8 node satellite rendering?

[Hellbring]

My understanding is that it will allow u to use up to 8 cpus to help render what you are rendering on the licensed computer and cannot render on its own.

Hopefully I am wrong and you can use 8 cpus as a distrubuted render setup controlled by the licensed computer.

So far Lightwave is the only one that gives free render nodes and is a big reason why companies still keep it around. I know that the small studio that I work for would think about switching to XSI alot more if for ever copy you own you got a few free render nodes as well.

I am pretty sure that even some bigger companies havent switched due to the high cost of switching their render farm software. I know cafeFX still does alot of rendering still in Lightwave, but I bet they would love to switch to a mental ray render solution if the cost wasnt so high.

Paying another 2k or whatever it is for a mental ray render node adds up quick.

[chikega]

Originally posted by Hellbring
I know cafeFX still does alot of rendering still in Lightwave,

And Digital Domain and Passion Pictures and .... ;)

[SheepFactory]

I think advanced already comes with 4 processor support , thats 3 more processors than any other package with MR is offering.

just dont get what this satellite thing is,

[tachy0n]

Originally posted by Hellbring
Paying another 2k or whatever it is for a mental ray render node adds up quick.

Sure, but then there's rendering and there's rendering, just like there's LW and then there's fPrime....Cost isn't the only thing, often the costlier renderers (and apps) pay for themselves in reduced time and better quality. All depends on what your particular needs are.

[Zeruel the 14th]

The satellite rendering is put under 'core technology' on the SITE (http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/v4/) and says The free Satellite tile-based distributed rendering included in XSI allows you to take advantage of accelerated render regions or multi-CPU renders of a single frame without having to buy additional mental ray licenses.

http://www.softimage.com/products/XSI/v4/core/default.asp?core=4

Further down it says

With the up to 8 free tile-based distributed Satellite render tokens included in XSI, you can take advantage of accelerated render regions or multi-CPU renders of a single frame without having to buy additional mental ray licenses

Upto also includes ZERO

ADVANCED (http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/v4/pricing/default.asp?pkg=adv) has 8 nodes.
ESSENTIALS (http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/v4/pricing/default.asp?pkg=ess) has 4 nodes
FOUNDATION (http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/v4/pricing/default.asp?pkg=foundation) has zero.

So it seem that 'core technology' isn't so 'core' afterall (i put this to SI's sneaky marketing department). And 'upto' really does include zero. It would have been nice if foundation had 2 nodes or even one. Would probably justify the maintenance for alot of people. (I suspect the price is very attractive to many, myself included, but the 'maintence' or whatever its called is not mentioned anywhere near the product information and price. Perhaps it jacks the price up by a few? :shrug: )

[tachy0n]

Don't be misled by the zero satellite nodes, yuo'r still getting the regular '2 CPU mental ray® v.3.3 rendering' (from the site) Which means that you'l be able to use it on a dual CPu box. This makes sense since anyone getting a foundation seat is probably not gonna have a 4 CPU system (or more)

[Zeruel the 14th]

Originally posted by tachy0n
Don't be misled by the zero satellite nodes, yuo'r still getting the regular '2 CPU mental ray® v.3.3 rendering' (from the site) Which means that you'l be able to use it on a dual CPu box. This makes sense since anyone getting a foundation seat is probably not gonna have a 4 CPU system (or more)

True true. 2 cpus are good (and pricy), and i've never had to pleasure of ever seeing a MoBo with space for more than 2 cpus, though i've heard of 4 and 8, but i just about placed such things in the 'myth' category. (I guess they don't advertise such hardware much)

Maybe i'm wrong. But my intepretation of 'satellites nodes' was 'external' cpus (Seperate but connected). Ie, networked PCs. Is this the case? Because now i too am uncertain. I assumed networked pcs. :blush:

[TheLostVertex]

[i]Maybe i'm wrong. But my intepretation of 'satellites nodes' was 'external' cpus (Seperate but connected). Ie, networked PCs. Is this the case? Because now i too am uncertain. I assumed networked pcs. :blush: [/B]

I kinda was thinking it ment seperate too...I just dont think of the word "satellite" as something internal (although the word only really means something is a subservient follower)

And if it does mean external cpus...Im going to be pissed at myself for giving away one or my rendering computers

Also, I wonder about using hardware rendering, would each video card count as a satellite?

[ThE_JacO]

it means networked CPUs.
so if you have 8 satellites and have another couple dual CPUs boxes at hand you can use those.

also the annoying requirment to use stand-alones to render MIfiles is gone.

batchserve is now integrated and free (not requiring any license except an xsi license).

syflex DOES come bundled and better integrated for free with advanced and will be offered at competitive price for the other versions.

MRay is 3.3.0x

the FXTree can now preview on a monitor and framebuffer using an avid mojo or an avid adrenaline.

etc. etc.

[tachy0n]

Aahaa ! Straight from the squirrel's mouth so to speak :p

Thanks for clearing that up ThE_JacO...

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