#3DS USERS!!! <vroom>
13 messages in this thread
Hello everyone,
I was wondering if you all would be interested in doing some rendering
comparisons that I could gather up, and massage into a useful guide to getting
a cost effective 3DS system up and running.
What I propose is that we decide on a few universally representive .3ds files,
and have everyone render a frame or so. The times, plus the listed hardware
information will allow one to see what type of system is a good setup for the
dollar. For instance, I'm wondering what the difference between a P/66 and a
P/90 is as far as rendering time. And how 32MB holds up on some larger
projects. Also, if there is enough interest, networked PC's would be a good
area for comparison as well. (Mabe some recommended suggestions?
[Video/disk/etc.])
I'm not qualified to pick the test files, or seasoned enough to know the right
factors, but I'd like to see the results.. 🙂
I know this would be kind of a hassle for everybody, but I'm willing to process
all the information people give me, and get it into a form that everybody will
be able to download. Then when others wonder about performance, we'll have
something to look at. Everything from humble 386 to the zippy Pentiums and
"rendering farms" are welcome..
(I promise I'll leave your name off the list, if you wish. <G>)
Mabe 3D Artist would be interested as well.
It seems like everybody's got killer systems out there.. Now's time to strut
your stuff.. Ladies and Gentlemen.. Start your engines!
Thanks-
JNJ
John,
The long and the short of it is, the more money you spend the more you get for
your money when it comes to PC Power and Bang for Buck. The only caveat to this
is the "latest and greatest" for which you pay a small premium. But otherwise,
all things being equal, you get more value for the dollar when you buy a
Pentium than a 486, the same for 386 vs a 486 etc. Hard drives also fall into
this category. RAM is priced like diamonds but Pentium RAM ie 72 pin is running
the same as 32 pin RAM.
Now the difference in price/performance between two competing makes with the
same chip is another story. For that kind of comparison you might want to
subscribe to a magazine like PC Magazine, who does peridioc reviews or a
variety of Name brand platforms.
-JE
I think the comparison is a great idea. It will take some organizing on your
part though. I think it will only fly if you take the reins and decide on the
sample files and frames. You're just as qualified to do this as anyone else,
and besides it's the only way it'll get done.
If you pick the files/frames then you can make specific requests to persons
known to have fast systems such as Greg Pyros. If you send him a message
requesting such-and-such you'll get results where if you post a vague message
to ALL it'll probably get ignored.
I'd be happy to participate but I don't know how "representative" my systems
are. I run on a new Sharp 486/33 laptop and a wheezing old 486/33 Taiwanese
clone (fabulously fast when I bought it, only moderately impressive now). On
the other hand I think a lot of people are still buying 486s as it's good value
for the dollar — 2 networked 486s are still faster than a Pentium.
Michele
Why buy a 486 and fill it up with ram when you can buy a dx4 or P60 and render
faster? The Cpu's are Cheap compared to 64Megs of ram. So why spend money on
Ram then put it into a 486 when P60's are almost a cheap and faster then a
486's?
Certainly a valid point. BUT if you don't have enough memory to render 3DS
files you end up swapping out a lot to the hard disk, which increases rendering
time by AT LEAST twice as much, more like 3 times as much. I don't think the
Pentium is 2-3 times faster than a 486. But maybe I'm wrong?
Michele
Mine renders fames 3 to 1 over a network to a 486dx 50
Network rendering is a BIG plus. Run it under WFW and you'll see a 10% increase
in performance also….
Due to 32 bit access….
No kidding.
>Mine renders fames 3 to 1 over a network to a 486dx 50
What machines are you using? I'm confused by this statement (sorry). Is your
network or individual system faster? How many, and what kinds of machines?
(also the ram used)
Thanks.
JNJ
Yes. I was running a DX2-66 w/32megs ram and a ide caching controller with
16mgs. Went to a p60 w/32megs of ram, PCI ATI Mach 32, PCI SCSI 1.2 gig 10ms
toshiba and my rendering times were almost a third of previous.
The reduced rendering time could be largely due to more memory, which
leads to less swapping. You'd have to try the same mesh on two
machines with the same amount of memory in order to get a good
benchmark.
By the way, I have 20 of those Toshiba's in stock with a one year warr. and 5
yr factory warr. for 725 bucks!!!!
214-233-8052 Ask for me or Matt Armstong.
What Toshibas are you referring to?
Michele
Because there is no way in hell a DX4 can perform like a true pentium. Not only
that, what about NT versions? What about Multi-Prossesing systems. What about
the rumors that Intel is halting production to press out more Pentiums? What
about buying a 3.3vt mb that is going to be basically useless in a year and a
half?
No way in my opinion. I'd just as soon get a p60 w/32mgs of ram and add more as
I go.