Hey guys, I’m not very tech saavy, but I’m curious to know exactly how RAM, processors and a video card effect ZBrush performance? I mean, what are each of them responsible for? For example, I’m guessing more/better processors could maybe handle working with higher res geometry and more subdivisions or a bigger scene? What effect does RAM have for ZBrush? Faster calculations when moving between subdivision levels or picking up projections, etc.? How about a video card? Does a really good video card help with the realtime display of the amount of polygons on the screen?
CPU affects how quickly ZBrush renders the screen and how smoothly it interacts with the mesh during sculpting/polypainting. Faster CPU’s and more cores will both improve performance. ZBrush 3 can actually handle up to 256 processors/cores, so it WILL see a benefit from multiple cores.
(Anyone working in 3D will generally see an improvement with quad cores over dual cores. Each core usually has lower speed than a comparably priced processor with fewer cores, but overall system performance improves. The only people who really benefit from fewer cores are those people who want to run a single application at maximum performance – like a game — and even then it only holds true if that application is not designed to take advantage of multiple cores. Any program that is designed to benefit from multiple cores will perform better even though the individual cores have a lower speed rating.)
RAM affects how readily ZBrush can access data without having to write to disk. This is necessary for working with high resolution meshes. The more RAM you have, the more you’ll be able to do with ZBrush overall. Faster RAM will allow it to work with these big files (switch between subdivision levels, toggle layers, etc.) even more smoothly. So RAM actually is more important than CPU when it comes to working with ZBrush.
Keep in mind, though, that 32-bit systems have a limitation on the amount of RAM that they can recognize and the amount that they’ll give to applications. 32-bit versions of Windows cannot even see more than 4 GB of RAM. They also won’t give more than 2 GB of that to any individiual application. (Yes, there’s an .ini file that you can edit to activate the \3GB switch and give 3 GB to individual apps. The problem is that this is unsupported by Microsoft because it doesn’t always work right! Some people see worse performance, rather than better.) A 64-bit OS can see a huge amount of RAM. ZBrush will be able to use up to 4 GB of that.
Next up on the list of importance is the hard drive that ZBrush is installed on. No matter how much RAM you have, you’ll invariably hit points where ZBrush must compact memory and write to disk. The faster your hard drive, the more quickly it can do this. (And get the data back into RAM when needed.) You also want to have a lot of free space on the drive and keep it defragmented.
As for your video card, this has NO impact on ZBrush’s performance. The reason for this is that ZBrush uses software rendering rather than hardware rendering. All you need is a card that can support your display’s resolution with 32-bit color. The only exception is if you’re going to be using ZMapper, in which case the card must support OpenGL. Any nVidia card qualifies. Wildcat users would be in trouble, though.
Yeah, thanks for that Aurick!!
So, I’ll buy a dual-core (here in Brazil a quad-core is too expensive), ((a “core 2 duo” is a dual core?)). As for RAM, well I think 4gb is too much for my pocket…
(yeah, things are really expensive here). I’ll buy as much RAM as I can, accordingly to the system.
Plus, what nVidia card you recommend?
sorry for all the question… again haha, but you know, it’s a big investment and I must be cautelous =)
Thanks again!
Given your budget needs and what you’ve said about your plans for using the computer, I’d recommend a GeForce series 7. (The model numbers will be 7xxx). This will give you the best price while still being capable of doing a good job with the majority of game titles on the foreseeable market. A series 8 card would give you the absolute best gaming, but the price is probably way more than you’d be happy with. Better to put that money into the CPU or RAM instead.
Is there a way to change the default location where ZBrush writes to disk when it needs to compact memory?
I would like ZB to use my SATA RAID0 array for virtual memory operations, but be installed on another physical drive. My SATA RAID is only used for capturing, editing, and rendering very large multimedia projects (>100GB). Then it gets formatted after the projects are done to keep it fast. It would be quite a pain to have to re-install and re-active ZB after each project…MG
Hey aurick, you misanderstood me =)
I’m looking for a pc for work with and learning zbrush, maya etc. I said I would play games, but that’s a side option. The maid reason is for 3d programs.
I found a pc here, what you think about this one:
Intel core 2 duo E6850
-3.0GHz
-FSB 1333MHz
-Cache L@: 4 MB
Motherboard:
-MSI P35 Platinum
-Socket: LGA 775
-FSB 1333/1066 MHz
-Max. supported Memory: 8GB
Video card:
XFX GeForce 8600 GT
Memory: 256 MB
Interface: PCI - Express
Memory:
Kingston
Capacity: 2GB (2x 1GB)
-Frequency: 667 MHz
- DDR2
HD:
Sansung - 320 GB
Interface: SATA2
Buffer: 8MB
That’s it, it is a good one? I had to translate those specifications, sorry if something is wrong =)
This is not currently possible.
I really can’t recommend one system over another or say that a particular one “rates X stars”. The most I can do is tell you what ZBrush needs and then let you decide how well a system fits that, based on your own needs.
Hm… fair enough hehe
Well, thanks! =)
All right, I’ve built this PC:
Motherboard: P5K SC — or PSWDH deluxe
Processador: Q6600 intel
Ram: 4GB (2X2GB) Kingston
Video card: HD 2600 XT sapphire (pro maybe)
HD: 160GB SATA
Please, just give opinions becouse I’m not that confident, I don’t know much stuff about hardware and brands. I’ve built this one based on what aurick said (I tried). Please help =)
thanks and hugs!
EDIT: well, I’m not sure about that video Card, I think that is a great PC overall, but only that video card bugs me… any comments about it?
Oh c’mon… help me guys!!! please!!!
Hi paufer. For zbrush, there no really to have a powerful pc. Because I install a copy of zbrush on notebook to see what happens… And it run good!
The inconvenient is a little pin time when you work with high def mesh.
I used the notebook to mesh during my summer holiday.
Even a powerless computer is good for ZB. Just be careful of number of core, and OS. I only use Win XP on my main computer because it work well.
I didn’t succeed to install zb3.1 on notebook with Vista, zb3 work well. I don’t understandt what happens… also 3dsmax doesn’t work on my note book with vista…
Here I send u pict of my computer.
Quad core e6600
4Go ram
2X8800 GTX SLI
2xraptor 40go
MB Abit max
4 external hdd ( over than 1600 go store )
3x 22’’ samsung 226bw
Tablet wacom Intuos a5( I don’t recommend u a4, i used to have but finally it is very giant to a normal desktop…
I send u pict of my home system
2xthx system altec lansing
Attachments
That’s not a computer, it’s a space ship!!! (are you trying to make me feel worse? hahahaa)
and what about that video card? Not only for zbrush, but for “all” 3d programs, maya, lightwave etc…
zbrush is not dependent on a video card it uses ram for mostly everything except i think zmapper uses the video card.
Hi paufer, I don’t recommend you to have 2xvideo card to work, because the drivers are not optimized to work with 3d soft. In my case working on 3 screen with zbrush doesn’t make any problem, but with other soft like 3dsmax ( for exemple ) it crash evertime. So even a small video card work well with zbrush, but for others softs, prefer work with professionnail card fully compatible with OpenGL.
Good things !!
Wel, ok then… I don’t know if that video card is open gl. I’ll check it out!
thanks!
Guess I’ll throw in a pc config question in here!
The Pixologic site recommends a CPU with optional multithreading or hyperthreading capabilities… does the Intel Core 2 Duo support this? http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3241546&body=MAIN#detailspecs
Hi sil, I have 3 pc, one with core 2 duo e6600, one other with quad core q6600, and a old pc with sempron 2800+.
With core 2 duo you can work perfectly even until 1000 millions of polygons.
Only make sure that you have at least 2 go ram for that. When you reach one million polygon the system need a lot more memory to be good. When I use quad core I detect more fluidity one work progress, ( it is more right when you use 3 screens like me and the memory video is use at his high possibility ). I can use zbrush when a dvd is playing on computer without any trace of blocking picture.
So core 2 duo is a good thing, but check it, often for the same price u can buy a q6600;)
And which windows is best for using zbrush ?
Will zbrush use more then 1,4 GB ram under Windows Vista 64bit ?
And did somebody use windows xp 64bit with zbrush? This would be my favorit.
Ok I bought it.
Its a quad core q6600
MB: Asus super hyper duper–> I forgot it’s name hehe
2GB RAMfor now
video car of 512 MB hd2600 XT
well, it’s almost flying here.
thank you all… and merry xmas and happy new year