How do you know if you need another video card?

# 1 22-09-2007 , 10:25 AM

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Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: Connecticut

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How do you know if you need another video card?

Hi,

I was wondering, how do you if you need another video card or not?
Not sure if this is a video card issue...but I think it is.

I know rendering depends on the speed of the processor, then the amount of RAM.
Quality of the output visual of the render requires a very very good video card. Am I right?

I have a $200 ATI FireGL V3300, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 Gigs of RAM, Intel Motherboard DG965SS.

When the render came out with 90% skin shaders on dense geometries. It didn't read all the updated high number values of the translucencies and the visual is not as saturated as the Nvidia Quadro 4600 that the school is using.

Yes, I have updated the driver, but it only made it wide screen, so no help from that.

Does that mean I need a new video card? I have read from the Autodesk discussions, that ATI cards are known to have problems when rendering with Mental Ray and Nvidia Geoforce is only for games.

If I am to purchase a Nvidia Quadro, which one do you recommend that will output in fantastic quality with a Core 2 Duo processor?
I am still on a student budget. The most I can afford is maybe $500.

For the SLi cards, do I have to get 2 of the same video cards instead of 1?

What do you think of the Nvidia Quadro 1400, a mid-range version?

I am not a gamer, but I am doing Shading and Lighting and getting the quality of the render is really important to me. So if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know.
Thanks.

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# 2 22-09-2007 , 11:05 AM

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Join Date: Feb 2006

Location: Australia

Posts: 2,752

graphics cards?? im in the same boat.., but this

'Yes, I have updated the driver, but it only made it wide screen, so no help from that.'

maybe you should check your screen resolution, doesnt make sense to me?? no matter user added image

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 3 22-09-2007 , 12:09 PM

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tvholicjames > 'I know rendering depends on the speed of the processor, then the amount of RAM. Quality of the output visual of the render requires a very very good video card. Am I right?'

Are you rendering in software or hardware? If its software, it shouldn't matter what graphics card you use, as long as you make your scene look pretty.

tvholicjames > 'I have a $200 ATI FireGL V3300, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 Gigs of RAM, Intel Motherboard DG965SS.

When the render came out with 90% skin shaders on dense geometries. It didn't read all the updated high number values of the translucencies and the visual is not as saturated as the Nvidia Quadro 4600 that the school is using.

Does that mean I need a new video card? I have read from the Autodesk discussions, that ATI cards are known to have problems when rendering with Mental Ray and Nvidia Geoforce is only for games.'

I haven't checked the V3300's specs but I assume its probably just a standard Radeon with a FireGL sticker on it due to its price. Video card companies have been known to use standard chips, stick them on a card with workstation grade components and then call it high end (even though it isn't)

As for ATI cards having problems with Mental Ray, are they talking about the Radeons or the FireGLs? FireGLs are qualified by Autodesk for use with Maya so they should work without any problems.

tvholicjames > For the SLi cards, do I have to get 2 of the same video cards instead of 1?

For SLI, you must use two exactly identical cards.

C. P. U. Its not a big processor... Its a series of pipes!

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# 4 22-09-2007 , 12:10 PM

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Join Date: Aug 2006

Location: /dev/null

Posts: 891

tvholicjames > 'I know rendering depends on the speed of the processor, then the amount of RAM. Quality of the output visual of the render requires a very very good video card. Am I right?'

Are you rendering in software or hardware? If its software, it shouldn't matter what graphics card you use, as long as you make your scene look pretty.

tvholicjames > 'I have a $200 ATI FireGL V3300, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 Gigs of RAM, Intel Motherboard DG965SS.

When the render came out with 90% skin shaders on dense geometries. It didn't read all the updated high number values of the translucencies and the visual is not as saturated as the Nvidia Quadro 4600 that the school is using.

Does that mean I need a new video card? I have read from the Autodesk discussions, that ATI cards are known to have problems when rendering with Mental Ray and Nvidia Geoforce is only for games.'

I haven't checked the V3300's specs but I assume its probably just a standard Radeon with a FireGL sticker on it due to its price. Video card companies have been known to use standard chips, stick them on a card with workstation grade components and then call it high end (even though it isn't).

As for ATI cards having problems with Mental Ray, are they talking about the Radeons or the FireGLs? FireGLs are qualified by Autodesk for use with Maya so they should work without any problems.

tvholicjames > 'For the SLi cards, do I have to get 2 of the same video cards instead of 1?'

For SLI, you must use two exactly identical cards.

C. P. U. Its not a big processor... Its a series of pipes!

Quote

# 5 04-10-2007 , 07:46 PM

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Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: Connecticut

Posts: 188

Thanks. I was using Mental Ray.

But I just ordered 2 SLi Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 from ebay to replace my ATI FireGL V3300.

I hope that will better than what I have.

Does anyone has a Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 in their computer?

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How do you know if you need another video card?

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