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The best computer for image processing is "the one that works for you!" Each person has his/her own preference and experience and you can get working solutions from more than one platform and operating system. My preference is to stick with a PC (full server configuration) since it is easy upgradeable and that is what I know the best.
I agree with Greg. If one is able to "custom build" a system it is cheaper than the "on the shelf" systems out there. Your time and experience might determine if you need help or go the DIY route. It took me a week of struggling to get "my costume build" system going. (IT Degree: -QBI - Qualified by experience or the gaining of experience due to a lack of it!) It was fun but a week of productivity wasted. I also included a raid card to safeguard the system and information. Purchased the best 64 bit processors I could afford. Linked two top end image processing cards. Ram prices changed a lot here the last three months and the cost of large server ram modules are not cheap. The new duel core processors from Intel are a nice improvement and I hope to upgrade our existing duel processor server soon. We live in PC world. Fortunately Image J is available for PC systems. An yes you still can build a good PC system for approximately 8-9 K U$. I can send a detailed system spec's (my preferred system if I can start from scratch! ;) I do not want to clog the dialog with System specs, these preferences are always debatable, depending what operating system your personal preference is.
Stephan H Coetzee
Electron Microscope Unit
University of Botswana
+267 7144 2218
________________________________
From: Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Dasso, Greg (staff)
Sent: Thu 10/19/2006 7:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Which computer for image processing ?
Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Im running a Win 64 bit for image analysis and large high resolution volume rendering. It affords me up to 16 Gigs of RAM (which is SO many more addresses that I could get with 32-bit addressing and a single processor).
It works fabuloulsy and we couldnt be more impressed. Cost for me to order the parts and build it was around $8,200 a similar system from Sun was $10-12K.
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Christophe Leterrier
Sent: Thu 10/19/2006 8:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Which computer for image processing ?
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Hi all,
I would like to get answers to the following question : what would be
the best choice for a post-aquisition, image processing computer ? It
will run ImageJ and possibly other image processing and visualization
software (depending on the OS). I want to be able to cope with big
volumes of data, image enhancement, deconvolution, 3-4-5D vizalisation.
I'm wondering which processor, archirtecture, OS to choose (let's say I
have to keep it under 5000?, possibly less, so no fancy workstations here):
- what about 64 bits architectures ? Are the OSes ready yet (XP, Vista,
OS X, Linux ?) Can I expect a real difference in speed ? Are the
applications already optimized (I've heard about Volocity 64, I've heard
about the problems for ImageJ) ?
- PC or Mac ? Are the new Mac Pro an option ? What are the options for
high-end PCs ?
- To what features and specs should I particularily pay attention,
keeping in mind the image processing use (RAM, writing speed of hard
disks, others ?)
- Graphic cards specs ? I'm not a gamer and I know nothing about graphic
performance, how much to put in a dedicated graphic card, is a high-end
gaming graphic card good for 3D vizualisation of scientific data, etc...
This is not a software-related question, even if some software are
available on certain plateform and not on others. But with Mac with
Intel processors now, I think it less a problem now.
--
Christophe Leterrier
Postdoc
INSERM UMR641 Neurobiology of ionic channels
IFR Jean Roche - Mediterranee University
Marseille, France
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