Seeking faster renders: i5, i7 or beefy graphics card?

larsmidnatt

Memory: 32Gb is over kill. 

For you maybe, but I disagree. I go past 14gb with daz alone. But for many 16GB is a sweet spot.    I couldn't see going back to 8GB for daz studio.That hasn't been doable for me in a long time. I do use multiple tools at the same time so 16GB isn't an option for me anymore, 32 works most of the time. Only when I get overzealous is 32 GB not enough. 

nicstt

paynn_4ba54e39ef said:

Am a newby in regard to DAZ, but can offer some recent experience in regard to latest hardware. I have a brand new box sitting in the corner (purchased March 2015), it did not turn out to be the be-all and end-all I had hoped for. It works well enough and is very fast but not in proportion to the money it cost. I am actually still using my old HPxw which is more than a few years old now, because it is fully set up and I now realise that its performance is good enough in the areas that matter to me. But it did teach me a lot about what made a difference for me. A more experienced (or skilled) user will have a different opinion. 

For me in order of importance:
1. Screen realestate: I have a cheap 4K 40in screen/TV it is worth every cent. But make sure you have a graphics card that can drive it at 60Hz 4K and spend the money for good quality true HDMI V2 cables not imitation HDMI V2 cables (or v1.4). I would put the importance of the quality of the cables equal with the screen size.
2. Graphics card: Good enough is good enough. The Titan X is a great card but the reviews are in my opinion right the GTX960 is by far far better value for money. I found I don't really need to render 4K images, do it right and nobody notices the difference. In fact they notice poor technique and mistakes more when you do it at 4K :)
3. Hard drive(s): SSD as main drive is a must have in my opinion. But current costs dictate that you also need at least one large spinning disk for all your secondary(low usage) data files (and a backup or two).
4. Memory: 32Gb is over kill. I once saw my "in use" memory hit 14Gb but at the time had multiple graphics programs plus two databases running. My "in use" memory is normally 4 to 6 and rarely gets above 8Gb even when running multiple graphics programs (like DAZ or Blender and ZBrush).
5. CPU: I don't have much experience with i5 or i7 processors, but I have found that peek CPU speed is more satisfying than having double digit cores/threads which spend most of their time idling in the background :( Again you are far better off using the right technique to reduce render time than just brute forcing it.
6. OS: I don't have much experience with Apple so can not offer an opinion on it. My last Apple was a Panda (early AppleII imitation). I lovingly keep a couple of XP machines running, it is my favorite OS, despite its vulnerabilities. Windows7 is almost as good. I have Win10 on my old HPxw box (and the new Z10), but I am only slowly warming to it. I do like it better than Win8.1

It has been a couple of years since I did a registry check or clean, I must put it on my todo list for my old box. Along with moving all my programs to the new box, after all I have spent the money on it I should make use of it.

 

 

 

If it works for you, that is good; graphics swallow resources, so I'd certainly look at getting your new system up and running.

mmitchell_houston

I've decided that a desktop is the way to go. My i5 laptop is still plenty good enough for working with clients (and I've already upgraded it to 8 GB and a 1 TB hard drive). It handles writing, PowerPoint and Photoshop very well (even with large, print-quality graphics).

A desktop will give me more power for my money, and it will allow me to upgrade it incrementally, adding memory and a second GPU as needs and finances allow.

Now to watch the Black Friday sales to see if anything piques my interest. If not, I'll custom build something later in the year.

nicstt

I'd never recommend anyone get a laptop instead of a desktop; the reason for a laptop is portability and space, if those are a major consideration, meaning more important than performance then it is something only the buyer/customer can say.

How much more valuable is again an individual's choice.

Anyone who says that a laptop is just as good as a desktop has either an agenda, or a lack of awareness of the two different formats.

1. Desktops provide more performance for the same price as a laptop; an example, one is always buying a new keyboard, mouse and monitor with a laptop, regardless of need.

2. Desktops offer far more upgradeability.

3. Desktops have access to components that laptops do not; ergo laptops cannot do everything a desktop can.

This point suggests space and portability, rather than performance, are more important than the options a desktop provides.

4. Desktops take up more space, and are harder to carry around. Indeed: they are not designed for it, so there is an increase risk of damage when moving them.