[def4d]

What about OpenOffice? (!!!)

[kami]

xp64 would be the choice for the future... even though I (still) can exist with only xp32, but it had cost me some nerves!

[frosty_ramen]

i have open office at home, but not at work. my boss is kinda stuck in his ways. and also i thought i herd that windows was going to stop supporting xp 64?

[def4d]

exact, hurry up, you can still purchase it in OEM (with your new computer), and wait for their next OS (Windows Seven)
I think you have all the keys, just fight with your boss now

[frosty_ramen]

thanks

[frosty_ramen]

oh also auto cad 2007

[def4d]

WinXP64 will install all your 32 Bits softwares in c:\Program files (x86)\, and they will work without problem (XP64 emulates the 32 bits)
All the 64 Bits softs will be installed in c:\Program Files\
Except for a few sharewares, i personnally had no pb

Choose a good motherboard that will allow you to easy and safely overclock your quad (like the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R (rev. 2.1) ), and good Ram with low latency, like G-Skill for example.
An Antec Sonata III is also a good choice, it contains a 500W Enermax alim
I let you choose the 3,5'' drive

[Bubbaloo]

Acad will run in 64 bits, it's just not officially supported. I run ACA2008 in Vista64. BTW, go with Vista.

[frosty_ramen]

Def4d - thanks for the info, i will advise my boss of all the recomendations
also i was thinking more along the lines of this drive.


Bubbaloo - i dont think my boss will go for a 64bit for that reason that it is "unsupported"

[def4d]

nice choice

[frosty_ramen]

Well my boss says he wants a couple additional options by lunch, then he is going to a local computer store. so if anyone could be so kind as to give me some requirements for a good render machine, that will not be much more than $ 1,000.

thanks
dan

[Bubbaloo]

Well, what did you get?

[frosty_ramen]

well i talked him out of it, for right now my current computer works ok. though it boughs down a little when i render and work in autocad at the same time. spending extra right now with the local economy taking a hard hit, just didnt seem like a good idea to me.

but i appreciate the suggestions