Need help to recommend VGA card and Mainboard for 3DS Max

[joe2001]

I want to buy new PC for use 3DS Max for Architecture, Interior and Product Design. I plan to buy Core2Duo E6300, 1 Gbyte DDR2 RAM and 250 GB HDD. But I don't know that what VGA Card and Mainboard is good for this application. I have budget $100-$150 USD for VGA and $150-$200 USD for Mainboard. Please help to recommend.
Please also recommend the VGA Card, if I plan to use for 3D Animation and Video Editing in the future.

Thank you.

Joe2001

 

[darkalien54]

Hey,

you pretty much have the same question I had not too long ago..

If you're limited to $150 for a VGA, you're better off using $50 (or more)of your mainboard limit and putting it in the VGA limit.

In my "Harnessing 3DS Max 8" book, it says 3DSMax relies mostly on Ram for the stack, so I'd reccomend at least 2GB DDR2, Since I have 1GB and its slower than my friends computer, and painfully slower when it comes to high stack and high poly scenes.

Personally, I'd get an 64-bit processor with 4GB Ram to run 3DS Max 9 x64, but I'm not ready to buy the upgrades or let alone buy an upgrade of the software.

For a motherboard, just go into Newegg, and perform an advanced category search, putting it everything you need. Also, check out tom's guide to motherboard selection.

For the VGA, I'm not expert, since I had a limited budget to $300 for a new mainboard and a VGA ($200 for the VGA, $100 for the mainboard), I chose a X1900GT since I use 3DS Max for modding the Source engine, and I regularly test my progress in game.

But for you however, you might want to consider a 7900GT ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127218 ) since this one is $235 after the rebate.

If you do not game, consider the Quadro of FireGL cards, but I never had any of those so I'm no expert on it.

Hope this helps,
DarkAlien

 

[joe2001]

Hi DarkAlien,

Thank you very much.

Joe2001

 

[cleeve]

I work with Max alot...

For 3dsMAX, I recommend an Nvidia card. Their consumer drivers are much better and stabler than Ati's for stuff like 3dsMax.

A cheap 7600 GT is a great cheap MAX option.