New system purchase. Need help on Quad Cores, Quadro FX cards and Monitor?

I am about to buy a new system for use with Avid/Photoshop/After effects.

I am looking at a system from Armari http://www.armari.com/custom.asp?SysID=841 with the following upgrades.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor
1280gb of hard disk space 4 x 320gb Seagate Baracude Sata II
XP 64bit

There is a graphics card upgrade to the PNY QuadroFX 15000 Pro 3D PCIe x16 for £161, but I don't know the performance benefit the QuadroFx cards have. Any advice?

I have chosen to go for a Quad core processor. But there are two versions the Quad Q6600 and the Quad Extreme QX6700. Does anyone know whether there is a significant performance benefit betweent these? It is an £80 upgrade.

Finally I have found a Belinea 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor for £210.31 inc VAT from overclockers.co.uk http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MO-006-BE

This seems great value when compared to the Dell monitors, and has very good reveiews. Can anyone see any reason not to go for this?

That first link, isnt for armari, its for the worst retailer in the UK :D

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Originally Posted by ollie

Finally I have found a Belinea 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor for £210.31 inc VAT from overclockers.co.uk http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MO-006-BE

This seems great value when compared to the Dell monitors, and has very good reveiews. Can anyone see any reason not to go for this?

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ocuk :lol:

but seriously, vendor bashing aside, I would feel happier in myself getting a better known name. I'm getting a 22" monitor, I'm getting the samsung 226bw, it retails between £240 and £270. Generally the differences in price come down to finish, backlight bleed, adjustable stand and the quality of the materials used. My hanns g is cheapy plastic surround but my last samsung (oh how I miss it :() felt really 'solid'. Not like, extremely heavy, just didn't feel like a mcdonalds toy.

My hanns g does the job fine though. It just makes me feel cheap when I spent £1000 more or less on a c2d system :p.

I use a similar system for 3D cad. I cant see any benefit from our quad core & dual core macines. So I recon save cash as Dual is more than enough tbh. Quadro FX1500 Pro is more than upto the job. It's the way the cards handle the info that makes it different from a gaming card, however mine plays CoD2 with aplomb...which is nice. One thing I would advise, from personal esperience is wads of ram, works for me :)

Sorry about the link error I have changed it to the correct link to the amari computer I am looking at.

P.S This system comes with 4gb as standard.

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Originally Posted by 0iD

I use a similar system for 3D cad. I cant see any benefit from our quad core & dual core macines. So I recon save cash as Dual is more than enough tbh. Quadro FX1500 Pro is more than upto the job. It's the way the cards handle the info that makes it different from a gaming card, however mine plays CoD2 with aplomb...which is nice. One thing I would advise, from personal esperience is wads of ram, works for me :)

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Thats interesting to see in the real world quad core doesn't make much difference. I found this article which seems to sing quad cores praises.

http://www.digitmag.co.uk/reviews/in...m?ReviewID=686

In a real world situation running Solid Works, Inventor & Pro Enginner I have been unable to discern the difference using similarly specced workstations.

why not have a look at the scan rigs i see loads of good reviews about them

If its going to be used in a production environment, buying PreBuilt is always a good idea (be it Scan or Armari). If its for study then building yourself is certainly an option, and probably a cheaper one.

Screen wise, does your budget stretch to a 2407? Probably one of the best monitors for a production environment, so much screen real estate :) (Either that or 2x20" WS)

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Originally Posted by dave87

If its going to be used in a production environment, buying PreBuilt is always a good idea (be it Scan or Armari). If its for study then building yourself is certainly an option, and probably a cheaper one.

Screen wise, does your budget stretch to a 2407? Probably one of the best monitors for a production environment, so much screen real estate :) (Either that or 2x20" WS)

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Yes it is going to be used in a production environment.

That monitor is awesome but at £439.99 I think the better option is the dual screen. I get 40/44 inches of screen real estate for the same price as a single 24inch.

Yea, it obviously depends on space, and whether the app likes 2 screens, but 2x20" gives you 2*1680x1050, so 3360*1050 to work with :)