Laptop for 3D animation/compositing and games - Page 2

Really? please elaborate, what package do you use, what problems while modelling? I am on the brink of getting a machine with an Ati 9600.

Yes and no.

Yes, in the sense that P-M's will not be that much better than P4's when both are running full power. I get maybe 2 hours of heavy gaming on battery life.

No, in the sense that modeling doesn't need to be that stressful. I'm sure you know of tricks to simplify things (like hiding every other object in the scene...), and truly complex scenes (like the sentinels-attacking-Zion scene in Matrix: Revolutions) will kill any CPU/GPU. When I run Maya, the CPU is clocked more at 800-900 than the full 1.6 Ghz most of the time.

Now, if you're talking about rendering images, then yea, that tends to try to use the full power of the CPU. But what are you doing doing heavy rendering on a notebook?!

3d modelling is going to be a lot less stressful than gaming. While it might seem like you are always keeping the computer busy, a good chunk of the time is spent trucking the mouse around.

I'd use that corporate discount on an IBM T41p or R50p. Both have the ATI firegl t2 128mb graphics card in there. The R50p sports a 15" 1600x1200 resolution flexview screen that I think you would appreciate. It also comes with a dvd writer. Both of these machines are also certified to run many workstation class programs (click here for link).

I hope you find what your looking for

I use 3dMax. The main problems are lockups when you use a lot of polys. You should check out cgtalk.com. It's the largest forum for 3d modeling out there. Go into the tech forum and you can read all the ATI horror stories for modeling.

mmmh... Dunno exactly... I use 3dsmax and my current project is 3 millions faces, with something like 10.000 different entities. Even just to hide-show objects is a real pain. Sure my old Ti4200 128MB doesn't help... (even when hacked into the Quadro version...) but the processor itself (overclocked 2600+) is quite busy by itself.
Luckly for me I have my own render farm to do the dirty work, But sometimes even open the complete list of materials takes a few minutes... AND AGAIN if you use the maxtreme drivers from nvidia, (specific drivers for quadro cards and 3dsmax, they SUBDIVIDE the display work over GPU and CPU) Cpu is stressed quite a bit.

RANSAAK: ever tried 3dsmax under DX9? they told me (I don't have no Ati cards myself only nvidias) that it's the best way to run 3dsmax with Ati cards..
Do you have a centrino lappy? can you do the islands.max test render for me?

Although I do agree with the fact that NVidia cards are better for workstation-class OpenGL applications, I really wouldn't tell someone to absolutely NOT get a Radeon Mobility-based laptop. I own two ATi-based notebooks and they do work just fine with a bunch of different software packages: Maya, 3ds max + plugins, lightwave, Matchmover, deep exploration, combustion, after effects, Motionbuilder, etc.. and the difference in choice and price is pretty significant. And there's always FireGL2 which still beats any mobile NVidia chip currently in production (thats' bound to to change again but not yet).
You can see some glitches every once in a while in OpenGL, but it's nothing horribly serious, and the performance ceiling on both cards is roughly the same in my opinion. You shouldn't hope to complete a 300 soldier script battle with volumetric explosions or a 12 layer 2K Cineon comp on a laptop with the same smoothness as on a real dual workstation, it's just not the right platform. But it's great for working on fairly detailed individual, discreet tasks or smaller, less complete projects.

Or at least that's been my experience with somewhat simpler projects - nothing insaely complex. I can't comment on engineering stuff such as Autocad, Microstation or Catia however.

Also, keep in mind 3ds max will choke with too many polygons regardless of computer specs, it's just a problem with 3ds max's byzantyne legacy code mess. I love the program but it's a known fact that it's pretty much a city on top of a city on top of a city on top of a sewer system as far as code is concerned. Just ask anyone from discreet who works in the max division

PS: Besides hanging up on too many polys with max, can you guys cite specific examples of the Radeon Mobility messing up with real 3D apps? I have only observed the Zbuffer and transparency stuff myself, but I would like to know what else is going on out there.

Also make sure to NOT use Omega drivers nor your provided notebook drivers. Use the latest Catalyst modded drivers. That got rid of a few crashes with real 3D apps on my system.

Hey Anacardo, I just visited your CGTalk thread and I was shocked to find you're THAT guy who did those beatiful retro-science airplane models. Freaking BEAUTIFUL. Great work! I saw that thread months ago when you first published it but had no idea you would be lurking around here

Anyways, I just wanted to say that, I loved that airplane model and rendering so much, cheers!

I know cgtalk but i thought you had something specific in mind


NSiNSiNSi,...my thoughts too. I dont pretend to do hardcore massive scenes in Maya with the laptop. Maybe have the scenes to show clients ? Lighting texturing on the go maybe? If i am working on something seriously i would still need the 21 inch monitor and dual procs.

Has any of you guys tested zbrush in an ati 9600 ? I am thinkin of getting a copy to learn while i wait for renders here at work. (Those images Pixolator bangs out in 2 hours in the Speed Session are very tasty )

Here's what I mostly do with my notebooks regarding 3D stuff:

1- Perform demos of software features (I work for one of the software companies I mentioned above that shall remain nameless for my own sake). I *have* had problems in the past but have since solved them by using the latest catalyst drivers with the mod tool applied to them.

2- Execute quick and dirty preview of production jobs while meeting with clients - A perfect example of this was one time we had to arrange and set up an aerial shoot of a large building complex here in the Bay Area. I had a fairly complex 3D model scene of the buildings and surround terrain and street, complete with satellite stitched texture maps, and I was able to easily work out a flight path for the helicopter with all parties involved making their own observations to make sure we got the right angles. Never had a problem.

3- Fix customer or production problems while on the road: Many times I have visited major studios and helped get through a problem shot on the spot with my notebook. The only problem is discovering left over frames from 2 years ago belonging to a movie being announced in trailers at the movie theater
Only once I remember the Radeon crapping out on me (the ATI driver would crash on a certain 3D snapping command) but that was permanently fixed with a driver upgrade.

4- Practice/inspiration while on the road: I will often fire up whatever program I am interested in at the moment and just try out things, be it modeling, rendering, animation, etc.

5- Gaming. This is what I do after the end of the day and at hotels at night when I have to be on the road and trade shows (hello, NAB).

Sorry, I haven't tried ZBrush. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I "get" that proggie. I understand what it does, but it's a bit of an alien workflow to me, especially seeing as I can't really paint or draw very well anymore. Oh well.

Thanks for the reply, its helpful.

Points 2 to 5 (not much gaming but still...) exactly apply to me as well.
I will be getting this baby next week and will run it through some tests. Will post here if anyone is interested.

Zbrush: yes workflow is weird. But the ability to "bake" the high res painted mesh in a displacement map sounds great to me.

Ahh no NAB for me this year, too much work, but i guess ill see you at Siggraph

Damn...that was FANTASTIC advice you gave this member...could I get your opinion (or anyone's) on my needs:
1.) The highest-quality possible notebook with 15.4" WXGA (or 15" XGA if that changes the recommendation)
2.) The lightest possible weight available, while still making #1 above (high quality) the top consideration.
3.) Best/fastest available video/memory/hard drive subsystems, while still making #1 (high quality) the top consideration.
4.) I am assuming that it will have to be a Centrino to in anyway satisfy #2.
5.) Best available service.
In other words, if I have to buy a heavy machine to meet #1 requirement, please let me know, that is ok with me. Or, if the best machine is heavier, please let me know that.
Reason:
a.) I have just been through "Dell hell" with a Latitude. 6 weeks and still don't have a good working notebook. 4 onsite service calls (next business day) and 1 system replacement, 3 replaced LCD panels, video still screwed.
ANY ADVICE WILL BE MORE THAN WELCOME!
I do fully realize that when picking a notebook, or any item nothing is ever perfect. Just looking for the best risk to take on one.
Thanks a lot in advance!
Andrew
Austin, TX

Thanks man!! that was really very kind of you... I really would like to have the time to do more CG stuff like that and less architecture-everyday stuff, but if I really WANT to buy me this damned lappy.. well.. I've to work!!! (and work, work, work, work )... Anyway for that matter I'm shocked too to find someone who saw my stuff in here!!! Well, I might say that these forums are probably the best for infos on laptop computing.. therefore shouldn't have been too surpising for both of us.. Thanks again anyway!!

Back to the topic... I think I've decided myself on the lappy too... I'll try the next Arima 730Dk8 (here - which is actually the voodoopc ENVY m860... But I won't take the voodoopc.. TOO expensive... I'll have to wait for another brand to come out) Does anybody know if the battery on this one is as good as the one found on the mitac 8355?

aamsel:

mmh.. I can give advices on specs, but since I don't actually own a lappy myself (not yet at least ) I cannot suggest any brand nor model without fear

Light and WXGA with centrino... If that's the case I would probably opt for a Gateway or similar.. there's also the Clevo M375E and the Asus W1000 both coming in May-June and both Dothan compatible... Keep in mind that all these have Ati 9600 graphic boards with 64MB. Anyway, the best thing to do, when you have your specs in mind, is to search the intenet (or just these forums ) to find a good match. Then ask in the related forum for comments, reviews, problems and workarounds. (that's what I did myself.. It saved me from buying an Asus m6800n with bad screen probably.. )More on that later (gotta gooo!! sorry!! back later!!