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Any thoughts on this as a new computer for Daz?

simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
edited December 1969 in New Users

I am looking at this new computer and I was just wondering if anyone can advise me if it would be suitable for Daz, especially as far as speeding up render times. I've been running off of a HP Compaq with only 2G of RAM for the past few years and it sucks, but I've managed. I'm finally able to upgrade and this is within my budget and readily available to me. Any help would be appreciated :)

http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/S50/S55-A5275/

Comments

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited August 2013

    That's a good one, but for DAZ it's CPU and RAM the GPU will only be used for the DAZ Studio Viewport. That is more powerful than the tower I'm on right now. And should do better for you.

    Post edited by Jaderail on
  • simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Wow awesome you just made me feel better! I don't know much on the technical end so new computers always scare me. I do have another question tho. This is a Windows 8 computer and I am currently on Windows 7. Will that present a problem in transferring and expecting my scenes created on my current PC to work on that one?

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    I've read it works fine on Win8 once you figure out how to use Win8.

  • simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    LOL oh NOW you are gonna scare me. Everyone else has told me NO Windows 8 only get 7 (which I know and like very well) but I haven't been able to find anything WITH 7 in my price range that I have access to. I keep telling myself it can't be THAT different where I will struggle so much I can't accomplish any work on it. I hope it's not that difficult :/

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    A friend of mine just had Win7 installed to a new default Win8. It cost $50 at a pro shop but you must BUY Win7 of course.

  • simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Ugh yeh that's what I figured. That's too much of an additional expense for me. I know this is probably not a question you can answer but is 8 REALLY that much different from 7 that I will struggle learning how to navigate and use it? I would think the basic concepts are still intact. I haven't researched much cos it seems like I'm going to be forced to use it anyway. I'm not really that advanced so I'm thinking if the basic folder functions, etc. are in place it would almost be like I am learning for the first time anyway if I learn anything new LOL

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Many like it once they learn it, but it was designed with touch screen in mind. It can do everything Win7 can but does have a more strick way things work. Like some Programs MUST be installed as Admin even if your the only user and Admin.

  • simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Yeh something like that may be confusing to me cos I don't really understand the difference. For me, you just install and it works, hopefully LOL. I don't understand the point of having to install one way or the other. I told you I am really not knowledgeable about this. Sometimes my current PC asks to install as administrator for some things and of course I say yes, but I've never had any complications from doing it one way or the other as far as I know. I just do what it asks. I am sure if I have any issues I will be running back here for the help of kind souls like you :)

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited August 2013

    Do like I do, use ALL the Getting started tutorials that come on the PC. They are pretty good most times. Is how I jumped from XP to Win7 without missing a beat. And we like to help.

    Post edited by Jaderail on
  • ShelLuserShelLuser Posts: 749
    edited December 1969

    simon16436 said:
    Ugh yeh that's what I figured. That's too much of an additional expense for me. I know this is probably not a question you can answer but is 8 REALLY that much different from 7 that I will struggle learning how to navigate and use it?
    You could be. The biggest point of frustration with a lot of people is the new interface which has replaced the start menu. So if you click the start 'button' (which has been re-introduced in the last update) you don't get a menu but a whole new screen filled with tiles to click on.

    And well, setting up those tiles yourself could indeed be something different altogether. And unfortunately it could be a little rough to get into this. In my opinion (which happens to be shared by many others) this new start screen makes working with Win8 extremely annoying.

    The thing is; it depends on how you're using Windows. I use both the start menu for my programs and have some programs I use more often pinned on my taskbar. That approach still works on Win8. So if you're someone who has, for example, put a lot of icons on his desktop so that he can simply click an icon and run a program then that approach will still work.

    But it's that new "menu section" which frustrates people the most.

    Main differences (from the top of my head):


    * New start screen. Can make starting programs more cumbersome; especially since you sometimes need to manually set this thing up yourself (sometimes programs don't automatically appear here).
    * Configuring Windows should now be done in 2 places. One the control panel which is known from Win7, the other the Win8 "configuration screen" (not the official name) which can be reached using the new navigation gestures.
    * Gestures: While you can still move through the list of programs you're on by using alt-tab this will also include stuff which you might have started in the new "start screen" (it's actually a Windows-like environment by itself). The new way to do things is to hover the mouse in the upper left corner of your desktop and then move down...
    * Gestures 2: "Charms". Some tasks such as shutting down the PC no longer work through the start menu, but you need to use 'charms' which is basically a virtual "menu" like bar which can be accessed from everywhere. Hover the mouse in the upper or lower right corner of your screen and move down (or up). Then a 'charm' menu pops up which has common tasks. Such as going to the control "menu" and the start/stop option.
    * Desktop. There is still a desktop as you know it from Windows 7 but it no longer has gadgets. I find that unacceptable myself since I like having 2 gadgets sitting here (for the weather and to go over my picture collection).

    As said; from the top of my head. But your old software should still work just as normal on this new environment. Even so; personally I'd advice to look into downgrading to Windows 7. I've been giving Win8 a few tries myself (I'm somewhat of an IT guy) and even though I really enjoy working with Win7 I can't bring myself to liking 8.

    Even though I most likely use Win7 in a completely different fashion than others.

    I would think the basic concepts are still intact. I haven't researched much cos it seems like I'm going to be forced to use it anyway. I'm not really that advanced so I'm thinking if the basic folder functions, etc. are in place it would almost be like I am learning for the first time anyway if I learn anything new LOL


    Well, I hope this can help.

    What some of my friends have been doing is to download and install a 3rd party (open source) start menu replacement and some of them state that it really helped them to avoid the nastyness that is/was Metro alltogether (the name of the new touch interface was Metro, now it's called "start screen" iirc).

    And thanks for sharing your current setup too. I have to say that I had to grin a bit because right now your specs match mine ;-)

    That's also because I only use my machine for Office stuff (I'm self employed so to say) and in my spare time I'm quite addicted to sound synthesis (software synths and such, long story). Even though I'm somewhat limited (I am considering to up my memory to 4G today) I have to say that Daz still works pretty well within those limits.

    Right, hope this can help.

  • simon16436_55bfd56f76simon16436_55bfd56f76 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Wow! Thank you for all of that! I am actually getting up very early in the morning to go look at this PC with my brother. He works on a military base and this computer is one they have in stock at the retail store there. A very kind lady there has been helping me on the phone and it seems this is the best one they have in stock for my needs. I wasn't happy that it's a lap top, but she convinced me with a few cables and such I can use it with my current monitor, plus a new keyboard and mouse and use it much like a desktop, plus have the portability convenience still. This will be the most powerful (and expensive) computer I've ever owned (at $900 which I know isn't much to most around here LOL). I just wanna make sure I get the most bang for my buck and I don't end up still sitting here crying over renders that should take 15 minutes and 12 hours later I am still looking at only 50% LOL. I've gotten pretty good with my Daz renders and have never shared much because there are some tweaks I wanna do with the lighting and shadows so that I won't be ashamed, but the time it consumes frustrates me and I end up abandoning things and moving on. So basically I have a few years of projects I am still passionate about completing, but the frustration just hasn't been worth it. I've purchased all kinds of plug-ins and content that I just haven't been able to use but I've been dreaming about for so long. It'll be years before I can afford another PC, so this one is gonna have to carry me for awhile, and I'm hoping it will increase my productivity. You really provided a wealth of information. You really have me curious about your sound synthesis stuff. I'm not sure what that relates to but it sounds intriguing to me. I very much appreciate your help more than you can probably imagine.

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Um... I feel so bad. I'll not say what I just spent on a new PC build I'm yet to get from the shop.

  • GrokDDGrokDD Posts: 59
    edited December 1969

    simon16436,

    I'm solely using my Sony Duo 11 which
    the main features the Toshiba you presented has the same or better CPU, RAM. Yours having a better graphics package for sure.

    I absolutely love my Sony Duo! *Disclaimer at bottom** Barely slows me down in my work flow. Not the power of a desktop mind you, but I take it everywhere. (I fly a lot and the 5+ hours of battery keeps me busy in the air.)

    I like mine because, like yours, it has an HDMI, an RGB and 2 USB 3.0. So I have mine running to an HDMI Monitor and a VGA/RGB monitor. Plus the Duo's screen.. That's three monitors. The USB 3.0 using something like "Display Link" will allow you to connect up to 6 more monitors. I currently don't need more than 3 screens.

    So Processor, ram and Graphics card, I do not think you'll be disappointed.

    Windows 8?? I have had no problem at all with DAZ Studio, Carrara, DAZ DIM, Photoshop.
    Took me two days to be back up to 100% speed of Win XP/7. The dumb charms or the missing start button does not bother me one bit anymore. Just follow the most likely included tutorials.

    I highly recommend the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse folds flat and slips right in your pocket, vest/shirt/jeans/backpack/whatever. Been using mine for 4 months, same batteries. Awesome on every surface except glass, mirrors and some carpet. Best Buy about every three months has it on sale for $20 with free shipping. Just keep your eyes out.

    Anymore questions just ask.

    **Disclaimer, I love the Duo. However I bought it for its touchscreen, light weight, and pen pressure sensitivity -for use in Photoshop. Sony uses N-Trig technology, not Wacom Technology which uses a different API Driver. So the pen works in photoshop to draw a line, just no pen pressure sensitivity. Art Rage has pen pressure sensitivity. But I do not care for Art Rage.

  • GrokDDGrokDD Posts: 59
    edited August 2013

    An example of speed.
    this image on another thread took my machine about 2 hours at some very very high settings (In Carrara Not Daz Studio). And it was mostly cause of the hair.

    the test renders before the high settings took about a minute or two.

    This high-res 1 minute animation took 6 hours. (while I slept)

    Post edited by GrokDD on
  • Dream CutterDream Cutter Posts: 1,223
    edited March 2014

    I submit the following configuration can be built for approx $2630 from on-line suppliers:

    (1x) $400, Dual CPU Motherboard: http://www.asus.com/Commercial_Servers_Workstations/KGPED16/

    (2x) $400 16-Core CPU http://www.anandtech.com/show/5058/amds-opteron-interlagos-6200
    (1x) $200 128-Bit 1GB Pro Graphics (great deal - search for the dell FirePro v8700 surplus units, or next the v4900) http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/ati-firepro-3d/v8700/Pages/v8700.aspx
    (1x) $150 (750watt power supply, This vendor is The OEM to the best) http://www.seasonicusa.com/NEW_X-series_KM3_650-750-850.htm
    add
    (1x) $150 Large SATA HDD WD Enterprise, WD Black or HGSI Deskstar 2TB recommended.
    (16x) $1100 16GB PC166 RAM (128GB)
    (1X) $100 Full Tower EATX Case
    (1x) $130 Win 7 Pro (Must be Win 7 or 8 Pro for multi-cpu)

    Two of these systems as render nodes and you are ready to exploit the full potential of DAZ's 3Delight and Carrara's render engine.

    Post edited by Dream Cutter on
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