I’m trying to review Mudbox for the mac.  Having all sorts of problems.  Love it when it works but I think what is happening is a video card issue. Problems started as follows. 

First noticed that when working with photoshop or iphoto up ( looking at reference) sometimes when I would turn the model, my photoshop and i photo would go away, not all of the time, just some times. OH yes, and when this happens my model flips upside down and backwards.

Then I found this happening with tonemapper and depth of field.  See screen shots below. 
Other than that, unless there are other things I have not seen or that have not popped up these are my issues.

, as I hear there is not many options for Mac users when it comes to video cards.  So what will Mac users do?  Please advise as I am on a deadline and have to get this to work. 

PS I should also mention that it has quit on my three times.  Just disappears.  Thanks I’m looking for your assistance.

Mudbox 2009
Mac Pro Mac OS X 10.5.6
2 x3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
12 GB 667 MH DDR2 FB-DIMM
ATI Radeon X1900 XT

Dual displays
20 “ display
20” Cintiq tablet

A fine artist entering the digital world.

Co-author Digital Sculpting with Mudbox:Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists
Host of Art and Technology Podcast
Admin of the digital community DigitalSculpting.net
Fine art website

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i guess I will answer my own question.  Though I really don’t know if I have the answer.  But if another person is asking the same question and finds this thread it may help.  I did find specs that are posted on the mudbox site that says what video cards can be used for the mac.  http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=12198226 that offers this pdf
http://download.autodesk.com/us/...qualifiedgraphics_mac.pdf

Unfortunately Mac friends —our choices are limited.  The ATI Radeon card that I have - Radeon X 1600 The Mudbox specs states that it is “Qualified with caveats,” and refers to caveat limitations.  Though I must report I have other things that don’t work well, and are not listed there.  Besides those things mentioned in the previous post I also have the issue of photoshop or iphoto windows closing down when trying to turn the model.  mudbox is also disappearing and the model is flipping. One thing that I thought was a graphics card problem.  ( when more than one light is turned on, I lose my curser) I hear, actually is a bug to report.

I really just want to get a video card that I know will work, work well, and let me grow with it.  According to the list on those pages above. It looks like the NVIDIA card GeForce 9600M GT is the best one for the Mac.  ( until I do further research) Our office has a call into PR at NVIDIA to see how they can help us to work this situation out.  I’ll let you know how this goes.  I also have a call into ATI to see if the Marketing/PR can help us with another upgrade to what I have, or see if they can work out the kinks. 

I would hesitate in reviewing the Quadro FX 4800 for mudbox as the Quatdro FX 4500 is stated as ( qualification failed due to serious problems) in the mudbox graphics hardware specification pdf. Who wants to spend that type of money for something that we are not sure will work?  I will ask NVIDIA when I talk with them. 

Dave Cardwell at mudbox said he uses ATI 4870 ( not on the recommend list) and it works fine with only one problem- as I recall, that problem had something to do with the reflection map and shader. 

That is my update for now.  More to come.

FYI
trying to find info on Mac graphics cards is difficult, Here are a couple of old article if one is searching for options or things to compare and review. 

January 2008 Mac Pro Buying advice radion hd 2600 xt or geforce 880 GT http://www.barefeats.com/york2.html
from the lab testing the Mac pro graphic card options Feb 27 2008 http://www.macworld.com/article/132268/2008/02/nvidiageforce8800gt.html

A fine artist entering the digital world.

Co-author Digital Sculpting with Mudbox:Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists
Host of Art and Technology Podcast
Admin of the digital community DigitalSculpting.net
Fine art website

upon looking further into the graphics card and driver qualifications for the macintosh, posted by mudbox as of this date.  All of those listed as Qualified are for the macbook and not the mac Pro.  ???? Approved graphics cards for a lap top but not a desk top????

I will figure this out.

A fine artist entering the digital world.

Co-author Digital Sculpting with Mudbox:Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists
Host of Art and Technology Podcast
Admin of the digital community DigitalSculpting.net
Fine art website

what, another post from the same person?

Research continues 349.00 is the cost of the Radeon 4870 http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd4800/specs.html

Because I have to get back to writing and need mudbox to work, at this moment this is the card I have decided to go with.  It is the only true “recommendation” that I have received and since it is what Dave Cardwell is using and he knows it works, that is my decision.  Now.... I may get a call from ATI and Nividia and be persuaded to change my mind.  But I really need to get going on this. 

I sure hope this helps someone else.

A fine artist entering the digital world.

Co-author Digital Sculpting with Mudbox:Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists
Host of Art and Technology Podcast
Admin of the digital community DigitalSculpting.net
Fine art website

Geez!

It would be nice if we could get some feedback from someone else to see if icreate’s discussion with himself was on the mark.

This is an issue which I have been having as well.

And I am working on a Mac laptop, so there isn’t a lot I can do about a graphic’s card (although I am looking into this - it seems that if I use an external monitor, and graphics card(s) that I might be able to solve some of my problems).

But it would be really great to have another opinion weigh in on this issue.

no matter what Os you use, mudbox always can work better on a more high-end performance card. and Nvidia card get more tested and are more stable than ATI card for Mudbox. 
btw, our mac pro uses the ATI 4870, it works well usually.