Ideal computer for 3D animation

I figured I'd post this new thread instead of bumping the computer shopping list thread, because it's just a single question.

So I am told that 3D animation requires powerful computers. Fine, that's the accepted norm. However, during an argument with my mom, who's trying to stop me from "playing game", was trying to get my older brothers' input. While one did not respond, the other one said that a good graphics card isn't necessary.

I call BS on that. I know that the final product (a video or an image) is hammered out by sheer computing power. However, I am under the belief that the graphics card helps update the windows and cameras during modeling phases, since no one wants to try and work on something with an effective FPS of .2 or something. (I had to deal with that when I decided to get real fancy with trees and stuff)

Does anyone on SP.net know?

3D modeling and animation works well with a graphics card, but not the traditional kind. You need a workstation graphics card. They can be pricey, though.

EDIT: Also, these workstation cards are total garbage when it comes to gaming, but they rock the house at CAD/Autodesk.

Fiels on the money with that one, but if you were to do less complex things, a 1 gig video card may be able to pass, coupled with 6+ gigs of ram and a current processor.

and here i tried to do modeling with 2gbs of ram, 256mb intel graphics chipset, and a dual core centrino.

But you're saying a graphics card will be needed at the very least, right?

Yay ninjas spilling over from the PvN thread!

I have no idea how good the animation institute's computers were at the time, but I do know that they were going to scrap and replace them for the next summer when I'm not going to be there.

But you're saying a graphics card will be needed at the very least, right?

Yay ninjas spilling over from the PvN thread!

I have no idea how good the animation institute's computers were at the time, but I do know that they were going to scrap and replace them for the next summer when I'm not going to be there.

PCs or Macs?

If they were PCs, its almost a given that they were running around 512 to 1 gig video cards, and around 4-6 gigs of ram.

If they were macs, the specs may have been slightly less in the ram department, more along the lines of 4 gigs. Macs are widely known to run processing programs like 3D modeling and video editing pretty well.

Erm... Windows. PC = personal computer.

For 3D rendered work you should invest in an ATI FireGL or Nvidia Quadro graphics card. And yes, as stated above they are VERY pricey. Some even as high as $3,000 dollars for one video card.

You may find this interesting: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=539

Well, I wasn't going to build a computer with 3D animation in mind, only as a secondary interest. Still, good to know possible options for future computer builds (but not the immediate one).

Thanks for all the responses.