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Anyone here use Alienware for Daz?

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  • SlimerJSpudSlimerJSpud Posts: 1,453
    edited December 1969

    ThespiSis said:
    I understand the desire for a better laptop. If I could afford a 2nd, I'd have a desktop as well, but since I can't, I like having the option of taking my computer with me. I killed a fan on my last one within 6 months of getting it, but that was some years ago. The one I'm using now is a Samsung Series 7 Gamer, and I love it. One of the things I love about it is that it has two fans, so keeping it cool has never been a problem. I've got a render going in Lux right now that's been going for 4 days straight and probably still has another week, at least, left to render. I've also been surfing and playing games (though nothing intense) and watching movies on netflix on it while rendering. Despite all this, it's still cool to the touch and very quiet.

    This is why having a second machine of an older generation is a good option. You can get a used Linux box with 8 or more cores for around $200. When you have a render in Lux that you know will take geologic time, fire up Luxconsole on the Linux box and connect to it from the master Lux session. That's what I do. I doubled the number of threads I can have running for pretty low cost. Modern Linux distros are pretty easy to install. You do not need and engineering degree or MSCE certification to do it...
  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,257
    edited December 1969

    Subtropic Pixel said:
    Forgive me for not reading the whole thread, but I'm on my lunch break and only have a couple minutes.

    I know nothing about Alienware other than I've heard both good and bad. As the saying goes, "your mileage may vary". In general, they're probably just fine!

    My favorite laptop for Windows users is the Asus "Republic of Gamers" (ROG) line. These are comparable to the Alienware line, but what I like about the Asus machines is that they have 17" screens (the new ones have IPS screens!), can have up to three SSDs/HDDs internally, have beefy fans, often one for CPU and another for the GPU, and big ductwork to handle the airflow.

    The current line of ROG laptops is the G751xx (where "xx" is a 2-letter code based on options). They have a big i7 mobile processor and an Nvidia GPU which I assume would work for you Octane users. I own an older G73 from late 2011 which I would love to replace (and probably will in the next year or two), but the damned thing just won't quit!

    Gaming laptops usually have big CPUs and competent GPUs, so they often also make good 3D content laptops, as well as music composition/creation machines. You just can't expect to render while they're running on battery power.

    If you're like me, you'll probably only buy one of these every 5-6 years, so don't go cheap on the guts. If I could buy one today, I'd max it out with 32 GB RAM and almost immediately I'd replace the hybrid drives with one or two big 1TB SSDs.

    Here's my current favorite, the Asus G751JY. Yes, pretty expensive at $2800. But as I said, you won't need to buy another one until 2021. Besides, look at all the crap you're probably wasting your money on these days. Cable TV; really? Adobe CS for $600 per year? Seriously? ;-)


    ...I was also going to suggest ASUS as well for I really like their cooling system since it goes font to back instead of drawing air in from underneath.

    BTW, If you are just using PS CC, a year's subscription is only about 120$ compared to 700$ for the perpetual licence.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    And yet, I understood very little of what you just said, lol.

    My copying of the content files from the Samsung to the external is 33% done. Once done, I transfer it to the AW. Will I need the content gatherer product to move scenes already started on the Samsung, or will they just open if both my work files and the entire content folder is copied over?

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,613
    edited December 1969

    Slimer_J_Spud said:

    Modern Linux distros are pretty easy to install. You do not need and engineering degree or MSCE certification to do it...

    Maybe things have changed in the last few years, but based on what I saw a few years back I would disagree with this statement, unless the vendor(s) provide Linux drivers for the components.

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,613
    edited December 1969

    I can't speak for high-end ASUS computers, but based on my experience with a low-end ASUS I would never buy from them. The parts were shoddy and their support is abysmal.

  • Subtropic PixelSubtropic Pixel Posts: 2,388
    edited December 1969

    fixmypcmike said:
    I can't speak for high-end ASUS computers, but based on my experience with a low-end ASUS I would never buy from them. The parts were shoddy and their support is abysmal.

    Yes, a good point. I have not had too much trouble with my ROG. It's well-designed, over-capacitized, and soundly-built. But then if necessary, I could disassemble it and fix pretty much anything, as long as I could get my hands on spare parts.

    Asus support has gone through teething pains, and is better now I hear. In my own observation, they HAVE updated their website (more complete sentences now, heh!). But in the end, it's probably only about as good as any "free" support from any other manufacturer. With Alienware, I imagine you'd have the free Dell support unless you paid for premium support.

    With Asus, you'll get firmware updates for about a year to 18 months, then after that, you're pretty much on your own. But again, I'm looking at a 5-6 year service life, which is pretty damned good.

    Now watch...after I played it up, all the good Karma will be used up and it'll crash this weekend... :smirk:

  • SlimerJSpudSlimerJSpud Posts: 1,453
    edited December 1969

    fixmypcmike said:
    Slimer_J_Spud said:

    Modern Linux distros are pretty easy to install. You do not need and engineering degree or MSCE certification to do it...

    Maybe things have changed in the last few years, but based on what I saw a few years back I would disagree with this statement, unless the vendor(s) provide Linux drivers for the components.
    Actually, it has gotten better. Especially as I described, installing a current distro on older (pronounced CHEAP) hardware. It's when you want to install on the latest hardware that may need a proprietary driver that you can have trouble. Many hardware vendors are providing Linux drivers now too. Nvidia certainly does.

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,257
    edited December 1969

    ...however, Lux makes use of OpenCL which Nvidia gives a back seat to in favour their CUDA GL. CUDA is fine if you can afford Octane and have a GPU with enough VRAM to handle your scenes, but in that case, a separate render box is rather moot as pure GPU rendering doesn't operate on a "geologic" timescale.

  • SlimerJSpudSlimerJSpud Posts: 1,453
    edited December 1969

    Kyoto Kid said:
    ...however, Lux makes use of OpenCL which Nvidia gives a back seat to in favour their CUDA GL. CUDA is fine if you can afford Octane and have a GPU with enough VRAM to handle your scenes, but in that case, a separate render box is rather moot as pure GPU rendering doesn't operate on a "geologic" timescale.

    I was talking about pure CPU rendering. That's as far as I've gone with Lux, and the second box does help.
  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,257
    edited January 2015

    ...but then having the latest drivers shouldn't necessarily matter since the GPU on the box would not come into play during the process. You could probably even get away with just having the Intel graphics on the Linux box.

    Post edited by kyoto kid on
  • SlimerJSpudSlimerJSpud Posts: 1,453
    edited December 1969

    Kyoto Kid said:
    ...but then having the latest drivers shouldn't necessarily matter since the GPU on the box would not come into play during the process. You could probably even get away with just having the Intel graphics on the Linux box.

    Well, if you want anything other than 1024x768 or 800x600 on the Linux box, you might need a driver. On the cheap server I got, I did not need any proprietary drivers. I did look into doing a video card upgrade to it, but it turned out to be a waste of time. I've run Bryce Lightning and Luxrender on the Linux box.
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,905
    edited December 1969

    My husband's tech dude at work (and they are one of the government's Research and Development sections, computers are their mainstay) recommended this and my sons are really impressed with the speed and handling of various tasks. We are primarily Zbrushing at the moment (and of course rendering.) I am NOT technical. All I knew was that I wanted a lot of RAM and a good speed when doing things. We're happy, but I don't know how this compares to everything else that was posted and I didn't read the entire thread as it's Greek to me. We got ours on Ebay and the seller was fantastic. If anyone is serious you can PM and I'll give you info- but be aware these run $2000.00

    Lenovo-Thinkpad-W540-Laptop

    CPU: Intel Core i7 (4th Gen) 4700MQ / 2.4 GHz
    Max Turbo Speed: 3.4 GHz
    Number of Cores: Quad-Core
    Cache: 6 MB
    64-bit Computing: Yes
    Chipset: Mobile Intel QM87 Express
    Features: Hyper-Threading Technology, integrated memory controller, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

    Memory
    RAM: 32 GB ( 4 x 8 GB )
    Max RAM Supported: 32 GB
    Technology: DDR3L SDRAM
    Speed: 1600 MHz / PC3-12800

    Storage
    Hard Drive: 1TB Solid State
    Interface: Serial ATA-600
    Optical Drive: DVD-Writer - removable

    Display
    Type: 15.6"
    LCD Backlight Technology: LED backlight
    Resolution: 1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )
    Widescreen: Yes
    Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
    Features: Anti-glare

    Audio & Video
    Multi-GPU Configuration: 1 single GPU card / integrated GPU
    Graphics Processor: NVIDIA Quadro K1100M / Intel HD Graphics 4600 - 2 GB
    Video System Features: NVIDIA Optimus
    Camera: Integrated webcam
    Capture Resolutions: 1280 x 720
    Camera Features: Face-tracking technology
    Sound: Stereo speakers , two microphones
    Codec: Realtek ALC3232
    Compliant Standards: High Definition Audio, Dolby Home Theater v4

  • SlimerJSpudSlimerJSpud Posts: 1,453
    edited December 1969

    High-end ThinkPads have always been impressive. The consumer grade Lenovos are not as good, but they maintained the ThinkPad brand as the top of the line. Some corporations swear by them.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    OK ... Content file mirrored on new system and client files. I also have been staring at the content gatherer guide and am a little confused as to what to do. Do I copy my entire content folder here, too?

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Have a question for those who use AW for their Daz renders ...

    Which graphics cards do you use and what image settings (it says it affects "settings for hardware-accelerate 3D applications that utilize Direct 3D or OpenGL." What does that mean?

    Also, what render option do you use in Daz (3Delight or OpenGL).

  • Atticus BonesAtticus Bones Posts: 364
    edited December 1969

    Running GTX690 atm, but i'll be upgrading to a Titan (or two) later in the year.
    I use Octane for 90% of my renders, and reserve 3Delight for when I want to use DS only stuff like shaders and lights.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    I only work in Daz 4.7 ... no fancy stuff like reality or whatever else.

    So 3Delight is best render setting for purely Daz renders?

  • Atticus BonesAtticus Bones Posts: 364
    edited February 2015

    In my limited experience: yes.
    Also, just look at some of the movies that have used 3Delight: http://www.3delight.com/en/index.php?page=projects
    If it's good enough for Hollywood, then i'm sure it's good enough for anyone. :)

    Post edited by Atticus Bones on
  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Wow ... I never knew 3Delight was such a good engine. So I guess when people say Daz can't perform as good as Poser or whatever else, maybe it's not Daz but the artist using it that's inadequate, lol.

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,644
    edited December 1969

    AidanaWillowRaven said:
    Wow ... I never knew 3Delight was such a good engine. So I guess when people say Daz can't perform as good as Poser or whatever else, maybe it's not Daz but the artist using it that's inadequate, lol.

    The tool is only ever as good as the hand that uses it. I can show you Reality renders that look wretched because the person who did them doesn't know how to light a scene or set up their skin shaders; they just used a basic setup and assumed it would look good, because Reality. I can show you ones that look so real it's hard to tell they're not a photograph. The same is true in Octane or Maxwell or Vray, or you name the engine (and setting up realistic flesh is always harder in an unbiased engine, while setting up realistic glass and metal is much easier).

    It's much harder to do photoreal in 3Delight, don't get me wrong. Rendering water and glass is a headache. But if stylization that looks good is the goal, with warm, organically fleshy humans and humanoids, you can do very well with it. You need to use the same theory of lighting that photographers use and apply your specific lighting system to it; you need to know what it takes to get a certain look from a certain skin; and that's true for everything you will ever use in 3D.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    I guess that's about right for anything. I don't go for a photo-real look as much as for a painted or surreal look, so for me, I think it works ok. I don't get many complaints, lol.

    But I am always looking to see if what I am doing can be improved upon. You, know?

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,644
    edited December 1969

    AidanaWillowRaven said:
    I guess that's about right for anything. I don't go for a photo-real look as much as for a painted or surreal look, so for me, I think it works ok. I don't get many complaints, lol.

    But I am always looking to see if what I am doing can be improved upon. You, know?

    You bet! Ever onward.

  • DMackeyDMackey Posts: 46
    edited December 1969

    Go to a web site called ibuypower.com If your looking for a good laptop at a good price.

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