Digital Workstation Considerations

Digital Workstation ConsiderationsDigital Workstation Considerations

Joe Sukenick

DigiQuest

www.DigiQuestPC.com

To access this presentation, go to:

http://www.DigiQuestPC.comhttp://www.DigiQuestPC.com

Click on the link for TRAINING

MOORE’S LAW

MOORE’S LAW

In 1965, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore stated that the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years.

His prediction has been accurate for over 40 years!

How does this affect photographers?

How does this affect photographers?

As computers become more powerful, the newer versions of software have become more sophisticated and much more processor intensive.

How does this affect photographers?

As computers become more powerful, the newer versions of software have become more sophisticated and much more processor intensive.

In many ways, the operating systems and software have become inefficient and laden with features that few use.

This results in…

CODE BLOATCODE BLOAT

This results in…

Sloppy programming coupled with new seldom used features will usually result in the newer versions of the same software to become larger and run more slowly than a previous version of that software when run on the same machine.

CODE BLOATCODE BLOAT

Since the software manufacturers are aware that PC’s keep getting faster and faster, they allow sloppy programming to continue.

Why? It’s cost efficient!

Their Logic: They assume the new machines will run their new inefficient code as fast as older PC’s ran the previous version of their software. Therefore, there is no problem.

Windows Operating System SLOC (Source Lines of Code)

1993 Windows NT 3.1 6 million 1994 Windows NT 3.5 10 million 1996 Windows NT 4.0 16 million 2000 Windows 2000 29 million 2002 Windows XP 40 million 2007 Windows Vista ~50 million

Do you see a pattern developing here???????* Source: Wikipedia.com

A similar, but not quite as aggressive evolution is occurring with the sensors in digital cameras.

We can now capture more detail at higher resolutions because we have more pixels.

More pixels = Larger file sizes

When you add them up…

Newer Software Code Bloat

Running on Old PC

Larger File Sizes+___________________________________

Result: A Frustrated Photographer!

The Solution?

A Faster Digital Workstation….

But what should I get?

Three main components of a computer system that affect its effective speed the most:

Computer Prefix Terms

Hz……………..Hertz (cycles)

Kilo……Thousand 1,000,000 Mega …..Million 1,000,000,000 Giga……Billion 1,000,000,000,000 Tera……Trillion 1,000,000,000,000,000 Peta ……Quadrillion (etc.)

These terms are mainly used to denote speed and capacity.

CPU

Intel

The workhorse or “engine” that does all the computational processing work for the PC.

It makes requests to the hard drive and RAM for user data and programming instructions.

CPU

* Choose the CPU first & build system around it * Buy as much processor as you can afford* Intel processor recommended* Quad Core processor runs FASTEST!* Quad Core best for multitasking* Intel Model BX80580Q6600 Quad 2.33GHz* Intel Model BX80580Q9550 Quad 2.83GHz Price: 2.33GHz - $189 2.83GHz - $324

Hard Drive

Western Digital: Good Value & Reliability

The non-volatile (Permanent) storage area for the operating system, software applications, and data (images).

They are mechanical and WILL FAIL!They are mechanical and WILL FAIL!

Backup your Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Backup your Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hard Drive

Western Digital 10,000 RPM “Velociraptor” SATA Model: WD3000GLFS (300Gb)

Western Digital 10,000 RPM “Velociraptor” SATA Model: WD1500HLFS

RAM (Memory)

Corsair – Excellent / G.Skill – Great Value

The volatile storage and processing area for data retrieved from the hard drive, operating system, CPU and software applications.

RAM constantly passes information back and forth between the hard drive and the CPU.

RAM (Memory)

* Corsair – Excellent / G.Skill – Great Value* 4 Gb max for 32 bit systems* RAM should match MB requirements* DDR2 is Very Good, DDR3 Better* Timings and CAS Latency determine the speed (Lower numbers are better)

Price: 4 Gb - DDR3 - $300 and up…

Motherboard

* Asus and Gigabyte are two very good names* Motherboard should support your processor* Front Side Bus (FSB) 1600/1333MHz* Motherboard dictates type/speed of memory* Integrated video may be adequate but is not optimal

Price: $120 - $240

Windows Operating System

Windows XP Professional is the OS of choice.

Vista has reliability problems, is difficult to change many parameters, and its “I’ll hide the “I’ll hide the details from you to make it work MY WAY”details from you to make it work MY WAY” approach can be frustrating and annoying!

Many older printers, scanners, and other devices that you’d like to use with Vista may not have device drivers for Vista to allow them to work.

32 bit OS vs. 64 bit OS32 bit OS vs. 64 bit OS

* The motherboard must support 64 bit* Total available RAM in a 64 bit OS is 17.2 Gb* Total available RAM in a 32 bit OS is 4 Gb* Some software will not run under a 64 bit OS* The full processing power of 64 bits cannot be realized until the application is built for it* Device drivers for old peripherals may not be available in the 64 bit flavor* Not yet ready for “Prime Time”… but soon will!

* Choose the CPU first & build system around it* OS – Windows XP Pro (NO Vista… not yet)* Case - Full size tower – HeatHeat is the enemy!* Case should have multiple ball-bearing fans* CPU should have a good cooling system* DVD burner for backups – dual layer (-R)* Video Card – minimum of 256Mb RAM and be capable of 3D acceleration (512 Better) * Configure Windows with a FIXED Page File size then make it use your SECOND Drive.

Additional Info.Additional Info.

For those inclined to build a PC themselves, an online vendor with great prices, an exceptional reputation, huge variety of products, with tons of information and customer reviews of products is:

Newegg.comNewegg.com

Most items ship from NJ. Items I order on Monday arrive on Tuesday with standard 3 day UPS shipping.

Additional Info.Additional Info.

Digital Workstation ConsiderationsDigital Workstation Considerations

Joe Sukenick

DigiQuest

www.DigiQuestPC.com

To access this presentation, go to:

http://www.DigiQuestPC.comhttp://www.DigiQuestPC.com

Click on the link for TRAINING