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October 2010

First Look Review: renderPRO 12 Dedicated rendering module is a compact, cost-effective alternative for users dreaming of a render farm.

by Ron LaFon

 

Undoubtedly many users would like to have a render farm at their disposal for off-loading rendering jobs and freeing processor time on their primary workstations--but the sticker shock from a rack-mounted render farm and its associated IT costs usually puts that fantasy to rest quickly. A new option is both efficient and more cost-effective: the renderPRO series of dedicated rendering modules from BOXX Technologies.

 

 

The lack of an up-to-date benchmark test for Autodesk 3ds Max Design, which I typically use to conduct this type of review, limits my ability to evaluate hardware performance objectively. For this First Look, I’ll aim to provide an understanding
of this new rendering hardware option and whether it could be a viable, cost-effective option for your work environment.

 

The BOXX renderPRO units are compact 6.75” W x 3.8” H x 20” D devices that allow you to off-load rendering operations from your primary system. Three models are available currently:

• the PRO4 with four processing cores in an Intel Xeon 3400 series quad-core processor, a maximum of 32 GB of RAM, and six DIMM slots;
• the PRO8 with eight processing cores in an Intel Xeon 5600 series dual-quad-core processor, a maximum of 192 GB of RAM, and 12 DIMM slots; and
• the PRO12 with 12 processing cores in an Intel Xeon 5600 series dual-six-core processor, a maximum of 192 GB of RAM, and 12 DIMM slots.

Each renderPRO unit can be configured according to user needs, including the amount of RAM in the unit and the size of the optional solid state hard drives. Optional solid-state drives are available on all three models for improved performance
and reliability; the selection of drives varies by model. [Question for BOXX: Do you work with customers to determine
the model and configuration that will best suit processing
and budget needs?]

 

RenderPRO units can be used singly (positioned next to or on top of your workstation) or chained in stacks and configured
individually or in nodes comprising several units. You can even pack renderPRO units easily to use in other locations as needed. Although there are limits for how many renderPRO units can be chained together, that limit is high; some current installations have hundreds of BOXX renderPRO units functioning quite well, the company reports.

Technical Specifications

For this First Look, BOXX loaned me a renderPRO12 system equipped with dual Intel Xeon X56770 2.93-GHz six-core processors that featured a 12-MB cache. A total of 12 GB of 1,333-MHz ECC DDR3 RAM was installed using six 2-GB DIMM cards. This renderPRO12 also was equipped with a 160-GB, 7,200-rpm SATA drive and Microsoft Windows 7 Professional x64. The system had a 300-W power supply and featured two USB 2.0 hubs, two Intel gigabit Ethernet connections, one VGA (DB15) port, one COM (DB9) port, and one RJ45IPMI connection. The system included one low-profile PCI Express Gen2 x16 slot. Not included were optional accessories such as a powered USB hub, and external CD-R drive, and a standard keyboard and mouse.

 

BOXX offers EnFuzion and Qube! render farm software — demo versions are included to get you started — that are supported by a host of independent software applications and rendering engines. Among the supported applications are Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Showcase, mental ray Standalone, and Combustion; V-Ray; eyeon Fusion; and Adobe After Effects CS4. BOXX renderPRO is available for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. [Question for BOXX: Are EnFuzion and Qube required to use the renderPRO? And what is the price of each?]

 

The renderPRO units require only networking and power. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 2.0 technology featuring KVM over IP enables efficient and flexible management of a render farm network. The installation and configuration process is not difficult if you have at least minimal knowledge of networking.

Who Needs One?

The BOXX renderPRO is not for everyone, but it could be the perfect option for advanced users who need to free up access to design applications but are not at the point of investing in or managing a render farm. One of the great advantages of the renderPRO solution is its expandability. Whether you add processing power to an individual unit or add more units to use in tandem, you can do so incrementally according to your workload and budget.

 

Considering price alone, the renderPRO units might seem to be relatively expensive — especially the individual units that are fully loaded with configuration options. However, they are a cost-effective solution for design firms that need to get more design and rendering work done in a given time without adding personnel, workstations, or a render farm with all its associated expenses and IT concerns. Freeing up access to a design workstation while you offload rendering to a renderPRO unit makes better use of existing personnel and hardware.

 

Pricing for individual units start at just less than $2,000 but can rise substantially, depending on the configuration options selected for each renderPRO unit. The renderPRO12 unit that I looked at carried a price of $6,400, which reflected the additional
configuration options. Units include a limited three-year warranty. Expert help is available during business hours by telephone and e-mail.

Worthy Alternative to the Farm

The compact, quiet BOXX renderPRO series is ideal for space-constrained environments. For those who need a render farm but can’t justify the financial overhead for a rack-mounted system and its ongoing IT costs, not to mention the additional cooling and security

concerns, the BOXX renderPRO series offers a capable, versatile, and expandable alternative. For the right environment, the BOXX renderPRO is a very good choice. I have been especially impressed with the products I’ve seen from BOXX Technologies this year, including the renderPRO12.

 

Ron LaFon, a contributing editor for Cadalyst, is a writer, editor, and computer graphics and electronic publishing specialist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a principal at 3Bear Productions in Atlanta.

 

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