Performance issue

[pompeyfan]

OK, a quick question for the technical geeks here.

When i work on sketchup, and particularly vray, the computer slows down dramatically, and i often have to cancel processes in Task Manager to continue to work. Would a boost to 2GB DDR2 Ram fix the problem?

My computer currently has 1GB DDR2 Ram, 3.04GhZ processor, and is ~8 months old.

[Gaieus]

Not as I were a hardware geek but what about your graphic card? (although in rendering memory is important, too).

[pompeyfan]

@gaieus said:

Not as I were a hardware geek but what about your graphic card? (although in rendering memory is important, too).

My Graphics Card is a 128MB Intel

[remus]

Upgrading your RAM would probably help, although there might be somethign else in your system causing a bottleneck.

[Anssi]

@pompeyfan said:

My Graphics Card is a 128MB Intel

If you have a slot in your computer, a decent graphics card would make a difference in all but the smallest models. The on-board Intel graphics use your system memory (that's where it takes the 128 Mb from)and doing so slow down other things as well. And they are not meant for SU or other 3D applications. Usually you cannot use them with Hardware Acceleration on. Almost any Nvidia Geforce-based card will be better, and if you model professionally, a Quadro FX can be recommended. Ati cards can be usually made to work too, but users report more problems than Nvidia (not that they frustrate some users too)

Also, adding the second gig of memory is not a bad idea either.

Anssi

[bytor]

Pompeyfan,

There can be multiple reasons for your speed issue - so it is hard to be too specific. But generally speaking - the following might help, and are based on some broad assumptions.

While working in sketchup: - the video card and memory are critical, as your processor should be sufficient. All of the comments regarding the on-board intel accelerators apply. A seperate nvidia or ati chip based video card with dedicated 256 mb of memory would make a difference. More than 1 Gb of ram would help for larger files.

While rendering with the V-ray plugin: - the video card play no part with the exception of showing you the progress and end result on the screen. There are a couple of potential causes and solutions
1- Vray likes to take all of the processing power of the chip - so you will not likely be able to do much else while rendering with a single core chip. also - Vray can take advantage of running multiple cores to help with this.
2- Your memory of 1 Gb is low for rendering - jumping to 2 Gb should help your system with some breathing room
3- Vray has some very efficient pre-sets for rendering that I would suggest you stick to till you get more comfortable with what can and should be tweaked.
4- File optimization can never be over rated, all of us can always do better.

Hope these help - I know how frustrating it can get waiting for the renders at times!

Bytor