[brodie_geers]

Any info on a new benchmark scene for v2 yet?

It seems like the rumor was that NL was taking it over so the community has left them to it. Has NL ever confirmed that they are/will work on a benchmark scene? It seems like that sort of thing wouldn't take a great deal of time to develop and it would help us decide what components to put into a new computer. I don't really care whether it's NL who puts it together or not. I guess I just wish I knew where it was at and maybe if they're not working on it the community will have an opportunity to develop it. Maybe NL could have a contest or something - free license to the best benchmark scene, I don't know.

-Brodie

[bjorn.syse]

Any progress on this? I need processor comparisons to make an informed decision when buying hardware,.

[dmeyer]

Any progress on this? I need processor comparisons to make an informed decision when buying hardware,.

In the mean time, I have a pretty diverse mix of hardware in our farm and benchwell info (from the old scene) on all of it.

is there something specific you're looking for?

[bjorn.syse]

Hi, thanks for asking!

Well, I'm trying to help my girlfriend to setup a workstation within the budget of let's say $1400,. She's mostly into buying from Dell, since the support is quite good. I've mainly looked at two different systems, the XPS and the Precision, even though I get the feeling the XPS is more value for money.

The processors range from AMD Phenom to Intel i3, i5 and i7 with several different models, numbers of cores and clock frequency. It's REALLY hard to get an overview nowadays,. so I guess, I'm a bit confused and unsure on what's best render value for money.

She'll be working mostly with Rhino + Maxwell, but also Adobe suite and I also want to make sure there's room for the occasional Shot render. So,. perhaps a few specific questions would help you answer:

1. What should I look for when comparing processors? Is number of cores, or GHz more important? Hyperthreading?

2. Can for example an i5 processor be better than an i7 processor?

3. Intel or AMD?

Thankful for any directions!

best regards,.

- Björn

[brodie_geers]

In terms of rendering Maxwell is pretty linear. If you multiply the number of cores by the Ghz, for each processor you're looking at, go with the one with the highest number you can. Only caveat, as you mention is HT. I don't know how many processors are left without HT, but from what I've seen it does make a difference. As I recall it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 20%, there was a thread regarding as much awhile back where someone flicked it off/on in the Bios.

-Brodie

[dmeyer]

This is a 12 core BOXX system with X5680's.

Hyperthreading on:



Hyperthreading OFF:




I suspect you might see a bit larger difference percentage-wise on a single cpu system. The gap will also get larger using a scene that takes longer to render. Benchwell on current machines zips through the first 10 sample levels. Machines with lots of cores don't really even stretch their legs until SL 11 or 12.



While we're at it...here is the 48 core Magny-Cours system...cinebenches in the 27's as well:

[dmeyer]

Hi, thanks for asking!

Well, I'm trying to help my girlfriend to setup a workstation within the budget of let's say $1400,. She's mostly into buying from Dell, since the support is quite good. I've mainly looked at two different systems, the XPS and the Precision, even though I get the feeling the XPS is more value for money.

The processors range from AMD Phenom to Intel i3, i5 and i7 with several different models, numbers of cores and clock frequency. It's REALLY hard to get an overview nowadays,. so I guess, I'm a bit confused and unsure on what's best render value for money.

She'll be working mostly with Rhino + Maxwell, but also Adobe suite and I also want to make sure there's room for the occasional Shot render. So,. perhaps a few specific questions would help you answer:

1. What should I look for when comparing processors? Is number of cores, or GHz more important? Hyperthreading?

2. Can for example an i5 processor be better than an i7 processor?

3. Intel or AMD?

Thankful for any directions!

best regards,.

- Björn

Is building it yourself an option? You'll get a lot more bang for your buck at $1400 doing it that way...

[bjorn.syse]

Thanks for the guidelines guys, that certainly helps. I'll list a few options for myself and see what I do. I'm not sure about the building it myself,. but I'll look into it and see how much I can save.

regard

- björn

[bjorn.syse]

Btw, do you know anything about the AMD Phenom II processors? I seems their cheaper per combined GHz than the i7,. would their performance be comparable?

- Björn

[Bubbaloo]

would their performance be comparable?

- Björn

No.

[bjorn.syse]

Mm'key,. in what way?

[Bubbaloo]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phe ... ,2810.html