Graphics cards...

[DarkFlux]

Hey everyone, Was wondering what graphics cards you guys are using for home or work computers when working on your animation stuff. I'm looking into building my next rig pretty soon and wanted some opinions on what to use. Thanks!


Darkflux

[Mrpearlzildjian]

I use a Powercolor ATI HD 3850. Not the best card for the job, but it get's me by for now.

My next rig which I will be building in the next few months will have a nVidia QuadroFX in it(not sure which kind yet).

I've gotten the general feeling from *most* people that nVidia is better suited for high end graphics apps, so I am switching from ATI to nVidia, but it's like a Maya vs. Max debate, you ask 10 people you'll get 10 different answers.

However, if you are serious about amping up your performance, look into high model cards from both brands, QuadroFX for nVidia, and FireGL or FirePro for ATI. Both pack some serious power.

Oh.. and get LOTS of RAM. It makes a huge difference in a lot of apps.

[Bertmac]

at work i use a nvidea QuadroFX
the company will only buy these ones for a while for the 3d department. because the guy´s with the ati´s seem to have some viewport glitch problems in maya.
all this on high-end vista 32 and 64 bit configurations.

at home i use a one of the latest Macpro's with a Ati 4870
both in osX and Bootcamp with xp 64 bit
i've been using Mac and ati at home for year with no probs what so ever

also, i am very happy with my latest ati at home, its pretty powerful.
it seems to keep up with the quadro. except with the bigger files that i sometimes bring from work (read very big levels ) then again i don't know if thats because of the power of the card or the machine.

so all summed up
nivida seems to work better with maya on pc
on the mac i swear by ati
the later combo seems to work better all together , with Maya Zbrush and Mudbox
(no 64 bit needed to get the same polycounts and frame rate as the machines at work)

hope that helps buddy and goodluck with buying your next rig
Bertmac

[Kickflipkid687]

I somewhat recently got the Nvidia x260 896mb card, and I'm very happy with it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121316&Tpk=Nvidia%20260

It wasn't super expensive (200$ or less), but has alot of power and can run most any new game on max settings, except Crysis. I can run Crysis at max, but it really doesn't look THAT much better and it runs at like 15-20 FPS.

I bought the Asus version, but it was a Overclocked one.

It runs Max, Photoshop, Zbrush, Mudbox, and everything else just fine. I can push Mudbox to something like 35 million or something before it starts to get too laggy.

[DarkFlux]

Thanks guys appreciate the feedback, Ive been looking into the SLI-boards for multiple graphics cards.. Any of you guys use 2 or more and if so how is it?
Thanks,

Darkflux

[LowRez]

I was using a inno3D iChill 9800GTX - till it broke for no reason...

Im being forced to fall back on my reserve card which is a Ati HD 3850 until my Card is replaced or refunded...

My work card is a Ati Fire GL Pro - I don't know the exact model it's one Ati sent our company as a test model of a future card.... It is powerful.... and has only Displayport connections which is a pain.... As I lost my 2 monitor set up to get this card...

[Sicarius]

Currently I use an Nvidia GeForce 8800GT, it was cool back when I got it, but I'm looking into something better in the near future, just like MrPearlz, I'm looking at the QuadroFX (and liking what I'm seeing).

As for 'Dual Wielding' (lol) graphics cards, can't say I do it... Nor have i come across someone (IRL) hardcore to themselves. I await the day.

[Kickflipkid687]

I don't see a reason to use two with the power of mine. Maybe if your rendering stuff alot, but other than that there isn't really a reason for SLI.

[Mrpearlzildjian]

Much like a QuadroFX with 8GB DDR3 RAM, and an i7 CPU, dual SLI is overkill if you don't have good reason to use it.

However, if you plan on render intensive apps and game engines at high quality doing a lot of work, it's not overkill.

ZBrush and Mudbox really just require a lot of RAM, and you could use the Multi Cores for faster rendering, and the GPU's for intensive real time and rendering, so if you do a lot of those things, by all means go the QuadroFX or SLI route(or CrossFire if you like ATI better).

[Maph]

Much like a QuadroFX with 8GB DDR3 RAM...

*drools* :cool:

I myself have a Quadro FX 3700 at home, and a 7900GT at work (:( ). I'd rather have one of those spiffy 2xx nvidia's at work, but hey... :paper:
SLI/Crossfire is pretty useless in production itself, during testing it may come in handy though. :)

[cookepuss]

Currently I use an Nvidia GeForce 8800GT, it was cool back when I got it, but I'm looking into something better in the near future, just like MrPearlz, I'm looking at the QuadroFX (and liking what I'm seeing).
I recently got a GeForce 250. Darn thing blew the fan out way too soon. So I went back to my 8800GT. Still plenty fast for 3D work though. I can still handle ~3 million polys in my editor view before I have to switch to proxies.

[Frump]

I've also go an 8800GT, but I only have 2gb RAM. :eek:
Working on changing that... I can still get away with a lot, I only have problems when I get in to zbrush, trying to work with 10+ million polygons.

[Mrpearlzildjian]

Well see my current plan is to re-build my current rig to house the i7, 8GB DDR3, and a QuadroFX(Not sure which one, but it's in the $500 range). I have to buy a new mobo to support the i7 though, so my re-build will be in the range of $1000-1100. I just hope I don't need to buy a new power supply to handle all that new power.

I have like 6 fans in my case altogether, so I'm not too worried about cooling, and my storage is fine for now(until I accumulate a lot of high res .OBJ's anyway).

I am pretty happy with my current rig, it's just that it has A LOT of trouble handling real time rendering, particularly in the Maya viewport. Too many intersecting alpha planes and the thing crashes and burns. Problem is, that "too many" is only about 7-10 intersecting planes.

I guess my goal is to make sure I don't have to upgrade again for atleast 2-3 years, regardless of what new tech comes out in the meantime. I just want a machine that can steadily handle everything I throw at it without having to go off and buy a ridiculously priced BOXX computer or something, lol.

[DarkFlux]

Well im planning on getting this mobo http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4633206&Sku=E145-2058 and with it was looking at this graphics card http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4635292&CatId=3585
I figured id spend the money and have this mobo and card last me awile..

[LowRez]

Just an update on my situation, Ebuyer the retailer in my broken graphics card issue have claimed they have found no fault and sent me my card back... still broken...

So I took it to work and the IT manager tested it and... yep its still very very broken... Yay...

I am attempting to take my complaint further... fucking theives as far as im concerned. If your in the uk DO NOT USE EBUYER horrible customer support.

[jpgourley]

at work i use a nvidea QuadroFX
the company will only buy these ones for a while for the 3d department. because the guy´s with the ati´s seem to have some viewport glitch problems in maya.
all this on high-end vista 32 and 64 bit configurations.


I had this issue on my work machine with Maya, we weren't able to fix my viewport issues until they swapped it out for an NVidea card.

[shadowmonkey]

Im crying my eyes out im running a dead beat radeon 9200 cant even get advance open gl in modo to work,cant get shader fx to work in Max or DirectX shaders full stop

[3D Skillet]

I found this interesting

http://www.aticlassaction.com/

[Lamont]

I stopped buying any other videocard other than BFG Tech. Lifetime warranty 10 year limited. OCZ for system memory (lifetime). Customer service is top notch for both companies.

[wallasaurus]

i told you about ebuyer matey. :) hope it get sorted!

[darkfox]

nvidia gtx 260 that i bought from novatech to replace my 8800 gt

[sinz]

I found this interesting

http://www.aticlassaction.com/

If I bought a PC with one of the cards listed in this link I wonder if I still qualify? I wouldn't mind a new "free" gfx card.