Hi,
I just want to know it is better to build a dual processors workstation or have 2 single processor networking when using Maya or any 3d apps?
The reason I asked is because I 've just been biten by the polygons bug ever since I took Maya for a test drive.
Currently I have a AMD 2500+ with 512 DDR.Everytime I tried to render something with lots of textures the program always crash or not responding.I look at the Task Manager and the ram kept on rising over 800Mb and brought system to a halt.The only way is to end task and lose all info.
Any comments with be appreciated.Thanx
DP workstation. 2 SP workstations would be lame performance and more expensive. for test rendering especially, i don’t think maya can render into new window or IPR accross a network, so ur better off have the 2nd proc in the same box for maya and all your other multithread apps.
regarding your rendering probs, if you have a very large scene you should be rendering different elements or objects in passes so the renderer won’t need all the scene textures all at once. you can composite the seperate elements in a post app after that. your system specs sounds adequate… unless you have a single object with heaps of textures… ?
Thanx Cipher 4 ur response.
As you already know the reason why I asked is because I heard alot about "renderfarm"and to be honest I don’t have the slightest clue except for 2 or more machines link up and share there workload,so it is better (performance wise )to run a network or dual pro’?
Your advice on rendering,how do I do that (render objects in passes?)If can, specify. thanx
well a large render-farm will batch-render much faster than a DP workstation, but there would be no point in having a render-farm consisting of just 2 SP workstations. its always a good idea to have a DP workstation for you’re modelling/animation box if u can afford it.
for using Maya’s render passes and outputting to directories automatically etc, its all there in the docs. but i still prefer to render my different scene elements manually. simply use an alpha channel with each rendered element.
You’re absolutely right about the DP workstion over 2x SP networking.I just found a article realeased by PDI/Dreamworks back in 2001. http://www.flarg.com/rendering\_statistics.html
So I came to a conclusion that 2 is better 1 and 3 is better 2(CPUs)so if you got more than one comp at home or work why not network it.After all from a logic piont of view, unison=strength right?
Although I prefer a dual processor workstation, one argument to the contrary is this: with two separate machines, you can render on one box and continue work on the other.
LOL - erm, with a DP box you can render on 1 processor and work on the other 
and there is no slowdown to your modelling, the Maya GUI only uses 1 proc anyway. its much faster than going through the hassle of distributed render preperation (which in itslef will slow down the render process). and also there’s the issue of paying extra money for good network render software that can automate and distribute batch renders.
having said all that if someone already has an extra SP box lying around, no reason not to use it as a render node.
the only arguement for actually choosing 2 SP boxes over a DP from the start could be you need 2 artists to work on a project, hence 2 workstations needed. but even then, the other artist should also have or be given their own DP box, so that’s not much of an arguement
No denying the fact that a DP workstation is the way to go.
But it is very difficult to find an Intel PIV dual processor motherboard. I’ve been looking for one as I already have a PIV 2.4b processor, I want to use that investment and get another Processor and motherboard.
But I can’t seem to find a motherboard around which takes 2 Intel Pentium IV.
Thanks.
ah i see… yeah u have a problem then: the pentium4 is not DP capable 
only PIII, Xeon, AthlonMP or Opteron.
According to my knowledge the P4 & the Xeon core achitectures are basicly the same the only differences are in the level 3 cache and one supports DP the other does-not,maybe they do but Intel disabled it just like they always do e.g 865&875 chipset P.A.T not to mention H.T.
Anyway,back to the subject .I don’t know about the P4 but the Cerelron and AMD 2400+ can be modify to run as DP,all you need to do is blow up the L5 bridge.but I suggest dont do it if you’re not sure
Yeh, sorry Charlie but your single P4 will always be in a single implementation. Xeon is the same as the P4 only it has the DP “stuff” enabled.
Also Intel makes a killing on their quad capable Xeon chips which are enabled differently still.
Oppies rule!
[LOL - erm, with a DP box you can render on 1 processor and work on the other…]
I had no idea. So how do I limit the render to one processor? Or does the GUI automatically squash other maya processes? By default, I’m seeing equal action on both processors with a software render in Maya, but I’d like to be able to change that to suit my needs. Glad I could make you laugh.
from a dos prompt the command is render -n 1 (for 1 proc), or thru the GUI u can choose how many procs when choosing batch render. with renderintoWwindow from within maya i’m not sure if there is a way to render with 1, but using the single frame render window still has major stability issues anyway.
Thanks.