Suggested Desktop System

Dave Grulke · Post by **Dave Grulke** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 8:07AM

Hi everyone-

It's time for me to upgrade to a new computer to run the latest and greatest ECabinet software.

Would those in the know please point me to either past threads or list a set of specs for a good, better, best system to run this fine software.

Like everyone else, I'd like to keep costs down to a low as reasonable, but would also like to know how much extra I'd need to invest to move up to the next level. It seems the nVidia Quattro FX series cards are the ones to use.

Bottom line...I don't want to buy problems that cannot be overcome. Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Dave
Big Dave's Services
Milwaukee

Rick Palechuk · Post by **Rick Palechuk** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 8:14AM

Hi Dave, at the top of the screen click on eCabinet Systems Home, then click Software at the top of the left hand side bar. In there shows the recommended system. HTH

Michael Yeargain · Post by **Michael Yeargain** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 8:20AM

Dave,

I jumpped out there and bout one for $4800.00 from Dell. I can't say I regret it but I would like to know if there are some lesser expensive ones on the market.

Here is the specs on my PC:

Dell Precision PWS490 Intel(R) Xeon(TM) CPU 3.2 Ghz 3.19 Ghz,3.0GB RAM XP Pro Service pack 2.

I also have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 with the downloaded tweak applied

The Page file is set to 4605 MB initial and 9210 MB Max.

This thing does seem pretty quick. But I think there are some that can do nearly as good with less money.

The graphics card was about $1400.00 buck by itself. If you search around you may find one for less.

Jean G Voyer · Post by **Jean G Voyer** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 11:47AM

Michael,

How big of a job can you run before you get the out of memory message?
Or does it happen?

Michael Yeargain · Post by **Michael Yeargain** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 11:51AM

Jean G Voyer,
To answer the question does it happen; Yes but...

I can effectively run about 10 meg or so. But it really depends on the LDE. If I have any sheets set up or not.

If I place the cabinetry the exact size without modifying them in their place I can run about 20 meg.

I have found that changing the cabinets while they are in the room can cause the O.O.M error.

I don't regret the purchase But like I said. There may be a system out their that can do similar with less expense.

Hope this helps.

Jean G Voyer · Post by **Jean G Voyer** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 12:01PM

Michael,

You are probably right. But I have been working on some very big jobs lately and peoples are willing to put in the money even for the design. Rebuilding the cabinets constantly is very time consuming. So you always end up changing what's already in place.

The one job I was working on yesterday wouldn't even render, even after I eliminated the big island in the middle of the room.

The problem I am dealing with is sometimes clients think you do those things just by magic, in a matter of seconds but it sure doesn't happen that way.

Thanks for the info.

Peter Walsh · Post by **Peter Walsh** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 12:22PM

Boy! You guys are really spooking me out about buying a new PC.

I build libraries. usually 12-20 cabinets per sale plus display parts. I don't have any trouble editing, displaying, or running out of mem. I am pretty sure that my stuff may run slower, but I get it done.

I am running a Dell seven-year old 1MHz box with 512MB Ram and a Nvidia G-Force 256 vid card. When you guys tell me a $4-5,000 Dell workstation with Gig capacities, and with a $1,400 vid card is running out of mem, I have to wonder why, when it doesn't happen to me?
Moreover, what the hell do I buy to improve my speed without running into these cranky mem problems?
I am running the latest upgrade of eCab without any problems so far.
Mysteries abound.
regards,

Jean G Voyer · Post by **Jean G Voyer** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 12:25PM

Peter,

What operating system are you running?

Peter Walsh · Post by **Peter Walsh** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 1:32PM

I am running home ver. XP.

HOWEVER..............I am not ordinarily superstitious, but I just knew blabbing that I am not having any trouble would get me into trouble!
I just opened a home office job I put together a couple of weeks ago before I upgraded to the latest version, and I tried to delete a cabinet and the program froze up, processor went to 100%, Windows Task manager says the program is not responding.

Ah, well, that served me right for shooting off my mouth (or keyboard)!
I will bang on this problem for a little bit to see if I can dope it all out before posting a gripe.
regards,

Peter Walsh · Post by **Peter Walsh** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 2:05PM

OK, Here's the dope on this little gremlin....
I bring the whole room into the room editor and cannot delete a stacked cabinet assy., made up of two bookcases w/ shelves (no edging) and molding trim without locking up the program.
It is interesting in the Windows Task manager it shows two (2) eCab programs running when this happens and it seems I have to stop both to get the program to shut down.

Workaround:
In the Detail Room Mode, highlight the assy., right click to \"edit the assy\", delete all parts and return to the room. Assy is deleted that way and the program seems ready to continue work. I guess this is a little bug I should post a note on. I'll do that a little later after I run things for a while and see what else crops up.
regards,

Jean G Voyer · Post by **Jean G Voyer** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 5:00PM

Peter,

With the system you have you are just lucky you didn't have more problems.
But if it does good for you except once in a while then don't worry.

Michael Yeargain · Post by **Michael Yeargain** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 7:37PM

Peter,

I'd say the typing was a bit quicker than shoulda been.

Sorry to hear (or read) that.

It isn't quiet what we have been experiencing. Unless yours has given you the Out Of Memory dialog. This O.O.M has been a pest for a while. The programers are very aware of this one. But sounds like a bit different.

I did experiance something in relation to assemblies.

Some areas of the cut list were double when an assembly was present in the room. Although, selecting all the cabinets except that assembly produced correct ones.

Go figure.

I'd say there is a relatioship there, wouldn't you?

Cheers

Rick Palechuk · Post by **Rick Palechuk** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 9:17PM

Hey Peter, if your happy with the system you use (which I'm sure alot of us don't run the ultimate system like Mike's) just add more ram. It's your cheapest performance boost. I recently bought 3-512's of ram on e-bay for $140. I don't have a killer system but for what I do mine works great. Also, I use Dan's paging file trick on a separate drive which boosted overall performance. I also run windows with minimum effects too.

Peter Walsh · Post by **Peter Walsh** » Mon, Mar 26 2007, 2:09PM

Rick,
Ah, there's the rub! My Dell is maxed out at 512Mb! It's the way they get you to buy new ones.
Generally I would like things to run a lot faster, but they do run, and I get the job done. I think I am going to wait until Thermwood gets things running with Vista OK before buying a new one since all the new PC's come with Vista. In the meantime, I go and do something else while waiting for a presentation rendering, etc.
regards,

greg youngken · Post by **greg youngken** » Mon, Mar 26 2007, 8:26PM

Hey guys, I allways enjoy these threads on system performance. I operate the following budget system:
E-machines T5212 dual core pentium D 805 at 2.66 ghz each $500.00
533 mhz fsb
2 gig ram/ddr2 $120.00
Virtual memory set at 3072-4096
Window Xp media sp-2
Nvidia 7900 256 mg ( 8x antialiasing/16x anisotrofic ) $125.00

I am so far happy with the performance, I have a 4.5 meg job with another 4.5 in the LDE at the same time , I have to turn down the detail level to keep things fast. So at 9 megs it still runs ok (really fast w/ low detail, or ok w/ full detail ) I'm not sure how big a file I can run as so far all have been under 9 megs. I have noticed putting some pages in the LDE basically doubles the file size. I'm pretty new at this and sometimes weird things happen, but for now I think it's more operater error. I have a very clean library that I place cabs with and that seems to help allot. My 1st library was really dirty as I was on a learning curve, I can really notice a big difference with a good clean library.