ZBrushCentral

Upgrade my computer vs. Buy a new one?

Community
#1

I am the owner of a Gateway GM5442 desktop that was purchased in April of 2007. I find that it is impossible for me to use programs like Zbrush and 3DS Max to their full potential, due to outrageously long render times and the inability to work with more than a few million polys at a time. I need advice from some professionals in the industry, who have a better understanding of the way these programs work.

Should I break down and spend the money on a new computer, or should I just upgrade the machine I already have? If an upgrade is all that’s needed, what would you guys recommend? My system specs are as follows:

Intel Core 2 - 4400 @ 2.00 GHz / 2.00 GHz
4 GB RAM
500 GB SATA II
NVIDIA GeForce 6800

#2

Spend the money , upgrading opens door to new host of problems.
From your specifications you can benefit from total upgrade
of everything.
The one minus perhaps is adjusting to what will probably be
a new operating system
Have 12 gbs of ram on a Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
Works great with zbrush, photoshop, maya, etc.

#3

The things that will benefit ZBrush most are RAM and CPU.

Your motherboard is the gateway to upgrading both of these items. You can only put in components that are compatible with your motherboard. Given the age of your system, you won’t be able to put in the current generation multi-core processors, which is where you’ll get the best performance boost while sculpting and rendering.

You are also likely to be severely limited when it comes to RAM upgrades – which affects how many polys you can work with. In most cases, upgrading RAM in an older system becomes very expensive due to the fact that the modules it supports are no longer manufactured. That results in dwindling supply, which in turn raises prices.

What you should do is decide on what kind of upgrade you want. In other words, determine how much you’re willing to spend on a new computer or an upgrade. Then find out how much upgrade you can get for that money, comparing that to the kind of new system you can purchase for the same sum. You will most likely discover that the new system makes more financial sense, but you’ll also then be able to move forward with confidence that you’ve made the right decision.

#4

Thank you very much Aurick and bicc39. I was kind of leaning towards purchasing a new machine for many of the reasons that you both listed, but I wanted to be sure that it would be the right decision.

12gb RAM seems kind of excessive to me. I know that Zbrush needs at least 4 in order to function to its full potential. Would 6 or 8 gb be within the acceptable range??