How much computing power is enough?

Roger · 2 Dec 2007, 03:27

Is an Intel Pentium 4 3GHz processor enough horsepower when doing KT renderings at max resolution?

Two day long renders is getting old.

juju · 2 Dec 2007, 03:27

To answer this question you need define enough, which is a variable that changes from person to person.

Kerkythea will make use of as many processors as you have available. So rather look at the dual core or quad core machines (as they are quite powerful) rather than an old P4 machine, unless you can get for next to nothing and don't mind it rendering (on its own, doing nothing else) while you keep on working on another machine.

Of course a quad core machine is plenty powerful and you could keep on working whilst rendering in the background with the right machine specifications.

Roger · 2 Dec 2007, 03:28

What would it take to render the maximum size Kerky rendering with most of the parameters set to good or excellent in four hours? Can that be done with a quad processor? Are there 8 way processors? If so could Kerky take advantage of them?

Thanks for the info.

juju · 2 Dec 2007, 03:29

To be honest Roger, I haven't toyed with Kerky myself, so one of the KT regulars would be best qualified to answer how long renders would take, but I gather it depends on method used as well as scene complexity. I don't know if the Kerkythea forum is back up yet, maybe have a look there. Kerkythea can make use of as many CPU cores as you can throw at it - groovy huh?!

To my knowledge, there are no 8-core processors commercially available. However there are machines equipped with motherboards that accept two 4-core CPU's delivering a 8-core machine. Be warned, they are freakishly expensive, due to the CPU's used as well as the RAM requirements (typically uses ECC RAM) and powersupply needed together with cooling for that monster.

I just built myself a new 4-core machine with 4GB of RAM a week or so ago and as soon as I've got a little spare time I'm starting rendering.