First Time Spec'ing a Computer
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Hello,
I am looking at a purchasing a computer for a few designs that I have coming up and I am not able to get the funding to build my own PC nor am I experienced enough in building at BC for this application. With that Being said, I am able to buy a pre built computer. I took a look at the system requirements for Isadora 3 from the website, but I am not fully experienced enough to make sure that the computer that I am getting will allow for the things I want to do. I am looking at getting a windows computer, as a Mac is way to expensive. I am looking for a computer that would allow me to have 1 control monitor, while still allowing me to output to 4 separate projectors all from the computer itself. In regards to the what I will be doing, I will be edge blending 4 projectors, as well as using 4 projectors as separate displays, have HD video playback on all 4 surfaced, Overlaying videos and imagery, and possible having 1 live video feed play overtop of the videos and imagery. I would also be adding on some video effects such as blurs, delays and such. Aside from the video aspect. I would also be using Isadora while videos and imagery are showing to control actor values and use Isadora to control other software such as EOS (Lighting). I have done a little but of research and I have been looking at the following computers.
https://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1446_1448&item_id=241405
https://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=7_4527&item_id=238109
I have been more gearing towards the Asus computer, but If anyone can offer any suggestion of what they would use or look at that would be very much appreciated.
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I'm assuming you're in Canada from your choice of stores... I like Memory Express; they're a bigger outfit and will build you a custom machine relatively inexpensively. I like form factors that are easier to move around, as I do a lot of that. I usually build for the job, but if you want to go with pre-built, I think the MSI Trident line is really interesting and I know that some people on here have been using them. The Corsair One is a nice machine, but it's pretty expensive. Have fun!
Cheers,
Hugh
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@citizenjoe said:
MSI Trident line
Thanks for the sugguestion. Yes I am in Vancouver Canada, and I do have a max price which makes it a little bit more challenging. I am not able to go above $1450. Ideally I need to be under to also purchase a monitor for the computer as well.
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I notice that both of the machines you linked had NVidia GeForce RTX graphics cards. These are great, but you need to know that they are limited to supporting a Max of 4 displays. This means your control display, and 3 projectors. You can get around this by adding another peice of hardware into the mix to get more displays (A Matrox TripleHead2Go is a common option). AMD graphics cards may offer more display support, but I can't be sure ( I beleive some supported 6 displays ) you will need to check the specs of the included video cards. For sure though the NVidia GeForce RTX graphics cards support 4.
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Thank you for this. Would I be able to use the display connection on the motherboard of the computer. On the Asus computer there are the 4 (1 HDMI an 3 Display port) ports on the graphic cards, and then there is the DVI port on the motherboard itself. Would I be able to use the DVI port for the control monitor and then have the 4 graphic card ports for the projectors?
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@dstrohan said:
the DVI port on the motherboard itself
Is this connected to the Intel onboard GPU? If so it's likely fine (with modern systems). This was not at all possible in the early days of Windows 10, but it still could introduce a performance delay, since video textures need to be transferred. Some testing would be required to see how it feels for your use-case.
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@dusx. Yes, if I'm reading the specs and stuff correctly there is a DVI port on the motherboard, and then there is 1 HDMI and 3 Displayports on the GPU
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I don't have experience using this configuration. So I would say you need to test it. In theory it should work, and @CitizenJoe gives it a thumbs up.
My last laptop, had one side of connections that ran through the NVidia gpu, and on the other side it had thunderbolt (that supported displays) that ran through the Intel GPU. I was able to use them together. There can be some issues with Stages in preview, where the location and focus of the preview stages greatly effect the FPS, but this only occurs with floating preview stages.
