Quadro vs FirePro

[GSquadron]

I have some time looking at these kind of cards and I think it would become useful in the long run to know them.
What are the differences? I see a lot of videos, but I don't believe everything is true
Any true source? What about Nvidia Tesla?

 

[Fourstaff]

I can only say one thing: application dependence. (That's where my knowledge ends on Quadro and FirePro lol). As far as I am concerned the application in question matters more than the raw power of the card, whether they code for CUDA or OpenCL (or other brand specific functions). Check before you buy.

 

[CrackerJack]

Quardro vs FirePro, not much of a difference between the two. Both are made for professional designing (aka AutoCad & etc). Most of the designing software now days and the capabilities of using Nvidia Cuda or AMD Stream. 3dsMax now uses cuda like most designers, 3dsMax also supports multi cards (non-sli) So IMO Quardo and FirePro is a waste of money, I never seen them perform as well as a Geforce or AMD HD (Price/Performance)

 

[qu4k3r]

I can only say one thing: application dependence. (That's where my knowledge ends on Quadro and FirePro lol). As far as I am concerned the application in question matters more than the raw power of the card, whether they code for CUDA or OpenCL (or other brand specific functions). Check before you buy.

Exactly.

This can help you to decide.

 

[GSquadron]

Actually, software I use are 3ds max and zbrush
Also, do the cards work with geforce or radeon?
(for example if i put one firepro with my current card, will that work?)

 

[Fourstaff]

Actually, software I use are 3ds max and zbrush
Also, do the cards work with geforce or radeon?
(for example if i put one firepro with my current card, will that work?)

I think 3DS Max has a lot of CUDA plugins. Not sure about zbrush

 

[CrackerJack]

To use CUDA in 3dsMax, you need iRay plugin for rendering.

I'm not sure how the drivers are setup for AMD, drivers for FirePro don't work the same as the HD cards. If you can install both drivers side by side. You shouldn't have a problem. As for Nvidia (I know you have Nvidia) but for a example. I use x2 660ti, I disable SLI of coarse. But I use my secondary card, when i'm doing things in the background. If not I just enable uses of both cards... and speed is booming

Check out Fourstaff link here

Back to IMO, I would just get a Geforce card. iRay plugin... the more cuda cores the faster the render will be.

 

[repman244]

Quardro vs FirePro, not much of a difference between the two. Both are made for professional designing (aka AutoCad & etc). Most of the designing software now days and the capabilities of using Nvidia Cuda or AMD Stream. 3dsMax now uses cuda like most designers, 3dsMax also supports multi cards (non-sli) So IMO Quardo and FirePro is a waste of money, I never seen them perform as well as a Geforce or AMD HD (Price/Performance)

OpenCL or CUDA is better on standard gaming cards since they are usually clocked higher.
One thing that sucks on gaming cards is OpenGL and that's what the difference is about and you won't see a gaming card outperforming the pro cards.
Pretty much all the viewports in modelling programs use OpenGL, you get much higher fps (with better AA), and better effects in real time.

So saying that these cards are a waste of money is false, it all depends on what you need and how much you need it. It would rather have a lower end workstation card with proper driver support than a high end gaming card even for smaller models - it's just not the same and it can be very frustrating sometimes.

There are also cases where the standard gaming cards are faster but those are few.

 

[GSquadron]

But why in 3ds max, in the link from 4staff, it shows that workstation gpgpu are far worse than gaming gpu?
Does this thing only happen because of the cuda technology and on 3ds max?

 

[CrackerJack]

OpenCL or CUDA is better on standard gaming cards since they are usually clocked higher.
One thing that sucks on gaming cards is OpenGL and that's what the difference is about and you won't see a gaming card outperforming the pro cards.
Pretty much all the viewports in modelling programs use OpenGL, you get much higher fps (with better AA), and better effects in real time.

So saying that these cards are a waste of money is false, it all depends on what you need and how much you need it. It would rather have a lower end workstation card with proper driver support than a high end gaming card even for smaller models - it's just not the same and it can be very frustrating sometimes.

I said in my opinion, there a waste.... I do agree with OpenGL viewport they do help. But for rendering... I just don't see the big performance increase for the value.

 

[Fourstaff]

But why in 3ds max, in the link from 4staff, it shows that workstation gpgpu are far worse than gaming gpu?
Does this thing only happen because of the cuda technology and on 3ds max?

iRay uses CUDA which can be found on consumer gaming gpus, not sure why it wouldn't work as well with workstation class cards. I am neither use GPGPU functions nor I am familiar with the nuances, sorry

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

depends on`the app and work flow i did a review on a w5000 vs a 7970 which at the time were similar priced and the w5000 even tho its based on a 7770 was up to 300% faster when doing 3d work sometimes the small changes and improvements arent worth while but add it up over the course of a large project and the difference becomes immense in AMDs case due to driver issues with professional apps and radeon cards the firepro cards = surefire support driver fixes in days etc.

What you pay for with professional series cards are carefully optimized drivers and next day driver support for issues that appear. essentially your paying for top tier service that is impossible to bankroll with consumer grade products.

 

[repman244]

I said in my opinion, there a waste.... I do agree with OpenGL viewport they do help. But for rendering... I just don't see the big performance increase for the value.

Rendering is only one part of the whole process that's why I said that it's not a waste.

iRay uses CUDA which can be found on consumer gaming gpus, not sure why it wouldn't work as well with workstation class cards. I am neither use GPGPU functions nor I am familiar with the nuances, sorry

CUDA would probably work a bit slower on workstation cards (as does OpenCL) because the cards are clocked lower.

 

[CADplace]

depends on`the app and work flow i did a review on a w5000 vs a 7970 which at the time were similar priced and the w5000 even tho its based on a 7770 was up to 300% faster when doing 3d work sometimes the small changes and improvements arent worth while but add it up over the course of a large project and the difference becomes immense in AMDs case due to driver issues with professional apps and radeon cards the firepro cards = surefire support driver fixes in days etc.

What you pay for with professional series cards are carefully optimized drivers and next day driver support for issues that appear. essentially your paying for top tier service that is impossible to bankroll with consumer grade products.

You touch on some good points.

Service, support, testing, bug fixes and certification in professional apps that are not financially viable in consumer products and real, higher performance for professional software...

The fact is that a gpu is expensive to design. Look at NVIDIA and AMD and you see that they leverage the architecture of the GPU across all their graphics products right up to the top-shelf pro graphics. The professional graphics cost more, have higher margins, and service a much smaller (in volume) market.

So while the thread is not about professional vs consumer products, the point comes up all the time. IMO, the professional folks who really need a professional GPU are more than happy to pay for what they get. For the folks who don't need the benefits of the professional products, then yeah, it's just really expensive...