Semi-interesting benchmark results when I upgraded my videocard...

[Hazdaz]

Today I finally got my 6800GS card. Before I popped it in, I ran some benchmarks on my old card - a Pro-level Quadro FX1000 card running MAXtreme 8. When I re-ran the benchmarks with the new card, I used D3D 9.0.

 

Loaded up 3 scenes I had handy:

Scene 1 and 2 opened it up, and just orbitted around the main object in the scene. In scene 3, I orbitted around the main object, but I also previewed the animation in the viewport.

 

Scene 1 with old card I was getting ~32 FPS

Scene 1 with new card I am getting ~9 FPS

 

Scene 2 with old card ~1.7 FPS

Scene 2 with new card ~7 FPS

 

Scene 3 with old card ~2.2 Orbit/~5 Animation

Scene 3 with new card ~4 Orbit/ ~5.5 Animation

 

 

I do plan on hacking the card and getting MAXtreme running on it and see if there are any more speed improvements.

 

I was shocked at the speed decrease on the first test - to the point where I re-ran the test. It migth have to do with the fact that it was a MAX file original made in MAX5, but not really sure. I do plan on tweeeking things here and there.

[AJLynn]

Guys (this goes for everybody)-

 

Please stop discussing video card hacking here. Software piracy discussion results in deleted posts and sometimes bans. Using software to get Maxtreme to run on a card that isn't a Quadro is hardware piracy. Not as obvious or often enforced, but it's the same thing.

 

Anyway. Why wouldn't you expect a frame rate drop under some circumstances? A 6800 and an FX1000 are from the same generation of cards, and the FX1000 is a workstation card running a custom driver, while the 6800 is a gamer card running a gamer 3D interface. Maxtreme is for crunching polygons. DirectX is for low-poly scenes with high-detail baked texmaps. Of course there are going to be some scenes that the FX1000 will handle better than the 6800.

[Paulcalif]

I completely disagree with the statement: "DirectX is for low-poly scenes with high-detail baked texmaps. Of course there are going to be some scenes that the FX1000 will handle better than the 6800."

 

Direct X is designed for a wide variety of applications, especially games. Games are, and have been the driving force, for all the modern 3d graphics cards in use today. Games are the mainstream, cutting edge, consumer technology that makes everything else possible. Otherwise, we'd still be using SGI machines that cost twenty times more, and have one twentieth of the performance for our 3d apps.

 

The primary difference between Maxtreme and Direct X is accelerated support for wireframe, and whatever other 3d studio specific support built into the Drivers. All Nvidia chips have this performance built in, but it's only enabled on Quadro cards using Maxtreme drivers. The reason for this, is that gamers--remember they are the driving force which makes all of this technology possible--do not need or care for wireframe support. Nvidia knows this, and charges extra for it in the form of Quadro cards with some additional driver support.

[Hazdaz]

Yea I couldn't disagree more with your comment on D3D. D3D might have it's roots in the gaming world, but not only is that not a bad thing, it is actually the driving force for the entire industry. I feal WAY too many people see "gaming" as a stigma of inferior performance or an inferior product. That is simply not the case, but that is also the reason that viedocard companies can charge 10x more for essentially the same product, simply by stamping "professional" on it. (I realize that theree is more to QUADRO cards than just a stamp, but with each passing generation, seems that there is way less of a difference)

 

Also I couldn't disagree more with your other comment concerning Maxtrreme running on my GeForce. I called it "hacking" above, and once again, that word has bad evil connotations to too many people out there. In the good old days it was simply a term for messing around with your PC.

I paid for the card legally. Whatever I decide to do with it, is up to me. I actually take offsense to it being called "hardware piracy". If that is the case, then my card would be considered "piracy" even before I got it... the GS line of cards (from the manufacturer) is already overclocked beyond Nvidia's 'usual' specs. If installing MAXtreme drivers to open up all teh full features that came with the card is considered hacking, then so should overclocking you videocard (like mine), or overclocking a CPU.

 

I give a huge thumbsdown to comparing those technques to "priracy"

[quizzy]

just a little side note:

 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/sysutility.html

 

nvidia obviously supports "hacking/overclocking"

 

I dont think there is hardware piracy involved if you should tweak your GF6800 card to run maxtreme. This is so much different as to software hacking / piracy. You allready paid for the hardware, and if you decide to tamper with it the warranty is void. So its at your own risk. I never overclock any of my CPU's or GPU's (not even with this nvidia tool) cause my experience tells me everything will get very unstable and you always run into cooling problems. (Remember the liquid coold overclocked amd's from a few years back??)

 

Why do you think that hardware sellers dont complain to webpages that encourage people to hack their hardware?? ITS GOOD FOR BUSINESS!!!!

[Christopher Nichols]

just a little side note:

 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/sysutility.html

 

nvidia obviously supports "hacking/overclocking"

 

I dont think there is hardware piracy involved if you should tweak your GF6800 card to run maxtreme. This is so much different as to software hacking / piracy. You allready paid for the hardware, and if you decide to tamper with it the warranty is void. So its at your own risk. I never overclock any of my CPU's or GPU's (not even with this nvidia tool) cause my experience tells me everything will get very unstable and you always run into cooling problems. (Remember the liquid coold overclocked amd's from a few years back??)

 

Why do you think that hardware sellers dont complain to webpages that encourage people to hack their hardware?? ITS GOOD FOR BUSINESS!!!!

 

I agree with Quizzy on this... Hardware is purchased and software is leased. Using third party software to alter the hardware is not illegal... Plus Nvidia does allow it to happen... Does not support it, but allows it to happen. If you break it, that is at your own risk.

[AJLynn]

Sounds like I've been voted down on this. Hack away. But, some advice - the softquadro'ed cards don't perform as well as the real Quadros, so you can actually get better price/performance in many cases by finding a Quadro or FireGL on Ebay.

[Hazdaz]

I already had a QUADRO (al be it an older one) and it's performance at the time was impressive (and bought used, so it was a good deal), but what used QUADRO are you gonna buy on eBay for $200?

 

I plan on doing some tweeking this weekend and see what I can come up with.

 

 

BUT back on topic a little bit - has anyone else seen a distrubing speed decrease when opening up older files (specifically talking about 3DS MAX)?? (like on my first test)

 

I actually wish I had tested out more files now, but too late for that. I have opened up a few other files and I do notice a surprising speed increase - files that were soo heavy before that I could barely even work with, now move along at 7-10 FPS (which doesn't sound fast, but is way faster than before).