• Joined: December 27, 2008

Topic: Render Farm Service

I recently bought three T5400 Workstations as part of my render farm and I thought I'd offer them as a rendering/processing service to animators (both stop-motion and cg) here in this community to alleviate your rendering/processing stress.

Services are free for a certain number of frames.  I charge beyond a certain amount, not to profit but to cover utility and make up the cost of purchasing these workstations.  It is also limited to what software I currently use: Carrara 7/8 Pro*, Blender 2.5+, Cinema4D Studio R12, and 3ds Max 2009.

Contact me via my service webpage for details.
http://lechnology.x10.mx/services.php

Service availability varies depending whether or not I'm using it or if a client is currently using it as well as my ability to tolerate the fan noise.

Note: Blender has their own render farm so I advice that you use their's before considering asking for my service.

*I am most familiar with this software.  The others I am a novice so I require your expertise to set up the program for rendering.

Last edited by Lechnology (June 4, 2012 (03:29pm))

https://i.imgur.com/4b9NnS3.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/GUIl0qk.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/ox64uld.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/v3iyhE5.png

Lechnology's Website

  • ZP
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  • Location: The Burg
  • Joined: July 16, 2010

Re: Render Farm Service

This is awesome!
What are the specs on these things?

http://i.imgur.com/lZUQ9.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/9CQIM.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YZLtR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/ICcjc.png

ZP's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Render Farm Service

3 computers, each with over 8GB of memory and two Xeon Quad-core processors @ 2.50 Ghz each.  In total, 6 Quad-core processors.

https://i.imgur.com/4b9NnS3.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/GUIl0qk.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/ox64uld.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/v3iyhE5.png

Lechnology's Website

  • ZP
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  • Location: The Burg
  • Joined: July 16, 2010

Re: Render Farm Service

And, how much did these cost?

http://i.imgur.com/lZUQ9.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/9CQIM.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YZLtR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/ICcjc.png

ZP's Website

  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Render Farm Service

A lot.  But in all seriousness, I bought them cheap, around $400 each.

https://i.imgur.com/4b9NnS3.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/GUIl0qk.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/ox64uld.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/v3iyhE5.png

Lechnology's Website

  • ZP
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  • Location: The Burg
  • Joined: July 16, 2010

Re: Render Farm Service

What?!
I can't even find a remotely decent desktop computer for under $500.

Where did you get them?

http://i.imgur.com/lZUQ9.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/9CQIM.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/YZLtR.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/ICcjc.png

ZP's Website

  • Joined: March 14, 2011

Re: Render Farm Service

I'm wondering that too-- it depends on what type of RAM, but 8GB of DDR3 RAM can be purchased very cheap nowadays (around $50). Of course, you do need an expensive motherboard that holds two CPUs. I've seen those Xeons; aren't they about $400 each? You also need a decent power supply and workstation GPUs.

EDIT: Never mind; I've looked up the T5400. Interestingly enough, if you were to buy the pieces seperate, it would be much more expensive. DDR2 memory is a killer these days. The workstation that I saw only came with one CPU-- I'm assuming you installed the other?

Last edited by Gopher (June 6, 2012 (06:03pm))

http://i46.tinypic.com/vo24ow.png
  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Render Farm Service

I bid on eBay.  In actuality, it's one T5400 and two 490 towers with a T5400 motherboard each.  Their memories are compatible with both motherboards so I was able to just swap out the 490 motherboards for T5400.  I believe I was the first to attempt installing a T5400 motherboard into a 490 tower.  I did have to buy one heatsink from a third party vendor and had to buy matching pairs of CPUs to upgrade the ones that came with the 490 towers.  Including them, it would be an average of $450 each, but whatever.

I targeted sellers who had two heatsinks and excess memory.  I didn't factor the GPU so all three have a low end graphics card, but that didn't seem to affect rendering my Dark Knight Wises clip.

You just have to be patient and bid low.

https://i.imgur.com/4b9NnS3.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/GUIl0qk.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/ox64uld.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/v3iyhE5.png

Lechnology's Website

  • Joined: March 14, 2011

Re: Render Farm Service

Aha...so you bought stock workstations, but also customized them.

Great video BTW. How long did that take to render with your setup?

http://i46.tinypic.com/vo24ow.png
  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Render Farm Service

Yep, pretty much.  Less than 4 days to render.  Faster had it run 24/7 but I just couldn't tolerate the fans running all night.

https://i.imgur.com/4b9NnS3.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/GUIl0qk.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/ox64uld.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/v3iyhE5.png

Lechnology's Website

  • Joined: March 14, 2011

Re: Render Farm Service

Not bad for a 1.5 minute video. Look forward to seeing more results produced from this service!

http://i46.tinypic.com/vo24ow.png