Last Updated: Jan 28th, 2004

Qualification of Maya 5.0 on supported Windows Operating Systems.
Products Version Software Date
Maya Complete / Unlimited 5.0 200304010010
Maya Complete / Unlimited  5.0.1 200309220008
 
File Compatibility:
Maya Maya 5.0 can read Maya 5.0, 4.x, 3.x, Maya 2.x, and Maya 1.x format files.
Others* Maya 5.0 imports Adobe Illustrator, EPS (level 2), OBJ, DXF, DWG (AutoCAD 1 to 2000), IGES, Alias Wire (win32/linux/irix), AIFF (win32/mac), RIB (win32), OpenFlight (win32/irix/linux)
VRML2 files can be read via a standalone translator.
Maya 5.0 exports OBJ, DXF, DWG, IGES, Alias Wire (win32/linux/irix), MOV, VRML2, RTG and GE2, OpenFlight (win32/irix/linux).
*Not all file formats are supported on all platforms.

Computer Models

Maya 5.0 is qualified on Intel Pentium II, Pentium III and Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon processors in the following systems with any of the graphics adaptors listed in the graphics card table using the specified driver on Windows XP Professional (follow this link for information specific to Operating System issues or Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher. Note, we are unable to qualify all graphics cards on all operating systems.
Maya is NOT qualified to run on Windows NT 4.0 or the Windows NT Terminal Server.

mental ray for Maya is qualified for the same platforms as Maya.
Company Model Web
Boxx 3DBOXX R1 www.boxxtech.com
Compaq Professional Workstation 6300 www.compaq.com
Compaq Professional Workstation AP 400, 500, 550 www.compaq.com
Compaq Professional Workstation SP700 www.compaq.com
Compaq Professional Workstation 6000 www.compaq.com
Compaq Professional Workstation EVO 6000, 8000 www.compaq.com
Compaq EVO Notebook N800 www.compaq.com
Dell 1 Precision Workstation 210, 410, 610 www.dell.com
Dell 1 Precision Workstation 220, 420, 620 www.dell.com
Dell 1 Precision Workstation 330, 530 www.dell.com
Dell 1 Precision Workstation 340, 360 www.dell.com
Dell Precision Workstation 350, 450, 650 www.dell.com
Dell Precision Workstation m50
with nVidia Quadro4 Go		 www.dell.com
Dell Precision Workstation m60
with nVidia Quadro FX 700Go		 www.dell.com
HP HP Workstation X1000, X1100, X2000, X2100, X4000 www.hp.com
HP HP Workstation xw5000, xw6000, xw8000, xw4100 www.hp.com
HP HP Mobile Workstation nw8000
with ATI FireGL T2		 www.hp.com
IBM Intellistation E Pro 6836, 6846 www.ibm.com
IBM Intellistation M Pro 6868, 6849, 6850, 6229, 6219, 6230
 www.ibm.com
IBM Intellistation Z Pro 6866, 6221 www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad A31p
(with ATI FireGL 7800 mobile)		 www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad T40p
(ATI Mobility FireGL 9000)		 www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad R50p
(ATI FireGL T2)		 www.ibm.com
Intergraph TDZ 2000 Graphics Workstation www.intergraph.com
[1] Please see below for workaround required for some Dell systems.

Graphics Cards & Drivers

Maya is qualified with the following graphics adapters (with the specified driver for the specified operating system) with any of the systems listed in the systems table.
Important: Graphics drivers are usually different for different Windows operating sytems. Alias|Wavefront has tested only drivers listed under each OS. While it may be possible to use Maya successfully on earlier or later drivers, Alias|Wavefront cannot guarantee their performance or behaviour. If you encounter problems with a driver, we strongly suggest that you contact the graphic card vendor to report your problem.
Company Graphics Controller Driver version on Windows XP Pro Driver version on Windows 2000 Pro
(SP2)
see below for important details about each of these graphics cards.
Follow this link for Hardware Rendering information
       
3Dlabs Wildcat 5000 06.05.05.16  
3Dlabs Wildcat II 5110 06.05.05.16  
3Dlabs Wildcat III 6110 06.05.05.16 or 06.05.06.08  
3Dlabs Wildcat III 6210 06.05.05.16  
3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7110 06.06.01.14  
3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7210 06.06.01.14  
3Dlabs Wildcat VP560/760/870/970/990 3.01-0387
3.01-0621 (3.1.6210)		  
nVidia Quadro2 EX/MXR/Go/Pro 43.51  
nVidia Quadro DCC 43.51  
nVidia Quadro4 Go (in Dell M50) 42.02  
nVidia Quadro4 550 XGL 43.51  
nVidia Quadro4 580 XGL 43.51  
nVidia Quadro4 700/750/900 XGL 43.51  
nVidia Quadro4 780/980 XGL 43.51  
nVidia Quadro FX 500 45.28  
nVidia Quadro FX 1000/2000 43.51, 45.28
  
nVidia Quadro FX 1100 53.03  
nVidia Quadro FX 3000 45.28
  
nVidia Quadro FX 700Go
(in Dell M60)		 44.24  
nVidia GeForce2, GeForce3, GeForce4 NOT QUALIFIED
See Note.		 NOT QUALIFIED
See Note.
ATI FireGL 2 6.12.10.2088  
ATI FireGL 4 6.12.10.2088  
ATI FireGL 4-DUAL    
ATI FireGL 7800 mobility
(In IBM Thinkpad A31P)		 6.13.10.6200
7.79.6-021213a-007988c-IBM
or
7-7.79.6-021019a-006279E-IBM		  
ATI FireGL 9000 mobility
(In IBM Thinkpad T40P)		 7.96.2.1
available from IBM		  
ATI FireGL 8700/8800 6.12.10.3056  
ATI Radeon 8800 Mobility
(in Compaq EVO N800)		 6.13.10.6206
7.77.3-021016a-006195E-1.00C		  
ATI FireGL X2-256t, X2-256 7.96.2.1  
ATI FireGL T2-64, T2-128 7.96.2.1  
ATI FireGL Z1/X1 7.96.2.1  
ATI FireGL E1 6.12.10.3044  
       
see below for important details about each of these graphics cards.

Video Cards without Hardware Overlay Planes

Using video cards without Hardware Overlay planes (or Hardware Overlay planes turned off) can result in poor performance for certain operations within Maya including (but not restricted to) use of tools based on Artisan or Paint Textures technology. There will also be visual differences compared with Hardware overlays that may result in difficulty seeing or manipulating aspects of the scene or Maya interface.
Examples of Graphics cards without Hardware overlays include (but are not restricted to):
  • NVIDIA based TNT/TNT2/GeForce/GeForce2 video cards
  • ATI Rage128/ Rage128Pro
  • Matrox G400
  • etc.
Examples of Graphics Cards where Hardware Overlays can be turned on/off include (but are not restricted to):
  • 3DLabs  GVX210/GVX1/VX1/GMX2000
  • etc.
Although Maya may be used successfully on systems containing these Graphics Cards, only those specifically  listed here have been tested. Please review the notes below carefully as some of these cards have limitations which may make them unsuitable for your purposes.

General Configuration.
Please Read
  • A three button mouse is required.
  • At least 512 MB of RAM or more is recommended to run Maya for Windows.
  • Customers intending to license their Alias software based on an external network card should be aware that Alias does not support the use of these devices and cannot guarantee that software will operate correctly when licensed in this way.
  • It may be possible to successfully use Maya with a non-qualified or partially qualified configuration, but support and maintenance programs will be subject to the Alias Support services guidelines.
  • The configurations shown are subject to change, and additional qualified configurations may be added after qualification testing has been carried out.
  • Where Graphics Controllers are configurable, you must have at least 32MB of texture memory (TRAM). Due to the differences in the manner in which hardware vendors approach display memory, we suggest that you consult your hardware vendor to ensure that your configuration will support your required resolution.
  • The graphics drivers specified in this table are the drivers that were used for the qualification process. While it may be possible to use Maya successfully on earlier or later drivers, Alias cannot guarantee their performance or behaviour.
  • We do not recommend saving data directly from Maya to NFS or Novell Netware or other remote mounted file systems. We have received several reports of data corruption when saving in this method although we have been unable to reproduce this. We strongly recommend that you save the files locally and then copy the data to the mounted storage system.
  • When texture images are stored on systems remote from the rendering process; depending on network speed, specifications and load it is possible that the renderer may be unable to access a texture file on demand and may 'drop' individual textures on a frame by frame basis. To reduce this occurrence store textures on a system local to the rendering process.
  • Windows Compiler Requirement: To build Maya plug-ins, your Windows system must have the Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler version 6.0 installed.
  • Be aware that with ALL dual monitor setups you will experience problems with window positioning - windows/menus not displaying on 2nd monitor, flipping back to the main monitor, etc. Dual Monitor use is only supported (with these limitations) on cards marked as DUAL on the qual chart.


Information Specific to Operating Systems:

Windows XP
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Under some circumstances, when playblasting an animation, partway through, the playblasting ceases to be updated. Attempting to ESC from the playblast may cause a hang.
Solution None.
Limitation Tear-off pull-down menus don't display properly on XP with UI schemes
Solution Set UI preference to Windows Classic Style. Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Windows Classic
Limitation Maya on Windows XP has slightly different window focus interaction than on other OSes. For example, if you render in the Render View window and switch focus to another Maya window or another application and back to the Render View, the Render View may not update, or may turn completely white giving the appearance that it has hung. The window will update when the render completes. (On other OSes it updates when each tile is finished rendering.) You may see similar interactions in other windows.
Solution None.


Information Specific to Computer Model:

Some Dell Systems
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation On some Dell systems, Maya apparently is missing some or all controls in some or all option boxes or dialogs. Specific sliders are not drawn and option boxes may be sized incorrectly or appear empty.
Solution Change the default system font size, restart your system and change it back (and restart again).
On Windows 2000 or XP this is in display properties: (right-mouse on desktop -> properties), Settings-> Advanced -> Display Font size. )


Information Specific to Graphics Cards/Drivers:
3Dlabs Wildcat 5000
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat 5000 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro:
06.05.05.16		 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Hardware shadows, CubicReflections and Hardware Rendering not supported. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

3Dlabs Wildcat II 5110
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat II 5110 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro:
06.05.05.16		 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Hardware shadows, CubicReflections and Hardware Rendering not supported. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

3Dlabs Wildcat III 6110
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat III 6110 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro: 06.05.05.16 or 06.05.06.08 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Hardware shadows, CubicReflections and Hardware Rendering not supported. Use of Hardware shadows may crash maya. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

3Dlabs Wildcat III 6210
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat III 6210 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro:
06.05.05.16		 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Hardware shadows and CubicReflections are not supported. Use of Hardware shadows may crash maya. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None.

 

3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7110
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7110 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro: 06.06.01.14 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation The quality of hardware shadows is not suitable for most uses. CubicReflections are not supported. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7210
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat IV 7210 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro: 06.06.01.14 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation The quality of hardware shadows is not suitable for most uses. CubicReflections are not supported. This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

3Dlabs Wildcat VP560, VP760, VP870, VP970, VP990
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
3Dlabs Wildcat VP560/760/870/970/990 (3Dlabs) Windows XP Pro:
3.01-0387 or 3.01-0621		 Settings > Performance 
    Driver Setting: Maya+Alpha x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation If you use "Maya" preset, when you launch Maya, your gamma is reset to 1.0
Solution Use the Maya+Alpha preset (however, this causes OpenGL overlays to be disabled)
Limitation Using drivers prior to 3.01-0621 is not  recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution Use 3.01-0621 (also identified as 3.1.621.0)

 

nVidia Quadro4 550 XGL
Windows
2000		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4 550 XGL Windows 2000 Pro:
[in progress]		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Only some features of Hardware Rendering can only be used and is not recommended.
Solution None
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4 550 XGL Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Only some features of Hardware Rendering can only be used and is not recommended.
Solution None

nVidia Quadro4 580XGL
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4 580 Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Only some features of Hardware Rendering can only be used and is not recommended.
Solution None

nVidia Quadro4 780XGL, 980XGL
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4 780XGL, 980XGL Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution

nVidia Quadro FX 500, FX 1000, FX 2000
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro FX500, FX 1000, FX 2000 Windows XP Pro:
43.51 or 45.28		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution

nVidia Quadro FX 1100
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro FX 1100 Windows XP Pro:
53.03		 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution

nVidia Quadro FX 3000
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro FX3000 Windows XP Pro:
45.28		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution

nVidia Quadro FX 700 Go (in Dell M60)
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro FX 700 Go Windows XP Pro:
44.24		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution

nVidia Quadro4 Go (in Dell M50)
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4 Go Windows XP Pro:
42.02		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Occasionally, animation stops updating when playblasting, and the playblast may contain repeated frames.
Solution On some systems, changing the XP UI Style to Windows Classic solves this problem.

nVidia Quadro4 (700XGL, 750XGL, 900XGL)
Windows
2000		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4
700XGL, 750XGL, 900XGL		 Windows 2000 Pro:
[in progress]		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution  
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro4
700XGL, 750XGL, 900XGL		 Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 OpenGL preset: Maya/StudioTools
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation
Solution
nVidia Quadro2 series (EX, MXR, Go, Pro)
Windows
2000		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro2 series
(EX, MXR, Go, Pro)		 Windows 2000 Pro:
[in progress]		 Driver is optimized for application: Maya.
    Overlays: ON
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Minor artisan brush stamp redraw problem.
Solution None
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro2 series
(EX, MXR, Go, Pro)		 Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 Windows style should be set to Windows Classic (i.e. Not XP)
Driver is optimized for application: Maya.
    Overlays: ON
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Some of the newer hardware based functionality, such as hardware shadows on sprites, may not work optimally on older cards.
Solution None

 

nVidia GeForce256, GeForce2, GeForce3, GeForce4 series
There are many cards based on GeForce256, GeForce2,  GeForce3 and GeForce4 chipsets. nVidia and Alias do not recommend these cards for use with Maya  as you may experience various refresh, display and stability problems and inadequate performance.
We suggest you choose from nVidia's workstation cards instead, such as the Quadro families which are much better suited to high-end 3D packages such as Maya.

 

nVidia Quadro DCC
Windows 2000 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia Quadro DCC Windows 2000 Pro:
[In Progress]		 Driver is optimized for application: Maya.
    Overlays: OFF
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Maya will crash on start-up when the resolution is set to higher values, e.g. 1600x1200x32 with the driver's overlay option enabled.
Solution Lower the display resolution or turn off the Overlay feature and reboot the system.
Windows
XP		 Model Version Driver Settings
nVidia QuadroDCC
 Windows XP Pro:
43.51		 Windows style should be set to Windows Classic (i.e. Not XP)
Driver is optimized for application: Maya.
    Overlays: ON
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation  
Solution  

 

FireGL 2
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL 2
(ATI)		 Windows 2000 Pro:
[In Progress]
Windows XP Pro:
6.12.10.2088		 MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

FireGL 4 and FireGL 4 DUAL
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL 4
(ATI)		 Windows 2000 Pro:
5.12.2195.2088
Windows XP Pro:
6.12.10.2088		 Advanced > OpenGL Support > Driver is optimized for application
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation With dual monitors you may experience problems with windows always popping on or returning to the main screen instead of the alternate screen.
Solution None.
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None.

FireGL 7800 Mobile
in IBM Thinkpad A31P
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL 7800
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
6.13.10.6200
7.79.6-021213a-006958e-IBM		  
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation You may encounter poor performance using Artisan tools with "Show Brush Outlines ON".
Solution Do not use Show Brush Outlines.
Limitation You may encounter poor performance using Maya Paint Effects in Canvas mode.
Solution none.

FireGL 9000 Mobility
in IBM Thinkpad T40P
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL 9000
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
7.96.2.1
available from IBM

7.96.2.1 is preferred to the previously qualified drivers: 6.13.10.6355 (7.79.7.3.9) or
6.14.10.6378 (7.93.4) 		 
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Occasional shadow-bias artifacts during hardware shadow display in shaded mode.
Solution Force a refresh in the model view (e.g. by Tumbling or Panning). This problem does not occur with 6.14.10.6378 (7.93.4) or 7.96.2.1.
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

 

FireGL 8700/8800
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL 8700/8800
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
6.12.10.3056		  
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None

FireGL Z1/X1
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL Z1/X1
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
Package Version 7.96.2.1		  
    MAYA x  
Note: The previously qualified driver (6.13.10.1034) can continue to be used but we now recommend 7.96.2.1.
Be aware that ATI refers to specific versions of drivers as "Package Version".
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation  
Solution  

FireGL X2-256t, X2-256, T2-128, T2-64
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL X2, T2
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
Package Version 7.96.2.1		  
    MAYA x  
Note: The previously qualified driver (6.14.10.6343) can continue to be used but we now recommend 7.96.2.1.
Be aware that ATI refers to specific versions of drivers as "Package Version".
Limitations and Solutions
Note: Drivers suitable for laptops should be obtained from the laptop vendor, not ATI, unless the driver specifically states it can be used on all models. 
Solution Follow this link for HP
Follow this link for IBM.

FireGL E1
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
FireGL E1
(ATI)		 Windows XP Pro:
6.12.10.3044		  
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None
Limitation Occasional shadow-bias artifacts during hardware shadow display in shaded mode.
Solution Force a refresh in the model view (e.g. by Tumbling or Panning)

Radeon 8800 Mobility
in Compaq EVO N800
Model Version Driver Settings ON OFF
Fire GL8700/8800
(ATI)		 Windows 2000 Pro:
 -
Windows XP Pro:
6.13.10.6206
7.77.3-021016a-006195E-1.00C		  
    MAYA x  
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation This card is not recommended for use with Hardware Rendering as not all features are supported.
Solution None