Multiprocessing and 3D Modelling...

Lightingguy

Member
Nov 5, 2000
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Anybody know about multiprocessor systems re 3D modelling? A friend is doing extensive 3D animations (3DStudioMax) and needs more horsepower to shorten render times (which can take DAYS!).

I mean SERIOUS multi...like rack-mountable, using 4-8 CPUs...

Any suggestions appreciated!
 

rbV5

Lifer
Dec 10, 2000
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3dsMax is SMP aware and supprts network rendering, I have heard of some pretty cool setups with networked dual celeron abit BP6(cheaper) and dual Pentium3 MSI 6994 setups(more stable, faster)Your slave(s) can be built fairly inexpensive(cheapo monitors<only necessary for maitenance and trouble shooting, and cheapo video cards)a dual wont be as twice as fast due to overhead, but a HUGE difference.The more slaves you have networked the faster you render, its all cpu power for rendering.

Try this site Linked

I was going to build a dually awhile back until I went with my Duron system instead (love it!)so things have probably changed in the last couple of months (vp6?)I'm sure you will find some info there.
 

DesignDawg

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I don't have much experience with #DSMax, as I am primarily a Maya user, but much to my surprise, I found that rendering with multiple processors in Maya CAN, in fact almost double your render speed. For the most part, the most you can ever hope to see out of a second processor is about a 30% gain, but when it came to rendering in Maya, using dual CPUs shortened render times by close to one half.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 

DesignDawg

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Also, if this guy is SERIOUS about getting some mean rednering hardware, like you said, maybe you can point him to BOXX Technologies? They have some pretty nice stuff.

Ricky
DesignDawg