#REAL GLASS ?
7 messages in this thread
>> Where did you come up with this idea that the Indy performs "*7 times"
>> faster
Specmarks don't mean a whole lot on the SGI machines as their strength
lies in their graphics engine, GL commands (as long as the software
is written to take advantage of these) and bus speeds. I have one
sitting next to me right now and they are one of the best at running
3d graphics or Multimedia stuff in their price range. You should see
AutoCAD scream on this thing. Just wish they would port 3D studio to
the INDY then objects in flics could become interactive.
Specmarks, especially SpecFP, mean *everything* when it comes to
photo-realistic and near-photrealistic rendering in 3D. The only
thing SGI has that comes anywhere near near-photrealistic rendering
in realtime is the RealityEngine. Those machines are a steal
starting at around $200K.
The hardware garoud shading and even texture mapping in the medium-end
SGI machines is great for VR, but it is little use for photorealistic
animation other than for previews. Realtime previews would be a
really nice thing to have though.
I think if you look at what you can get for $10,000 or below, the PC
still blows SGI away. But if you have at least $20K to spend on a
machine, the SGI starts to look really good. Your net render idea
sounds intersting.
PMJI, but reality engines are less than $100,000, list on the Crimson
reality engine is $99,900 and discounts are available. That gives you
192 bits of color, 32 bits Z bufffered. It displays over 1 million
polygons per second with hardware anti-aliasing and texture mapping.
The Onyx/2 RE2 is the next step up in the reality engine series and
list for $159,900. It provides over 2 million shaded points, lines,
and polygons per second. These figures are low because they're based
on the R4000 not the R4400, and the new T series will blow away the
R4400.
You should also keep in mind that the performance of these machines is
based on screen rendering not processor rendering. The geometry
engines handle the graphics and produce phenomenal displays for
simulation and real time visualization, however when it comes to old
fashioned rendering to disk so that you can dump frame by frame to
tape, the geometry engines become relatively useless, and you're
stuck with rendering on a single R4400 processor at the moment.
Additionally almost all of the SGI based rendering packages only
support single CPU's in their rendering pipeline. Softimage at $50,000
per seat becomes expensive when you put it on 5-10 machines.
Anyone interested in the move to SGI should focus on the Indigo2 with
the Extreme Graphics. The performance is great and actual rendering
speed to disk is the same as the performance on the larger micros,
i.e. Crimsons and Onyx systems.
On a more possitive note Softimage is about to release a
multi-processor rendering package designed by a team out of Berlin.
It should finally make use of the multi-processor configuration of
the larger Micros. I believe the ship date is around January 1994.
We have thoroughly tested all of the above mentioned hardware and
regularly benchmark various SGI based animation packages.
Only $99,000? And discounts too! If only I had a Porsche 911 Turbo
to sell. Me, I'm still hoping to be able to afford a Pentium machine
soon. Did you get my e-mail?
…oohhh. Stop. No…. Don't!
All your talk about high-end workstations is getting me flustered. Most of us
can only fantasize about the size of our systems. Time for a cold shower <g>
Excellent information !