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Desktops: desktop purchase question - video cards
desktop purchase question - video cards
by frombolm - 4/11/09 1:04 AMi am buying a new pc on a budget. i do a lot of 3d modelling and rendering (mainly rhinoceros 3d using v-ray renderer), so one of the main concerns with my new desktop is going to be a 3d card. gaming is not my a concern.
my question is: how much do 3d cards affect the modelling and rendering capabilities of the computer, versus the processor? is it worth it to spend more money on a fancier 3d card? also, what are the best mid range 3d cards for the money - often there are quite a few choices, and i do not know the difference other than 256 versus 512 and the obvious things. upgradability seems to be an issue here as well.
thanks for the help
There are two steps to this.
by R. Proffitt
- 4/11/09 5:09 AM
In reply to: desktop purchase question - video cards by frombolm
Render and 'display the rendering.'
Almost no render engines tap the 3D card but you can boost your sales by letting the buyer think it will help. Do not try to talk them out of popping for that thousand buck dual SLI 3D solution.
That said I shop off this list for my 3D cards -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-radeon,2218.html
It's truly amazing what speed I see at the 70 buck card mark.
Bob
what about modelling?
by frombolm - 4/11/09 5:18 AM In reply to: There are two steps to this. by R. Proffitt
what about modelling 3d objects? i work with some pretty complicated 3d buildings, with tons of polygons and the like, and its important to be able to move them around, change them, stretch them, whatever. if something will help model transparent things, like windows, on the fly, thats a plus as well. i'm referring to modelling things in a program like rhinoceros or 3dmax, not only doing the rendering.
so is the only point of a video card to play games?
matt
I will not over analyze this.
by R. Proffitt - 4/11/09 6:10 AM
In reply to: what about modelling? by frombolm
And I will never talk anyone out of getting more than they need.
Why won't the 70 buck card do for this?
What card did you think you needed?
Remember I'm just a programmer so I have knowledge about why rendering and presentation are 2 distinct things.
Bob
rendering and modelling
by frombolm - 4/11/09 6:28 AM In reply to: I will not over analyze this. by R. Proffitt
i'm not trying to question your advice and i have no doubt that you know what you're talking about. thats why i'm posting here.
maybe i'm confused as to what exactly rendering and presentation are, and am getting it confused with what i think of as modelling and rendering.
i think of modelling as when i build the 3d object out of polygons and i zoom and pan around it in realtime. i think of rendering as when i click the 'render' button and the plug-in for v-ray or maxwell (or whatever renderer) kicks in and put textures and lights in. the modelling part would seem to be more 3d intensive (to me) because the 3d model actually rotates and zooms as i move my mouse.
i should mention that i also plan on doing some heavy graphic work in adobe illustrator, if that makes a difference on the video card front.
my question is really do i need ANY video card at all, or will the 'integrated video' do the trick. alternatively, if i DO need a card, i just need any card, and the cheapest one will do.
sorry for the confusion. i am just trying to buy a new computer and i don't have enough money, and i want to make sure that i don't end up with something not powerful enough to do what i need.
"pan around it in realtime."
by R. Proffitt - 4/11/09 6:39 AM
In reply to: rendering and modelling by frombolm
Now you've hit the topic where a fast video card pays off. So far if it was my money I'd stick to what you see on the list I linked to above.
Let's compare this computer use to a race car driver. The better driver knows how things work. Along your travels in learning the tools and more be sure they cover what a computer is made of and what does what.
Another way to select your new system is to compare it to what you use now. It would be best to take a step up from what you have now.
Bob
thank you
by frombolm - 4/11/09 6:57 AM In reply to: "pan around it in realtime." by R. Proffitt
thanks for the advice and the useful link.
unless you think otherwise, i'm probably going to go for the 4850 radeon as it seems to be a good value (its on the list) and the computer config i'm looking at (the $1,000 velocity micro edge v-5, its on cnet) has it available and was reviewed positively.
matt
That's a nice card.
by R. Proffitt - 4/11/09 7:18 AM
In reply to: thank you by frombolm
At least you didn't fall into the SLI trap. Good hunting for the rest of the machine!
3d studio max does benefit from a fast graphics card
by ramarc - 4/13/09 12:48 PM In reply to: what about modelling? by frombolma fast card will provide smoother viewport response and better interactive fly/walk throughs of large (high-polygon count) models. a fast dx10 card will activate real-time shadows and the mental ray feature which uses gpu rendering for real-time preview of textured objects in the viewport.
also, maya will utilize the gpu for certain rendering tasks and the faster the gpu, the quicker the render.
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