Topic: Computer Specs - TAKE A LOOK, NEED ADVICE?

[ealonso]

Hello,

At my architectural firm we are thinking of getting Lumion Pro and my IT guy was planning on buying this PC, I am not sure that  the specs are the best ones for Lumion. Could you guys take a look at them and recommend if you have a better alternative. We are looking for something very powerful.

These are the Specs, Thanks.

•   Dell Precision Tower 7910 XCTO Base
•   Intel Xeon Processor E5-2687W v3 (10C HT, 25MB Cache, 3.1GHz Turbo)
•   Single Processor Heatsink for T7910
•   AMD FirePro W7100 8GB (4 DP) (3 DP to SL-DVI adapters)
•   64GB (8x8GB) 2133MHz DDR4 RDIMM ECC
•   Integrated LSI SAS 3008 12Gb/s SATA/SAS controller- SW RAID 0, 1, 10
•   C4 SATA/SSD 2.5 Inch BOOT, plus 1-3x 3.5 Inch Hard
•   2.5 inch 256GB SATA SSD
•   Additional 1TB 7200 RPM 3.5INC SATA HARD DRIVE
•   Windows 7 Professional

[Morten]

Hi ealonso, welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately the FirePro W7100 only gets 5,068 Passmark points.

Please read the section called "Which graphics card do I need?" in this FAQ post.

The fastest graphics card for Lumion is currently the Nvidia GTX 980Ti. The one with the most memory is the Titan X with 12 GB memory. Click here to see how they compare.

Windows 7 is a good choice as Lumion will be able to take full advantage of the system memory (if the graphics card memory is full).

By the way, I should mention that some of our users with Dell workstations have experienced spontaneous reboots while working in Lumion due to inadequate no-name power supplies. The problem was fixed after they switched to a better power supply, e.g. an +80 gold-rated power supply. In other words, make sure you get Dell to confirm that their components and power supply are compatible with the graphics card you pick (i.e. get it in writing before placing an order).

[ealonso]

Thanks for the response Morten.  I have another question, do you think I should go with the build that I previously sent you (upgrading to the GTX 980Ti) or should I go with this one from Alienware:

Alienware Area-51 + Controller

- Intel® Core™ i7-5960X (8-cores, 20MB Cache, Overclocked up to 4.0 GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
- Triple NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 980 Ti with 6GB GDDR5 each (NVIDIA SLI® Enabled)
- 16GB Quad Channel DDR4 at 2133MHz
- 512GB SSD 6Gb/s Main + 4TB 5400RPM SATA 6Gb/s Storage
- Windows 7 Professional

This desktop will mainly be used for Lumion. We are trying to get the most powerful setup that will last us a while. We are a professional firm and we are looking to use Lumion for professional, texture & and geometry intensive animations. If you have a build that you think will be ideal for us, please feel free to let us know.

Thanks again.

[tremainr]

- Intel® Core™ i7-5960X (8-cores, 20MB Cache, Overclocked up to 4.0 GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
- Triple NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 980 Ti with 6GB GDDR5 each (NVIDIA SLI® Enabled)
- 16GB Quad Channel DDR4 at 2133MHz
- 512GB SSD 6Gb/s Main + 4TB 5400RPM SATA 6Gb/s Storage
- Windows 7 Professional

For what its worth, I hear and I could of sworn I have seen an 8GB 980 TI setup floating around. Maybe worth the money to find that if you are not gonna go all out for the Titan. The 980 Apparently outdoes the Titan in several test.

Also 16gbs of RAM will be eaten up fast. I think 32 would be more beneficial. The cost difference is not that significant per stick of RAM if I remember my upgrade. I believe I paid 70 or 75 a stick.

I am curious to see what the latest i7 can do (not sure if that is the latest actually), I just have a i5, but it does OK at the moment.

I would see if a 4gb 7200RPM HD is available. I assume you only will have this to store scenes and projects on it from Lumion, but HDs' are generally inexpensive especially internal ones.

Just my two cents. 

[peterm]

Hi ealonso

That specification looks like for the highest end of 4K gaming.

Drats  , did a Google search and saw this topic Nvidia Geforce GTX 980 8GB GDDR5 Allegedly Inbound – Landing in November.      Unfortunately that was over a year ago, and it still looks like it's rumour and waiting for NVIDIA, some day.

..mainly be used for Lumion.

Then the GTX 980 Ti is much preferred over any FirePro.

..We are trying to get the most powerful setup that will last us a while

Unfortunately you will not be able to take advantage of the three 980 Ti's in SLI for Lumion.  Lumion is not designed to access multiple GPU's.
I understand from some user setups, it is possible to configure two separate GPU's with two monitors, and using Lumion with one of the GPU's, whilst the other can be used for other tasks (in a non-SLI arrangement).

to use Lumion for professional, texture & and geometry intensive animations.

If you consider you will be working on scenes that are Very Complex (refer: LUMION 6: System requirements.) then you could go to the Titan X which Morten mentions.  You would loose a little on speed but gain on onboard VRAM memory.

What tremainr mentions re RAM is appropriate.  32GB of RAM would be preferred, or 64GB, but you can always easily add a further 32GB so long as the sticks and motherboard are configured now to allow for 64GB.

So, to throw it back to you, something not the Dell first mentioned, due likely price and hardware, but something less than the Alienware.


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DISCLAIMER: Please note that the above does not mean that I or Act-3D endorse specific products. We are unable to offer any guarantees regarding the expected performance in Lumion with the above-mentioned hardware, and you cannot hold us liable for any costs or damages incurred if you purchase hardware based on our posts on this forum or via email.

[Tsa]

Then the GTX 980 Ti is much preferred over any FirePro.
Unfortunately you will not be able to take advantage of the three 980 Ti's in SLI for Lumion.  Lumion is not designed to access multiple GPU's.
I understand from some user setups, it is possible to configure two separate GPU's with two monitors, and using Lumion with one of the GPU's, whilst the other can be used for other tasks (in a non-SLI arrangement).

This is very interesting information. Because it would be nice to have Lumion always active on one screen and be able to work on different programms on a second screen. So you're saying this could be possible if I have two GPU's not linked, but each for a seperate monitor? Can you provide more info?

[Morten]

Sure, here's some information from users who have that kind of configuration:

Thread 1: Titan and GTX 660. Make sure you also read Jared's post at the bottom.

Thread 2: 2 x Titans.