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View Full Version : Buying a renderfarm and updating workstations... suggestions needed!

Bleen
10-31-2005, 08:01 PM
Hello, I'm currently working in a TV and film animation studio doing 3D art. Until recently this studio was mostly 2D, requiring 3D only as special effects or small stuff. However, it seems they decided to jump into the 3D world... and they are planning to buy a renderfarm and upgrade our workstations.
I don't have a say about the renderfarm, but my boss asked us to give him specs for a good workstation, keeping in mind we won't be rendering stuff in it.
We're using Pentium 4 with 2 gb ram and Quadro 550 XGL. Not the best, but it's enough for now. I don't have a clue about the budget, but I'm positive it won't be enormous...
Should we ask for processor upgrades? switch to 64 bit platforms and ask for 4 gb ram? or should we ask for better video cards? Speaking of which, I've read that the Wildcat are good... but seems to me that Quadros are also good... which is bettter?

Thanks a lot for your help! :-)
Vertizor
10-31-2005, 09:47 PM
More importantly, what 3D software will you and the other artists be using? Is that up to you guys to decide or the boss?
Bleen
10-31-2005, 11:33 PM
Sorry! Don't know how I missed that.
We are and will continue to use Maya.

Thanks!
Vertizor
10-31-2005, 11:43 PM
Treat hardware as a commodity, because it changes rapidly and it's quite easy to grow along with it. Invest more on software. You might be ok now with Maya, but depending on what your render software needs are (I'm hinting at that render farm) the software licenses for renderers will hit you harder than the hardware.

But for the sake of workstations, if you say you're going to continue to use Maya, that means you have computers that can handle the 3D workload right now, yes?

Upgrade them as you see fit. Sounds like all you need is RAM and video card bump ups.

I've never seen/used Wildcats, but I have owned a Quadro and it handled things beautifully. To be honest, unless you're doing mechanical engineering the Quadros may be overkill. Either stick with what you have now or slow upgrade. Yes, you could buy the most expensive video card out there but the smarter thing to do is pick on you KNOW works well in price/performance for your particular workload. Kinda hard to estimate considering your company is just getting into serious 3D.

I stand by my "wait and see" idea, upgrade when you think you need it.
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