Advice for new computer

kyoto kid

...If you build your own "white box" workstation, I don't see it detecting any brand name and specific model. 

That EULA policy seems a bit  "unethical" as well.  I can understand such exclusivity with software to prevent pirating, but hardware? 

outrider42

I don't know if it detects it during the system scan when searching for drivers, but if you need support they will have to know what hardware you have in order to properly help you.

The full EULA for the drivers is here:

https://www.nvidia.com/content/DriverDownload-March2009/licence.php?lang=us&type=GeForce

Scroll down and you will find the key words:

"No Datacenter Deployment. The SOFTWARE is not licensed for datacenter deployment, except that blockchain processing in a datacenter is permitted."

Now it depends on how they define datacenter, and for some reason the EULA fails to define a datacenter. But it has been argued that almost any non-personal use can be considered datacenter. If they deem you have breached the EULA they can void the warranty.

I know some countries have restrictions on what EULAs can do, but I live in the corporate loving US.

kyoto kid

..OK it mentions data centres (servers) which usually handle multiple users. but nothing about individual "workstations".

So on my "personal workstation" I create scenes, render them to use as 2D .jpgs for illustrations of a book I publish, does that violate the GeForce EULA thus requiring I  shell out 6,300$ for a Quadro 6000 instead of 2,500$ a Titan RTX (even though doing so is covered by the EULAs for Daz3D and say, Otoy if I use Octane4)?

outrider42

The EULA is too vague. But I saw a post Otoy made at the time these EULAs were reported on stating that networking systems for rendering did not violate it, I'd have to find that post again. It was on the official Otoy forum. But that is not quite the same. I did read that a service in Japan that offered a machine with 4 Titans for cloud services allegedly had to remove that machine from their offerings. So there have been some consequences to this EULA. That certainly was not a cheap machine.

Your station is second hand and not under any sort of contract, I would think its OK. But I'm no lawyer.

kyoto kid

...yeah not a big fan of contract legalspeak as yes they can seem very vague and misleading.  As I am not renting my systems out to others to use, I imagine I'll be OK.

Still, 24 GB of VRAM, so enticing.

kenshaw011267

Data center does not equal workstation. A datacenter generally means a server farm. A workstation is a professional grade desktop. Up until recently that meant a Xeon based system. Now it can mean that or a commercial HEDT based desktop. Nvidia's EULA does not forbid installing commercial graphics cards in workstations but in server type deployments.

kyoto kid

...yes, there is a big difference between the two, just that the term "workstation" came up earlier which made it sound as if there was some way Nvidia would be enforce it like not allowing for prebuilds or custom build services to include GeForce cards in their branded "workstations".  Of course a DIY "white box" workstation would skirt that easily. 

Again EULAs are written in "corplegalspeak" (better term) which is almost incomprehensible to most people with all the twists and turns of wording and "fine print" involved.

outrider42

The issue is how they Define data center. They don't. While it may seem like a data center and a workstation are two different things, that does not mean they legally are different things. However, the lack of a definition for data center may be grounds to void the agreement if it was to be pursued in court.

aaráribel caađo

I had no idea that EULAs on graphic cards prevent them from being used in certain computers. What a mess our laws have become. It's like selling a car that can only be used in the US unless the buyer gets the special International version.

kenshaw011267

That's already true. Most cars sold in the US do not meet European safety and mileage standards. In regards to graphics cards Nvidia has had wording in their EULA for a long time forbidding gaming grade cards in the datacenter. Which was mostly pointless as they couldn't do what the Quadros could. Now these new Titans with Nvlink connectors will at least give them a run in high end rendering. But that is a small segment of the market AIUI.