2 questions regarding performance

[HerbM]

Hi there,

 

I just recently found the site and I'm impressed by the amount of help and information you all are providing.

 

I'm thinking of building a machine or Final Cut Pro, After Effects and Photoshop use. I've priced two systems:

 

Cheaper:

C2Q 2.66, 8GB RAM, 9800GTX

$800

 

Faster:

i7 2.66, 12GB RAM, GTX 260

$1400

 

Question 1: Would the i7 be faster enough to justify the extra expense?

 

Question 2: Video card. I'd like to know what card is the best for accelerating those apps and movie compression. I don't play games, but I'm willing to spend if a faster card with more memory results in faster apps and work.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Herb

[HerbM]

I've now got my Faster build down to $1200 by going with a 9600GT. Will this card short change the system and apps?

 

Remember, I'm not a gamer.

 

Thanks

[blkhockeypro19]

First of all, don't double post.

 

On to your question, obviously the more expensive machine will give you better performance, especially because the i7 processors will convert videos faster. I guess the extra RAM won't hurt, but it's not necessary. Honestly, paying nearly twice as much is pretty stupid...plus you sound like a complete noob so your probably going to have a TON of trouble running OS 10 on ur PC. Good luck though

[HerbM]

I apologize for the double post. Your response, however, was out of line. I complimented the site and its members. I am a Hackintosh noob and I probably will have a ton of problems. I came here looking for help, not snide or dismissive responses.

 

What is stupid about wondering about the speed difference between the two machines? I've been a Mac user for 20 years. My current machine is a 2006 Macbook Pro. I intend to keep this build for a few years.

 

 

 

First of all, don't double post.

 

On to your question, obviously the more expensive machine will give you better performance, especially because the i7 processors will convert videos faster. I guess the extra RAM won't hurt, but it's not necessary. Honestly, paying nearly twice as much is pretty stupid...plus you sound like a complete noob so your probably going to have a TON of trouble running OS 10 on ur PC. Good luck though

[Zaap]

Hey Herb,

First off, welcome. There's nothing stupid about what you're wondering- many of us have been there, or will be the next time we want to upgrade.

 

Personally, I've only built the previous generation of Core2-based Hackintoshes, so I can't offer any advice on i7 machines, as I have yet to build one for Hackintosh. I think the process is a bit more involved than the methods for a Core2 build, but there should be lots of info floating around here from people that have built i7 Hacks.

 

If saving money is a big priority, your first option will work fine for Final Cut, AE and Photoshop (provided you choose the right motherboard and use a good build guide- yada yada, the usual rules of OSx86).

 

A Core i7 on the other hand (following the same rules of compatibility) will be faster, and give you a lot more future-proofing. It just may be more difficult to set up initially. Is the extra expense justified? Really- that all depends on your needs.

 

Look at it this way- you could spend the $800 on a system you'll keep roughly half the time, before spending say, the same $800 to upgrade again- but with an even faster system some time from now. By then $800 will probably get you more system than $1200 does now. So it all depends on exactly what you'll be using the $800 rig for. If it's tons and tons of multiple stream high-def video, blu-ray authoring, and tons of heavy-duty Photoshop/AE work, you may outgrow the $800 rig faster, therefore it may be the better idea to go with a more expensive/powerful rig in the first place. But if your workload is average duty, then the $800 machine may serve you fine, and you'll benefit just as much from spending less per machine, but upgrading more often.

 

 

It's kind of a balancing act either way that depends on your individual needs, as either could serve you fine.

[DJKnight99]

Herb,

 

I would go for the cheaper build if I were you. If you were going to buy an actual Mac Pro I would advice you differently, but the great thing about a Hackintosh is that you can always upgrade any component you like whenever you need to.

 

Just to echo what Zaap said really, each system will match your needs. Personally I would go for the cheaper build. 12GB of RAM seems like overkill to me and the i7 is really a very expensive processor. I would wait, build it with the cheaper system and spend the extra money on a nice HD display to work with instead, and then if you find you're really struggling with the spec you built, just upgrade it later. Plus then when you do choose to upgrade there are likely to be more people using the i7 and therefore more support floating around, so you'll struggle a lot less with it.

 

Good luck with the build though!

[HerbM]

Zaap & DJKnight99,

 

Thanks for the taking the time. I think you're both totally right as to the expense versus upgrade frequency. My usage most likely won't be be ultra heavy duty. I just did a music video edit on my three year old Core Duo MBP. Cutting was tolerable, but rendering was tedious. So either build would be a vast improvement.

 

I have no clue about video cards. Obviously the better the card, the better the game, but does that hold true for the Quartz, PS, etc?

 

Thanks again,

 

Herb

[noNix]

With 10.6 I think your choice of graphics card is going to make a big difference to overall performance, particularly when it comes to adding hardware acceleration for rendering out a video.

 

If you go Zaap's route of going for lower cost hardware and upgrading more often (which sounds like a good idea), you might want to invest in a high quality case that would see you through several builds. The high quality case is also probably going to have better cooling (quieter) and more room for expansion that would make it easier to add more drive as you need them.

 

This case from Lian-Li is expensive at $250, but should last a lifetime, it also has six hot swappable hard drive bays, and will accommodate any graphics card that you throw at it. Its also probably one of the best looking PC cases available.

 

For info on video cards consult the hardware compatibility wiki or weaksauce12's guide. The big downside to big cards is that they are expensive, power hungry and noisy, but that is the cost of performance.

[DJKnight99]

In terms of graphics cards you can't go wrong with just biting the bullet and going for something half decent and compatible.

 

Saves a lot of time and money down the line. I'm still looking for advice myself, and from what people have told me I've settled on an Asus GeForce 9600GT (512MB)

 

It sounds like a really nice card that should handle pretty much anything you'll be throwing at it. noNix is talking absolute sense as well, but it's all worth while if you ask me. Get something good and you'll have a much nicer experience overall.

 

Case wise I have to say I'm skeptical about the Lian-Li one suggested. Personally, I don't like the way it looks and I don't need 6 hot swappable HD bays. Mainly though, I wouldn't get it because $250 is a huge amount of money for something you may well actually WANT to change down the line. I mean this is custom PC building after all! You might get bored of looking at the same dull box every day and feel you need a change, thus making a sturdy, lifelong purchase ultimately pointless and a waste of money. That's just me though, you might well be in the market for something like that. Instead, I'm opting for an Antec Three Hundred. It's miles cheaper and from what I've read it's a really sturdy case with excellent cooling. And if it is rubbish, I haven't wasted much! I think you can pick them up for like $50 or $60 (without a PSU.) Anyway have a look, the case is a really hard decision to make because everyone has their own personal tastes as well as needs.

[HerbM]

DJKnight99,

 

I think you're spot on regarding the case. I'm leaning towards the Cooler Master CM 690: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811119137

 

I've also narrowed the card down to the EVGA 9800GTX+:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...ga%209800gtx%2b

 

Let me know if either are a wrong move.

 

Thanks again for the help,

 

Herb

[broken]

That video card should be smoking fast for about anything you might throw at it.

 

 

Yeah, the Cooler Master CM 690 is a great case. As is its smaller brother, the CM 590. Other good choices are the Antec 300 and Antec 900. Great thing about all these cases are that they use 120mm (or larger) intake and outtake fans and have excellent cooling properties.

 

 

I personally have a hard time justifying much more than about $60 or $70 on a case. I seem to always use a different case for each build and rarely ever reuse a case. Back 10 years ago, it almost made sense to drop some serious coin on a case since there wasn't too much variety and slow to introduce models. You could walk into a computer store and then come back 6 months later and probably see the same cases. Not any more. The market is now constantly changing and new, cheaper models are always coming out.

 

But, thats just me. I am cheap like that. Just don't buy one of those $20 cases that are made of metal as thin as a soda can. LOL

[DJKnight99]

Thumbs up to everything so far!

 

I like the coolermaster case too, that seems like a very sensible choice. I also like the fact that there are two vents on the left panel, allowing both a case fan and a direct CPU duct, something very useful if you decide to overclock it later on.

 

Also I have to say I was very tempted by the 9800GTX myself, but I don't really think I can afford it so I'm sticking with a lower model. Having looked at the wiki it seems to be compatible so you shouldn't run into too many snags either.

 

Remember to get a decent PSU for your case as well. Here is a great wattage calculator for building a machine, it will give you an idea of how much power you'll need. The PSU is something I would spend a bit more money on, you pay for what you get at the end of the day and the power is a very important aspect of the build. I would also urge you to go for something that's efficient and relatively green (without trying to sound like a tree-hugging hippy!)