Who's buying systems over $5000?

[gordo3di]

I personally think that dropping more than $2000 on a single system is absolutely insane - even if it is someone else's money too.

There is no chance that the "investment" in a $5000 system going to pay off, versus a fast $2000 workstation with a separate box (or boxes) just for rendering.

 

I greatly disagree. I started out using cheaper systems and you get what you pay for. Sure the system might be just as stable but when you start rendering in higher resolutions (300 dpi on a 24"x36" image) the lack of memory and processor really starts to hurt. Ive found numerous situations where i would have to run scripts to divide an image then put it back together later due to these issues. Also when you finish a render only to find something needed to be changed (i do freelance so i have to send the images out) you sometimes dont have 2 hours to wait for that render to finish. True $5k for a system is a bit much but theres a reason these sell (and we're not talking the gaming community). My $3k system has easily paid for itself in 2 weeks both in the amazing render times as well as the ram.

 

I've also found that since "almost" every program runs better my design and editing options are greatly expanded. This is not true if I had several cheaper computers linked together.

[Michael J. Brown]

I have a 8 core mac pro, and a quadcore Dell XPS. Both awesome machines and worth the bucks.

 

 

Ky Lane, I'm glad to see someone else whose got experience with the Mac Pro. I've been looking at and comparing the Mac Pro 8core system with the 3D Boxx 8400 8core. I've got a 3 1/2 year old 3D Boxx and was pretty much ready to go all-in for the new 8400 system, but the price difference of the Mac appealed to me. Plus lease terms - BOXX wants the 1st & last months payments upfront, while Mac lets you kick off a lease $0-down. This may end up being a moot point anyway though. I didn't lease my existing system, and may end up just purchasing this next one outright too.

 

How long have you been rendering on the Mac? Any negative issues at all? My rep is trying to sell me on the BOXX build quality and service. But honestly, I'd rather save $1,000 and go with the Mac as long as it's going to be a good performer.

[Ky Lane]

Had it about 8 months now, and no real issues. Get the upgraded video card tho. I got the lower spec of them all (assuming that a high end gaming card was overkill for 3dsmax - oops) and its lacking a little. Also look at getting 64bit everything - you have the choice I beleive. Plus you have the added bonus of running in OSx if you want/need to. I deal with alot of graphic design agencies, so its really handy. Also, dont go for the apple cinema screens. Seriously overpriced (although, they ARE nice). First thing I did was get a microsoft keyboard and mouse mind you. Trying to use Max with 1 button gets tedious.

[BrianKitts]

Perhaps I can try running cinebench with and without the SLI enabled. I have heard comments like yours before about SLI...... however I also know that on our dual SLI machines you can spin orbit a full BIM model shaded in openGL without a problem, however on other machines it just makes the video refresh die.

 

Okay, I'm finally getting back to this.... I was under a deadline last week and didn't want to mess around with changing up my monitor settings in case I screwed up my calibrations, I didn't want to rerun them.

 

So..... back to the SLI debate. Running cinebench R10, and SLI disabled it rates the OPENGL preformance @ 4048. then with SLI turned on it comes back rated @ 4587. What these units mean I have no clue, other than it shows that it is making use of the SLI capability.

 

The attached screen shot is the Archicad BIM project that our office is currently working on. They are only a two weeks into assembly of the model, but already with SLI turned off trying to spin the model in 3D it will flip off to bounding boxes and then refresh when you are done turning the model similar to max when adaptive degradation is turned on. However with SLI turned on you can orbit spin, work, move objects anything you want without any degradation.... its great. So I guess the quick answer is yes, I am making use of the SLI technology.... is it worth the extra $2000 for the second card.... I guess it depends on if your budget is big enough it's great to have it. You can do without it, but having it just makes working alot easier.

[tecton3d]

So I guess the quick answer is yes, I am making use of the SLI technology.... is it worth the extra $2000 for the second card.... I guess it depends on if your budget is big enough it's great to have it. You can do without it, but having it just makes working alot easier.

... great to know and when you consider you don't need 2 - $2000 cards to make use of SLI - it looks even more tempting:D

[BrianKitts]

... great to know and when you consider you don't need 2 - $2000 cards to make use of SLI - it looks even more tempting:D

 

okay okay, smart guy..... I meant "dual-SLI" technology

[tecton3d]

no no brian, i wasn't trying to be smart at all.

 

i was just trying to say that since you've had good results with SLI and it sounds like you have a high-end quadro, there is an option to have 2 gaming cards in SLI to reap the rewards instead of 2 - $2000 quadros.

 

i apologize for not being clear.

[Hazdaz]

Running cinebench R10, and SLI disabled it rates the OPENGL preformance @ 4048. then with SLI turned on it comes back rated @ 4587. What these units mean I have no clue, other than it shows that it is making use of the SLI capability.

 

Thanks for getting back to use with these numbers!

From your test, that is a less than 15% improvement between SLI and no SLI. Very much not impressed with that improvement for essentially $4000 worth of videocards. Honestly, even if it was x2 8800GT cards (total investment of less than $500), even then I would be still be underwhelmed.

 

But then again, this is all tests with just Cinebench.

 

If you are a MAX user, have you tried turning on the frames-per-second setting and tried it there??