Recommended specs for animating?

[Cordyceps]

I'm looking to get back into flash animation, (yes, I have had some experience), and I was also thinking about getting a new laptop. What would you recommend for computer specifications for smoothest animation? (if I'm correct, processing the .fla into a .swf at the end requires a fast processor).

Suggestions?

[kid-dude]

Having a decent amount of RAM is a good idea as during editing things can get a little choppy unless you have the memory to handle it.

In that vein I really suggest you don't go with vista unless you really, really want to. Its such a RAM hog and it kicks lappys in the soft underbelly.

[Cordyceps]

At 7/10/08 12:25 AM, kid-dude wrote:

I really suggest you don't go with vista unless you really, really want to.

You almost offend me with your suggestion of me wanting Vista.

[kid-dude]

At 7/10/08 12:28 AM, Digital-Terror wrote: You almost offend me with your suggestion of me wanting Vista.

Good man. :D

[Unknown999]

Flash CS3 system requirements:
Windows®
%u2022 Intel® Pentium® 4, Intel Centrino®, Intel Xeon®, or Intel Core%u2122 Duo (or compatible) processor
%u2022 Microsoft® Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista%u2122 Home Premium,
Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (certified
for 32-bit editions)
%u2022 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
%u2022 2.5GB of available hard-disk space (additional free space required during installation)
%u2022 1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card

As you can see, Flash isn't really that demanding when it comes to processing power. I'm sure any new machine will be able to run it just fine. I recommend getting plenty of RAM though.

[szafranko]

umm along with ma good buddy above me.... i suggest...

.. well not getting a laptop... :) laptops have the tendency to lag often and in tiny bursts... which creates crap for your animation ... soo i suggest not getting a laptop unless you need one for surez... cuz you have to travel or somthing..... yeah if you need laptop then i got no real advice

[Insanimation]

Do NOT buy a laptop. Simple as that. Think about it: 2 USB ports. And what do you need for animation that involves a USB:

-Internet connection (for NG, etc.)
-Tablet (or mouse, if your broke)
-Microphone(it would help)
-And plenty more, I'm sure

You can say 'You can get a USB thingy that makes four USB slots' but then, by adding more and more things, you're pretty much making it non-portable, which takes the whole point out of it....

And get an XP, I would recommend as well...

[Rustygames]

At 7/10/08 04:50 AM, fish1892 wrote: Do NOT buy a laptop. Simple as that. Think about it: 2 USB ports. And what do you need for animation that involves a USB:

-Internet connection (for NG, etc.)
-Tablet (or mouse, if your broke)
-Microphone(it would help)
-And plenty more, I'm sure

The only valid point you mentioed was tablet and mouse. The net can go into ethernet (or wireless) and a Mic is only needed occasionaly, at which point you won't need the tablet.

I agree with you about not getting a laptop, but for different reasons.

A rule of thumb is:

A laptop costs twice as much as a desktop, and is half the spec.

[Insanimation]

At 7/10/08 04:56 AM, Rustygames wrote:

The only valid point you mentioed was tablet and mouse. The net can go into ethernet (or wireless) and a Mic is only needed occasionaly, at which point you won't need the tablet.

I agree with you about not getting a laptop, but for different reasons.

A rule of thumb is:

A laptop costs twice as much as a desktop, and is half the spec.

I s'pose you're right, but I prefer not having to plug and unplug stuff at the back of the computer every time I need something different...

And I completely agree with you about your rule of thumb...only ever buy a laptop if you have to move about the place, etc.. If you're gonna go leaving on a desk, buy a desktop.

Ironically, (kinda) I'm on a laptop right now, but only because my desktop has a virus, and I have no intention of making animations with this...

[stickmanslicerguy]

i have cs3 and im way under the recommended requirements

256 mb ram
pentium 3

[AIDSMcGuff]

If you have too little memory / RAM / system specs, and you have a wacom, it won't work that well. Sometimes if I draw too fast, it won't process (or what ever the hell it does) and you will get cut off and it will freeze for a few seconds before you are done (it gets really annoying after it keeps happening).

[Jimp]

I had a 2.6ghz dual core PC and I just dont use it at all now I have my laptop.

Its 2.4ghz dual core, 3gb ram, runs flash flawlessly even with firefox, itunes, msn, photoshop and others running in the background.

USB ports arent a problem, I have 4 of them.

I just like the practicality of being able to move my computer around wherever I want to, I always felt tied down on my desktop. Also I built my desktop and it didnt come to nearly half the price of the laptop, it was probably around 500 pounds as a pose to the 600 i paid for the laptop (although i got a good deal)

[Cordyceps]

At 7/10/08 04:50 AM, fish1892 wrote: Do NOT buy a laptop. Simple as that. Think about it: 2 USB ports.

2 USB ports? Ha! I feel underestimated here. I haven't seen a laptop with less than 3 for quite a while, and even then, I'd use a PCMCIA slot to extend it to six.

[raz183]

At 7/10/08 07:35 AM, stickmanslicerguy wrote: i have cs3 and im way under the recommended requirements

256 mb ram
pentium 3

Woo, I'm the same (Exept from i've got an early pentium 4) :P

[zrb]

i have cs3 and im way under the recommended requirements
256 mb ram
pentium 3

I've got an intel core 2 with 2 gb of ram :P