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Autodesk Software Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

# 386 vs 486 3DS perform?

8 messages in this thread

#62232From: Steven WaltersOct 18, 1993 8:26 PM

Hi ALL, I gotta couple of questions… If sombody could help me out that would be great! What kind of performance increase can I expect with the following configurations? . 386/25 w/387 math copro 4MB RAM (curent configuration) . 386/25 w/387 math copro 8MB RAM . 386/25 w/Cyrix 387 math copro 8MB RAM . Cyrix 486/50 w/Cyrix 387 math copro 8MB RAM The reason I'm asking is I'm planing on upgrading my 386 for the short term, then to use it as a render node when I get my 486 or better. The tech at Cyrix (maker of a 386->486 chip) told me that 3D-Studio may not benefit from a 386/25 to 486/50 upgrade. He said that because it was a math intensive I would only need or want the FasMath copro. Now this is Cyrix talking me out of a Cyrix product??? Honest or Stupid? Anyway what is the performance diffrence between a regular 386/25 and a 486/50 with identical coprocessors? BTW the 386/25 to 486/50 chip is $399 They say it is 80-90% as fast as a normal 486/50 and their 387 FasMath copro is $99 and they say it is 3 times faster than a normal Intel-387… One more question. When I do get my new system, (end of 94 I hope) what is a good network program for a two machine configuration? Thanks and sorry for the long rambling message. –Steven Walters

#62252From: Gus GrubbaOct 18, 1993 10:19 PM

First of all, the stuff they tell you about their 486/50 is a bunch of BS. That's a 386 with a local 1k cache. Period. It's far from a real 486. $399 for that? You can find an entire 486DX/33 (real thing) mother board for that much money. Just get rid of your 386's and get a new mother board. Cheaper and "that" you help you as rendering machine on the long run. Just note that the most important factor in rendering is memory. Lots of memory these days far outcosts the computer (even a Pentium).

#62290From: John TissavaryOct 19, 1993 2:37 AM

You should completely toss the idea of buying Cyrix ANYTHING. Their stuff is worthless for 3D Studio and the tech guy knows it, that's why he's talking you out of buying a Cyrix "486". You can get a 486/33 motherboard with CPU for around $400 these days, so there's no excuse for using cheapo Cyrix stuff.

#62626From: Steven WaltersOct 20, 1993 9:01 PM

OK! You've convinced me. I have a Micronics Gemini 386/25 motherboard in a large Desktop case (6"x21"x17"). How do I go about getting 1) A motherboard that will fit and 2) ont that will be compaitable with my current hardware 3)Works well with 3d-Studio R2 and R3?? Please recommend a brand name etc…

#62652From: Gus GrubbaOct 20, 1993 11:46 PM

Well, I assume that if you feel comfortable replacing a CPU, you should be as just as much replacing a motherboard. The latter is actually simpler. If you can't tell how a mother board will fit, I would suggest taking your old mother board with you when you go shopping. Regardless where you are in this country, you _will_ find a computer store at every other corner with some salesman more than wiling to help you. I'm not sure how to define this but you are looking something closer to Jiffy Lub than your local Rolls dealer. Brands are as wide of a variety as cereal boxes in your grocery store. I can think of AMI, Micronics, NICE, Orchid, and I'm sure other people will come here and give you another list. The point is that they are all compatible with your old stuff (provided they worked ok in your old computer and that your old computer is a standard clone) and you should not have any more problems than the average (there ain't such a thing as "plug n'play" when it comes to PC architecture). I guess I can guarantee you that you will have less compatibility issues than had you decided for the CPU clones (Cyrix and the likes). The problem when you start doing these things is that you never stop. i.e. Almost all new boards now have VESA local bus. You will see that empty slot looking at you and you won't resist but end up getting a nice local bus video card. And it just keep on going…

#62659From: John TissavaryOct 21, 1993 1:53 AM

See my E-mail to you. Regards, John Tissavary (La Luna cie)

#62445From: Mark BessetteOct 19, 1993 8:46 PM

I have the same problem with a new system (money)! I have a 386/25 w/80387 math coprocessor, 8Meg – running on a IMB PS2/80. Last week I installed a Cyrix 486/50. It gave me a 25% increase in rendering speed using 3DSR2. The initial rendering speed on my 386 did not seem very fast to begin with. I might go with their math co-processor also. I just installed 3DSR3 tonight. I'm going to try and compare rendering times between R3 and R2 in the next few days – I'll let you know how it turns out.

#62625From: Steven WaltersOct 20, 1993 9:01 PM

Thanks Mark, Please keep me posted! I'd be intrested to hear your results. –Steven Walters