With entering college for Computer Animation, Modeling in 3D and Rendering in Maya 2008, I figured it was time to upgrade my 2 year old computer to handle what I'll be throwing at it.

I wanted this to be easy on the pockets, but also something I can use until I graduate and get a job. (Hard, I know. )

I'll probably be ordering parts 1-2 a month, so this may take 2-3 months to get the parts together, but it'll be worth it, in my opinion.

Here are the parts I have picked out for it:

Motherboard:
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 nForce 590 - $170

CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHZ "Black Edition" - $160

Memory:
OCZ ReaperX HPC 4GB (2x2GB) 240PIN DDR2 800 - $150
Timing: 4-4-3-15

Video Card:
MSI NX8800GTS OC 800GTS 640MB GDDR3 HDCP Ready - $290

Power:
Apevia ATX-LCD750W - $160 - $20 MIR = $140
Output:
+3.3V@38A
+5V@40A
+12V1@30A
+12V2@30A
-5V@0.3A
-12V@0.8A
+5VSB@2.5A

HD:
Western Digital Caviar 750GB 7200RPM - $155
WD 150GB 7200RPM - $0 (Have)

Total Price - $1,084.94
I can take off 400 to sell my current machine, so it'll be a 700 dollar expense.

I'll be watercooling, to keep the CPU cool, and later down the road, the video card as well. 1/2" Fittings, Danger Den TDX M2 block, Danger Den DD-CPX1 Pump, Danger Den Black Ice GT Stealth 240 Radiator, PrimoChill ICE Non-Conductive Liquid, Thermaltake Flow TX Plus Flow Meter w/ Temperature Indicator, Thermaltake AquaBay M1 2U 5.25" Dual Reservoir... All going in an Apevia X-Pleasure Full Tower Case..

Looks like some sweet gear so far, but are you gonna mod it?

Quote: Originally Posted by Sparky Looks like some sweet gear so far, but are you gonna mod it?

Possibly down the road. With me being in college, I don't really have the time to mod it.

While that is good gear I would probably have to suggest that you go with a quad-core for that type of work, especially if you want it to last through your schooling. Also as much as I like AMD (I personally have an AM2 system that I have been running for a year and a half now and love it), at this point in time Intel CPUs are running much faster on the high-end. It will probably be a bit more expensive, but I am sure someone around here can find a deal for you on a good quad-core and motherboard to go along with it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Snake2Snipe While that is good gear I would probably have to suggest that you go with a quad-core for that type of work, especially if you want it to last through your schooling. Also as much as I like AMD (I personally have an AM2 system that I have been running for a year and a half now and love it), at this point in time Intel CPUs are running much faster on the high-end. It will probably be a bit more expensive, but I am sure someone around here can find a deal for you on a good quad-core and motherboard to go along with it.

Oh, ok! Thanks!

I was actually thinking about getting the Phenom.

Is the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 a good processor?
I'm thinking about pairing it up with the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 motherboard.

Quote: Originally Posted by Gurboura Oh, ok! Thanks! I was actually thinking about getting the Phenom. Is the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 a good processor? I'm thinking about pairing it up with the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 motherboard.

The Q6600 is a very good processor. If you are thinking about the Phenom you should really wait a bit to see if they come out with one at a higher frequency because at the current speed they are not really competitive with the Intel chips. I am waiting and hoping for a higher speed Phenom for myself, but I don't expect it real soon.

Quote: Originally Posted by Snake2Snipe The Q6600 is a very good processor. If you are thinking about the Phenom you should really wait a bit to see if they come out with one at a higher frequency because at the current speed they are not really competitive with the Intel chips. I am waiting and hoping for a higher speed Phenom for myself, but I don't expect it real soon.

I don't expect another Phenom until August / September