Rendering: 3ds Max 2008

Operating System: Windows 2008 Enterprise RTM (64 bit)
Software: 3ds Max 2008
Benchmark software: Build in timer
Typical error margin: 1-2%

We used the "architecture" scene which is included in the SPEC APC 3DS Max test. All tests were done with 3ds max's default scanline renderer, SSE enabled and we rendered at HD 720p (1280x720) resolution. We measured the time it takes to render 10 frames from 20 to 29 with SSE enabled. We recorded the time and then calculated (3600 seconds * 10 frames / time recorded) how many frames a certain CPU configuration could render in one hour. All results are reported as rendered images per hour, higher is thus better.

We used the 32-bit version of 3ds Max 2008 on 64-bit Windows 2008 RTM. The 64-bit version of 3ds Max was a bit slower (especially when we used the Scanline Renderer). All CPU configurations are dual, unless when we indicate otherwise.

3ds Max 2008 32 bit - architecture scene

We wrote “Some applications do not like core counts that are not a power of 2”. Well, here you have another example. The extra cores of AMD “Istanbul” are close to useless. The Xeon x55xx series outperform the hex-core by almost 50%. The 3DS Max scanline render simply does not know what do with the 12 cores presented. CPU usage went from 50 to 80%:

We are sure that there are probably more efficient render engines out there, but it is simply not a market the AMD six-core should cater to. Nehalem-based Xeons are simply way too powerful for this kind of application. Render engines scale almost perfectly with clockspeed. So if cost is your main concern, consider the Xeon E5520 at 2.26 GHz, the cheapest CPU that still supports HT. We will test this one soon, but we expect it to deliver 67 frames per hour, which is still more than 20% better than any Opteron.

Website: MCS eFMS (Windows 2003 32 bit EE) Virtualization: To Be or Not to Be
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  • befair - Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - link

    yeah, yeah, its always "more details review coming soon"
  • smith1795 - Thursday, June 4, 2009 - link


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  • genkk - Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - link

    ohhh I see, johan is only doing what his boss (anand) has told him so...
  • aguilpa1 - Monday, June 1, 2009 - link

    As an AMD fanboy I skipped to the one metric that AMD shows competitive performance and focused on that ignoring all other.
  • classy - Monday, June 1, 2009 - link

    That is laughable. Lets see I have only purchased all Intel servers in the last 7 years. But in the last 2 years anyone who does any system administration knows virtualization has just leaped to the forefront. Its that important. Even email is being virtualized. Databases are still physical and will probably be for some time to come. But make no mistake about it, how well it does at virtualizing is at the top of the list. Especially considering the recent recession. Virtualizing allows more to be done with less of everything. Next time maybe have some experience in something else besides reading the internet and maybe you might understand a thing or two.
  • Natfly - Monday, June 1, 2009 - link

    Virtualization isn't the be-all end-all of computing. It definitely can be a way to make more efficient use of your hardware, but the "virtualize everything" mentality isn't going to help you in the long run.
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  • nycromes - Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - link

    I don't think thats really what he/she was saying, they were saying that in terms of the IT world, Virtualization is now one of the (if not the) most important features. Right now, there are major pushes in the industry to make more efficient use of hardware, virtualization is one major part of doing that. I agree that a "virtualize everything" mentality is not good, but the OP makes a great point about the importance of virtualization in todays IT world.
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