Woops, edited!

This post has been edited by Hoong.ster: Jun 17 2011, 09:19 AM

My personal take on some important features to have for an archi-PC:

1. By far the most important factor to me - the larger the screen real estate, the better.

Go for minimum 1920 x 1080 displays. If u have the cash, shell it out on beyond HD (2560 pixels and above). It's worth it in almost everything u do in archi course, such as AutoCAD, illustrator and photoshop. Better previews, and most importantly less time spent on scrolling. Research indicates that a HD screen vs a conventional 1366 screen passively saves up to 20% downtime frmo scrollign back n forth in view intensive applications.
[source: http://www.productivity501.com/productivit...l-monitors/721/]

Having a larger display goes beyond the time saved. comfort and psychologically mroe able to delve 'in context' of your project during long hours are intangible benefits.

This is the single most important feature i would invest my money in.

2. RAM - more important than CPU.

U need huge amounts of RAM when ur running CAD, AI, PSD 3DS Max, Chrome/Firefox and a few jpgs at the same time. 16GB is my stipulated minimum especialyl when working with the abovementioned large display. When things choke due to insufficient RAM, so does your mind and train of thought.

Also needless to say it's invaluable when p-shopping your money shot perspective consisting of umpteen layers at 10k resolution and above. Or the million vertices caused by possible lack of 3d-modelling skills.

This is the second most important feature i would invest my money in.

3. CPU power

Decent one should be enough. i wouldnt mind going midrange i5 actually, but having i7 is definitely good. Why is CPU less important than ram? because apart frmo those moments when u actually use a rendering engine, CAD / AI programs are actually not CPU intensive.

I used to be a renderhead until i realised that photoshopping perspectives and drawings produces superior and faster results compared to rendering. Drop the emphasis on CPU power and dump ur cash on RAM.

Architecture demands more ram than most top games.

4. Fast internet is essential

For referencing, and youtubing during your long hours. provides invaluable psychological benefits.

5. Midrange graphics mroe than suffice

No tangible benefits from top end graphics card as archi does not demand real time rendering (as opposed to games). a midrange graphics is more than enough to drive the real time scrolling/previewing in MAx/ sketchup

I find that this is the most common misconception among new archi students buying a pc. more graphics card power = better/faster renderings is a wrong assumption (unless you use iray or other GPU-accelerated renderer, which is rare anyways). CPU is the sole determinant of ur rendering speed. your skill, the quality.

that said, renderings are a small part of architecture anyways. so cross this off ur list.

and that's it folks!

This post has been edited by Hoong.ster: Jul 15 2012, 03:12 PM

I am graduating with degree from Taylor's this month. Indeed there are some aspects of the school that leaves much to be desired. I can provide some first-hand experience as a Taylor's archi student should anyone be interested in enrolling...

___

On another note, I wish to further my part 2 studies overseas (preoccupied with UK at the moment). Just for the sake of thinking out loud... are there any 'things to note' in terms of application and preparation, and also what do the usually assess when sifting through applicants? I was actually thinking of strengthening my portfolio by joining a competition or two when I'm out of uni.. is that advised?

Thanks!

Dear Azarimy,

Good day. I've been reading what you posted above and here regarding the JPA Master's scholarship. Truth be told I was never aware of this and have always thought that JPA s'ships was an undergraduate-only award.
Could you shed light on the nature of this scholarship (award quantum, criteria, conditions. points to ponder etc) and also the due procedures for applying? Will there be an application period or is it awarded by basis of enquiry?
A quick google search on JPA scholarships most often lead to discussions on the undergraduate component only.

FYI, I completed my Bsc. degree in Taylor's University (grateful for the results) late last year just in time when they got Part I accreditation by LAM and have subsequently taken a gap year to be employed in the industry. I am now thinking of pursuing my Part 2 education overseas of which costs are the most critical obstacle. A typical 2-year stint in the UK or Aussie will run about RM250-300k :\

FYI also, I have been following your posts since way back in '09 of which it helped me a great deal along the way.
Thank you.

This post has been edited by Hoong.ster: Sep 19 2013, 12:41 PM

Dear all,

I will appreciate your views to help me form a decision on my pathway after part 1.

I've finished my Part 1 from Taylor's university and has worked for 1.5 years locally. I'm now planning to pursue my further qualifications (Part 2 or equivalent).

I applied to the "usual few" foreign universities such as RMIT, Sheffield/Strathclyde/Oxford Brookes etc and also Bartlett, but also threw in an application to the Staedelschule in Frankfurt Germany (website here), a place I've always *thought* of studying in but never knew why and also put off by a possibly very strong language barrier. Surprisingly after a round of interviews, I was offered a place - now the desire to accept the offer seems quite enticing but it all came as quite sudden and unexpected and I'm facing the some dilemma about taking this leap of faith. What attracted me to it is the fact that the course is taught entirely in English, a very international mix of staff/students, and claims to be very abreast with contemporary happenings in architecture having a respectable list of people running the school such as Ben van Berkel (head) Daniel Birnbaum, William de Rooij etc, and also visiting professors such as Peter Cook, Patrik Schumacher etc just to name a few - in many ways I think it is trying to emerge as an AA contender outside of UK.

A few questions I would like to pose are as follows:

1. I come from an SPM science background with very little training in the arts let alone the avant-garde Art scene. The Staedelschule is a radical focal point of contemporary art discourse in Europe. What are your opinions on the relevance of such knowledge back in Malaysia - employability, design, thinking or otherwise. As I said I never really 'knew why' I wanted to study in Germany - perhaps a just longstanding impression that the German way of doing things are associated with quality be it the cars they produce or their strong economic position in the face of the global crisis or even the wars they've been in (not that it is a good thing). Perhaps relying on this ungrounded 'feeling' alone may be causing bias to my decisions?

2. What will LAM see my degree in the Staedelschule as? The qualification is titled Master of Arts in Architecture but is surely not LAM part 2 accredited - and although the school states that graduates will be equipped with the necessary skills for employment in most leading firms, I am afraid that reason alone won't be enough to skip the textbook formalities of sitting for a LAM part 2. Will it still be possible to work myself towards a LAM part 2 upon return and what are the major obstacles in doing so with a niche (German) degree?

3. General opinions of what you think Staedelschule compare against those in the UK such as the Bartlett, AA, or others such (I am considering Greenwich University for its recent influx of tutors from the Bartlett), and also a quick comparison against Australian schools?


p/s: Cost is a very heavy factor in consideration. Summarizing just some annual tuition fees as a comparison:

UK - Bartlett - 19,000 pounds (RM103,000)
UK - Greenwich - 10,350 pounds (RM56,000)
AUS - RMIT - 28,800 AU$ (RM84,480)
GER - Staedelschule - 7000 euros (RM38,000)
SG - Singapore Uni - 24,000 SG$ (RM62,000)
MSIA - UTM - RM6000 (RM1000 if MyBrain scholarship)

Thank you!

This post has been edited by Hoong.ster: Apr 8 2014, 01:05 PM