questions about GPU renderer

[randomizer]

At the moment I am using an nvidia 7800 graphics card. This might be the reason why hardly any shaders are translated correctly and other features are missing.

I just ordered a quadro 3450 card and hope this will help.

Does the GPU renderer support final gather, materials like mia_material or mi_car_paint_phen and other features that are supported by the default renderer?

Is there a list of supported features?

How are the images rendered on the gpu? Via cuda? If that is the case, will nvidia products like quadroplex or tesla speed up the rendering?


Tanks for you patience

[ak]

Hi,

To answer your questions correctly, we have to know what RealityServer version you are using.

Best regards.

[randomizer]

I am using the newest developer version. 2.2 I think.

[ak]

At the moment I am using an nvidia 7800 graphics card. This might be the reason why hardly any shaders are translated correctly and other features are missing.
I just ordered a quadro 3450 card and hope this will help.

From doc/install-rs.pdf:
"Graphics cards are optional; they are needed only if the hardware renderer (GPU or SKETCH) is used by the applications. The following graphics cards are supported:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500
NVIDIA Quadro FX 5500"

As you already assumed: upgrading to nvidia 3450 is recommened.

Does the GPU renderer support final gather, materials like mia_material or mi_car_paint_phen and other features that are supported by the default renderer?

From doc/javascript-api.pdf, section Global Illumination:
"RealityServer supports several rendering techniques which provide global illumination. Finalgathering is supported as well as image based lighting (IBL) and ambient occlusion ... The gpu renderer supports vertex-based global illumination techniques with MetaSL shaders...."
Please look into this document for more detailed information.

Is there a list of supported features?

Please have a look to the javascript-api.pdf and the users-guide.pdf in the doc folder. known unsupported features are listed at the end of the document relnotes.pdf.

How are the images rendered on the gpu? Via cuda? If that is the case, will nvidia products like quadroplex or tesla speed up the rendering?

RS 2.2 does not support Cuda or Tesla. The images are rendered on the gpu via rasterization, Quardo cards will speed up the calculation of course.

Best regards,
Anja

[randomizer]

Thanks,

This clarifies a lot. I will have a deeper read in the docs.

Now I am just missing information about pricing. I asked that via the web contact form, but did not get any response yet. Maybe you can help me with that.

Thanks for you help.

Greetings
Andreas

[ak]

Now I am just missing information about pricing. I asked that via the web contact form, but did not get any response yet. Maybe you can help me with that.

Please have a look here:
http://www.mentalimages.com/purchase.html

[randomizer]

Hi,

Did not get any reply to my mail yet. Can't you give me some information via pm? I am a bit in a hurry. I have to calculate prices for a project.


Thanks
Andreas

[ak]

Did not get any reply to my mail yet.

I am sorry about that.
Your request will be answered now.

Regards,
Anja