VRAY slow on AMD FX 8350

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
chaosmonger

chaosmonger

Distinguished
Aug 2, 2010
64
0
18,630
Hello guys, I'm fighting with this issue for long time without any solution...
(I'm italian forgive my bad english).

I'm rendering an animation with Vray 2 and 3DS Max 2011.
I'm asking a friend of mine some help, and I cannot understand why, but his renders are 250% faster than mine, even though I've a better computer.

Of course the scene is EXACTLY the same, with EXACTLY the same Vray Preset, texture, etc.

I've an AMD FX 8350, with 16GB RAM.
He has an I7-2600 with 8GB RAM.

My render time per frame (on same scene, same settings, etc.) is: 25mins.
His render time is: 10 mins.

How is it possible?!?! What's wrong!??!
I've already made a benchmark and everything seems to work perfectly. All the 8 cores are working at 100% at 4k clock. The RAM is working (9gb/16). Everything is good, but the render time... I've tried to install a newer version of Vray and also a brand new version of Max, but the problem remains.

So, my question is: how is it possible? Can some installed software create conflict with Vray?
Do I have to format? Or there's some glitch? I've to use BIOS settings? What can slow down my render time comparing to my friend's one?

I'm going crazy!
PLEASE HELP!
 
Solution
S
SOLVED! I had the very same problem. We have here a small render farm (10 machines) the first 9 are i7 3770, we decided to give a try to the AMD fx8350, and we noticed that it doubled the rendering time on an specific scene (10mins on the i7 vs 20mins on the fx8350). But after upgrading vray to version 2.40.03 and installing the windows 7 patches, the AMD perfomance increased enormously. So, briefly, update vray to 2.40.03 and install windows updates and fixes for AMD processor.

Hope it works for you too!
Sort by date Sort by votes
@TenPc
I tried already rendering from my SSD drive and from a RAM virtual drive without results

@rmpumper
Originally I was using 2.20 as well, then hoping for some improvements I upgraded to 2.40, without any results. So basically I was using 2.20 like my friend until the upgrade of few days ago.

@tourist
Regarding the HD speed see the pictures on the first page, in any case my drives are faster than my friend ones.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
It's a mystery yet to be solved :)
Some more things to ponder -

Do you happenchance to be having other applications unrelated to the actual project opened like media player for some soothing background music?

Is the original project saved on the OS drive? Do you work from a saved project or image or is the image a non-file (unsaved)?

Have you reset your overclocked ram back to their original state?

Is your ram all of the same brand and speed?

Disable indexing on the second SSD, it's not required and does slow the system somewhat.

Do you have both SSD's power cable using the same line (from the PSU)?
Is that same cable line used for any other device (example: CD/DVD drive)?
Do you have more than 2 internal fans?

Is your program installed to the primary OS drive or into the other drive?
Have you set a temp directory in Vray to a target drive that is not the OS drive?

I've got Vray 3DMax but it's an old version, one of the originals and only used it to see if it suited me (something new to learn) but it seemd like too much hard work!


You can answer all or some or ignore them, it's up to you. I'll add more queries another day. :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok so....
Normally I've lot of processes in the background (like music, email, skype, etc.). But I've made a test without anything open except 3DS Max, also deactivating from the msconfig all the unnecessary process, without significant results.

The project is saved on a secondary Hard Drive (not the os one), but I made some test copying all the files (project, textures, etc) to the OS Hard Drive and to a virtual Ram Drive, without significant results.

I've reset my BIOS to the default settings (also CPU and RAM), and nothing.

I've one SSD and one SATA HD, but, as I said, I've tried using only a RAM drive putting there all the files without result... And nothing is faster than RAM.

I've a main Shuriken fan for the CPU, then my case has 4 more small fans.

The software is installed on C:, the SSD drive, containing also the OS.

I didn't try to set a different temp directory for VRay... where can I set this?! Never tried before... I wanna do it.
In any case, my friend HD speed is slower than mine.

Thanks for helping me.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I've got 3dsMax 5.1 but can't find the vray at the moment.
APE.max
6 passes each frame, 154 frames
Render time: 41minutes 25 seconds
Windows XP with 4gb ram DDR2 800 2.2ghz cpu (AMD)

I only did 4 minutes worth, it was doing a good job but I didn't want to wait for the result.

What is the actual expected time for rendering your animation?

Sorry about the output (temp) directory, there is none, most programs do but not 3ds Max, not my version, anyway.
Usually it would be in the preferences options.

Compare your boot up time (to desktop) with your friends boot up time, his would be somewhat faster.

Don't have background programs in use, they use up all your resources, if you want music, use your mp3 player or stereo.
Don't use msconfig, reset them all to default and then use the Administrator Rights dialog to "Stop" or "Disable" services.

Shut down the PC when not in use for more than an hour.

When you use ram for rendering (or as virtual drives), you are taking memory away from the system, most virtual ram drives use about 2gb minimum.

I'll check your specs and see if there is anything amiss. 16gb of ram does use more resources (and power) than 8gb of ram, you could try removing 8gb and see if that makes any diffrence.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Something crazy just happened! That maybe can solve everything...
I was with a girl watching a movie, so i setted lower priority to 3dsmax.exe process, and also Set Affinity only to 4 cores on 8.
The CPU was running at 50%, only 4 cores were at 100% and 4 were at 10%/15% for the normal computer routine...
And....
A scene that I rendered before in 34 minutes was rendered in 28 minutes!!!!!!!! WTF!?!?!?!??!

Considering this, I guess that CPU is having problems.
Power problems when 8 cores are used? Some issues on using 8 cores all together? 1 core is bugged?
What else!?!? This is leading me crazy!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I guess it's overheating... 🙁
I just noticed that the temperature reach 80° C...! And, with an AMD control panel, I can see that when the temperature is over 80°C the core speed fall down to 1000MhZ (and temperature to 50°C) to grow again to 4000MhZ and 80°C and so on...
That's why when I used 4 cores instead of 8, even though less CPU, with lower temperature renders are little bit faster...!!!

So what can I do?
I'm using a Scythe Big Shuriken 2 rev Cooler:
http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/SCBSK2100.html
(it's a low profile because the case is an HTPC)

Basically the specs on that cooler seems to be enough for my 8350.
The case has 4 more small fans, and the air seems circulating fair enough...
P.S. case is a Silverstone GD05:
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=241
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


Most likely the heatsink needs to be reseated as, even though Scythe are better known for their low noise than good cooling, it should do a better job than the stock cooler.

Thought, for a render system with 8350, water cooling (i.e. H100i) would be a lot better. The lowest I would suggest is Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo.

Here's Hyper212 and Scythe Big Shuriken in one graph:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-Plus-CPU-Cooler-Review/956

Cooler Master wins by 21C on 130W TDP C2Q.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The problem is that I've an HTPC where only the Scythe fits... So I need to check if everything is fine with that cooler, then -if not- I'm gonna buy a bigger case and a big cooler (like the Noctua NH-D14).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


Try rendering with side panel removed first, then. If it helps, you might get away with just cutting a hole in the side panel so that CPU cooler would be able to exhaust the hot air directly out of the case instead of recycling heat to cool the CPU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Anyway, here a screenshot with Hardware Monitor, before changing anything:

HardareMonitor.jpeg
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Well, on this small case everything is VERY compacted. The case is not against some wall or whatever, so there's space in everydirection (except below 😛). If I put my hands in the fan area I can feel that air is circulating, but at the same time in some spot (close to the GPU for example), everything is very hot.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok, but what can I do? How can improve it?

The case is VERY small, so there's nothing I can really do... except keep it for travelling or TV/PC and buy something new, like this:
cooler
- Noctua NH-D14
case
- Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl

I think I've no other possibilities...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If you look at rmpumpers 3.3v and 5v they are in the 3v and 5v range whereas your 3.3v is 1v~ and the 5v is 3v~.
His 12+v is 11.68 but your 12v+ is 7~ to 8v~ which means ssomething, surely? Perhaps the 8 core is using all ytour voltages and there is not much balance left over so your PSU is straining to provide adequate power for the cpu.

In your first post you mentioned "The RAM is working (9gb/16)" which infers that 7gb is reserved for virtual drives that does impact on your whole system.

You case is very compact but it does have case fans that should allow heat dispersal however, it is still a tight fit, you should consider removing the cover or getting a larger csae. With your current case, make sure that it is free from encumberment and has no books on it, the sides and fans have free air space of more than 6 inches, not cramped up against the wall.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Can you do another HWMonitor test (and post the image)? Those rail voltages are way too low to actually make you boot up so its assumed to be a software issue rather than a PSU fault, perhaps.

You don't happen to be on a generator for your mains power, do you?

Edit - Consider removing the video card and just using onboard video out and then see the test results of a render.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I bought a larger case and a new cooler, now there're no more temperature problems!!!
But renders time are not improved at all!!! Well, let's say that if before my friend was 2.5X faster, now he is 2.3X faster... 🙁
Still going crazyyyyyyy!

Here a screenshot of the temperature (note that the CPU from 80° now it's down to 50° even on a massive render):
HardareMonitor2.jpeg


I'm not on a generator... I guess, but I can try to change plug to see if something change.
Also the idea of removing the Video Card could be a test... I will do it tomorrow.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The rail voltages are unchanged which makes me suspect something but am not a PSU expert so still unsure, it couls possibly be that the PSU is not giving adequate voltages, there was some concerns with the CoolerMaster 750 Watt PSU so that might be it.

Your PSU only has a single 12v rail which is better for gaming but not for other things so you might have to opt for another PSU, one that has 4 x 12v rails.

"Single +12V rail for the most demanding SLI configurations "
http://www.coolermaster.in/product.php?product_id=6643

Seasonic X750 ([strike]4 x 12v rails)[/strike]http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/09/25/seasonic_x_series_x750_power_supply_review/2

You might even go one better and opt for a higher PSU, about 900 watts.

Even though the video card is not "in use", it is still acquiring a its share of the PSU power.

You should consider waiting for other replies concerning my details otherwise go ask in the PSU Category.

Edit - Actually, not even the Seasonic has 4 x 12v rails, I misread the info table.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'm making again a test setting the affinity to 4 cores instead of 8 and the render is faster... CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY!!!
I'm not an expert on PSU either, so don't know how can it influence the results, but the CPU now it's running 100% (or 50% when I disable 4 cores, funny thing faster), with the exactly frequency... Don't know about the voltage.

But, then, why is taking almost 40W insteand of 125W?! Can some BIOS settings fix it? And how?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


When you set the affinity to 4 cores which cores are you using? 0-3 or the even cores?

You should use the even cores which are the "main" cores on the Bulldozer modules.
0/2/4/6

 
Upvote 0 Downvote


your chipset is low-end, it could be throttling your cpu's performance
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom