PC for rendering only

[A.Mitov]

I'm thinking of buying some PCs for network rendering. The quesiton is do I need more than 4 gigabytes of RAM? They're gonna be used only as a render farm.

[SandmanNinja]

to use more than 4 gigs of ram would require a 64-bit OS.

 

I think RAM is pretty affordable now-a-days, and having 8 gigs can make rendering easier and perhaps quicker (big scenes).

[Tay othman]

I'm Using a RenderBoxx it has a 16 gigz of ram for each node......In many Heavy Scenes I've Used about 12 GB of Ram at Rendering time (Especially in cityscapes).

 

So I Recommend 16 GB of Ram coz 8 some time not enough

[AJLynn]

That's crazy! Unless your work is really detailed, if you're overrunning 8GB you've got a problem.

[SandmanNinja]

The only time I've 'run out' of the 8-gigs of RAM is when I had a lighting problem and Max got confused. User error.

[Lhanh29]

i think 8Gb it could be Ok. i have been work with big project with a lot of trees proxies with too much detail.Some time it is "run out". I have never used 12, 16gb .. but i agree Toxic.box.

[Tay othman]

Once you have a Dynamics (Particles and Fluids) Smoke Dust ....etc....16 GB is ok...

 

But For Archviz...I Think 8 is Fine.

[FlyinHawaiian]

I'm Using a RenderBoxx it has a 16 gigz of ram for each node......In many Heavy Scenes I've Used about 12 GB of Ram at Rendering time (Especially in cityscapes).

 

So I Recommend 16 GB of Ram coz 8 some time not enough

 

I've very rarely topped out my box (8gbs) though, with particles, and a lot of trees, I could see this happening. I'm really curious though, to see what sort of scenes you've worked on that have topped 12gbs. Are you able to post any images/frame grabs?

[Tay othman]

Hello Joel...

 

My Scene is a Room with 12 characters (Children) With Cloth and hair (I Work in an Animation company - and our project is a Film not an Archviz ) and there is no Render proxies coz we work on maya 2008 / Mentalray.

 

I Hope if I Can Grab Some images to Post them here....

[FlyinHawaiian]

12 characters (Children) With Cloth and hair

 

Makes sense. I guess that would put it over the edge. And all in the same pass? I have no idea how they are interacting or what's involved, but at least in archvis, I find that if I need to use more than 4gb, the frames generally take forever and it's worth it to break stuff out into seperate passes. (This way, if just a part of it needs changing, you can render just that pass.) I'd especially assume that this would be true when calcing hair. Seems like a pretty finicky thing, and short of pro films, most of the 3d hair I've seen has been less than perfect (meaning it could have benefited from a little more tweaking by the artist and therefore, another pass). Can't imagine 12 people with cloth and hair all in the same scene! If it looks good, I'll have to give you some serious props.

 

(Now I'm extra curious to see what you're working on.)