trying to set up a new X5 system on a VERY tight budget...

[wayn]

Hello All!

I'm trying to get back into home/commercial bldg design - as a part-time gig - and would like to update my tired, old Chief 10 to this millenium, so I'm looking to upgrade to X5 and install on my existing Gateway GM5442 for the time being.

system as is:

intel Core2 4400 @ 2.00GHz, 3MB RAM, 32-bit, 450GB hard drive, intel 82945G Express on-board graphics running Windows Vista Premium

If I were to upgrade the operating system to W7 or W8 would I even have a hope of having X5 run even remotely well, or should I just byte the bullet and upgrade?

AND, if I upgrade - and I know I've just opened the world's largest can of worms - what are reliably good specs to run on?

Preferably both laptop specs and desktop specs... and I'd like to stay under $1500 for the hardware costs.

Thanks!

[perryh]

Not sure about your video card, could be a problem.

[Doug Park]

For the most part your old system is marginally OK for X5. In general you should find that X5 is faster on that system than version 10 was. I assume you meant 3GB of RAM. The video is a bit of a question. I'm not sure how well it will work.

[Joe Carrick]

If you want a good Laptop, look for one with my specs. Similar for Desktop.

[HumbleChief]

You don't HAVE to spend a fortune on a system that will run X5/6. Here's a quick list of some pretty good components that should run X5/6 fine if not really well.

[briem]

See post from yesterday about X5 for sale for $500. Should help with the hardware budget.

[wayn]

See post from yesterday about X5 for sale for $500. Should help with the hardware budget.

Briem,

Sorry, but since I'm away from my computer for the weekend I'm using my phone to reply - and am having a heckuva time finding stuff w/search function...

Can you help me by forwarding a link to the post you mentioned?

Thanks!

[jcaffee]

http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread....-my-X5-version

jon

[wayn]

http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread....-my-X5-version

jon

Thanks to all who've responded - fired off an email to the owner of above s/w, working on decision to either buy a ready-built graphics box or build my own from the specs I've seen. Either way, I'm excited to get into this decade's market for both s/w and h/w.

Again, thanks - I'll update as things progress.

[wayn]

drat... missed out on the $500 X5 opportunity - but I'm still working on moving forward! will keep those interested enough to read this posted as things progress.

In the meantime, since I'm already in a 10-hour-a-day non-design day-job, if any of y'all see any more super X5 deals, please feel free to post links on this thread?!? Thanks!

[moak]

The laptop in my signature is about 2 years old and runs X5 quite well. New it was around $1,300.

[yeahok]

Wow. From the threads I've read it seemed like you could never overkill on a CA X5/X6 system. Now I am beginning to wonder. I have spent hours of online research trying to put a computer together to build. I got a tower for half price brand new on Ebay, looking at Intel i7 4930K processor, NVidia GTX770, (2) 23" monitors, etc. just hoping to be able to hang and not deal with having to build again for a few years at least. Am I going overboard?

[Curtis Johnson]

Wayn:

I had Puget Systems build my computer in 2011 and have been very pleased with it. Very quiet and runs X5 very well. If I were to purchase new today, I would go with 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD and probably a video card with more speed. Puget Systems uses only the best components and run each build through a gamut of tests for performance, heat build-up, etc. And you can monitor all that work as it is being done at their facility. If you call them, ask for William George or Wilson Chau ... and tell them I sent you their way. If you like PS and choose to purchase a computer from them, they will help me out on the cost of my next upgrade. They may still have a December special running so make sure you ask about that.

By the way, PS has lots of good technical information on their website about computers, components and all sorts of tech stuff that you may find helpful with your decision. Go to Resources on their menu bar and click on Hardware Articles or Forums.

www.pugetsystems.com

[gawdzira]

It really comes down to the type of work your are doing. If you never touch the Raytrace button or never kick off renders with the Watercolor feature then a minimal running system will work well in most cases. I hit the Watercolor button a lot so I beefed up my system a little when buying last year. For me, waiting an extra 30-60 seconds for a view to render in Watercolor is worth spending an extra $700 on my system. If I knew the system could kick off a Watercolor in 5 secs I would spend triple that.