Xpander for Octane Render

Cubix Xpander is the ideal expansion chassis for adding graphics or rendering controllers to an existing computer, especially for Refractive Software Octane Render.

Overview
When you need to add or upgrade graphical rendering capability to your desktop computer, look at Cubix Xpander for Octane Render. Don't have enough expansion slots in your current desktop computer? Don't have sufficient cooling capacity? Don't have a powerful enough power supply? Worried about voiding the warranty on your computer? Many host computers lack the 'watts and slots' to allow expansion. Cubix Xpander for Octane Render is just what you need.

Add two NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260 / 295 or GTX 470/480 graphical processing units (GPUs) to any almost any computer by installing the host adapter in the computer's PCI Express (PCIe) x8 or x16 slot, adding graphics drivers, connecting it to the Xpander for Octane Render and voila! You have just added two powerful graphics controllers or rendering engines without buying a new computer. If you haven't downloaded Octane Render yet but you still want to get in on the action with GPU rendering, you can download a trial version of Octane Render either for Microsoft Windows or for Linux from the Refractive Software site.

Save Time and Money
Just because you need to add or upgrade rendering capability in your desktop computer doesn't mean you have to go to all the weeks of effort and meetings to obtain approval and all the considerable expense, not to mention all the work of installing and configuring new computers. Rather than starting from scratch, keep your substantial investment in your current computer hardware and simply add or upgrade graphics or rendering controllers -- at considerably less than the cost of replacing computer hardware.

Install the host adapter in your computer, connect it to Xpander for Octane Render, add graphics drivers and within minutes, you're back to work. You have the same operating system configuration, the same desktop, the same familiar applications and multi-monitor screens but now you also have much faster and more capable graphics controllers or rendering capacity available. Screaming-fast, 3D graphics or rendering capability at a reasonable price and with only minutes of effort per operator desktop -- what an investment!

You can also move Xpander for Octane Render from one computer to another as requirements change. Simply install a host adapter and the appropriate graphics driver(s) in several computers, and then move Xpander for Octane Render as needed. You can move an Xpander for Octane Render among local team members with little or no impact to work schedules or routines.

Minimal Impact on Operators' Desktop Space and Configuration
You're busy, and you have neither the time nor the inclination to learn how to use efficiently a new computer, a new operating system, a new desktop screen configuration, or for that matter, a new use of desktop space. You want to keep working -- without interruption or changes to your routines.

Boost Graphics Rendering Performance
Get the graphical or rendering power you demand with Cubix Xpander for Octane Render. When you begin your next shift, you'll find your desktop space unchanged, your desktop screen configuration the same as usual, but what a difference in performance! With two powerful graphics or rendering controllers in your system, yourapplications and renderings will leave your expectations in the dust with fast, eye-popping performance. For example, you can upgrade to or add two NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 260 / 295 graphics controllers, two NVIDIA Tesla® C1060 controllers or two NVIDIA GTX 470 / 480 controllers (when NVIDIA releases them before the end of March 2010), giving you the performance you demand without the usual interruption that a new system causes.

Remember the importance of the CUDA-enabled GPU and its memory in graphical rendering. To quote the Octane Render Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page: "In Octane Render, the current view of the scene is constantly rendering. As you adjust the materials of your objects, you can see the changes immediately on the screen. You can adjust the camera parameters and see the results on the screen. You can adjust the position of the sun in the sky and watch the reflections change as the sun moves across the sky." This requires plenty of memory on the CUDA-enabled GPU controller. Another response to an FAQ reads: "Octane Render completely tasks the video card while rendering and previewing the current scene. This leaves much less video processesing power left for the operating system to draw windows and do screen refreshes. This can be overcome by either pausing the render to work with the operating system at full speed, or by adding a second video card (if the motherboard supports it) and using one video card dedicated to Octane Render and one for all other operating system functions." Finally: "The scene is . . . imported into Octane Render. . . . the materials and lighting are adjusted to the user’s liking. Once the scene is ready to be rendered completely, the resolution can be increased and the render engines settings cranked up.  The final render will be complete in a matter of minutes. . . ." For rendering in Octane Render, Cubix and Refractive Software recommend at least 1GBye of GPU memory and preferrably 2GBytes to 4GBytes, depending upon the size and complexity of the scene to be rendered interactively. Cubix Xpander for Octane Render offers a quick, simple and cost-competitive method for adding GPU power and memory to your computer.

Features
- Install faster, more powerful graphics or rendering capacity within minutes
- Two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (x16 electrical) in each Xpander for Octane Render
- Two fast graphics controllers such as NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / 295
- Two powerful rendering processors like NVIDIA Tesla C1060 or GeForce GTX 470 / 480 (available by the end of March)
- An independent power supply and cooling fan to meet any expansion requirement
- Simple, quick installation with minimal impact per computer; just install a host adapter and a graphics driver

Benefits
- Add two PCIe x16 graphics or rendering controllers to a computer that does not have the available slots
- Add two graphics or rendering controllers to any computer with only a single PCIe x8 or x16 slot available
- Add two graphics or rendering controllers to any computer regardless of power supply limitations
- Add two graphics or rendering controllers without having to specify, purchase, install and configure new computers
- Zero or minimal impact on your desktop screen configuration
- Minimal impact on your desktop space
- Zero or minimal impact on your computer's warranty
- Move Xpander from one computer to another as needed
- Connect two or more Xpander for Octane Render units to one computer (if you have two or more PCIe slots available in the host computer)

Don't let your computer's lack of 'watts and slots' hold you back. Get your graphical rendering on with Cubix Xpander for Octane Render. It will give your desktop computer the graphics or rendering performance you demand at a reasonable cost with little or no interruption to your routine or workflow.

For details about Xpander for Octane Render, see the GPU-Xpander page, the GPU-Xpander Desktop Pro 2 product page or contact Cubix.