Category: News

Recommended PC spec 2018

Hi everyone

We have set up a recommended specification for a desktop PC for 2018. The PC will cost an estimate of R 18 000 (based on sources like Takealot) excluding the monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard, and will last you for the 3 years of your studies.

The specification can be found below:

  • Intel Core i5-8400 CPU (1151)
  • MSI Z370 SLI PLUS Intel Motherboard
  • Kingston HyperX Predator 16GB DDR4-3600 – CL17, 1.35V x2
  • MSI GeForce GTX 1060 3GT OC
  • Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB HDD/8GB SSD 3.5″ SATA6G
  • Cooler Master Elite 311 Chassis – Black/Silver (ATX,USB3.0,Win)
  • Cooler Master B Series V2 500W
  • LG 22″ 22MP58VQ IPS Monitor
  • 120mm fan x2
  • standard mouse & keyboard
  • 2.1 speakers

 

CPU:

  • 6 physical cores
  • 6 threads
  • Base frequency: 2.80GHz clock speed
  • Max Turbo frequency: 4.00GHz

Motherboard:

  • SATA slots x4
  • 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory
  • DDR4 4000(O.C.)/3866(O.C.)/3733(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3400(O.C.)/3333(O.C.)
  • DDR4 3300(O.C.)/3200(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133
  • 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE2: x16 mode) (for the graphics card)

Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM
Storage: 1TB HDD/8GB SSD SATA6G Hard drive
Graphics card:

  • Boost / Base Core Clock: 1759 MHz / 1544 MHz
  • Memory Clock Speed: 8008 MHz
  • Memory: 3GB GDDR5

Power supply:

  • 500w
  • Connectors
  • CPU 4+4 Pin x 1
  • PCI-e 6+2 Pin x 2 (for the graphics card)
  • SATA x4 (for hdd)
  • Peripheral 4 Pin x 3

Case:

  • length: 250mm+ (to fit graphics card)
  • 120mm fan placements x2 (1 for front, 1 for rear)
  • Must fit accompanying power supply
  • Must fit accompanying motherboard

Cooling: 120mm fan x2
Display: 22″ full HD monitor
Mouse & keyboard: standard
Audio: 2.1 speakers

Google Tilt Brush Competition

Are you willing to push your art skills to the limit by using them in 3D?

The Multimedia Virtual Reality and Interaction Lab is hosting a competition for all undergraduate Multimedia students to use Google Tilt Brush to create 3D artworks in Virtual Reality.

If you’ve never heard of Tilt Brush, check it out here.

The competition has two categories:

  • General: You can use any brushes and your sculptures can be any size. The winner will be the sculpture that is deemed most impressive and best-looking overall by the department. The winner of this category will receive R50 3D printing credit and their sculpture will be exhibited on the Multimedia blog.
  • 3D-printable: You can only use Tilt Brush’s Cartoon brush and the winner will be the sculpture that is deemed most impressive and best-looking while still being 3D-printable, as determined by the department. The winner of this category will receive a 3D printed version of their sculpture and their sculpture will be exhibited on the Multimedia blog.

Rules:

  • You have a maximum of 50 minutes to create your artwork. This includes the time needed to acquaint yourself with the tools as well as the actual drawing time.
  • Sign up for the competition by booking a slot here. Use your name, surname and student number when making a booking.
  • Each person may only book 1 slot.
  • You may share your slot with 1 other person. In this case, only 1 person makes the booking on the Doodle and neither can make another booking later.
  • The department has the right to use your artwork for future marketing purposes

 

FAQs

How do I enter?

Just book a slot on the link above. Your booking is your competition entry.

Do I decide beforehand which category I am entering?

You don’t need to decide. When your artwork is judged it will be placed into a category.

What is 3D printing credit?

This credit can be used to make 3D prints using the system available to all multimedia students at www.mm.up.ac.za/vri

How can I prepare for the competition ahead of time?

Watch YouTube videos on Tilt Brush and try to learn the layout of the controls.

What makes an artwork 3D printable?

You need to use Tilt Brush’s Cartoon brush as this creates models with strokes that have enough width and depth to be printable. The artwork should also avoid overhangs, as these have to be printed with supports.

Do I have to be good at drawing to do this?

No, although it would probably help you a bit. You just need to be creative. It’s a great experience and definitely worth trying out even if you don’t win.

VRI Lab and Kumba VR center collaboration

Today we had a tour for a group of students of the Kumba VR centre at the University of Pretoria. The students, from the BIS Multimedia Honours module Virtual Environments, had the opportunity to look at the technology and experience it first hand. This includes the Kumba VR centre’s 3D 360-degree Virtual Reality Cylinder, which displays stereoscopic 3D visuals onto a cylindric wall that encloses the users (as seen in the photos).

This year will be the first year where the VRI (Virtual Reality and Interaction) Lab will be collaborating with the Mining VR centre in exploring VR and interaction design, pushing the boundaries of interaction design in shared physical VR spaces. The goal is to expand the possibilities of shared VR space by incorporating different VR-technologies, such as combining the cylinder with real-time individual tracking.

Recommended PC spec 2017

Hi everyone

We have set up a recommended specification for a desktop PC for 2017. The PC will cost an estimate of R 18 000 (based on sources like Takealot) and will last you for the 3 years of your studies.

I recommend you search for the best price from various sources.

The specification can be found below:

  • Intel Core i5-7500 CPU (1151)
  • Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 Motherboard
  • Kingston Value 8GB DDR4-2133 Kit – CL15, 1.2V x2
  • MSI GeForce GTX 1060 3GT OC
  • Seagate Barracuda 3.5″ 1TB SATA6G (64MB)
  • Cooler Master Elite 311 Chassis – Black/Silver (ATX,USB3.0,Win)
  • Cooler Master B Series V2 500W
  • LG 22″ 22MP58VQ IPS Monitor
  • standard mouse & keyboard

CPU:

  • 4 physical cores
  • 4 threads
  • 3.5GHz clock speed
Motherboard:
  • SATA slots x4
  • 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory
  • Support for DDR4 3200(O.C.) /3000(O.C.) /2800(O.C.) /2666(O.C.) /2400(O.C.) /2133 MHz memory modules
  • 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE2: x16 mode) (for the graphics card)

Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM
Storage: 1TB SATA6G Hard drive

Display: 22″ full HD monitor

Mouse & keyboard: standard

Graphics card:
  • Boost / Base Core Clock: 1759 MHz / 1544 MHz
  • Memory Clock Speed: 8008 MHz
  • Memory: 3GB GDDR5
Power supply:
  • 500w
  • Connectors
  • CPU 4+4 Pin x 1
  • PCI-e 6+2 Pin x 2 (for the graphics card)
  • SATA x4 (for hdd)
  • Peripheral 4 Pin x 3
Case:
  • length: 250mm+ (to fit graphics card)
  • 120mm fan placements x2 (1 for front, 1 for rear)
  • Must fit accompanying power supply
  • Must fit accompanying motherboard

Your lecturers in 3D – VRI Lab – 3D Scanner

As you know, we acquired a 3D scanner. Today, we had some time to play around with it, so we naturally decided to scan all of the Multimedia lecturers’ faces. Below you can view each of us in glorious 3D! Do you recognise your lecturers?

Update: Yes we printed them and added them to a little stand, just for kicks!

faces