more better but I look at a computer and see an ultra-fancy game box.

Viscountalpha

get a reputable computer shop to build you a machine with a local guarantee or do it yourself. How much (if Any) time do you have? i mean, Why are you on a deadline to get a new computer? This is something you don't rush into.

Nalouto

Usually I would agree 1000%

I don't like rushing into electronic purchases either, I usually stalk my selections for months before going and buying... but I do have a time constraint.

buuuuut I've been contracted to work on a music video at the end of the month, pay is good, but they expect some hardcore VFX work, and my macbook pro may not be up to the challenge all by itself with it's measly 2 cores =( I'm planning to take the first half of my pay and get a rig that will carry me through this project, which they want cut and polished by the 4th week of October, so yeah.


looks like getting a gaming rig with a lil' extra RAM will do me good. I know very little about this "hyperthreading" that's all the rage now, but I've been told if I can get an i7 processor (870 I'm looking at, model not price...) I would be pretty much set to do everything I need.. Quad core hyperthreading = 8 render buckets to my original 2 = 4x faster renders... that would be just dandy

thanks for the input you two, I just need to make sure I'm taking the right approach.

DHS Odium

Have you considered the fact that you'll need to rebuy any software license you use for Windows? I'm not sure about your other programs, but Adobe programs have to be bought for a specific platform, so you can't use your Adobe keys on your new computer unless you get a Mac. This might affect your decision, could end up being more expensive with the software added than just getting a new Macbook Pro or something.

Nalouto

DHS Odium wrote: »

Have you considered the fact that you'll need to rebuy any software license you use for Windows?

Yep. Still worth the upgrade, but a good heads up. and nothing is more expensive than getting a new MBP. (apple gouges, I luckily received my current Macbook pro from college.)