Dear all,
I am confused with all announcements and news coming from the PC hardware world (new Nehalem CPUs recently introduced in the Mac Pro).
What would be the most optimized configuration running under windows for 2D applications? Today's most powerfull workstation (Dell, Carri System) are built on a Dual Xeon 54xx basis (quad core, 5400 Intel chipset), i.e. 8 cores.
Today, I use a dual Xeon (5120, dual core, 2.0 Ghz) based on a Supermicro motherboard (Chipset Intel 5000X) and 4 Gig of RAM (FB-DIMM). Very stable under Windows XP 64-bit, but sometimes slow with big files (over 250 Mega) under PS CS3 when I apply heavy layers and filters.
I read on various forums that 8 cores (even more with the reintroduction by Intel of Hyperthreading) is just an overkiller taking into consideration that PS CS4 would not use the full power of the 8 cores at the same time (by the way it is exactly what I noticed under my current configuration with PS CS3, the only software which uses 100% of the CPU capacities being Capture One and Qimage).
Any thoughts? Let's assume that budget is not a priority.
Do you think it is worth to upgrade my hardware to have a more responsive workstation? Is there other solution (non dual, other Intel CPUs) which are more adapted to PS CS3/CS4?
Thanks for your advice.
Ruud
PS : I am not a gamer (my graphic card is a PNY Nvidia Quadro FX 540)
PPS : I do not 3D software, but just 2D! (PS CS3, Capture One, Lightroom, Qimage)
PPPS: I have yet upgraded to PS CS4 since most of third parties plug-ins do not work under PS CS4 64-bit.