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CPU VS GPU

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 12:23 pm
by z123
Hello,

I am trying to figure out which trial download to get.

Are the results from the CPU and GPU renderings the same? I have a GTX1060 6GB video card, so GPU should work fine with it, but would CPU rendering produce more photorealistic results?

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 3:07 pm
by Support
They are both going to produce photo realistic results but the GPU is mainly used fro very small models, like prototypes of parts like a watch etc. the CPU can handle very large models and because of its grain free capabilities, it will outperform the its GPU counterpart. But that is, if you have a good CPU with 4 cores 8 threads minimum.

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 4:48 pm
by z123
Thanks (and sorry for posting in the wrong section, you can move this thread)

My CPU is older but still quite fast (Core i7 2600K over-clocked to 4.3GHz). So should I better go with the CPU version then?

I always thought that GPU rendering is much faster but a bit less photorealistic.

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 5:08 pm
by Support
it's ok.

you have the same CPU as I do except mine is not OC and I get much faster results with the CPU. The GPU is faster for small outdoor models or small models with only one or two lights, but it depend on the complexity of the model too and how much reflection materials have.

The CPU version has a grain free rendering mode which in itself outperform the GPU even if it renders somewhat slower, but again, with 8 individual threads, it's fast on your CPU. You can install both if you like and use both. Install the GPU first and rename Raylectron.exe to RaylectrinGPU.exe and then install the CPU version and create another shortcut to Raylectron.exe, Sketchup will use the last one installed by default. So if you want to use the GPU, start Raylectron from Sketchup and then stop the loading process, close it, run the GPU from the shortcut and load the .rof file that was just created.

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 11:55 pm
by z123
Thanks. I will just get the CPU version.

Is there any difference in functionality between the "Raylectron Extension" and "Raylectron for CPU"? I only have a single version on my PC (Make 2017)

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:38 pm
by Support
The extension is installed within Sketchup, the installer installs it in the same place except you can use the shortcut to it to open already saved .rof files or any .obj files. It also lets you totally uninstall it. As for functionality, they are both identical.

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 2:47 pm
by z123
I downloaded Raylectron to try it out. One issue I am having is that objects which are hidden in Sketchup show up in the rendering. How to deal with this?

Re: CPU VS GPU

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:19 pm
by Support
They should remain hidden unless some other scenes unhide them, in which case, they will not be hidden in Raylectron as it does not hide/unhide objects in scenes. What you can do is create a new Layer in Sketchup and move the object to be hidden in that layer then disable the layer.