Topic: multiple graphics cards-multi-tasking?

[cbcarch]

Searched the discussion groups, but could not find an answer:

If we install a second ( or more ) graphics card, when rendering in Lumion, will both cards be used
together, or can one card be assigned to render and the other be used for continuing work on the computer
while the other card renders? Does SLI connection matter or make a difference here?

We are trying to plan our future workflow using Lumion and how to "render and keep working" on a machine
or multiple machines. Coming from a CPU based render workflow with 3dsMax renderfarm / backburner and trying to figure out how to set up GPU based workflow.

We need to be able to render in Lumion and keep working in Revit simultaneously.

Is this possible?

cheers

[Remko]

Searched the discussion groups, but could not find an answer:

If we install a second ( or more ) graphics card, when rendering in Lumion, will both cards be used
together, or can one card be assigned to render and the other be used for continuing work on the computer
while the other card renders? Does SLI connection matter or make a difference here?

We are trying to plan our future workflow using Lumion and how to "render and keep working" on a machine
or multiple machines. Coming from a CPU based render workflow with 3dsMax renderfarm / backburner and trying to figure out how to set up GPU based workflow.

We need to be able to render in Lumion and keep working in Revit simultaneously.

Is this possible?

cheers

We did experiments using Lumion simultaneously with other applications and it looks like the rendering is so heavy on the system that using another application on the same system is very slow.

I guess this because of the way the driver and the system manages the gpu.

Same thing with multiple gpus in one system. In some cases each screen is assigned its own gpu and in other cases just one gpu is used or they work together.

It looks like the gpu and surrounding software is targeted for running a game as fast as possible and not for multi tasking.

[Chewbacca]

I have been thinking of just building a second machine to process the animations so I can keep working.  Looks like my old cpu render farm (with low powered grahics cards)  are going to start collecting some dust. 

[Remko]

I have been thinking of just building a second machine to process the animations so I can keep working.  Looks like my old cpu render farm (with low powered grahics cards)  are going to start collecting some dust. 

We are thinking about a render only version of lumion specifically for this purpose so you don't have to buy another license.

We still have to some work so the working folder can be placed on a network drive. Maybe we can let you activate Lumion on multiple machines with one account but only the first activated machine will have editting features enabled.

[cbcarch]

We are thinking about a render only version of lumion specifically for this purpose so you don't have to buy another license.

We still have to some work so the working folder can be placed on a network drive. Maybe we can let you activate Lumion on multiple machines with one account but only the first activated machine will have editting features enabled.

This sounds like a great idea, esp. for teams working on complex, large projects and having to "multi-task"
while renderings are in process.

cheers!

[gabrielefx]

We are thinking about a render only version of lumion specifically for this purpose so you don't have to buy another license.

We still have to some work so the working folder can be placed on a network drive. Maybe we can let you activate Lumion on multiple machines with one account but only the first activated machine will have editting features enabled.

I like how AE works with renderfarms or Autodesk Backburner. You could develop only the rendering engine but I think that Lumion needs to open the DirectX scene on video. Then the Master Lumion could send to the Slave only the not finished frames because one machine could have installed a 580 and one a 560, some render farms will render slower. The Master Lumion should check if frames are completed on the network disk, a renderfarm could crash. A separate app will manage (resume, stop, pause, statistics, errors) all the farms. The monitor app could be developed in html so we can check remotely with an ipad/iphone our renders.

[Nicolas]

I like how AE works with renderfarms or Autodesk Backburner. You could develop only the rendering engine but I think that Lumion needs to open the DirectX scene on video. Then the Master Lumion could send to the Slave only the not finished frames because one machine could have installed a 580 and one a 560, some render farms will render slower. The Master Lumion should check if frames are completed on the network disk, a renderfarm could crash. A separate app will manage (resume, stop, pause, statistics, errors) all the farms. The monitor app could be developed in html so we can check remotely with an ipad/iphone our renders.

An option for a render farm should be the best idea!

[See3D.be]

I guess a more simple version would do also as i proposed, just you assign a lumion render machine a take batch, and just will render its a whole movie to your aasiged folder. Mixing frames of  movies over different  machiene, dont see that happen now.