if you're using the smooth preview then you have to use mental ray because it's render-time subdivision
if you do mesh > smooth then that's a permanent smooth (even more permanent if you delete history after doing it)
but you can use software rendering for that.
that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"
Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D