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by John Boline,
Service Manager,
MCSE, CNE, USE
Performance & Windows 7:
If You
Don’t Have a Good Video Adapter…
No matter how much time passes there are some things
that remain a constant: death and taxes, computers
getting faster and one that has become true, your
computer (new or old) is at the mercy of your video
adapter. While the number of choices has dwindled over
the years, today’s application software and operating
systems are hungrier than ever for resources. Just as
system RAM is critical for performance, so is video RAM.
In fact, the new mid-range video adapter cards now have
1 GB of RAM on board, with drivers that will access
additional system RAM. It is still true that having the
right card for the job is just as important as having
the right tool for the job.
Computer
Graphics Adapters
Just a few years ago, the
line between professional and gaming video adapters was
clear. Adapters that supported OpenGL were the standard
for professional systems for CAD. Systems with graphics
adapters that supported DirectX were for gaming systems.
The reason for this came down to the way those cards
processed video information. Gaming video cards are
still designed with the multimedia experience in mind.
They perform well in applications that display full
streaming video, like DVD playback, video capture from
digital cameras (still and video), broadcast television,
satellite television and HDTV. In addition, these cards
perform very well with games (hence the tag of gaming
card), as they are able to generate shaded images very
quickly, something that is required in the fast moving
action of interactive games. Professional graphics
adapters are still designed with business applications
in mind and these cards are designed for “professional”
3D applications such as MCAD, DCC, NLE and Visualization
Application. For a number of reasons, the OpenGL
standard fell from favor. When that happened, there was
a consolidation of hardware vendors and the likes of
companies like 3DLabs and others disappeared from the
landscape. What would take the place of OpenGL for
systems?
Enter
WHQL Drivers and DirectX
So now the line has been muddied. Most professional
software today have dropped the OpenGL standard that
used to exit and now use DirectX, and as long as there
is a certified WHQL driver. Now before you Apple
enthusiasts send me email, yes, WHQL is an acronym for
Windows Hardware Quality Labs, and in spite of the
commercials of recent years, that is not an oxymoron!
WHQL drivers are designed to conform to the
specifications of the Windows Operating System and
DirectX Components. Simply put, certified components
work together better. “But,” you say “this gaming video
adapter has a WHQL driver; can I use it for CAD?” Yes,
you could, but remember that the hardware was designed
for gaming and what you are doing with the WHQL driver
is using software to allow that less capable card to
work. And it will work, unless you have one of those
weird problems. I know as I have seen them. In that
case, the hardware vendor (nVidia, ATI, etc.) will tell
you that the card you are using is not certified by them
for use with CAD (insert your favorite program name
here).
Making the Right Choice
Just
as in life, so it is with computers; making the right
choice, that is what it is all about. Getting that big
beefy system running Windows 7 64-bit edition with 8 GB
of RAM and using a video adapter card with 256 MB of RAM
is simply going to reveal that the video adapter is the
‘weakest link’ in the system. Many of the calls were are
fielding since the release of Autodesk’s 2011 product
line come down to issues with video cards that are not
up to the task. It really is true that having the right
video adapter card, paired with enough system RAM,
processor speed and the right operating system is like
having the right tool for the job. We would be glad to
discuss your needs and help tailor a solution that meets
your system graphics requirements. Hagerman & Company,
Inc. can provide you with a complete turnkey workstation
that provides you with maximum throughput for your
business applications to improve your productivity. This
is yet one more service that makes us “Your
eProductivity Partner.” If you have questions or
comments about this article, contact me (JohnBoline@hagerman.com).
All product names / logos, company names / logos are
copyrights of their respective holders. John Boline is an
MCSE, CNE, USE, a member of the Network Professional
Association and the Microsoft Partner Research Panel, . The
content herein is often based on late-breaking events. Much
of the material is based on information from sources that
are believed to be reliable. Hagerman & Company, Inc.
disclaims all warranties as to the ultimate accuracy or
completeness of the information. Hagerman & Company, Inc.
and its employees shall have no liability for errors,
omissions or inadequacies in the information contained
within this article or for any interpretations thereof. The
recommendations, positions and best practice policies
outlined herein represent Hagerman & Company, Inc. initial
analysis and therefore are subject to change as further
information which may have bearing on these positions is
made available. The reader assumes sole responsibility for
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results. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change
without notice. Hagerman & Company, Inc. assumes no
obligation to update the forward-looking statements made in
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after the date of publication. Entire contents 2010
Hagerman & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction
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