Chosing a graphics card for a build?

Hello,

I am looking into some hardware for a possible Ai Miami build, and have a question regarding your graphics card specs.

1 or 2 matching Nvidia Graphics Cards with at least 512Mb of RAM, purchased after 2009.

or

1 or 2 AMD Firepro Graphics Card purchased after 2011.

(on board Intel Graphics Card will not work)

To me this reads as either a high-end workstation class AMD card is required (FirePro) or any standard Nvidia card will work.

Is this actually what you are trying to say with that min requirement?

Is there any performance difference when using the standard Nvidia cards as opposed to the FirePros?

Why does a standard AMD not work when a standard Nvidia card will?

Thank you.

Really, no comment on this in weeks? I a looking for better support if I am going to consider a dongle purchase...

We use our standard GFX server for Ai.

This uses the AMD V7900 for the GFX card. This is not quite as powerful as the card in the Infinity server, but it is working well. We currently have three machines on tour doing projection mapping.

Thanks Gringoloco, doesn't really answer my question per se. I know the FirePro cards will work, they are after all in the minimum spec. What I am wondering is why the spec also suggests that a standard Nvidia card will work ?just as well? and that a standard ATI/AMD card will not work?

Thanks.

Hi,

Sorry for overlooking this.  Its been a busy month.  If you need an instant response please feel free to call or e-mail on our support numbers listed on our website: www.avolitesmedia.com

Regarding your question, you have interpreted our graphics cards specification correctly.  Sorry if this leaves you wondering 'why?'  but this is just how it is, our system runs fine on the AMD pro cards, but unpredictably on the AMD gamer cards. On the Nvidia cards it runs well across the range.  To discover the reasons for this you or we would have to start a dialog with the AMD gamer card driver team, we don't currently engage with this team, although we do have an excellent relationship with the AMD pro card driver team.

Thanks and best regards

OK, so I am now specing my components.

In order to utilize the 8 outputs the Miami Dongle allows, will a pair of W7000 actually give me 8 outputs, or is 8 outputs something that must be shared over two computers? The AMD website suggests that only 6 outputs are possible:

AMD Website wrote:
Footnotes

   AMD Eyefinity technology supports up to six DisplayPort™ monitors on an enabled graphics card. Supported display quantity, type and resolution vary by model and board design; confirm specifications with manufacturer before purchase. To enable more than two displays, or multiple displays from a single output, additional hardware such as DisplayPort-ready monitors or DisplayPort 1.2 MST-enabled hubs may be required. A maximum of two active adapters is recommended for consumer systems. See www.amd.com/eyefinityfaq for full details.

yes some of our machines use 2 x w7000 cards. if using more than one fire pro card, it is advisabe to use the amd s400 sync card - its a card amd produce to synchronise multiple fire pro cards together - this can increase system performance and will ensure tight synchronisation across both of the cards.

Yes, I have read up on the S400.

Using two W7000s will actually give me 8 outputs?

using 2 x w7000 cards and an S400 card will give you 8 outputs yes, although remember you will need 1 output for the main UI window. Also bear in mind that running 8 outputs will be running the system at maximum performance capability so proceed with caution. I personally like to give myself a little headroom to ensure everything runs smoothly rather that running everything flat out.

Dave wrote:using 2 x w7000 cards and an S400 card will give you 8 outputs yes, although remember you will need 1 output for the main UI window.  Also bear in mind that running 8 outputs will be running the system at maximum performance capability so proceed with caution.  I personally like to give myself a little headroom to ensure everything runs smoothly rather that running everything flat out.

OK. I have actually decided to build two Bondi servers instead of a Miami monster. That said each machine will have a W7000 inside as the main output card and a S400 synch module to keep things in sync between machines.

I will add a second graphics card for the system output monitor, does this need to be frame-locked to the system, or can any graphics card be used for this part of the system?

Hi Drew.

We only support matching graphics cards. ie 2 of the same brand and model.

Best regards

Dave wrote:Hi Drew.

We only support matching graphics cards. ie 2 of the same brand and model.

Best regards

So to get 8 outputs on a Miami you are suggesting 3 W7000s? Two to drive 8 outputs and another to get one extra output for the system display?

The 8 outputs includes the control screen. If you are controlling from a lighting desk or external controller you can use the control screen as an output.

We only support 2 Graphics cards at the moment.

Dave wrote:The 8 outputs includes the control screen.  If you are controlling from a lighting desk or external controller you can use the control screen as an output.

We only support 2 Graphics cards at the moment.

Interesting.. thank you for clarifying this. Is this in the manual or spec sheet somewhere?

if you just press output 1 on the output module then the display goes full screen over your control screen.

Dave wrote:if you just press output 1 on the output module then the display goes full screen over your control screen.

And how does one shut off that output and get back to the control screen?

Double click anywhere on the screen to exit full screen mode.

Dave wrote:Double click anywhere on the screen to exit full screen mode.

Thanks!

*extra tip*

ctrl + tab brings the Ai windows forwards - you can keep a full screen output and work in front of it.

I suspect everything will be fine with this. But do you guys have any experience using the W7000 with the 3d club MST hub? Would technically give you 12 outs with two w7000's.

drazkers wrote:I suspect everything will be fine with this.  But do you guys have any experience using the W7000 with the 3d club MST hub?  Would technically give you 12 outs with two w7000's.

That seems like a question for a new thread

drewread wrote:

drazkers wrote:I suspect everything will be fine with this.  But do you guys have any experience using the W7000 with the 3d club MST hub?  Would technically give you 12 outs with two w7000's.

That seems like a question for a new thread

This is actually relevant as it would give the two w7000's you have 12 outs, 8 outputs for video and extra for monitoring. Eliminating the need for 3 cards(which isn't supported) , since the w7000 supports 6 outs via MST hub.

Maybe you misunderstood my question and how it relates to you directly.

drazkers wrote:

Maybe you misunderstood my question and how it relates to you directly.

No, I completely understood the question.. and sure it is related (somewhat indirectly) to the initial question... but the purpose of starting a new thread would be so that the rest of the world can find your question more easily. With its own thread title it will get the attention that it needs directed to it.

It would be like asking qustions about the cable type to connect to the graphics card.. indirectly related.. but not on the topic of the first question.

LOL, I'm out.

No need to leave.... just ask the question in a new thread