[Kerry Chartier]

Hey Jacob.

You have to add a splitter to one of the PCIE power connectors on your motherboard with a cable like this –

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200935

You can now feed both cards.

If you position the ATI card in slot 1, Final cup and Motion will use it, and C4D will use the faster of the 2 cards (Nvidia) for it’s OpenGL functions, regardless of where the cards are slotted. You must have a display connected to each card for your system to use them properly.

[Kerry Chartier]

Hi Don.

Strange that your system isn’t showing the Nvidia card in C4D. I wonder if it’s a preferences or version issue. I also have monitors attached to all my cards, which might also make a difference. You may want to go to Nvidia’s site and download the latest drivers, and attach a temp monitor to help troubleshoot.

Even though both cards are OCL and OGL capable, the Nvidia is the better of the two for C4D, just as the ATI card is for Motion and FCP. It’s worth trying to get it going properly.

Here’s a look at what C4D shows on my system-

[Kerry Chartier]

Thanks, Don.

Chris has a fabulous reel. I was a Senior Producer with JWT in Detroit, now known as “Team Detroit”, and worked on the Ford broadcast business until just a few years ago. I’m sure your son and I know a lot of the same production people. If his rep hasn’t made a trip to Detroit recently, he should have his stuff shopped to my old agency. A few of the key people are –

Toby Barlow, Executive CD
Brad Henson, CD, Ford Truck
Bob Rashid, Kelly Trudell, both Senior producers.
Ken Dumm, Producer

Hopefully he scores some work. Also, thanks for the CSTools link. If Chris is as good with this stuff as he is spot film work, it should be great!

[Kerry Chartier]

I’ve heard of CSTools, but haven’t checked them out. I’ll have a look. It’s definitely handy having a family C4D expert to show you the ropes!

As far as CGI, I do mainly car stuff for the Detroit add agencies. Here’s a link to one of the demos, if you’re interested.

https://vimeo.com/33321361

Have fun in 3D land! Best, -K

[Kerry Chartier]

Glad I could help. Hate to see a nice (and expensive) piece of hardware sit on a shelf!

Enjoy. -K

[Kerry Chartier]

Hi Don.

You have to add a splitter to one of the PCIE power connectors on your motherboard with a cable like this –

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200935

You can now feed both cards.

The MP has a 1000 watt power supply, so plenty of headroom. In addition to the graphics cards, I also have a Black magic Intensity Extreme card in a third slot, and the machine just happily plows along. This machine is also part of my 3D rendering network, and it’s typical to run for days (sometimes weeks) on end, all cores pushing 100%, and all PCI cards cooking. Things get a little warm (which is nice in the winter) but have never had any power or overheat issues for well over two years now.

[Kerry Chartier]

Hi Alex.

I have a 2010 12 core Mac Pro, with both the GTX285, and 5770 cards installed. The ATI card is in slot 1, so it’s the boot card. Both FCP and Motion perform far better with the 5770 than the GTX card.

I use the GTX card primarily for 3D work with C4D, which looks for the fastest compatible Open GL card, regardless of where it’s slotted. Of course, new drivers can change the landscape pretty quickly. If that ever happens.

Hope this helps.