I knew the Quadro series is the way to go, but after talking to the Bunkspeed guys at SWW, they recommended the GTX video cards (GTX 580) for rendering as you can get a 512 Cuda Core card for cheaper than a Quadro 4000 (256 cuda cores). For those not familiar with Bunkspeed, it's an amazing rendering program that can run off the CPU, GPU or Hybrid (both). Now I know SW doesn't recommend GTX cards, but has anyone experimented with them recently to see if they've gotten better? both run the open GL, but the GTX580 beats the Quadro in pretty much everything, except it doesn't mention anything in the Shader Model. Also, I know the gaming (GTX cards) are usually the same hardware wise as the CAD cards (Quadro), they just have different coding in them.... at least thats what I've been told in the past.
So overall.... Think I'd be better off with the 580, or the 4000?
GTX 580 Specs (\$500)
GPU Engine Specs:
CUDA Cores | 512 |
Graphics Clock (MHz) | 772 MHz |
Processor Clock (MHz) | 1544 MHz |
Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec) | 49.4 |
Memory Specs:
Memory Clock (MHz) | 2004 |
Standard Memory Config | 1536 MB GDDR5 |
Memory Interface Width | 384-bit |
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) | 192.4 |
Feature Support:
NVIDIA SLI®-ready1 | 3-way |
NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready |  |
NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready2 |  |
NVIDIA PureVideo® Technology3 | HD |
NVIDIA PhysX™-ready |  |
NVIDIA CUDA™ Technology |  |
Microsoft DirectX | 11 |
OpenGL | 4.1 |
Bus Support | PCI-E 2.0 x 16 |
Certified for Windows 7 |  |
Quadro 4000 Specs (\$700)
Design, iterate, and deliver in less time The Quadro 4000 is the first professional graphics solution in its class to integrate high-performance computing with advanced visualization, transforming modern workflows. Delivering up to 5x faster performance, the Quadro 4000 professional graphics solution drives a broad range of design, animation and video applications. With Scalable Geometry Engine™ technology, Quadro 4000 can process up to 890 million triangles per second, enabling professionals to design, iterate and deliver higher quality results in less time¹.
 | Revolutionary Quadro GPU architecture Modern applications harness the latest NVIDIA® CUDA™ parallel processing architecture of the Quadro GPU to deliver performance gains up to 8x faster than previous generations when running computationally intensive elements such as ray tracing, video processing and computational fluid dynamics. For mission critical applications, Quadro 4000 features fast 64-bit double precision floating point capabilities to ensure the accuracy of your results. From medical imaging to structural analysis applications, precision is assured without sacrificing performance. |
 | Supercharged professional applications NVIDIA professional software technologies, from CUDA software to application acceleration engines, combined with Quadro, accelerate applications from companies such as Adobe, Autodesk, RTT, Dassault Systemes, Bunkspeed and many more. |
¹ Raw throughput number calculated by graphics processing clusters, GPU clock rate, and triangle throughput.
- GPU Features
- Next-Generation NVIDIA® CUDA™ Architecture
Breakthrough NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing architecture, code named Fermi, tightly integrates advanced visualization and compute features delivering performance that greatly accelerates professional workflows. - NVIDIA® Scalable Geometry Engine™
Dramatically improves geometry performance across a broad range of CAD, DCC and medical applications, enabling you to work interactively with models and scenes that are an order of magnitude more complex than ever before. - Large Framebuffers with Ultra-Fast Bandwidth
Large GPU memory with fast bandwidth for display of complex models and scenes, as well as computation of large datasets. - NVIDIA® Parallel DataCache™
Supports a true cache hierarchy combined with on-chip shared memory. L1 and L2 caches drive exceptional throughput, accelerating features such as real-time ray tracing, physics and texture filtering. - Fast 64-Bit Floating Point Precision
Industry’s fastest double precision floating point performance enabling accurate results on mission-critical applications, including computer-aided-design, finite element analysis to computational fluid dynamics. - NVIDIA GigaThread™ Engine
Provides up to 10x faster context switching compared to previous generation architectures, concurrent kernel execution, and improved thread block scheduling. - Dual Copy Engines
Enables the highest rates of parallel data processing and concurrent throughput between the GPU and host, accelerating techniques such as ray tracing, color grading and physical simulation. - Fast 3D Texture Transfer
Fast transfer and manipulation of 3D textures resulting in more interactive visualization of large volumetric datasets. - Hardware 3D Window Clipping
Hardware accelerated clip regions (data transfer mechanism between a window and the frame buffer) improve overall graphics performance by increasing transfer speed between color buffer and frame buffer. - Unified Driver Architecture (UDA)
The NVIDIA UDA guarantees forward and backward compatibility with software drivers. Simplifies upgrading to a new solution because all Quadro products work with the same driver software.
- Image Quality
- Full-Scene Antialiasing (FSAA)
Up to 64x FSAA dramatically reduces visual aliasing artifacts or “jaggies,” resulting in unparalleled image quality and highly realistic scenes. - GPU Tessellation with Shader Model 5.0
Quadro Tessellation Engines automatically generate finely detailed geometry, for cinematic quality environments and scenes, without sacrificing performance. - 16K Texture and Render Processing
The ability to texture from and render to 16K x 16K surfaces. Beneficial for applications that demand the highest resolution and quality image processing. - NVIDIA High Precision High Dynamic Range (HDR) Technology
Sets new standards for image clarity and quality through floating point capabilities in shading, filtering, texturing, and blending. Enables unprecedented rendered image quality for visual effects processing.
- Display Features
- High-Quality Display Connectors
Attaches to ultra-high-resolution panels producing phenomenal photorealistic image quality from a range of display connectors. Directly through GPU, supports two active connectors including, dual-link DVI-I with up to 3840 x 2400 @ 24Hz, DisplayPort with up to up to 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz, or HDMI from a cable. - 30-Bit Color Fidelity
30-bit color fidelity (10-bits per color) enables billions rather than millions of color variations for rich, vivid image quality with the broadest dynamic range. - NVIDIA® Quadro® Digital Video Pipeline
Quadro Digital Video Pipeline is the industry’s only GPU-accelerated solution for real-time acquisition, processing, and delivery of high-resolution SDI video, across traditional and now 3D video broadcast environments. Supports uncompressed 8-, 10-, 12-bit SDI via optional Quadro SDI Capture and Quadro SDI Output cards. - NVIDIA® 3D Vision Pro™
3D Vision Pro includes advanced active shutter glasses delivering crystal-clear stereoscopic 3D visualization for the most immersive experience. RF technology enables a range of environments ranging from collaborative work spaces to theaters. 3D Vision Pro solution sold separately. - OpenGL Quad Buffered Stereo Support
OpenGL Quad Buffered Stereo offers professional applications the capability of smooth and immersive 3D Stereo experience. - 3D Stereo Synchronization
Enables robust control of stereo effect through a dedicated 3-pin mini-din connection between the graphics card and 3D stereo hardware. Support via optional 3-pin mini din connector.
- Software Support
- Programming the CUDA Parallel Computing Architecture
General purpose GPU computing using standard programming languages like C/C++ and Fortran, and emerging APIs such as OpenCL and Direct Compute. This broad adoption of CUDA is accelerating techniques like ray tracing, video and image processing, and computation fluid dynamics. - Cg Programming
Programmable GPU leverages Cg high-level, open-standard shading language to enable the creation and integration of real-time photorealistic effects into 3D models, scenes and designs. - Microsoft® Windows® 7 Support
Take advantage of all the new and compelling features included with Windows 7, delivering unprecedented application performance, advanced visual realism, and premium reliability with superior application compatibility on mobile and desktop workstations. - Shader Model 5.0 Programmability
Infinite length vertex programs and dynamic flow control remove the previous limits on OpenGL and DirectX shader programs, delivering sophisticated effects never before imagined. - NVIDIA Graphics API Extensions
NVIDIA provides a set of extensions to standard graphics APIs for Linux and Windows, enabling applications to take maximum advantage of state-of-the-art GPU capabilities. - NVIDIA® Application Acceleration Engines Support
Supercharge application performance and capabilities with highly optimized software modules, including SceniX and OptiX for advanced creative and investigative possibilities. - NVIDIA® SLI® Multi-OS Technology
NVIDIA SLI Multi OS allows a user to run multiple Windows or Linux workstation applications from a single system, with each Operating System directly assigned to a Quadro graphics solution. Only available on SLI Multi-OS certified platforms.
- Industry Standard
- Compatible with Industry Standard Architectures
Compatible with Microsoft and Linux operating systems, as well as Intel and AMD x86 32- and 64-bit microprocessor architectures. - Ultra-Quiet Design
Acoustics lower than 28db for an ultra-quiet desktop environment.
GPU Specs:
NVIDIA Quadro GPU | Quadro 4000 |
CUDA Cores | 256 |
Form Factor | 4.376” H x 9.50” L / Single Slot |
Gigaflops (Single Precision) | 486.4 |
Gigaflops (Double Precision) | 243.2 |
GPU Memory Specs:
Total Frame Buffer | 2 GB GDDR5 |
Memory Interface | 256-bit |
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) | 89.6 GB/s |
Feature Support:
Shader Model | 5.0 |
OpenGL | 4.1 |
Microsoft DirectX | 11 |
SLI Multi-OS Technology |  |
NVIDIA CUDA Architecture |  |
SDI Option |  |
NVIEW Display Management Software |  |
FSAA (maximum) | 64x |
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