Topic: How much memory is Lumion using on the graphics card

[SteveY]

I am considering getting either a GTX Titan or 780.  Besides price, the main difference is the Titan has 6GB of memory vs 3GB on the 780.

I currently have a GTX 560.  Is it possible to monitor the card and see how much memory is being utilized?  So I can have a benchmark to help decide if I need 3 or 6GB?

I did see the requirements page:
SIMPLE SCENES IN LUMION:
Minimum 1,500 PassMark points and 1GB dedicated memory (RAM).

MODERATELY COMPLEX SCENES IN LUMION:
Minimum 3,500 PassMark points and 2GB dedicated memory (RAM).

VERY COMPLEX SCENES IN LUMION:
Minimum 5,000 PassMark points and 4GB dedicated memory (RAM).

but I don't know what the definition of Simple, Moderately, or Very Complex is...

Thanks.

[Jared G.]

Can't really answer your question, but I can share the benchmark results for common cards.

[SteveY]

Thanks Jared.  I have seen the benchmarks, and while your chart excludes the 780, other comparisons show the 780 just a bit slower than the Titan.  I am trying to determine if the files I am currently running are in the Very Complex Scenes definition. 

Does Lumion have sample files for Simple, Moderately Complex, and Very Complex I could try?

[peterm]

Hi SteveY

..  Is it possible to monitor the card and see how much memory is being utilized?  So I can have a benchmark to help decide if I need 3 or 6GB?

Try one of the PC or GPU specific performance monitoring tools available.  These should let you see how much memory is being used in your current scenes.  GPU-Z, Passmarks PC Performance, OCCT, HWinfo.

Does Lumion have sample files for Simple, Moderately Complex, and Very Complex I could try?

Sorry, no.  Those requirements are very much guides only.  It's very difficult to both specify what might work for some scenes and then not others as the 'level of complexity' changes.  There's too many factors, so at present to 'assist' we have to be very general.

Complexity is a measure of at least:- polygon count, number of imported objects, number of entourage, texture resolution used, effects used, use of the heavy/demanding effects re GI, lights, Reflection Planes, complexity of models imported, nature of models imported etc.

As a very rough example if the scene had say 10M 3D Points (at F1 so no shadow cost count - pure models), more than 5000 Plants and say 20 complex buildings (excl interiors) each at 250k then this is getting to the top end of very complex.

Note the 4GB ref for very complex relates more to the fact there were 680's with 4GB, that picture has changed a little with the new 700 series.  We're all waiting for a 4GB GTX 780 which would slot in nicely below the Titan, but still waiting (well I am  ).

I think the choice between 780 or Titan apart from budget is memory and a little in speed and cores on board.  Note the Titan has out of this world FPU performance, probably targeted for scientific work.  If your system is not Ivy Bridge + with PCI v3 then you will not get the max out of either.  One option may be to use the funds not spent on Titan towards funding your next PC with the latest and greatest.

We'll have a chat about what is possible for us to provide more guideance in this area, as things grow and change.

[SteveY]

Thanks for the comments.  My machine is a Intel Xeon E5-1620 0 3.6GHz and does have a PCI Express 3 x16 slot, 10GB RAM.

Are you saying an IB with PCI 3 and a 780 may do better than my computer with a Titan? Or just that an IB will be faster in general?

We just ran some tests and found that on the GTX 560 card we have we are only using 1GB of graphics memory on a pretty sophisticated scene (for us) but maxing out the GPU.

[Derekw]

Hi Steve,

Here is the FurMark burn in test with the Gainward GTX Phantom 780 3GB. Perhaps run this test with your existing card to compare the difference. This card also comes as in 'GLH' version - (goes like hell). Getting very good reviews and it even out-performs the Titan on many tests I have seen.
I hope this helps.

Cheers Derek

[peterm]

Or just that an IB will be faster in general?

Yes, only because it is the new platform compared to the Sandy Bridge, and so supports PCI v3 and CPU's that support PCI v3, which in most cases also support everything else that will go faster 

I would look to expanding that 10GB RAM to at min 16GB - helps a little with video creation. 10GB is a slightly unusual config, usually 4/8/16..

From memory the 560 has 1.5GB.  Your test then gives a reasonable guide.  It may be "sophisticated" due to model/mesh complexity but does not need many higher resolution textures.  Note the more the need for GI, Reflection Planes and lights the more demand on GPU memory.

[peterm]

Derek

That score looks hot.

Took a while to finally find their scores page, and is only the most recent 50, but your score of 6330 is almost tops, but then again some of those other results look a little crazy (re 5970 score of 10246).  They haven't as far as I can find updated their comparative charts, latest was back in April 2012 so thats a bit useless  .

Try running the Passmark test (its free for x days) as at least their charts are up to date.

[Derekw]

Hi Peter,

My GTX 680 4GB scored 4146 using the same test! So, yes the GTX 780 Phantom (at 6133 points) is quite a bit faster.

[Derekw]

Thanks Peter,

I hadn't tested my graphics card using that test before. It really puts the card through it's paces!

Here are the results of the Passmark Test - Score 7990

[Derekw]

I decided to close a few programs and ran the test again. This time even better at 8016

[peterm]

 

Turn Windows off and it will be even better   

Thanks.

(might have to drop those through to he Benchmark topic at some stage)

[Derekw]

Sorry Steve,

Didn't mean to hijack the post. At least you know all about the GTX 780 now!

Cheers Derek

[SteveY]

No problem Derek. It was an interesting read.  Made me a little jealous that the Gainward is not available in the US. 

[jonabatero21]

HELLO. please update the graphics with nvidia GTX 780 ti and  gtx 770 and amd r9 290 and r9 290x