Just ordered in an nVidia 8800GTS graphics card to test against the Quadro FX 3450/3500’s - will see if it helps.

Darren Kam | Constructive Media

dazk 07 April 2008 05:19 AM

Just ordered in an nVidia 8800GTS graphics card to test against the Quadro FX 3450/3500’s - will see if it helps.

512MB I hope.  ;)
The 320/640 are the older GPU.
I put the GTS 512 into my main system since I’m working with UE3, and the newer NVidia adapters manage a few things better with the engine.  The ATI’s still have a better image though (IMHO).  I’m adding an E8400 Duo, ATI 3870, XP-32 system to the studio in a couple of weeks.

EGI Integrated Partner - Software and Game Developer

Yes, one of the new 512MB 8800’s: (link)

I’ve heard a lot of mixed responses with DirectX 10 and Vista - but all I want is a system that is stable (agree with you on removing all extraneous bits of software that just bog down the processor/use memory), that can use more than 4GB of RAM, but runs as fast as XP SP2 (32-bit!).

Looked at the 9800’s but have been bitten before by jumping in the deep end too early! Do you have a preference between ATI or nVidia for stable/quick driver releases? I used to use ATI for a while (back in the days of the Radeon 96/9800’s) but swayed to the Quadro FX range (now in retrospect, possibly stupidly!)

Darren Kam | Constructive Media

dazk 07 April 2008 05:46 AM

I’ve heard a lot of mixed responses with DirectX 10 and Vista - but all I want is a system that is stable (agree with you on removing all extraneous bits of software that just bog down the processor/use memory), that can use more than 4GB of RAM, but runs as fast as XP SP2 (32-bit!).

Looked at the 9800’s but have been bitten before by jumping in the deep end too early!

Do you have a preference between ATI or nVidia for stable/quick driver releases? I used to use ATI for a while (back in the days of the Radeon 96/9800’s) but swayed to the Quadro FX range (now in retrospect, possibly stupidly!)

I was slower than many people on moving to Vista because of all of the complaints that I heard, but I usually like to wait 3 to 6 months for the rest of the world to get the issues ironed out of hardware/software before I spend my money anyway.

I’ve had a really good experience with Vista, however, as I mentioned I am running only specific applications on it.  With 8GB RAM, I can easily run UE3 Editor (it prefers 2GB for itself), Max 2008 x64, and image edit software (currently set to use 25% of RAM).  It all runs extremely smooth, and is significantly more stable than my second system (XP-32, 2GB, X1950Pro) which did have a few app crashes every day or two (mainly in UE3)—I’m usually doing level design work for 10 to 12 hours a day so these apps are always running.
All of my other tools are now running on the second XP-32 workstation (sorry don’t mean to advertise software but: nvDXT, ATI Tools, HDRShop, HMCS, HMES, World Machine, Terragen, Corel Suite, Visual Studio, Max 9, and a few other odds and ends).
The only single complaint that I can find with Vista is the stupid Windows Explorer Folder Views.  They should have left them like 2000/XP.

Regarding running as fast as XP-32, I didn’t do a comparison of both OS’s on the same system, so I can’t say with certainty.  However, I do notice that Vista is slower on startup, and moving from 4GB to 8GB on the system made it startup even slower (not including any BIOS POST of course).  As far as application speed, when running quad core at 3GHz with 1066 RAM, everything runs nicely.  :)
With more “junk in the trunk” Vista will probably run slower than XP-32 on the same hardware, but options like Aero can be shut off anyway, so I doubt the performance difference will be substantial.  We’ll all be forced to upgrade eventually anyway.

One thing I always do is purchase (IMHO) the highest quality components that I can for the systems that I build.  I used to do computer hardware design back in the late 80’s/early 90’s (IC’s, embedded computers and OS’s, etc.), hence the odd name of my company and web site, so I’m pretty picky on hardware components.  Most people look at only the CPU and Video when making a choice.  I use over-rated Mushkin power supplies, Mushkin RAM, high-quality cases such as Antec, third-party CPU coolers, etc.  I’ve found this tends to make the system more stable and last longer.

I looked at a few of the nv 9800 reviews and wasn’t impressed enough to upgrade.

Personally, I like ATI hardware and drivers hands-down over NVidia.  I’ve used mostly ATI cards since the original ATI VGA Wonder and right up through the 9000 series, X800s, to the X1950Pro.  I’ve had a few NVidia’s mixed in, but never cared for them as much.  The ATI’s handle dual displays better and their visual quality is better (I always have large dual displays on all of my workstations).  Take two identical systems, one with a 3870 and the other with an 8800GTS, do a screencap in UE3 or most any other game, and the ATI 3D is noticeably better visual quality (color, contrast, etc.).
Recently I downsized my studio from two commercial servers and seven workstations to one server and two workstations (yes, all of this for just one person ;) ), so I had to narrow my choice of what hardware I was going to run.  I chose the NVidia in my main system simply because the ATI hardware (since AMD) has dropped in market performance.  The NVidia works better with UE3 for development because it has a greater fillrate and the stencil shadows work properly (they mess up on many ATI setups).  If the ATI was at least comparable for performance, I would have bought that instead.  I am setting up an E8400 + 3870 shortly, but that is mainly for testing LAN play etc.

I don’t know if any of this helped you any… :)
Different people seem to have different experiences.

EGI Integrated Partner - Software and Game Developer

Hrmm, installing the 8800GTS hasn’t really changed much. 3DS Max 2008 64-bit still crashes, trying it in OpenGL mode gets us a little bit of speed in the viewport, but DirectX 9/10 gave extremely disappointing results. Just received 3DS Max 2009 via subscription, tried installing that but also nothing has really changed.

Maybe we should upgrade to XP 64-bit… :)

Darren Kam | Constructive Media

Perhaps you are using much larger scenes than me.  I see little difference in DX vs OGL.
As mentioned I also never have had a crash.
Without determining a single reproduceable cause across multiple systems, I would tend to look elsewhere, such as other running apps, misbehaving plugins, etc.  If you are considering XP-64 which is a re-install anyway, just reinstall your existing OS, the base drivers, and only Max.  If the crashes cease, it is something else on your current system setup.

EGI Integrated Partner - Software and Game Developer

Last fall we switched over from Viz 2008 32 bit to Max 9 64 bit. I’ve been having crashing problems on my Max 9 64 bit system. It primarily happens with files created in Viz 2008 32 bit that I’ve brought into Max 64 bit. It also doesn’t always do a full save. I’ve opened files with half the geometry missing and had to go to the autobac. I haven’t heard any causes for this.

It’s very strange - switching from using 3ds Max 2008 32-bit (instead of 3ds Max 2008 64-bit) remedies most of the crashes. But then, what’s the point of having all the extra RAM benefits from a 64-bit OS when you’re having to use the 32-bit application to avoid crashes?

Darren Kam | Constructive Media

Hello:
I´m using XP pro 64 bit and MAX 2008 64bit and also have these continuous and anoyng crashes, like 20 crashes a day!!!!
I´m really disapointed with the software, never had these problems with max 9 32 or 64 bit.
I really regreat the update, but now have been working for tool long with this version to go bak to 9 and not been able to open al my recent works.

I also received the 2009 via subscription, but reading that this doesn´t bring a solution, i think i´m not instaling it.

My video is a 8800 gts with latest drivers (changed them recently but didn´t help)

I don´t know what to do, it´s really anoyng and slow to work this way.

Also very often the viewport just don´t show anithing in them, the model is there because you can select it, but nothing displays until you close and re open de program.

I feel this software is steping bakwards and having a much more expensive machine to work with 64 bit, just made me work slower :(

Please if some one find a solution tell me
Cheers