Quadro poor performance

We produce 3D applications based on the Direct3D architecture, and have an exceptionally high performance 3D engine which is happily processing upward of 2 million triangles at 30fps on even some of the older GeForce technology such as the 7-series (256Mb) cards.

However, we have recently been asked to optimize our 3D technology for running on Quadro based cards (NV-135M 256Mb), and initial tests into the Quadro hardware have been an eye opener, and definitely disappointing when it comes to triangle throughput. We've done a wide variety of tests, and pinned the drops we see in performance on the Quadro to a polygon-throughput issue. However, the amount of polygons the Quadro seems to be able to process is very low ... it can process a 3D object consisting of 30,000 triangles quite well, but when we replace this model with its higher LOD version consisting of 60,000 triangles, performance degrades dramatically.

We're still conducting tests to see if it's a triangle-per-mesh problem (ie. should we restrict the number of triangles we allow into a particular mesh before breaking the object up and starting a new mesh), or just a straight overall-number-of-triangles-in-the-viewport problem.

However, the difference in performance between the Quadro and the old GeForce is so dramatic, I'm having serious doubts as to how powerful the Quadro actually is for DIrect3D applications. Do you have any direct experience of these cards when used in Direct3D mode that you can draw on to help us cast light on this problem?

Having looked through many articles, it would seem that the Quadro is optimized primarily for workstation work. However, if this is the case then certainly polygon-throughput is a prerequisite for effective workstation use. Is the NV-135M truly so underpowered in comparison to the GeForce Go 7800? Does anyone have any ideas please?

 

I don't know what the NV-135M corresponds to in the Geforce series, but it sounds like it must be a fairly low-end card if a Geforce 7800 is more powerful. The Quadro series is optimized for workstation Direct3D development, not gaming, so theoretically the Quadro should outperform your Geforce. It is possible that the 135M corresponds to a low-end card such as the 8400m. In addition, theoretically the Geforce shouldn't even work in your applications unless you are modifying the driver somehow.

Either way, it is POSSIBLE that if the Quadro NV-135M is from the Geforce 8 series cards or newer (G80 and beyond), then the new shader architecture might be giving your older software some trouble. The 7 series cards used the old fashioned hardcoded shader approach, while the newer cards all use programmable shaders. I know that in games this isn't a problem, but I suppose in development software there might be a few hangups.

I'm certainly not an expert on the subject, who else has advice?

 

As far as I know, the NV135 doesn't even come close to comparing to the 7800. The NVS135 is a low-end card, where the 7800 is still a high end card.

Try using an Quadro 570.

I don't have much experience with Quadro cards, but I'm pretty sure I'm correct...

 

the quadro nvs 135 m is not what you would call a workstation card.

it´s a crippled, slow card, that actually does not deserve to be called a workstation card. the NV series of quadro cards is actually only optimzed for 2d, performance in 3d is very bad.

concerning the workstation quadros for notebooks the fx series ( like fx 570m, fx1600m, fx 3600m ...) are only optimized for professional OPENGL programs. that is the main difference to normal consumer cards like the 8600m gt 8700m gt....

in direct 3d the quadros are not better than the consumercards. so a gaming card that is much cheaper will perform the same ( if it´s based on the same core and has the same clocks) and better in D3D than the quadro´s.

and as the previous posters already stated the nvs 135m is a crippled chip.

 

Thank you all for your feedback, it is much appreciated. I was hoping that there may have been something obvious that we had overlooked, but it looks like our client will have to rely on dedicated equipment.

 

I just got a Dell D830 with the NVS135M and installed the latest (only) driver on Dell's site. When I run DXDIAG it claims there's no hardware support for DX or even for DirectDraw!!
Dell's tech wants me to do a 'pc restore' which is a bit extreme for my taste - especially with no guarantee that it'll make DX wake up. Any thoughts about my options??

 

quadro NVS is actually for offices - optimized for 2d content on multiple screens

quadro FX is a workstation card optimized for 3d modeling...