Boxx

[glorybound]

I have been keeping my eyes on BOXX for awhile and I am seriously considering. The thing that always makes me question BOXX is, the default comes with 16GB of RAM. To me, for a company to specialize in computers for guys like us, that isn't enough enough RAM to take it seriously. I am sure it has something to do with it's "starting at price", but it makes me question them. Now, hopefully they are not letting guys like me buy a machine with that little RAM.

While peoples need differ always, I will say that as far as quality, and reliability, the BOXX I have since 2013 has been solid.
For the small monthly payment, it was totally worth it. Also, as a sole proprietor,
it was very nice to be able to finance it instead of shelling out 2-5 thousand dollars at once. I work 3 jobs, and really don't have the extra time
to build my own, but I would like to if I ever had the time.
I've also used to use a small farm setup with a few boxes, but TBH, I am relieved to not have to deal with that anymore.
In the end, you must decide which route to go, but FWIW, the BOXX, is a solid quality.

Side note:
Do I wish I had one of those Helmer type setups, yes.
Do I have time to make one, no

[Companioncube]

I have been keeping my eyes on BOXX for awhile and I am seriously considering. The thing that always makes me question BOXX is, the default comes with 16GB of RAM. To me, for a company to specialize in computers for guys like us, that isn't enough enough RAM to take it seriously. I am sure it has something to do with it's "starting at price", but it makes me question them. Now, hopefully they are not letting guys like me buy a machine with that little RAM.

not all their customers render or render complicated scenes. 16GB is still plenty if your modeling, if the machine is for GPU rendering or the scenes aren't that complicated.
i think your over thinking it if that's what makes you question how serious they are.

[glorybound]

Well, that and the price. Pick one of their cheapest machine and add 64GB of RAM and it's now a $5,000 machine.

[Morne]

Reminds me of the days when Silicon Graphics was THE machine to have

[glorybound]

Man, you are old

Reminds me of the days when Silicon Graphics was THE machine to have

[Morne]

Man, you are old

I like to think of it as experienced

[Morbid Angel]

some one was asking me advice on a new workstation. They told me some one was offering them 5 SGI machines for sale. They sent me the original quote from when those machines were made. $35000 for 5 machines those were 4 core, with 2gb of ram each

[glorybound]

How funny. I guess we shouldn't complain. Imagine being the one who bought those and has to literally through them out.

[hoch5]

1. get a fast cpu
2. get a fast cpu
3. get a fast cpu
4. if you really want to stick to a single worksation, get a fast cpu
5. nvidia 970 gtx will do the job if you don't use rt in production
6. 32gb of ram should be fine at least for some crazieness

I don't really get why workstation vendors try to squeeze the money out of their customers for adding some extra ram....

[glorybound]

My weak link has been CPU. When I monitor a render, I usually always have enough RAM; it is the CPU that runs 100%, which is probably what you want, however, I would want to run faster at 100%.

[3LP]

just press the "ctrl" key while rendering...

Stan

[glorybound]

What would that do?

just press the "ctrl" key while rendering...

Stan

[Morbid Angel]

Bobby, sounds like for you its a lot of choice and you might be overthinking it a bit I'd suggest to get a budget down first. Lets say you are prepared to drop $3500, get the fastest cpu you can, best mobo you can then see what you have left for ram and video card. Chances are, if you are limited by a budget you might get a lesser video card but then upgrade it a year later.

What I did with my last build was I thought 48 gb of ram was going to be enough and didn't research the mobo enough. 48 gb was not enough I bought another 128, but then the original 48 wouldn't play with the different ram sized stick though mobo should have supported it, it didn't. And asus told me they could RMA the mobo but that was not acceptable. I ended up overpaying for the ram, and still have 48 gb lying around collecting dust Get my point?

[glorybound]

My fear is dropping $4,000 and not seeing a great increase in speed and performance over what I currently have. Your MB and RAM issue is also a fear. I can purchase things on NewEgg, but I could screw that up terrible and just waste money. Also, the other fear is dropping $4-$5 grand and then work dries up and I go homeless

[Morbid Angel]

Well man... Working for your own self means gambling a lot, but also means you only depend on your self. When I started out 9 years ago, I was gambling a lot but it payed off big time Guess what you are a talented artist and I really doubt the work will dry up for you, based on what I've seen you create. Generally you have to spend money to make money. You've bought a pc last year - has it performed well? has it paid for it self? if yes - then so will the next one.

I spent $10k on my last system, this was the 5th system I've built over past 7 years, they started from $1500 for the first one, then $2500 for the next one, and so on...I've spent over $30 on the render farm and storage and that's just the hardware ))

But I consider these assets as tools that give me big advantage when I go hunt for work. When my clients hear that I have this setup, they are more open to giving larger amounts of work and see that I've committed big time to the work in general so this gives them confidence.