advice needed on graphic card(s)

[superAl]

Hello everybody. I would like to know your opinion on this. I work on a desktop with a single Quadro FX 3800 card (1GB GDDR3 memory). When GPU memory gets around 700 Megs, Octane freezes. I would like to add more memory. Do you think I should add a second FX 3800 card, or add a cheaper Geoforce GTX like the 480 or 580 with more memory? Thanks

[radiance]

I'd add a GTX460 with 2GB video ram, or possibly even 2x GTX460 with 2GB ram each and use the GTX'es for octane and your quadro for display/modeling.
The OS and your other apps probably consumer more video memory which lowers your limit from 1GB to ~700MB.

Radiance

[superAl]

Thanks Radiance. I am sure that you are really busy these days and I really appreciate that you to take time to answer our questions.

I love working with Octane and want to thank you for this fantastic application.

[pixym]

Just seen this news:
http://www.techpowerup.com/138871/Gainw ... -Card.html

[irene]

i join in here with my question:
if i use 2 cards, say my GTX460 and say a GT220 (little power usage) for display and internet surfing while rendering, how does the constellation work?
do i have to branch the monitor with the GT220?
will the GTX460 only work for Octane or also for all other uses (video games, 2D graphics etc...) when i am not rendering on Octane?

from what i read in the manual (pages 14-17) i would almost assume, that GTX460 would have to be reserved for Octane. can that be the case?

i work with windows xp, asus P5Q PRO motherboard with 2PCIe 2.0 *16 slots.

thank you for your help!

[Jaberwocky]

If you use the GTX460 for Octane only and your GT220 for display, you will need to ensure PHysx is switched off and SLI disabled.

Switch those back on if you want to get both running in SLI for Video games (of course Physx switched on is optional!)

[irene]

thank you very much, Jaberwocky!
just read about SLI, seems like i can switch these on and off on the NVIDIA system panel, so that is as easily done as changing screen resolution for instance. no need to go into bios or so. right?

[Jaberwocky]

sorry just spotted your reply....yes just switch off SLi and Physx in the Nvidia control panel.That shjoudl sort it.

[cheeweezz777]

Just FYI- after much fiddling, I had to switch Physx to "CPU" for O.R. to pick up my second 480 as "active".

[Jaberwocky]

Yes i realised this after my last comment.You can't switch off Physx , only switch it from the GPU to the CPU.Anyway.Problem solved.