Which video card?
Petercat
Posts: 2,321
I don't have a video card yet, just the motherboard graphics, and render times are, well, embarassing.
I do have the full 16GB of ram, can anyone suggest a decent video card? My budget is $300.00.
Yes, I know that's low, but it's the best I can do. I'd just like render speeds better than overnight. (in iray, 3dl is about 1 hour or so)
|
Chipset |
Intel H61 |
|
Video |
Intel HD Graphics |
|
Memory |
2 * 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots – Dual Channel DDR3 1600/1333 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered memory (Max 16GB) |
|
Expansion Slots |
1 x PCI Express (2.0) x16 3 x PCI Express (2.0) x1 1 x PCI Express Mini (half height) |
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2024 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127832&ignorebbr=1
Hi, I have that exact 970 above and below is the render time for Fiery Genesis scene all default and set at the GPU only in DAZ. It is on sale for 320.00. I spent 350 awhile back for mine.
Finished Rendering
Total Rendering Time: 2 minutes 59.33 seconds
Hi
Whilst I can build my own machines my current machine is a pre-constructed custom job, until the advent of Iray I had not gone into the nuts and bolts of GPU's. What I have learnt may be helpful but will require a bit of window shopping and research:-
Most say that the amount of RAM on a GPU is important...well yes but what most don't say is the the amount of what are called 'CUDA cores' is also very important. You will read that some Iray renderers who have more than '1' GPU tell us that they untick the one connected to their monitor...Uh!! Whilst I want to upgrade one of my current pair of GPU's (I had 1 and now have 2) Running both is a lot faster and besides, why would I want to turn one off anyway because once I'm doing a render than I usually leave the machine alone even though I have plenty enough power to do some other things...and the CUDA Cores on both clearly speed things up!
The upshot of the above having used a GPU monotoring utility, is that whilst the GPU with the most RAM (4 Gb) is mostly the one chosen by the Iray rendering engine I have both on because it seems that having the 'CUDA Cores' available speeds up the render.
I really appreciate the limitations of Budgets so look for a GPU (Taking into account your Budget) with a minimum of 4 GB (2GB is apparently the bare minimum) but with the the highest amount of CUDA cores.
Currently I'm running an MSI GTX960 Gaming 2GB in my primary (Monitor) slot an an MSI GTX960 Gaming 4GB in my secondary slot. they both have 1024 Cuda Cores (2048 Total). Probably most helpful to you is that the original GPU was the MSI GTX960 Gaming 2GB, I did some Iray Renders with that alone and whilst I won't say it was lightening fast, it did do the job but having just looked at current prices the 4Gb version seems within your budget. That's UK Prices and as your probably in the US from what I've seen it may very well be evn cheaper for you. I've been looking at the MSI GTX980TI 6GB wich has 2816 CUDA cores but even in the US, I imagine it might be over budget.
I hope my ramblings are in some way helpful
Thanks, folks.
So if I'm understang correctly, I can add one or two video cards with high RAM and a high CUDA core count, keep my monitor hooked up to the on board graphics, and get a speed boost?
iRay will use the graphics card(s) for rendering, even though no monitor is attached to them?
Yes, I just added a second EVGA GTX 970 with 4GB memory to my system yesterday and ran a couple of comparison rneders. For a large scene with no characters, with one card the render ran almost 11 mins and with two cards it was 6 min. Then I took the same scene and added a G3F and a G3M character and the render time for one card jumped to 48 min while using two cards it only went to 13 min.
LeggyBlond is correct, you want at least 4 GB memeory per video card and the most CUDA cores you can afford. The EVGA card I just bought was $340 on Newegg with a $20 dollar rebate. Close to your budget. The GTX 960 has 1024 CUDA cores, while the GTX 970 has 1664
I just ordered the MSI Computer Graphics Cards GTX 960 GAMING 4G for 250.00 after taxes.
The 970 looks better, but I really can't spare the extra cost. After I see how this one works, I might order another...
Very nice indeed Petercat! You will enjoy DAZ a whole lot more for sure.
On a side note. The MSI card will come with MSI Afterburner software. It works great and it will let you see (monitor) all the cards vitals. It's memory usage, GPU usage, temp and clocks to name some are nice to see and you getting everything out of your 960 you can for renders. You'll see! :)
So, do I leave my monitor connected to the motherboard graphics connection, or do I plug it into the 960?
This is what I would do. I would start off plugging it into the new 960 card. This way you will be certain there is no driver conflicting issues with your Nvidia and Intel drivers. I don't know if Intel HD Graphics and Nvidia's drivers play nice together. Once you establish the 960 card as fully operational then you can switch back after testing that scenario knowing it will work for sure once returning from failure. You may also first need to enter the bios to configure the Intel as the monitor. You would not need to do that if you started off with the 960 as the monitor source once installed, the bios detects it automaticaly to configurre. Hope that makes sense and helps.
That makes a lot of sense.
***I just realized that Thanksgiving is next week.
It's going to take forever for my card to arrive!***
Enjoy your Nvidia 960 4GB... I suspect you're going to like it! PS. I'm having issues with Intel HD 4600 + Nvidia 950M on Optimus on laptop. There's no BIOS option to disable the Intel GPU. So, for desktop you may be alright but if necessary you should disable the Intel GPU in BIOS.
Here it is, three days later, and Amazon is still "preparing to ship"...
"Delivery estimate: We need a little more time to provide you with a good estimate. We'll notify you via e-mail as soon as we have an estimated delivery date."
Just how much time do they need? Sigh. Maybe Newegg next time. Maybe I'll receive it after Christmas. Maybe, maybe...
I've had stuff from Amazon show up at my door before that Delivery Estimate ever got updated.
Sounds as though Amazon over there isn't any better than Amazon over here. I ordered an item that I have delivered regularly on 6th November, which finally arrived on the 12th, despite the Amazon main UK warehouse being just 35 miles away, and yet although I have heard murmurings about the Ebay Global Priority Shipping Service, I ordered something from there (US vendor) on the same day, which made it over here and delivered on the 17th, despite having been passed through several different depots, 3 american states, 3 different countries and twice through customs. Guess where I prefer to do most of my on line shopping.
Sounds like something I ordered from Hong Kong...
I have to admit I was well impressed. 12 days, and it went from Iowa to Ohio to Kentucky (global shipping hub apparently) then was sent to CDG (Paris France) over to England and then across to Wales. And the price was reasonable as well, incuding customs. Whereas amazon took 6 days to deliver something from 35 miles away, something I order every month.
Sounds as though Amazon over there isn't any better than Amazon over here. I ordered an item that I have delivered regularly on 6th November, which finally arrived on the 12th, despite the Amazon main UK warehouse being just 35 miles away, and yet although I have heard murmurings about the Ebay Global Priority Shipping Service, I ordered something from there (US vendor) on the same day, which made it over here and delivered on the 17th, despite having been passed through several different depots, 3 american states, 3 different countries and twice through customs. Guess where I prefer to do most of my on line shopping.
Sadly, I am not impressed. Tracking shows it to be less than 200 miles away today, and it will be here in one week.
It should take only one day to reach the FedEx hub 30 miles away, then another to get to my house. Wednesday.
But no, it's going to take a week. Probably due to Thanksgiving, but still... Aargh, I want it now! (sarc/off)
So sorry to hear your dilemma Petercat. Been there felt that! I've always been under the impression if your not a Prime member you get pooped on. Newegg has never failed me and their customer service can't be matched. I got a Sharp Aquos from them awhile back and UPS drop kicked it and rolled it all the way to me. It didn't work needless to say, actuall spark and arcing before fizzling out when I turned it on the first time. Newegg gave me a special Sharp number to call and Sharp set me up fixing it quickly. For the inconvenience Sharp said if it breaks again they will replace it with the newest model in the size/performance tier I had for 3 years. It never broke down and still works. Anyways... I like to try and buy my stuff at Fry's now whenever possible. It's more satisfying to look and then hold the item and buy it. My ramblings of online shopping which sucks.
You'll get it, hang in there!