GRAPHICS CARDS RECOMENDATIONS?
 

Can anyone out there make a recomendation as to which of the many graphics cards works best with Lightwave?

I am currently running a Gainward card with the NVIDIA TI-4600 chipset with 128mb of ram. I have had it in two different computers with different chipsets and operating systems and experienced the same problems in both with the "perspective window" in Modeler. As I go to move objects within that window they will get stuck rotating on only one axis.

Currently, I am running the Intel 865 chipset (hyperthreading activated), P-4 3g. processor, 1gb ram, windows XP pro.

There is a confusing array of cards on the market with specs and prices that change daily. I am hoping that someone out there can make some recomendations based upon personal experience.

Thanks!

That isn't a graphics card problem. That is a problem within Lightwave. To 'unstick' it, hold the alt key down and then in the perspective window hold the mouse button down to drag the screen.

Thanks for the tip - I will try it today!

Having just gotten off the phone with 3d Labs (they have been extrodinarily good to me in the past) I have come away with the impression that the problem could be with the fact that although my Gainward card sports the NVIDIA TI-4600 chip set, the card was really designed for games. Be that as it may, the focus in designing such a card apparently is on "fill-rate" or how fast the graphics engine can fill up the entire screen with the next image. Additionally, this is done using "Direct-X" protocol as well as with architecture that is designed around that task. I am told that Lightwave on the other hand makes extensive use of "open-GL" protocol and therefore has some issues in dealing with "Direct-X". I was also told that cards designed for use with both CAD and 3D applications focused more on creating and moving "pixel-perfect" images while maintaining the visual integrity of surfaces and textures.

3D labs has made some specific recomendations to me and offered to let me take one of their cards on a test drive (through my dealer). So I guess I will be subjecting the situation to the "acid-test" and hopefully put it to rest once and for all.

Anyone out there have any additional thoughts?

If you are getting a new Nvidia card, get one that is designed to Nvidia's specs. MSI is one brand but I know there are others. You will get the 'gimbel lock' in perspective view from any video card though.