Hello,

I’m considering going into 3D modelling. With either 3Ds Max 2012 or Maya 2012. I can get both for free since I’m a student, So I’ll probably download both and see which one is right for me.

But before I do that, I need a new computer. I’ve already got an idea of what I want to build but I need some advice on a graphics card.

It doesn’t have to be the worlds fastest, But I need one that will work fine with 3ds Max 2012, Maya 2012, Plus the Adobe CS5 series and Zbrush. That and one that won’t be giving me screen flashes and general bugs with the OS and one that I won’t have to send back to the manufacture, Get another, Repeat process, And so forth.

My budget is $250 USD. I’d prefer an Nvidia consumer card instead of a workstation card, So I can do things like gaming too. ATI/AMD would be ok too, But Nvidia would be my first choice because of some incompatibilitys I’ve heard with Autodesk products on Windows and other 3D products.

I didn’t list my needs as I just want the best I can get on my budget.

I’ll be using Windows 7 64 Bit on a custom built PC. And it doesn’t matter if it’s PCI, PCIe, Etc as I can always pick the mobo based on that. But I would like the card to not be HDMI only, As I can’t afford an HD monitor right now. DVI, DVID, Or D-Sub will be ok.

Can anybody recommend some cards?. And the manufacture/Product name too. Instead of just Nvidia ABCetc.

Sorry this is so long. I just want a good experience with my 3D programs.

Thanks.

Joey

Sounds like a GTX460 may be a decent choice.  You can find them in your price range with 2GB of memory like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130611
The 2GB of memory will come in handy if you want to explore GPU rendering options like iray, VRay R/T, etc., and still allow you to play games.

It should work alright with 3ds Max 2012 (viewport performance)...but ultimately that’s going to be subjective to the type of scenes you work with & their complexity.

I can’t comment on how the 460 GPU would perform with Maya/Zbrush/CS5.

Jeff Patton
My Website | mental ray materials & blog

Update:I looked into Nvidia cards such as the GTX 460 but I’ve read lots of bad things about the GTX 400’s and 500’s and OpenGL.

Does anyone know if 3DS Max has problems with ATI on Windows?. I’ve read that ATI cards have been known to be buggy with Maya on Windows. But does 3DS Max have the same problems?.

I’d be looking into getting a consumer ATI card by the way. If anybody has any suggestions.

If any Maya users want to comment about ATI cards with Maya that would be fine too. As I’m still deciding between the 2 programs.

Thanks

Joey_Ray 20 May 2011 04:37 AM

Update:I looked into Nvidia cards such as the GTX 460 but I’ve read lots of bad things about the GTX 400’s and 500’s and OpenGL.


Does anyone know if 3DS Max has problems with ATI on Windows?. I’ve read that ATI cards have been known to be buggy with Maya on Windows. But does 3DS Max have the same problems?.


I’d be looking into getting a consumer ATI card by the way. If anybody has any suggestions.


If any Maya users want to comment about ATI cards with Maya that would be fine too. As I’m still deciding between the 2 programs.



Thanks

3dmax? Get nvidia, forget ati especially for the iray gpu acceleration render and the physix.
The brand new nitrous viewport engine at 2012 much better comparing to disaster 2011. It push the gpu for viewport too like games software.

But for the CG opengl based apps: like maya [not tested yet] and C4D, Ati strangely superior than nVidia, eventhough the games opengl benchmark like furmark let nvidia won.
For opengl CG GPU test, i recommended using cinebench. autodesk never create something like this.