MarkMc

I do what David suggest, from layout is cleaner. Get a copy of a free CAD program that imports DWG so you can see what they see. I use TurboCad Deluxe which is cheap not free but has some other uses.

First I was really happy with AVA. Be sure to find someone to talk with. I worked with Kyle. I've only been glancing at reports lately since I'm some time away from a new build. Might be next year so looking but not in earnest, just seeing what I want to double check along the way. That said, partly based on my last build I'm an i7 fan, even might consider the top end i5. Reasons are heat, power and noise, mostly heat. I prefer air cooled to AIO and don't see enough difference to the i9 in real performance. I try to balance heat, noise, price, and performance.. I've become convinced that just getting the top end is not always worth it for the first 3 with small sufficient gains IRL performance (just my opinion). I am looking forward to the 4000 series which if it does what is rumored will get me to a new build sooner than normal- like next year I hope. So if I were going to plan on that and had to do a new build now I would not go for top end GPU, rather a 3070 which are rare, or a 3060ti. I do enough RTRT and for heat, noise and $$ I don't see using the top end. I would get a branded GPU with at least a slight overclock though, after research. Name brand NVME (Samsung, MSI, Plextor, Sabrent, WD Black, again after research)- 2 of them minimum 1TB but perhaps a 2TB and a 1TB. When researching I look at the performance chart for smaller file size, NOT the big number which never happens with what we do (unless you do huge vids) Minimum 1TB since they slow down if the get filled. More storage as needed but I manage fine with 3 version of Chief and a mess of other stuff with what I have along with 10 years of files that I'm not great about cleaning up. Get upgraded thermal paste...always. No idea about that case but might look into upgrade/adding case fans-I have Silent Wings and very happy. As noted I'm not an AIO user so no comment there. I'd check ratings for power supply now that going to higher watts. Just saw ASUS came out with some huge 1600 watt, I suppose in anticipation? MOBO- Prime is usually good middle ground but with power consumption going up I'd just double check what they say about the VRM. Other than that I simply love extra ports and an internal header. (Nice to see a 2 x 2 there though- get a portable for a few hundred to use it. I've got a portable 2 I use and one of these days will get a 2 x 2 since I have the port-great when moving from one machine to another-faster than the cloud IMO. I keep a bunch on mine now just in case) Ditto to DDR5 memory. I've seen it suggested that there is sufficient difference to having four 8GB over two 16GB. Again all subject to a little research. I check Techpowerup, Tweaktown, and Techspot preferring the first two. Used to go to Anandtech a lot but something changed on the site so don't have that bookmarked any longer. As always YMMV.

Place image in folder XYZ:\...\Chief Architect Premier X13 Data\Images. Place billboard, navigate to image. There is also an option to create a new image though that doesn't seem to work to paint the billboard and not an option to select that I see?

I use Build, Image, Billboard. Always take several shots, turn off backdrop in camera, reduce sun and back drop intensity. Adjust size and height. I like that it can be set to always face camera though sometimes not ideal. Also that it lets light in but doesn't change the color of the light in PBR. Works easiest if the billboard does not have to be really far from window in many cases. I've also used the in interior doorways if there was a nicely detailed room that I did not need to draw but want to show. Just grabbed something for this one quickly. Somewhere I have others from a few years back.

Image is 4 walls with roof and foundation using OOB defaults (including ceiling), 3 lights are from core library. The only change made to any is what is shown in image-light 2. Lights 1 and 3 of the fixture are already at -6. and 0. As Eric pointed out sometimes it's a glossy material that needs adjustment as well or instead. Sometimes with a render open after it refreshes things are not quite the same (sometimes not so good) Could be that or could be possible the ceiling was painted accidentally? It happens when using spray can on something set with same material which one (of several) reason to use defaults to change materials.

Well I thought they used a 3070 or 3080 in those but maybe not. Quadro 4000 comes out ahead of a 2060, behind 2070, 3060 and certainly 3070 and above. Sill should work if a tad slow. (or do I misunderstand what card?). I have no idea if the alleged AMD bottleneck applies to threadrippers or if it matters in Chief at all. Nothing to do about that at this point if it does though. Link to 2070 comparison I keep cap live samples checked and set export samples to around 1500 for general working Generally get good enough at that and avoid running the GPU constantly at 80-1000%. You said yours was not hitting that? In Windows-Graphic Settings do you have Chief set to high performance? At that many passes you should get good results. I'd look into lighting, light sets ( do you have ALL lights on?) ambient occlusion,sun (way too high in your image above), backdrop intensity...all the settings. Renerrabbit has posted some useful tips you might look at. Or as suggested earlier post a stripped down plan with settings. FWIW- arguing that our failure to understand the terms you choose instead of the vernacular of the progam is wrong because you thinks the program is wrong won't go far to finding a solution for you (and won't win a lot of points-just sayin)

Moving it works for me. Yeah that would be nice. The content team does a really nice job overall. RTRT is relatively new and there are thousands of symbols with many needing adjustment, first when PBR came out and then again with RTRT. Did you send in a report/request? Might want to do that. In the meantime once you have one working add to user library, then replace all from library and in the future you can just grab it.

Colors are always different in RTRT than standard view -the light is different so just as IRL. If you want the colors a certain way adjust the color with Physically Based selected, Teapot or Sphere show reflections and lighting a bit better.

Can be tricky. Open the light, go to light data tab. Click show position in camera, sometimes changing the offset fixes, sometimes changing to spot which has other issues and sometimes changing lumens as Gene suggest....sometimes a combination. Once satisfied uncheck show postion.

A- 2D plants will show through window in standard view but not show through window in RTRT B- lower daytime backdrop intensity not just the sun

As Rene Pointed out it sounds as if you are using CPU Ray Tracing NOT RTRT which is found under Physically Based. I say that because you are referring to Passes. CPU RT uses passes, Real Time Ray traced show Samples That would also explain why your GPU is not getting used, it should hit 100% but will gradually drop off IF you have cap live samples checked. First screen shots showing how you get into CPU ray trace and what shows up once you start it. Then while it's running this will be on top left of window. At the bottom of screen CPU RT shows Passes. Rene shows you where to get to Real Time Ray Tracing at bottom of your screen using RTRT you will see Samples Once that is all sorted your other questions can be dealt with. For some of your questions there are threads that deal with improving either type of ray trace overall with some excellent guidelines. _always have a roof, always have a foundation, sometimes for the sake of just the render add a second floor, watch out for holes in the structure, polylines that go from the inside to the outside- there are other issues that it looks like you are running into that apply only to CPU ray trace (there is a thread a few years ago) Might want to post the plan, or a stripped down version. Also are you using Win 10 or 11 it matters.

You found the Chief Architect forum so I don't know if you can do this in Home Designer (which has it's own forum) But you can also make columns from cabinets which allow a lot of control and alteration and will take molding. Can then turn those into a symbol which can make placement easier (again all in Chief Pro) Column on left is one single cabinet, column on right is two. For #2 Copied the first one, then copied in place, adjusted the height of one to be the top, and the other to be the bottom. Changed the molding on the bottom, changed the faces on the top (all sides match front as a side panel inset) and changed the material. Can even make a round one

Need your signature please to show version and hardware. In X 12 and X13 use a custom schedule for the cabinets that are a different color.

Perry's method is easiest in this case. In some other situations you can alter the bounding box to determine where it cuts into the wall.

Note that in the first chart I posted notice CPU usage for every core hit 100%.Only Chief and one tab of FF were in use during that time; been seeing results like that for several years now. I have directly asked developers about it and been told Chief uses multiple cores.

I used AVAdirect.com. I had an idea of what I wanted and a budget. In the process I talked with Kyle Mizer who helped with availability of parts comparable to what I wanted (quiet performance) if some were big delays or where I only knew a little. Kbird knows a lot of specifics too BTW Ultramon may do what Fancy Zones does but I don't use that script and think PT is likely easier with that. OTOH Fancy Zones does not deal with swapping monitors the way UM does. Windows has something built in but not as effective when you have different resolution monitors as I have.

Since we have had tabs, drag a tab over to the next monitor. I can also span across using UltraMon but rarely do.

Just fine, didn't do any RTRT but expect it would be just as always even with that. I get some work with worse symbols and textures if not quite as large as that and do plenty of RTRT. Been happy enough with it. RTRT would briefly peg the GPU usage to 100% then drop (as long as cap live samples is checked) and use between 50 and 65% of the GPU memory.

I opened Chief Lake Point plan and Layout I have it on all 3 monitors- one elevation on the 4k, layout Plan Shell, Foundation, 3rd Floor , 1st Floor, and front elevation on middle; 3D standard on the third. Moved one roof plan up and used undo. Here are system usage for GPU and CPU from opening to now. 1st is current, min and max. for both 2nd is HWInfo shows current, min, max, avg. Only included GPU CPU was the same as HWmonitor

My reasoning would be future proof since you need it now. A 12th gen gets PCIE5 which appears to matter with next gen GPUs. Those are said to be a leap in performance (and power draw) this time. The newer socket allows for future upgrades. Your getting the newer socket to allow future upgrades for at least a version, maybe more. I'd take the grand from the GPU and put it there myself.

Chief won't use the extra memory, at least I never get it to use all I have. At a cost difference of over $1k from the place I use I'd spend it elsewhere for instance to move up to a 12th gen if cost is a factor. Else save for next gen GPU coming in fall or so.

Looks to be a nice system. I think you mean Z590? as there is no 250. Wondering why not a 12th generation? I believe the socket changed again. In which case maybe a larger power supply to be ready for upcoming GPUs which are said to be taking a lot of power and have different cables. And what is there for cooling-CPU, case fans and paste? Personally I'd lean toward a 3080 NOT Ti and put the money somewhere else (well based on track record I'd actually lean toward a 3070 :)

I use three 27"; one 4k and two 2K. Primary set in corner on angle with flanking at 45degrees to it. All about 25" from my nose at eye level. Had some neck issues in the past and this solved it. Got the 4K thinking text would be clearer-not once scaled so that sits to the left and just holds email, Your Phone,m, Directory Opus file manager, and Legal billing job timer. Center is a Benq PD2700Q 2k, other two are Dell. They were cheaper and had smaller bezels, wish I'd gotten PD2700 instead. Work on the center, right one is extra Chief, Bluebeam ( I get lots of reference PDFs and sample plans), web browser and Xnview (reference photos) each as needed all at full screen OR split to left or right depending. I move any as needed with a keyboard either to other monitors or to split screen using UltraMon (though have Display Fusion) Center screen taskbar shows icons for all active windows while side windows only show what's on them. Occasionally but rarely will span two monitors with a window. Unlike many I keep the ALDO, LB, and PB docked to the main. I'd undock them if they would stay together with tabs. If I really need more real estate I drag off a window to second monitor and swap them. That only gets the Aldo and it can be closed without affecting the main screen, then swap their monitors. Eyes-Been wearing trifocals for decades but this year also got a set of bifocals top for computer and bottom for reading. Wish I'd gotten those years ago. Only problem with them is when I forget to change glasses and get up to go into other room, bumping off walls When I had the studio and met with clients I ran four (though the my sketchy memory wants to say sometimes 5?). 17" laptop, Benq 27, a 24 taller than normal, a 15" display link via USB and a 40 something TV. I don't think I could last long working on the TV. At under a pound, 3/4" thick; I take the 15" display link when traveling and always wish I had a third monitor.

Somebody asked me about this since supposedly the NKBA (i9n all it's wisdom) is asking for this on the test ??? I'd just spec it IRL, seriously. Two quickies here and the plans after I mucked about a bit. . In any case it can be cheated a bit using line drawing on top of a PBR- but that puts line on everything. A somewhat better method is to do a save as of the plan, in second plan delete the cabinets, and use a referenced display in 3D with special layer sets for each. The cabinets really need to be the camera you start with to get the RTRT with lines. the rest is done in standard. You could of course do both in standard and only one with lines. WARNING- computer can get a little funky when making these adjustments and can be frustrating YMMV As I've noted before IN REAL life trying to produce this is a dangerous and useless waste of time. Dangerous since it raises unreasonable expectations by the client who should be selecting finishes from real life-ALWAYS. Useless waste of time-as if KD's don't have enough to do getting a job sold and out the door, now expect them to do the work of a dedicated renderer for the same money they are getting ? So glad I decided to skip the test back when it was a wee bit more civilized. glazing.zip

Custom door symbol-material regions for walls. Bit tricky to get the frosted glass to match between the two (I didn't try) part frosted.zip