JasonParsons

11 minutes ago, TheKitchenAbode said:

For Raytracing the more cores the better, it will use as many cores as you can throw at it. Currently the AMD 3900X series processors provide the best core per dollar and this new series also offer very competitive single threaded performance. Anyone currently upgrading should definitely take a very serious look at these AMD products.

I was wondering if AMD and their additional cores were the way to go or not.  thanks!

18 minutes ago, rgardner said:

5 second search finds this on chiefs own website.  https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/sysreq.html

 

As you probably know CPU is important for ray tracing but GPU is arguably more important in almost all other aspects of Chief and of course proper memory so it doesn’t get bottlenecked and limited is essential.  Good luck in your new search.

 

btw here is a suggestion:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/appleinsider.com/articles/19/12/13/no-apples-new-mac-pro-isnt-overpriced/amp/

 

for some time, the consensus was that intel was a better option even if amd offered more cores.  I was wondering if that was still the case.  the requirements page does not specify one or the other (I had already looked at the link, thanks)

also, Not an Apple Guy.

My cpu died yesterday.  I always remember Intel being the goto processor for chief.  Is that still the case or are more people going to AMD?  Is 'the more cores the better" still the way to go for raytracing?

I do not use any other rendering software for chief.

mainly spot, but it happens with 1 light in a room.  It is the shadows and reflection in render view, and any PBR view

I am having an issue with x10 where PBR or rendered view with shadows/reflection on will crash my PC as soon as I "walk" through the room.  It has happened with large and small files.  So far, I have tried:

• updating drivers--no luck
• deleting drivers and installing direct from nvidia as a clean install--no luck
• removing 2 of my 3 monitors from the card--no luck
• ran a benchmark program to test the video card and it is performing very well

I have a 6 core inel with 16gb ddr4 ram, and a gtx 1070 card.

I have spoken to tech support on 3 different occasions.

I am about to uninstall and reinstall x10.  Anyone have any advice or go through the same thing?

TIA

Thanks!

I currently use x9.  my program is installed on my c drive, but the files i work out of are on another drive due to the amount of space they occupy.  

Should I install x10 on the same drive that the chief files reside for faster processing?  both are Solid State Drives

Thanks in advance for the help.

On 3/4/2017 at 11:44 AM, mrscott said:

Jason,

 

Absolutely stunning for so few passes. Since this thread was start to help interested parties understand how best to maximize Chief's RT capabilities, we would all be better for it if you would be so kind and share your settings, textures, patterns, tricks, etc. used to produce these outstanding results. Also curious of your system specs. There seems to be a lot of interest in upgrading these days with GTX GPU and Intel CPU pricing falling.

 

Thanks again for sharing.

 

 

I run an i7 5960x liquid cooled with all SSD's.  I was running dual gtx580 cards for the last 5 years, but x9 needed an upgrade so I installed a gtx1070 last week.  16gb ddr4 ram

I turn all shadows off all lighting except recess, and add an occasional user light when needed.  I also bump up daytime and interior intensity.  For each project, We provide 30-60 images so I have to keep the time down under 10 minutes per trace.

100% chief raytracing, 12 passes each, 2-7 minutes each depending on the image

Normally I do that, but this project has NYC views, an open plan and lots of windows.  It's not working for me, but I was able to fake it a bit.

I just found out how to do 360 view from google street view and download them.  it would be great to use those in our plans.

I have seen a few references, but no answers...

Once you upload a panoramic view (mine is 360 thanks to google)  how can you align the view with your home?  My North side is displaying outside me East side window.  

I have tried to rotate the plan but that does not help.  I have tried moving my north pointer with no success.  Anyone have a thought?

Thanks, That is why I shared it.  In case someone comes across the issue they can search for the temporary fix!

I started getting crashes (PC) a few days after I downloaded X9.  Sytem would shut and restart in 3D render view.  Turns out, in default settings, Bloom was enabled and was giving my video cards fits.

My current cards (GTX 580) meet the basic requirements but are well below the recommended requirements.  Chief Support helped me figure this one out.  

I will be updating them this month so I won't run that issue any more. Figured I would share in case anyone else has the same issue

Toggle off sunlight, turn off shadows for all your lights, up the  ambient settings in the 3D options

in 3d view defaults, crank up your interior and daytime ambient.

If you use photon mapping, it will spread out the lighting well, but you will add time and passes to complete.

yeah, I just want to try to be close.  for wood floors, we recommend staining a few colors as samples before the complete project, getting door samples etc.

Thanks everyone!

I downloaded the minwax file today, and there are only finishes.  my concern with using a wood that is already tinted with stain, would alter the color from what it should look like.

I guess i will raytrace an image and compare it to a picture from Minwax's site to be sure.

Thanks!

I had asked in suggestions for Minwax stain and we now have it!  However, does anyone have a raw hardwood flooring material that they use to apply it to?  I am using the core material Natural Oak under flooring for now

2nd floor was operator error.  When I adjusted the ceiling height building the 2nd floor, I made it 9" accidentally, so the windows and doors I placed got squished.  I had fixed the ceiling height, but had nor worked on the windows or any 2nd floor work at that point.

I ended up making the wall invisible, and added a wall in the basement, pulled it up and angled it.

I have an existing staircase that is open on one side (rail dies into the ceiling) and one side that is closed with a wall.  Part of the remodel involves cutting the existing wall to open both sides of the stairs.

Since the stairs are not changing, the rail is open (like the wall is there).  Does anyone have a solution? 

File attached

mattia plan 1a.zip

I spoke with someone at the remodeler's show in Oct, and they said that it will work with all versions of Chief, starting with room planner.  My question, do other Bluetooth Lasers import to Chief?  

This one is 100.00 cheaper than the 330i

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GLM-100-Bluetooth-Lithium-Ion/dp/B00G5R4E1S

What is overclock?

It is making your computer processsor work faster then the speeds the factory set it to.  Most of the time, the manufacturer limits the speed to control the power consumed and the heat generated.  It used to be a difficult and risky thing to do.  But Intel has been making a line of processors that allow overclocking (the K after the number) and the bios of some motherboards make it a pretty simple step.  If you do not plan to overclock, the stock fan and your power should be fine.

After listening to all of you I decided to try to put together a list of parts to build my own system (PDF attached below).

This is what I came up with. Any thoughts. opinions and suggestions would be appreciated before I pull the trigger.

 

I was also looking at a Dell system (XPS 8700 http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-8700/pd?oc=fddogs107h&model_id=xps-8700) because I have been happy with my laptop from Dell and their support. Their description is hard to compare with my list though.

 I am no computer expert, but do you plan to overclock (the k series is made for that)  If so, you do not wan to to use the stock cooler.  Also  650W power may be light.

You can also you deck edge and change the room to porch.