Posted by
jiho on
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/Hardware-recommendations-tp3693269p3693271.html
Thanks very much for your answer.
On 2009-March-17 , at 14:05 , Gabriel Lapointe wrote:
> Personnaly I would build my own Desktop. [...]
I looked into that but since it is a university purchase we are kind
of forced into some of the big brands... The computer shop that was
doing custom things and was contracted by the university now send
ready-made Lenovo configurations :( Hence my choice for Lenovo BTW.
Otherwise we basically have the choice between Dell and Apple.
In addition, an issue I have with building it from scratch would be
compatibility of parts and support by Linux. I did that a few years
back and Linux support took 6 month to come, with the next kernel. We
don't have that kind of time. But a few years might be centuries in
Linux time and maybe the days of kernel recompiling are long gone now!
>> - fast harddrive (SAS?) [...]
> Go for multiple fast (usually small) Sata II and put them in RAID0.
> [...] not be used
> for long term storage, go for Raptors (Western Digital) they are the
> fastest around but they have a small capacity.
I was thinking about 2 SAS 15000 rpm in RAID 0 and a big external
storage. These seem faster than the Raptor (10000 rpm) or is there an
inherent difference between SAS and SATA that I am overlooking?
>> [...]
> Go for a processor with big caches (that's the on processor memory).
> Big GHz and gazillion core is often overrated. Remember, ImageJ will
> more often work in a serial pattern so multiple core will not help you
> there. [...]
OK, I felt this way about the multi processor/multi core thing and
ImageJ. I currently chose a Core 2 Duo with 6MB L2 Cache. I might
spend more and get a Quad with 8MB (12 is out of my reach).
>> - decent amount of RAM (4GB) [...]
> Get as much RAM as you can get and as fast as possible. [...]
OK, good to know thanks. I am on PC3-8500 1067MHZ and will go all the
way up to 8GB
>> - firewire port for fast connection to external storage where the
>> images reside
> Get eSata (external Sata) too.
Thanks, I overlooked that indeed.
>> - Mac OS X or Linux
> Custom build mean Linux, it's also free, takes less resources and is
> more secure than Mac-OSX. Peace of mind and better performance come
> sometimes at the price of more configuration. But free also means more
> money for better hardware.
I am OK with Linux ;)
I was kind of surprised however by how relatively "cheap" the Macs are
for what you get inside. I built some configurations identical to a
Mac Pro with Dell and Lenovo and both are more expensive than the Mac
Pro (>$4500 vs $4000 for the Mac!), while still making compromises on
some components (slower RAM, less ports, not as good monitors, etc.).
>> The part I really don't know what to think about is the graphics
>> card:
>> how important is it for ImageJ? Once I get something with dedicated
>> RAM would it matter to go for the lastest screamer from nVidia or
>> not?
>> I got an idea in the corner of my head that graphics cards really
>> only
>> make a difference in 3D stuff but I feel this is now wrong.
> With the new plugins that use Java3D a better graphic card *might* be
> worth the investment. I haven't played with those yet, so I can't
> comment. However, remember that displaying your images and zooming it
> requires RAM, you either put it directly on a dedicated card or you
> reduce the amount available for the system. Therefore if RAM becomes
> limited a dedicated graphic card *could* be a good investment.
OK I think I will pass on it this time then, and get a decent one with
256 or first price 512 Video RAM and max out the actual RAM.
>> I am currently looking at Mac Pros (but a bit over my budget), top of
>> the line iMacs, and Lenovo Workstations (S10 or D10).
> Personally I don't like the "I know what you want to do with your
> computer" philosophy of Macs. Therefore if I was forced to chose
> between
> those I have a very clear bias toward the Lenovo.
Thank you again for your precise answers. I will wait a bit for more
comments and probably go with a customization of a Lenovo then.
Jean-Olivier Irisson
---
Division of Applied Marine Physics
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149-1098
+1 786 342 3410
http://jo.irisson.free.fr/work/