Transcript Settings and Preferences

To access this presentation, go to:
http://www.DigiQuestPC.com
Click on the link for TRAINING
Digital Workstation Considerations
Joe Sukenick
DigiQuest
www.DigiQuestPC.com
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 BLOAT
This results in…
CODE BLOAT
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.
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
1994
1996
2000
2002
2007
Windows NT 3.1
Windows NT 3.5
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
6 million
10 million
16 million
29 million
40 million
~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!
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
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 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!
Additional Info.
* Choose the CPU first & build system around it
* OS – Windows XP Pro (NO Vista… not yet)
* Case - Full size tower – Heat 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.
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.com
Most items ship from NJ. Items I order on
Monday arrive on Tuesday with standard 3 day
UPS shipping.
To access this presentation, go to:
http://www.DigiQuestPC.com
Click on the link for TRAINING
Digital Workstation Considerations
Joe Sukenick
DigiQuest
www.DigiQuestPC.com