Recommended Computer Specs?

[TheBadger]

16GB of ram is not enough for me

Can you explain why 16GB is not enough for you? High resolution renders, high poly count, what? What *Terragen-related* indications are you getting that suggest you need more than 16GB.
Thanks
-Pat

Yes. 

http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=14892.15
http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=14048.msg138354#msg138354


16GB does not cut it for me. But to be fair, the projects i do, do not seem typical.

[Oshyan]

Oh yes, I forgot to address "TheBadger Problem". The problem is: Badger is "insane" and makes awesomely complex scenes that few others seem to be able to match for sheer system demand. There is always someone at the top of the heap, who makes simply the most computationally demanding scenes. From my position at Planetside HQ, Badger is the current winner.

- Oshyan

[TheBadger]

If you guys actually refer to the issues I bring up in TG2 as "TheBadger problem", I think that is awesome!

[Oshyan]

Haha, we don't, but we really should start.

- Oshyan

[PCook]

Seems there's a bit of history between TheBadger and PlanetSide.

[Oshyan]

Badger's just very good at pushing TG to its limits, with lots and lots of high-poly objects, high-resolution textures, etc. We get scenes from users to investigate support issues fairly regularly, and his are probably the only ones that have stressed my fairly capable i7 workstation (4.6Ghz, 16GB of RAM).

For most people I'd say 16GB is a good target, more is always better, but 16GB ought to meet the needs of the majority of users in my experience.

- Oshyan

[PCook]

Good to hear. What's clear is that the computing horsepower one needs is related to the user's Terragen complexity. I just purchased and assembled a system with an i7 3770K and 16GB RAM in a Shuttle SZ68R5 box (not yet overclocked). I'm getting 2 hours rendering an 1800x1200 TG image. I'll post more details in a seperate thread as time permits.

[RichTwo]

Well, good people - I did get my new machine, and yes a laptop.  Ordered it online from Amazon and was shipped from Beach Camera in New Jersey, U.S..  It's a Toshiba Qosmio X-Series, and let me tell you: it's a screamer.  It'll rip through a complex displacement-loaded 1800 X 1200 render (...with water!) in less than 2 hours, compared to the usual 8 - 12 I've been used to.  Before I bought, I checked its specs, checked Intel's specs for the processor, and made double sure of what I was getting.  It exceeds my expectations so far.  In fact Terragen 2 says it finds 8 cores!  Really?

I'm not so much bragging on what I've got (OK - maybe a little I am  ) but offering the Toshiba as recommendation as a good laptop  - or a good computer, period.  And reasonably priced at under $1300 U.S.

Again, thanks for all the advice and suggestions - they were a big help!

[TheBadger]

In fact Terragen 2 says it finds 8 cores!  Really?

lol, TG2 tells me I have 64.

[PCook]

May you create terrains that delight and inspire!

[penboack]

In fact Terragen 2 says it finds 8 cores!  Really?

It is called Hyperthreading, each physical core presents itself to Terragen 2 as 2 virtual cores.
Don't forget that when you work out how to get your render times back up to 8-12 hours you can alway use a render farm for the final render of more complex projects.

Very pleased it worked out for you.
Looking forward to seeing the results.

Badger, stop showing off!

[TheBadger]

Badger, stop showing off!

lol
I wish I was! It should say only 16, because I have an 8 core. Its some kind of error with TG2.