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another option would be a Cubix GPU Xpander for octane render.
we have some at our office and they work like a charm.

http://www.cubix.com/products/gpu-xpander

This just plugs into any existing PCI-E slot on any older PC and works just like a new box.
It's also lightweight and portable, so you can do interactive walkthroughs/demos with a laptop with a cardbus adapter.

if you have an octane render license, you can get discount.

Radiance

radiance wrote:another option would be a Cubix GPU Xpander for octane render.
we have some at our office and they work like a charm.

http://www.cubix.com/products/gpu-xpander

This just plugs into any existing PCI-E slot on any older PC and works just like a new box.
It's also lightweight and portable, so you can do interactive walkthroughs/demos with a laptop with a cardbus adapter.

if you have an octane render license, you can get discount.

Radiance

I'm kind of curious about how those expander would effect the speed of PCI-E bus. Basically just merge 2 cards and signal through 1 PCI-E slot right? So wouldn't that mean running a X16 slot with 2 cards equates to X8 for each card? And still... a $1200+ price tag isn't really friendly since the whole point of GPU render is fast and cheap.

Krisonrik wrote:

radiance wrote:another option would be a Cubix GPU Xpander for octane render.
we have some at our office and they work like a charm.

http://www.cubix.com/products/gpu-xpander

This just plugs into any existing PCI-E slot on any older PC and works just like a new box.
It's also lightweight and portable, so you can do interactive walkthroughs/demos with a laptop with a cardbus adapter.

if you have an octane render license, you can get discount.

Radiance

I'm kind of curious about how those expander would effect the speed of PCI-E bus. Basically just merge 2 cards and signal through 1 PCI-E slot right? So wouldn't that mean running a X16 slot with 2 cards equates to X8 for each card? And still... a $1200+ price tag isn't really friendly since the whole point of GPU render is fast and cheap.

it runs identical in response and speed to a MB with 2 GPUs on it. we have them in our office.
and it's not $1200, it's $970 including one GTX260.

http://www.cubixgpu.com/Online-Store?PH ... b3b8147bb9

Radiance

jmm that intel 6 core processor isnt a really good investment for $1049 ( i think) , pheraps you can buy a EVGA clasified SR2 mobo and overclock two xeons 5520 to 3.2Ghz ($379 each) and you should end with a octo core 16 threaded monster (that not mentioning that your mobo supports 4 full 16x cards).

i think a good 4 way sli mobo ( only one socket ) is costing arround $400

the dual socket mobo costs $600 (on evga website)

you save like $240 in porcessors ( if you buy two xeons) and with that you can afford the sr2 mobo

ah and later you can upgrade to two 6 core xeon ( when prices drop) and you should have a jaw dropping 24 threads 12 core workstation ( to do all your fluids and particle simulations at blazing speed ( with 8 cores 16/ threads will be fast too )

the card thing i think its fine ( i prefer the 480gtx cuz of the memmory ) 4 cards will be a blast.

what about the temps? 3-4 GTX470 will generate tremendous heat? is there a solution?

Sure. Liquid cooling with large radiators will do the job but you may need custom case to fit the radiators.

I'm kind of curious about how those expander would effect the speed of PCI-E bus. Basically just merge 2 cards and signal through 1 PCI-E slot right? So wouldn't that mean running a X16 slot with 2 cards equates to X8 for each card? And still... a $1200+ price tag isn't really friendly since the whole point of GPU render is fast and cheap.

Compared to the price of purchasing a new PC with adequate power supply, cooling capacity, full-sized PCIe slots, migrating 64-bit apps, etc., Xpander for Octane Render is a bargain.

Xpander for Octane Render with 2 x GTX 480 cards = $1993 after applied discount code from your Octane Render beta purchase (until discount code is activated, just send a request with order info to receive $95 credit).

Open the shipping box, plug the cards in, make sure your GeForce drivers are loaded on your current PC or Mac, power on. (Yes, I know Mac users are still relegated to GTX 285 for Mac or Quadro FX 4800 for Mac , but we have those upgrade options available for them as well).

You can also connect multiple Xpander for Octane Render units to your current PC. If you're weighing the options of build it yourself vs Xpander for OR, look at Xpander as a way of adding fault-tolerance to your PC; external 750W power supply per Xpander (when upgrades applied).

EricNV

The thing is that i am setting a new system and i dont want to buy the xpander which is for the ones who want to upgrade an existing system.

Has anyone in the octane team work in a system with 3 gtx cards? Did he has any trouble with the temps?

Also does the octane support light emitters?
How many materials are available so far?

thanks!!!