3d renders

[Subte]

What video card should i buy to make fast 3d renders and 3d animations?

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

What's your price range?

and

What's your application?

Depends alot on those two factors.

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[Subte]

I work with Rhinoceros, Lightwave and 3dmax.
I'm building a system to only make renders but i haven't found any benchmarks comparing rendering time between different graphic cards. I'll spend about 500 dollars.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Sorry I was watching hockey yesterday (and today in 1 hr) and couldn't get back to you 'til now.

There are a few reviews out there. But the best I know I have bookmarked at work (lots of cards under many circumstances) Now it also depends on the version of 3DSmax you are using. But here's some reviews:

<A HREF="http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/profcards/3dsmax6-p1-ogl.html" target="_new">DigitLife's recent review with 3DSMax6</A>
<A HREF="http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/profcards/quadro2000.html" target="_new">Digit-Life's look at 3DSMax5 with only the Quadro series</A>
<A HREF="http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/profcards/3dlabs-wildcat-vp990pro.html" target="_new">Digit-Life's Wildcat review with Lightwave tests</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/3dsmax5-quadrofx3000.html" target="_new">XbitLabs looks at the Quadroo3000,2000 and FireGL X1 and FX5900U in 3DSMax5</A>
<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040323/index.html" target="_new">THG's review with 3DSMax4.2.6</A>
<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030916/index.html" target="_new">THG's more comprehensive older test with more cards</A>

For your price range I'd say a good Choice would be the QuadroFX1000/1100 if you can find one for cheap enough (usually $700+), otherwise the FireGL T2 for about ($300) or better yet the FireGL X1 for ($499) would probably give you good bang for your buck. The FireGLZ1 is OK, but if you can afford it go for the X1 instead. But it does depend alot on how much they cost near you. The QuadroFX 1000/1100 are very good cards and as you can see will take a few more wins than the FireGLs. The main question is price differences as to decide best bet. PErformance wise the FX1000/1100 will be best but at a price premium.
Another solution may be to softmod an FX59XX series card, which is likely far cheaper for you. As you can see from the XbitLabs results the FX5900U unmoded is fairly capable, and with a Softmod should get you closer to the FX1000/2000 perforamce levels. So an FX5900U/non-ultra would give you something that might give you great perfromance softmoded, and even not moded would give you respectable performance.

I'll post the other review when I get to work and can pull up the link, I believe it looks at Lightwave, but I haven't seen much about Rhinoceros except for compatibility issues with explorer and programs like Easy CD creator. No solid benchies.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK