video card requirements

[deckard]

I've done the search and everything seems to be pointing to the Quadro FX line of video cards.

Which card should I use if all I plan to do are 3-axis toolpaths, parts that I plan to machine are surfaces which are no larger than 5'x10'. We vacuum form parts here so no undercuts allowed. All our parts are single mold with no male or female mating molds. Please help we need a new computer to run X and I would like to come up with an accurate estimate for the purchasing department.

Thanks in advance

[gcode]

Quadro's at Monarch Computers

 

The FX 500 is an aboxxxxe minimum. Since its an AGP card, its nearly obsolete. You probably can't get one in a factory builyt machine anymore.

 

The 700 would be my budget choice, then the 1300

and 1400.

 

I have a 3400 in my work machine and its worth the money in my opinion, but it wasn't my money

 

If money is an issue look

here

I've bought 3 machines from Dell Factory Outlet and never had any trouble with any of them.

[Bill]

Determine which company you are going to use and go on-line and build it. Unless you are building it yourself, you can get an exact cost plus shipping.

 

We use Dell here. We have an account so its much easier for us.

 

Check to see if the computer manufacturer offers the card you're looking for.

 

Without a monitor I would guess about 2k (USD) would get you a pretty nice system.

[TyK]

I just put my order in for a new system. Built to run on a semi budget, has a FX-1400. Came in at about 2400CDN, (about $1.95 US -HEHE), but took about a week and a half of shopping around. All my research pointed at an NVIDEA chipset, on a workstation card which led me to the FX line.

Can't wait, heard its a smokin card to have.

[PBpaul]

GCode:

 

AGP is already old crap? Man, I sure am getting old! What's replacing it?

 

Thanks- Paul

[Bullines]

PCI-X, aka: PCI Express.

[PBpaul]

Thanks- I don't suppose that will plug into just any old PCI slot, will it? I mean, could I pull out an old AGP and use a PCI Express in a regular PCI slot instead?

 

Thanks- Paul

[Bullines]

quote:

---

Thanks- I don't suppose that will plug into just any old PCI slot, will it?

I mean, could I pull out an old AGP and use a PCI Express in a regular PCI slot instead?

---

Nope. PCI and PCI Express are vastly different from each other.

[PBpaul]

Thanks a ton. I'm gonna go this afternoon and see if Best Buy or someone like that has an old AGP Quadro FX500 or better, preferably collecting dust.

 

Thanks again - Paul

[gcode]

Paul

You'll be very lucky to find Quadros in any store. They are specialized CAD/CAM cards and

most stores only stock gaming cards.

The link I posted for Monarch Computer is one

of the best I've found for Quardo Cards.

NVIDA's website has a link to stores and on-line retailers that carry Quardos too.

[PBpaul]

Thanks for the link, gcode. That's probably the best bet. - Paul

[MitchD]

I have a Quadro 3400 and it is having all kinda of glitches with MCX, works great for everything else though. I think the troubles are all realated to the displaying in the lathe package not the card its self.

[gcode]

Mitch,

I have 3400 on my work machine.

If you havn't done so, install SP1 that came out today.

I think you find it solves most of the problems your having.

[MitchD]

Great! I hope so, downloading now.

[Harryman]

If you're planning to use solids, I'd stay away from the FX500. I have one and am trying to upgrade.

 

I've had problems with the little popup boxes that explain icons refusing to show up, and solids look crappy. Turning off hardware acceleration got the popup working.

 

If I click on a shaded solid it turns a funky color and Repaint doesn't clear it up. I have to turn Shading off and back on.

[Jeremy Haage from MCAM NorthWest]

Through the course of troubleshooting graphics issues in Version 9 & Version X we've come across a procedure that can help, sometimes seeing vast improvements. If you've tried the other graphics recommendations found on the forum and they don't seem to help then try this one out:

 

Download the following zip file:

GL.zip

 

Unzip this to your root Mastercam folder (for v9 - c:mcam9 or for X - c:mcamx). It will extract 2 files into that folder, opengl32.dll and glu32.dll. Restart Mastercam to make the changes take effect.

 

If you don't like the changes, go back to the root Mastercam folder and delete out opengl32.dll & glu32.dll and restart Mastercam again.

 

Hope this helps some people.

 

Jeremy

[Harryman]

Update on the Quadro FX 500

 

I just installed drivers from here:

http://www.pny.com/support/drivers/?prod=quadro

 

I had been using the Dell drivers. Things are much better now. Able to re-enable hardware acceleration.

 

SP1 installed

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Hey guys

I have a lot of annoying "ghosting" going on when

I am rubber banding from one end point to another.

also In Verify the light is only shining on one side of my stock and I can't see my cut?

it is a simple 2d top cut....

My card,settings and driver were fine all through out Beta.

Would a hotter card fix this?

 

X SP1,Oxygen GVX1

 

Thanks

Tony

[Müřlıń®]

Ok video guru's I like to play and work on my PC's.

 

256k video memory is bare min for gaming...

 

However 256 Quadro is kinda pricy.

 

Won't Nvidia chipset, high end gaming cards run X just as well as the Quadro's, most of them support open GL?

[polishman]

GEFORCE FX5500 256ram

 

running "X SP1" and 9mr0105

machine is a AMD 2 gig w/1 gig of memory windows xp pro

no problems with verify ETC

 

JUST MY 2 CENTS .I HAD PROBLEM CRASHING IN SOLID WORKS ,M-CAM PARTICULARILY WHEN BACKPLOTTING AND VERIFY

all is well so far 3 days using both x and 9(mostly 9 but practicing alot)

[Bullines]

quote:

---

Won't Nvidia chipset, high end gaming cards run X just as well as the Quadro's, most of them support open GL?

---

Many video cards support OpenGL but some are better than others. With Mastercam, memory on the video card isn't as big an issue as the chipset on the card when it comes to CAD/CAM apps.

[Müřlıń®]

Anyone know if the Quadr0/700 will fit in the Shuttle G_2 Chassis?

[Müřlıń®]

OK N/M that card won't fit in the Shutle due to power requirements.

[MitchD]

Gcode, SP1 did help some, still some weirdness. But its alot better. Still running with the unified back ground buffer off as well.

[lifer]

Would the fx 540 card work better than the fx 500?