CPU vs GPU - Loading assets over a network. Any difference how things are loaded at render time?

[DanSHP]

I cannot render on my CPU as it always crashes Max/V-ray. I've long switched to GPU and Vantage due to this, but I prefer the look of CPU renders, so I've since tried switching back to CPU.

The crashing problem remains, however. Sometimes bluescreens.

I've discussed this with our IT department, and they've suggested a network issue around the area my PC is located. The affected network port/bench, is feeding textures and assets through to my PC too fast/slow and the CPU can't keep up, and that's why it crashes. Suggestion is that, there is a difference how V-ray loads textures and assets onto the CPU vs GPU, and that is why GPU renders without issue.

I'm just wondering if this is something that has been brought up before? Or you are aware of such an issue?

What would be your first steps in addressing issues with CPU rendering if GPU render's ok? We have a few boxes with the same hardware in the office and they render in CPU without issue.

I've brought this crashing issue up before some time ago.

Scene crashes during render. Urgent. - Chaos Forums

Cheers
i9 12900k
128gb Ram
Nvidia 3090

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi, thanks for posting. If you are getting the blue screen of death this is not a V-Ray issue. There are differences in the way V-Ray CPU and V-Ray GPU handle assets. The network stability is also vital for trouble-free rendering. These factors though will not lead to a blue screen.
Please check you system, your hardware's operating temperatures under long periods of full load (rendering). There were a lot of complaints lately about i9 13900K and 14900K processors instability (check the Intel forums please). I don't know if 12900K uses the same architecture but it might. Some non default bios settings were claimed to cure the instability but please check for yourself.

[DanSHP]

There are differences in the way V-Ray CPU and V-Ray GPU handle assets.

Thanks for the reply! Would the difference have any direct effect on how assets are loaded from the server/network, causing it to crash? I have no issue rendering with assets from the server using GPU.

[DanSHP]

Also how would Progressive or Bucket rendering be affected? Are there differences in how they are loaded?

I always assumed textures and assets are downloaded from the network before the render commences, they are then loaded into RAM/Video Memory then the image is rendered out. Do I have this right?

Is there active connection to the server/network for assets whilst rendering? If there is, how does this differ from CPU - GPU?

[vladimir_krastev]

they are then loaded into RAM/Video Memory then the image is rendered out.

This is roughly what is happening. There is some issue with your CPU that is not related to V-Ray.
Please start from there. V-Ray can not cause a blue screen. An overheating CPU for instance can. Rendering with V-Ray acts as a stress test to your system. Try a dedicated benchmark test for CPU (on your responsibility) and let us know how it goes.

[DanSHP]

This is roughly what is happening. There is some issue with your CPU that is not related to V-Ray.
Please start from there. V-Ray can not cause a blue screen. An overheating CPU for instance can. Rendering with V-Ray acts as a stress test to your system. Try a dedicated benchmark test for CPU (on your responsibility) and let us know how it goes.

Yes these are my thoughts too, I'll pass this on to our IT guys and let you know how it goes.

Many thanks

[DanSHP]

So I've rendered a scene using Corona (converter used) 1% Noise, and a random heavy asset Blender scene with high quality settings (CPU mode enabled). Both rendered the scene using CPU no problem.

I've tried fresh default render presets, no elements, and various other settings but V-ray can't and will not render on CPU without crashing or BSOD. I've been informed that we have two other PCs running Vray (same specs), and they can render the same scene (although this isn't scene specific) on CPU no problem.

This is all very confusing and I am lost. Why would Corona/Blender and other machines running Max/Vray render on CPU without issue?

[vladimir_krastev]

Very strange indeed. Have you tried a CPU benchmark test to confirm your system can survive after extended periods of 100% loads? My guess is that Corona/Blender are not utilising the CPU as much as V-Ray. I know this does not sound like a solid argument but we have to rule it out.
Also you could try to disable a few cores for the 3ds Max process using Windows Task Manager and render with V-Ray CPU to see if this will change things. Also have you tried to render with V-Ray Standalone? Please test this as well and share the result. For further support we might have to go to a ticket and review the scene and/or connect to your PC using team viewer and troubleshoot directly at you setup.

[DanSHP]

Just an update regarding this.

We had to update the BIOS. Everything is fine now.

[vladimir_krastev]

Thanks for confirming.

[DanSHP]

There have been issues with the Intel CPU and motherboard since they were released! We had to amend some settings in the BIOS when we first got the PC as it was bluescreening randomly under limited loads.

There was an 'optional update' within Windows Update that included a BIOS update, so we ran that and it has resolved the issue completely. Woo hoo!