Need Input to Optimum PC Configuration for LightWave...

[b-klyn]

We are new to the LightWave community. However, we are not new to 3d technology. We are power users of Autodesk Inventor v8pro & v9pro, as well as Autodesk ACAD v2005 and earlier. We have been molding in these programs for the past decade. We are delving into the animation side at this time. We are currently running Intel Pentium 4, with a gig of ram, and the 3dLabs Wildcat VP990 Pro. Our question is where do these station rank on the LightWave 3d user's charts? Please offer feedback to what system configurations are being used by power users in the LightWave community.

[Lightwolf]

Well, I have a Dual Xeon 3.06GHz with 2GB of Ram and a GeforceFX 5900XT. I also do a lot of compositing in 2K, hence the 2GB.
LW doesn't really profit from "pro" graphic boards.
If you do more modelling than rendering, I'd suggest the fastest single CPU you can get. If you do more rendering, get a dual machine.

Cheers,
Mike

[b-klyn]

Hey Lightwolf,

I just need to ask a few questions.

1. Do you not like the 3dLabs Wildcat VP990 Pro? It has 512mb memory on the card. It's also the only programmable video card on the market.

2. Do you only have one workstation? I'm wondering if it would be smart to have two workstations? One Intel Pentium 4, with a gig of ram, and the 3dLabs Wildcat VP990 Pro to do the modeling and a second Dual or Quad Intel Xeon or Itanium, with 4 to 16 gig of ram, and some very hot video card (Not sure what that might be yet).

You say you do a lot of compositing in 2K. Are you speaking of AutoCAD 2000?

We have two machines that are Intel Pentium 4 (3,4ghz), 2 Meg ram, and the NVIDIA Quadro FX. Render time at 3000x1600 dpi for a single tiff file on one of these stations is about one hour on a 10 Meg 3d file. We are doing 3 minute animations with about 1200 frames. Do you have any tips and tricks to obtain these types of renders quicker and easier?

Thank for the help.

[Lightwolf]

Hi b-klyn
Originally posted by b-klyn
1. Do you not like the 3dLabs Wildcat VP990 Pro? It has 512mb memory on the card. It's also the only programmable video card on the market.
Well, as long as LW doesn't take advantage of any of these advanced features, nor uses any of the pro functions used by CAD apps (like antialiased lines), it is a huge waste of money - for a LW workstation.

2. Do you only have one workstation? I'm wondering if it would be smart to have two workstations? One Intel Pentium 4, with a gig of ram, and the 3dLabs Wildcat VP990 Pro to do the modeling and a second Dual or Quad Intel Xeon or Itanium, with 4 to 16 gig of ram, and some very hot video card (Not sure what that might be yet).
What would you want the second workstation for? LW doesn't run on the Itanium, has a limited multi-processor support (well, not extremely optimized) and doesn't profit a single bit from the gfx board when rendering. You'd be better of buying a bunch of cheaper boxes as a renderfarm (we have 5 dual Athlon MPs here for our rendering, mainly animations).

You say you do a lot of compositing in 2K. Are you speaking of AutoCAD 2000?
No, film compositing in 2K resolution (using Digital Fusion), which is (in my case) 2048x1556 pixels per frame.

We have two machines that are Intel Pentium 4 (3,4ghz), 2 Meg ram, and the NVIDIA Quadro FX. Render time at 3000x1600 dpi for a single tiff file on one of these stations is about one hour on a 10 Meg 3d file. We are doing 3 minute animations with about 1200 frames. Do you have any tips and tricks to obtain these types of renders quicker and easier?
1) Trickery, lern how the renderer acts and cheat (the spinning light trick comes to mind here for example, you can google it).
2) buy FPrime
3) buy a renderfarm

Thank for the help.
You're welcome :)

Cheers,
Mike