Multiple video cards, causes Sketchup to bug out :)
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I've got two geForce graphics cards in my system -- one PCI-EX, one PCI. When I've got the PCI one enabled, and my Windows (Vista, SP1) Desktop spread across both cards' monitors, after loading Sketchup, or a model in Sketchup, up to 50% of the processor will be consumed by SketchUp.
Process Explorer reports that half of that is taken by the nvidia driver, which is confirmed, when I turn off one of the cards (doesn't matter which) -- when i reboot Sketchup with only one video card enabled, it performs normally.I am also using the 3D Connexion SpaceNavigator PE, with the latest version of the Sketchup plugin. (3.2.8?)
And the latest versions of Sketchup, and Vista.I know how to work-around -- just use one-half of my monitor 'array' -- but I figured you'll want to know about it.....
Thanks for all your work, SketchUp team!!!
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It is not a SketchUp bug. It's the nVidia drivers. You will see this with any OpenGL application.
I experienced this myself when I bought an Geforce 8800 GT to replace my old Geforce 6800 GT. But since I had three monitors available I figured I might as well keep the old one installed and use them both. I figured I could use the old one for my two 17" and use the new card exclusively for my main 22".
But what I found was that any OpenGL application became dead slow. DirectX worked fine.
According to nVidia support it most likely a driver limitation (or bug). I've not received any more info on the matter.
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Officially SU does still not support multiple monitors.
I have not had the opportunity to try, but it would be interesting to see if the same issues arise if you use Quadro FX cards. I understand that they should be designed to support more OpenGL windows than the "consumer" cards.
Anssi
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I don't have any problems with two monitors connected to one graphics card on neither Geforce or Quadro. That's running XP and Vista. Only problem occurs with two active graphic cards.
@HobbesPDX: No, SketchUp only uses OpenGL.
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Well here is some interesting development(s)-
First, I updated my nVidia drivers to the latest on the website (178.13)
After a full restart, I tried Sketchup, and the performance was the same.
(using both vid cards)However, leaving both cards on, and turning off Hardware Acceleration + Fast Feedback (in SketchUp), it starts to respond (more) normally. Not perfect, but LOADS better.
Very interesting.
Thanks everyone, for help in pointing to the drivers for blame, and not to the fabulous SketchUp team........
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Turning of Hardware Acceleration makes SketchUp not use the graphic cards at all.
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@thomthom said:
Turning of Hardware Acceleration makes SketchUp not use the graphic cards at all.
I kinda figured that, but it works, and both cards are in use.
<shrug>Do you have a recommendation for additional scenarios to use SketchUp?
- Use just one nVidia graphics card at a time. (requiring a change of settings)
- Turn off Hardware Acceleration. (thus negating the GPU advantage)
- .....
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In my case I didn't want to disable 3D acceleration, so my only option would be to use only one of the cards. (Btw, anyone wants a cheap 6800 GT?)
Instead I connected the third extra monitor to a spare computer I had, installed the V-Ray render slave on it and set up Synergy so I could control both my computers seamlessly with one set of mouse and keyboard.I couldn't find any good solution to it. It's a pitty though.
I'd quite like to hear from ATI users with two graphic cards if they have any problems with OpenGL.
And I'd also like to hear from people with two identical grapicscards set up with SLI, maybe they will function as one and not suffer from this issue. -
Hi all,
Problems and artifacts, especially on selecting, with Nvidia cards 8800 GT, solved with latest drivers:
GeForce Release 178 WHQL
Version: 178.24
Release Date: October 15, 2008Tested in Win XP 32 and Win XP 64 , both SU6 and SU5, works fine.
Regards
George
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