Octane Xpander

[Nichod]

Don't get me wrong I understand this is custom hardware that is probably either custom ordered or custom assembled onsite. So I'm sure that it's difficult to sell it at a lower price. Just pointing out that it's more cost saving to build a whole PC at the moment. I can build 2 or maybe even 3 portable computers for the same cost. The really nice option is the laptop version.

[Carl S.]

I am wondering if one Xpander with dual gtx 480's is enough to render animations?

[havensole]

I have it with dual gtx470's and it works great on animations. Only issue I have is the exporting and loading times between blender and octane. Once octane opens and starts rendering it goes ridiculously fast.

[PhilBo]

Don't get me wrong I understand this is custom hardware that is probably either custom ordered or custom assembled onsite. So I'm sure that it's difficult to sell it at a lower price. Just pointing out that it's more cost saving to build a whole PC at the moment. I can build 2 or maybe even 3 portable computers for the same cost. The really nice option is the laptop version.

As I see it, one of the advantages in using the Xpander is that if you have a PC that has a ton of proprietary software linked to the machine, you don't necessarily want to build a new machine and reconfigure everything. With the Xpander, you get instant increase in rendering speed without having to change anything in your current setup. It was a piece of cake to add my Xpander with 2 GTX 470's.

[EricNV]

My problem with the Xpander is the price in comparison to building a whole system yourself. It's price is equal or more than just building a computer. Great idea. Though I think a slight price cut would make it more useful to the majority.

Let me add my two cents, or more accurately, three points:

1. GPU-Xpander is not just aimed at hobbyists and small 1-2 man studios who are more likely than not going to build their own systems. If you read all of the website pages, you will see that Cubix has significant new products coming up soon aimed at both SMBs, large studios and engineering/architectural firms. The people in these markets expect a professional, well-built, [and u]well-supported[/u]solution.

2. The reason I emphasized the end of the last point is that people who build their own PC systems will have to support their own systems. Some people who do this know what they're doing. Havensole, Radiance, and Philbo are good examples of this group. Others who build their own systems and think they are saving themselves money will inevitably spend much more time sourcing components, testing, servicing and supporting their self-built systems than people who just add a GPU-Xpander to their current rig. And you can see how much value the three members listed above place on Xpander!

3. A much better comparison of GPU-Xpander's value is to compare it against configurations from companies such as BOXX Technologies, Digital Storm, Renderstream, and other boutique PC manufacturers. See how much any of these companies will charge you for a full-fledged PC or workstation with 2 x GTX 470/480 cards. Check out how much Dell will charge for a PC that is only capable of supporting 2 x GTX 470 or 480 cards. At just under $2k for an Xpander unit with 2 x GTX 480 cards included, its a bargain.

EricNV

[PhilBo]

Just for giggles, I priced out the cost of putting together a new PC that would be able to do what I can currently with the Xpander. It was going to cost around $1000 to get all the parts to make a new PC (assuming I was not taking parts out of my old PC). This was to get a big, honking power supply, multi-GPU capable MB, a medium range processor, 4 GB ram, HD, CD drive, average case and OS. That didn't even count the time and energy to back up all the software on the current PC and then reinstalling everything on the new one.

Instead, I just installed a little card in my PCI-E slot, plugged my two GTX470's in the Xpander, and plugged them together and instantly rebooted my computer and was enjoying multi-GPU goodness.

[havensole]

I did the same sort of thing when looking at building a system or two for Siggraph. Yes the systems are expensive if you are looking to build a new system all together, but if you already have a decent system, or 12 in my case, and just need some extra slots for gpu's, why build a whole system. I also love that I can have a second receiver card in another system so I can just bring my xpander unit to that one and get all the power I need. I do this all the time between home and work. The system is not for everyone, for sure.

My work, and engineering college, is looking into buying some xpander units so we can add multiple gpu's to existing servers used for scientific calculations. This saves space, cost (which are crazily important to any academic institution), and installation times.

[Carl S.]

Is there $100 off xpanders with a octane license?

[havensole]

I believe this offer is still going, but EricNV will have to verify.