soft-mod nvidia for architecture software

this is more about using a gaming graphics card for other software, but I thought I would post it here if anyone had any thoughts...?

I need to buy a laptop for architecture software: autocad, rhino, maya, 3ds max, photoshop etc
the one I was told to buy has a nvidia 3600 quadro graphics card
too expensive.
I was going to get a nvidia geforce graphics card, either the 8000 or 9000 series, and do the soft-mod to switch the driver and try to get it to run like a quadro fx

Has anyone done this and if youve soft-modded, does your laptop run quickly with rhino, autocad, maya, 3ds, etc etc?

or just, in general, does anyone here have an nvidia geforce and how does it run with architecture software without soft-modding? I know it only has 512 MB vs the 1 GB of the quadro fx, if that makes any difference?

also, could you tell me which laptop you have if it came with an nvidia geforce card, and if its a good model?
Thanks!

 

You should use Quadro FX driver instead of Geforce Driver. Download official FX driver here, http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
This website(Nvidia FX boosting) should help you, http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_software.html

 

k thanks! yeah I know about switching the driver, I was jsut wondering, if anyone has done this does it really make a difference with rendering times? I saw a review someone posted where they tried running maya with and w/o a soft-modded card and it didnt seem like it was that much faster...

(also, does a geforce card work with both openGL and directX?)

 

not THAT big of a deal. just get good hardware and use modern drivers and maya will render with fine times.

not worth the mod imo.

 

ok thanks for the input...so I have been searching other threads and it all seems much more complicated than it first looked...
it seems like some are saying that the mod only works for 3ds max anyway (but I know it also works for maya, at least, this is what I have read...)
and once you have done it, you cant use open GL with the geforce card.
so, I guess the geforce card has open GL before the mod and after the mod it works in directx?
and the mod doesnt help rendering times for rhino or autocad?
does anyone have experience with this? help!

(i have been told to buy the quadro card, not the gaming card for school, so if I cannot mod the geforce, i guess i cannot buy it...and i really wan t to buy it.)

EDIT: wait, I guess Im wrong- soft mod only benefits programs that use direct3D. so anything that uses opengl, like rhino, or autocad (?) wont run any faster with it...true?

 

Im pretty lost about what it is that you need help with but...The geforce cards will always have opengl and directx but you need to download these 2 things.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e5-5ce1-4032-a207-c693d210f616&displaylang=en

You should also check out a moded 190.57 driver since it has open GL 3.2.It can be found over at laptopvideo2go.Dont forget to Dl physx from nvidia for you gpu.Hope this helps

 

whats physx? does that make it run faster?
basically Im just trying to use architectural rendering software and make it run as quickly as possible with a gaming card. Im wondering if anyone has done it, and if it really works, or if I have to spend the money and buy a quadro fx card.

 

its used to improve graphics and gaming performance not sure what it does for cad and those other things you mentioned.What current hardware do you have?

 

right now, trying to decide if I can get the laptop with the gaming card, or if I need to blow all my money on a laptop with a quadro card.
so, something like, apsire 5920 or 6920 or dell inspiron 1720 (cheaper and has geforce 8800)
if I can get by with any of those models for running architecture software, I will buy that.
otherwise I would have to get a dell precision 6400 with quadro 3700.
dont need it for gaming, just graphics and rendering.

 

You should get a desktop since they have stronger gpus compared to their laptop counter parts. Also you can over clock a desktop's gpu/cpu for better frames or what it is you need it for.If you get a notebook get one of these:
geforce 200M series
9700M GTS
9800M GTX
9700M GT
GeForce 100M series
quadro:FX 3700M, FX 360M, FX 2700M, FX 370M, FX 570M, FX 1600M, FX 3600M, FX 1700M, FX 770M

 

Hello OP.

I have a gaming computer and I am not a hardcore gamer at all. I play VERY little. Anyway, I bought this also for the power it gives me when it comes to AutoCAD and other structural engineering software.

This computer can do anything I throw at it. best purchase I made. If you have been looking at Quadro cards you know how expensive those things get. With a high-end gaming machine you get a very decent performance for much less.

Also, word out there is that in Q1 2010, Nvidia plans to release Quadro FX cards in the MXM 3.0 factor. The M17x uses that factor. (Not that you should ever buy something with hopes of future upgradability but it doesn't hurt to mention it)

Everything runs very smoothly (AutoCAD, Structural software, etc, etc)

 

how bout that, so you have a...graphics card that is not nvidia, jsut came with the laptop, and it works well for autocad? that would probably be way cheaper, since I have to get a laptop so I can bring it to class...
can you do a softmod with a graphics card like that (internal? is that what its called?)
do you use 2d and 3d autocad, and also the animation programs like rhino and maya? are your files pretty big or not so much?

 

Theres no modling or softing necessary...The card already has directx and open GL. Just get a laptop with a high end gpu. It can be nvidia or ati.Nvidia has quadro/geforce/ion/tesla/nforce.Also find a laptop with 2 gpus so you can sli them for more frames and rendering.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear by not stating it by the M17x comes with Nvidia cards. You can pick from 260m single, Dual 260m SLI, and Dual 280m in SLI. Look at my specs in the sig.

I use AutoCAD 2d and 3d. I haven't used animation programs but the renderings and calculations on engineering software are pretty heavy (ETABS, STAAD.Pro). All run very smoothly so far.

 

do you think the graphics card or the p rocessor makes more difference in how well and quickly your software runs?
I see you have a core 2 duo, my school told me to get a 2 duo quad processor to run graphics software...I dont really know what the difference is

 

My 260's are fine for graphics. Feels like a workstation. The Quad does make some difference. (Specially a super 2.53 QX93000 will make a big difference for sure) If they told you to get one then you should. From mine to a Q1000 is only about $50 I think. I do just fine with my Duo since I can overclock to >3.2

Sorry if this was rushed but I am off to watch UFC 102. I won't be around. But I am sure more knowledgeable members will jump in any second now. Good luck buddy

 

Are you an Animation Student?
Sounds it is. XD!
Just get yourself a correct Driver for your GPU.
Download latest DirectX from microsoft website.
Install those important autodesk and stuffs software from Nvidia website as I shown before.
Modded drivers are useless for you. Overclock can help you though.
I am Animation student but I haven't start those 3D rendering stuffs. T.T
Moreover, I have wrong GPU(Geforce 9500M GS) for animation stuffs. Quadro FX would be great. >.<
Quadro FX cards are better/faster in Animation 3D rendering or design stuffs compared to Geforce cards.