Hardware recommendations

solo

Numerobis,

I suggest the nvidia gtx 285, ATI still have stability issues with many 3D modeling apps.
I would not bother with a Quadro as it performance gain if any is not noticable for the difference in price and then it's also a very limited card and chocks with heavy video editing.

thomthom

Impressive model. Is that each brick modelled?
I'm very interested in what you did with the brick wall on the left side of the model, where the bricks are visible only in spots. (Has this model been talked about in another thread?)

solo

Thanks.

Yes the bricks are all modeled, on the left side I used a random push pulll to get varying depths so giving the appearance of inconsistant showing and on the other side of the road it's standard depth for clean brick appearance.
This model is being used for an in-game video, my part is done (the modeling) the complete model is being textured at moment by another contractor and will be finally compiled in Max or Maya (not sure as my part is only initial modeling)
I have not really discussed this model as it's part of a bigger city model that I cannot show due to a NDA.

thomthom

I'll have to try that technique on my Discworld model; I want worn cobble stones in the streets; http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=18393

solo

Seen this?

http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=11241&p=77019&hilit=cobble#p77019

thomthom

Thanks!
(I'll continue in that thread. )

solo

I did a performance video of the partial model, it's 126MB, has 1.8 million faces and double edges.

Even with shadows on it was smooth, this does not orbit well on any other machine I tried, and not at all with shadows on.

[flash=600,355:2xd6zd10]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/XlW0fYb7dZQ[/flash:2xd6zd10]

thomthom

That's impressive. Didn't see it degrade to wireframe at all.

solo

I did a fast and dirty 8 second animation in Vue, just added two cars and an atmosphere, put extra motion blur for drunk effect. rendered in 26 minutes.

[flash=640,400:2xa87muf]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/Mng2dgFxzIs[/flash:2xa87muf]

Chris Fullmer

Thats really impressive Solo!

I still feel like I'm missing something about Vue. Hopefully I'll figure it out in time, I'd really like to use that software.

Chris

thomthom

Animation in Vue? Another reason for me to check out that application.

solo

This is the Vue 7 presentation video, all done with Vue animation, wind, sun movement, poser animation, avi alpha planes, solid growth plants, planets, atmospheres etc.

[flash=560,340:9g1mhfam]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/48LAOpVTVdY[/flash:9g1mhfam]

lucifer1101

oo i may have to upgrade to vue 7 from vue 5.

I had never thaught of using that with sketchup cool idea....

thomthom

I just tried the candle light test Solo did. Replicating his moves. I looked to get similar behaviour. Upon the beginning of an orbit there was a small lag, but thereafter it was smooth.

ASUS P5Q-E
Intel Q9450 2.66GHz Overclocked to 3.3GHz
8GB 800MHz RAM
Geforce 8800GT 512MB - 4X AA
Windows7 RC 64bit
Sketchup7
22" Monitor 1680x1050 (Primary which SU runs maximized on)
17" Monior 1280x1024

thomthom

Crud! Something went wrong when I made the computer go to Sleep. I refused to reboot until I reset the CMOS. Then my OC settings where lost. Fortunaly, the guy who helped me OC saved the settings which I then could load. Unfortunately, it was saved when it was set to 3.2GHz, and not when we pushed it up to 3.3GHz... meh!

Sir

I just had a new computor built for me so i could get a project done in time... did it, but had to take the tower home for some weekend work!

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3

      Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz with HT tech
         Memory: 2046MB DDR3 corsair RAM
    Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512.0 MB

gotta say it works like a dream for SKP, but other things that can actually use multi procs are a bit slower... AutoCAD 2010 im looking at you you pice of RAM hoggin VM sucking piece of c***

Wazzer

Hi Guys My search for a new company laptop continues

I would like your opinion on this note book for use with Sketchup and AutoCAD.

Its a Lenovo W500
Intel Core 2Duo T9400
4GB Ram DDR3 1066Mhz
ATI mobility FireGL V5700 512mb
200gb Hard drive at 7200rpm

I use it primarily for Designing Mechanical components with AutoCAD and Sketchup.

Cheers

Ben

remus

Looks good, although you might want to try and find out how well the graphics card will work with SU.

Anssi

It seems that if you must have a 15-inch Lenovo workstation, you are stuck with the FireGL - all the models with QuadroFX seem to be with 17-inch screens. You should definitely test it.

Anssi

Wazzer

Thanks for the reply guys

The problem is that the Lenovo notebooks with QuadroFX and 17inch screens are Massivly more expensive than the 15 inch notebooks. I mean they are about 4 times the price!!!
They tell me we just dont have the budget for one.

I am also concernd that the FireGL graphics card wont play nicely with sketchup

Does anyone have any experience of these cards with SketchUp?

I wont have access to one to run any tests on it until we order it and recieve it. This is obviously far too late if its no good.

The problem is I am being pushed into making a decsion very soon and i cant afford to make a mistake.

Cheers All