Core 2 Quad Support ???

[AZ MediaOne Design 0]

WHEN?...

my new machine is core 2 quad with a nVidia 8800.

Rendering is is faster but the CPU is running at 25 to 30%.

Im a LITTLE disapointed, to say the least....

Also VectorWorks should incorporate the Crytek Render engine.

See http://www.crytek.com/technology/index.php?sx=eng2

check the part where they compare REAL scene to RENDERED

http://www.crytek.com/screenshots/index.php?sx=cryengine2&px=environment_set6_new.jpg

[P Retondo 110]

AZ, RenderWorks should be using approx. 100% processor. Other rendering modes will only use 25% (we'd like to see NNA fix that). When you look at a RW rendering in process on the screen, you should see the multiple threads at work as the rendering takes place in 3 to 4 horizontal bands at once. Your dual core is emulating 4 cores, that's why with other processes that can't hyperthread you're getting 25% performance.

[AZ MediaOne Design 0]

I called tech support, they just said flat out that VW does NOT support quad core AT this time ;-(......

[Dave Donley 251]

Hello AZ:

Raytracing in RenderWorks takes advantage of all the cores on the machine. Only raytracing does this, i.e. other modes do not, and if you turn off raytracing in Custom RenderWorks you will only be using one core.

[AZ MediaOne Design 0]

When I render i mostly use final quality renderwoerks with a background site picture (attached

exterior render took 20 sec

http://www.azmediaone.com/Renderings/WNW1.jpg

interior render took 2 min 20 sec

http://www.azmediaone.com/Renderings/Interior_Living.jpg

proccesor use of rendering the interior image, about 30% to 45%

http://www.azmediaone.com/Renderings/horne_int_w_ext_on.jpg

[AZ MediaOne Design 0]

I use this great free app to measure cpu use during rendering.

http://www.download.com/3000-2094_4-10684373.html?tag=dl.1

I need to find one that measures graphic card use.

[P Retondo 110]

My dual core uses ~100% processor for final RenderWorks. I have hyperthreading enabled.

[AZ MediaOne Design 0]

Re installexd Windows XP (clean) .

That did wonders...

Thanks

[carpalmer 0]

how do you enable hyperthreading, and what does it mean / do?

thx

carpalmer

[Dave Donley 251]

Hello carpalmer:

Hyperthreading is a way for the processor to tell the OS that it has more than one "core", so the OS will send it more work. For rendering tasks it is better to have a real core than hyperthreading. Hyperthreading is usually on by default for processors that support it. Newer systems likely have real cores than hyperthreading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading

[carpalmer 0]

thanks Dave, I got the dual cores, so I assume I need not be concerened with hyperthreading...

what about quad cores, is this set up taken advantage of in WW?

I'm still getting long rendering times, or unfinished Radiosity "freezes"

carpalmer

[Dave Donley 251]

Hello again carpalmer:

Quad cores will be used during raytraced rendering, i.e. FQRW, FQ Radiosity or Custom RW and Radiosity with raytracing on. While generating the radiosity solution RW only uses one core.

If you can pin it down when one of these radiosity freezes happens please email me!

[P Retondo 110]

Dave, my core duo processor has two cores, but emulates a quad core. So having multiple physical cores may not necessarily eliminate the value of hyperthreading.

carpalmer, I believe that hyperthreading is enabled/disabled in the BIOS setup, assuming that you are on a PC. Don't know about the Mac.