Hi, I have found a dell server for sale on ebay with 8 processors. If I wanted to usess this as a render farm for Bryce can I set each processor up as a separate virtual PC in windows? Each processor would have to have a separate IP address for bryce lightening to work. I think I can only use this as a multi-processor single machine but wuold appreciate any info. Thanks Also posted in the hardware forum, but hedging my bests by posting here as well :)

I don't think so. As far as I know, Bryce doesn't support multiple processors in Windows. I've used Lighting on many PC's, but never on an Athlon MP. And, if it's not an Athlon MP, then you should save the dough and just buy a really nice Athlon XP or 64...! 8 processors? I've never seen one that could keep up with my Athlon singles, for daily use anyway... I could be wrong about multi-threading, though. I've never tried it on an MP. And I don't believe that Intel chips still exist, no matter what anyone tells me...!

This is DEFINETELY a question to submit to DAZ themselves. But, like you said, somehow there would have to be 8 seperate IP address. AS

Thanks folks, The prospect of 8 Xeon 2Ghz chips rendering an animation with a nice small macine size (compared to 8 PC's) is too tempting to miss. Also comes with 4GB of RAM upgradeable to 16GB. (Whimper!) I'll fire the question over to DAZ and see if they can help any further. Apparently if Solaris allows you to spoof an ip to each processor (i.e. virtual machine) but I still think the issue would be a single network IP in terms of the card. Off to the Daz Forums I go :)

Remember that 8 Xeons are still a far cry from a pair of Athlon MP's, cuddle...! Unless the price is right, of course, in which case I say GO FOR IT! Keep us posted on this one, if it works out and how quick you can churn out the Bryce Benchmark render! Good stuff, makes me kinda excited...

Be nice to know how much of a difference it makes. Then you can share your IP with us and we can use your new monster to speed up our renders too!! :-)

Lordstorm - 8 Xeons machine for 530. Cant say fairer than that! Drawbridgep - you think their will be free time on this?????? If it works I'll get two....today bryce - tomorrow the world!!!! (evil laugh to fade...)

"We've got Skynet by the balls now..." (John Connor, in Terminator 2!) For that price, it would be criminal not to go for it, CuddleJacket. Keep us posted if you end up getting it, I'd love to see it's render times on the Benchmark file!