Advice needed on upgrading system

[Richard_Cranium72]

My sideline Hobby is repairing or enlarging Photos.

So, I need to know if I'm anywhere near to doing the correct stuff to optimize my systems.

My scanning, results in files as large as 26mb.

So , here is where I stand now.

Couple AMD units w/100mhz fsb, 475-500mhz
Use HP's 5pse SCSI-2 scanners
PhotoSmart and 712c printers
Maxtor and Quantum 7200 HD's
RAM up to 192 on one, can vary on the(64) other
PCI vid cards, 3dfx V2 1000 12mb
and 3dfx V3 2000 16mb
Cooling fans on Case, Vid Cards, Chipsets, HD's
Keep msconfig VERY minimal
Scan/Frag weekly or more
Disable anti-virus when Photo-ing

So, where NOW ?
Besides spending lots of Cash on a 1ghz unit

ideas welcomed

[drn]

Go anm get the AMD Duron @ 650 or even the 750 and overclock it to the big 1 GIG then you will be off to the races and then all you need to do is just remove mobo

[Richard_Cranium72]

Drn, your advice is always solid

However, I wish to run these processors that I have in hand because I didn't tell the whole story in the first sentence.

I plan to have as many as six to eight machines in operation at the same time.

So the budget is very limited to making just one or two very fast machines.

I'm sure there are minor bottlenecks that I can either adjust out or buy some additional CHEAP parts to help with.

Like the 12 and 16mb graphic cards, will these actually help in still image work ??

Thanks for the idea though, the Durons have caught my eye also http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[RataToo]

well I've always heard that voodoo cards perform poorly in 2d. Maybe you ought to research the 2d aspects of the newer video cards...I imagine thet there will be a king of 2d just as there is a king of 3d...finding the right software should also help....

[NDC]

You are trying to build 2 fast graphic workstations you sayand the rest as budget systems? What is your budget for the 2 graphic workstation?

[NDC]

-Couple AMD units w/100mhz fsb, 475-500mhz
*Dual Pentium 650Mhz FSB 100

-Use HP's 5pse SCSI-2 scanners
*Should be fine

-PhotoSmart and 712c printers
*Should be fine

-Maxtor and Quantum 7200 HD's
*SCSI 10,000rpm Ultra160 (If your Budget allows it)

-RAM up to 192 on one, can vary on the(64) other
*Should be fine since most graphic files will be about 26mb you say, but 384mb would be nice since most graphics apps will hog memory.

-PCI vid cards, 3dfx V2 1000 12mb
and 3dfx V3 2000 16mb
*Should be fine, since you will do 2D jobs


My Home Workstation Specs:

Dual Pentium III 733Mhz FSB100
Tyan S1832DL (Dual)
768MB PC-100 (SEC)
Creative Sounblaster 128 PCI
Adaptec 29160N Ultra160 SCSI Adapter
(SCSI) Ultra160 18.4GB Seagate Cheetah 10,000rpm
(EIDE) Western Digital 15.0GB 7,200rpm
(EIDE) Western Digital 13.6 7,200rpm
(EIDE) Maxtor 8.4GB 5,400rpm (Mobile Rack)
(EIDE) Teac 32X CDROM
(EIDE) Plextor 8/4/32 CDRW
GeForce 256 DDR+
Mustek 1200ED PPT
HP DeskJet 950C
Realtek 8139 10/100 LAN Card
(1) 5.25" Twin Fan Bay Cooler
(2) 90mm Fans
(1) 80mm CPU Direct Fan

Remember that 26mb might seem like a small file, but your system will have to have powerful CPU's and much RAM to work at efficient speeds, Especially Photoshop. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 09-11-2000).]