Qualification of Maya 7.0 on Supported Windows Operating Systems

Last updated: June.20,2006

Products Version Software Date
Maya Complete / Unlimited 7.0 200507192211

Contents of this document:


General Configuration

In order to determine whether your system is qualified to run Maya and mental ray for Maya, you must have a qualified processor, operating system, graphics card, and graphics driver. See the following sections.

As well, you must meet other requirements such as:

General disclaimers:


Operating Systems and processors

The following table shows the operating systems and processor combinations qualified to run Maya and mental ray for Maya.

 

32-bit

64-bit

  Pentium III Pentium 4 Xeon AMD Athlon Opteron Athlon 64 EM64T

Itanium

Windows NT 4.0 not qualified
Windows NT Terminal Server not qualified
Windows 2000 Professional (SP4) untested not applicable / not qualified
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (SP1) qualified qualified unsupported
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2) qualified qualified unsupported
Windows XP x64 Edition not applicable / not qualified qualified unsupported

Notes on Operating Systems


Workstations

Company Model Web
Boxx 3DBOXX Apexx4 www.boxxtech.com
Boxx 3DBOXX Workstation 7106, 7108, 7112, 7300 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
Dell1 Precision Workstation 210, 410, 610 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation 220, 420, 620 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation 330, 530 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation 340, 360 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation 350, 450, 650 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation 370, 380, 670 www.dell.com
Fujitsu-Siemens Celsius Workstation M420 www.fujitsu-siemens.com
HP HP Workstation X1000, X1100, X2000, X2100, X4000 www.hp.com
HP HP Workstation xw5000, xw6000, xw8000, xw4100 www.hp.com
HP HP Workstation xw4200, xw6200, xw8200 www.hp.com
HP2 HP Workstation xw4300, xw9300 www.hp.com
IBM Intellistation M Pro 6225, 6219, 6218, 6230 www.ibm.com
IBM Intellistation A Pro 6224, 6217 www.ibm.com
IBM Intellistation Z Pro 6221, 6223 www.ibm.com
Intergraph TDZ 2000 Graphics Workstation www.intergraph.com
[1] Please see below for workaround required for some Dell systems.
[2] These machines have not been tested in SLI configuration.


Notebooks

Company Model Web
Compaq EVO Notebook N800 www.compaq.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation m20 w/ATI FireGLV3100 www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation m50 w/Nvidia Quadro4 Go www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation m60 w/Nvidia Quadro FX 700Go www.dell.com
Dell1 Precision Workstation m70 w/Nvidia Quadro FX 1400Go www.dell.com
HP HP Mobile Workstation nw8000 with ATI FireGL T2 www.hp.com
HP HP Mobile Workstation nw8240 with ATI FireGL V5000 www.hp.com
IBM Thinkpad A31p (ATI FireGL 7800 mobile) www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad T40p (ATI Mobility FireGL 9000) www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad T42p, R50p (ATI FireGL T2) www.ibm.com
IBM Thinkpad T43p (ATI FireGLV3200) www.ibm.com
[1] Please see below for workaround required for some Dell systems.


Notes on Computer Models

Some Dell Systems
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation On some Dell systems, Maya appears to be 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 DPI settings for screen resolution (XP), restart your system and change it back (and restart again). On Windows this is in display properties: (right-mouse on Desktop -> Properties), Settings-> Advanced -> General -> Display DPI Setting.

 


Graphics Cards and Driver Versions

Maya is qualified for the following graphics cards using the specified driver, with the listed Operating Systems, and any of the workstations or notebooks listed in the Workstations and Notebooks tables. Please see the Detailed Driver Notes and Settings for applicable settings and potential Limitations specific to your graphics card.

Important: Graphics drivers are usually different for different Windows operating systems. Alias has tested only drivers listed under each OS. While it may be possible to use Maya successfully on earlier or later drivers, Alias cannot guarantee their performance or behavior. If you encounter problems with a driver, we strongly suggest that you contact the graphic card vendor to report your problem.

Notes about graphics cards

Company Workstation Graphics Card Windows XP Pro Windows XP Pro 64 Edition
3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 100/200 4.05-0777  
3DLabs Wildcat Realizm 800 4.05-0777  
ATI FireGL X3 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL T2 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL V3100 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL V3200 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL V5000 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL V5100 8.133.1.1.1  
ATI FireGL V7100 8.133.1.1.1  
Nvidia Quadro FX330 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 500/1000/2000 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 540 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 1100 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 1300 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 3000 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 3400 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 3450 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 4000 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 4400 77.56  
Nvidia Quadro FX 4500 77.56  
Nvidia 7800 GTX 84.21  
Nvidia GeForce (ANY GeForce) Not Qualified Not Qualified
       
Company Notebook Graphics Card Windows XP Pro Windows XP Pro 64 Edition
ATI FireGL V3100 (Dell m20) TBD (6.5 ->) 8.063  
ATI FireGL V5000 (HP nw8240) TBD  
IBM FireGL m9000 (IBM T40p) TBD  
IBM FireGL T2 (IBM T42p, R50p) TBD  
Nvidia FireGL V3100 (in Dell m20) TBD  
Nvidia Quadro4Go (in Dell m50) TBD  
Nvidia Quadro FX 700Go (in Dell m60) TBD (6.5 ->) 67.71  
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400Go (in Dell m70) TBD (6.5 ->) 67.71  

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.


Detailed Driver Notes and Settings

3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 100/200

Model Version Driver Settings
3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 100/200 Windows XP Pro: 4.03-0162 Optimize->Optimize for: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 800

Model Version Driver Settings
3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 800 Windows XP Pro: 4.03-0162 Optimize->Optimize for: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

ATI FireGL X3

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL X3

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGL T2

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL T2

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV3100

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V3100

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV3100 (Dell Precision Workstation m20)
Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V3100 (Dell m20)

Windows XP Pro: 8.063 (provided by Dell) Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV3200

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V3200

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV5000

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V5000

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV5100

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V5100

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

ATI FireGLV7100

Model Version Driver Settings

ATI FireGL V7100

Windows XP Pro: 8.083 Configuration->Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Shaders using HardwareTexturing-> TextureFilter-> MipmapNearest, MipmapLinear, MipmapBilinear or MipmapTrilinear, will display incorrectly in the Hardware Render Buffer.
Solution Set TextureFilter to either Nearest(Unfiltered) or Bilinear, per shader

Nvidia Quadro FX 330

Model Version Driver Settings

Nvidia Quadro FX 330

Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation Hardware Rendered shadows cast from particles, may vary in size in comparison with other Nvidia cards.
Solution None

Nvidia Quadro FX 500, FX 1000, FX 2000

Model Version Driver Settings

Nvidia Quadro FX 500, FX 1000, FX 2000

Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 540

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 540 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 1100

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 1100 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 1300

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 1300 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 1400

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 1400Go (Dell Precision Workstation m70)
Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400Go Windows XP Pro: 67.71(provided by Dell) OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 3000

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 3000 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 3400

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 3400 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 4000

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 4000 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia Quadro FX 4400

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia Quadro FX 4400 Windows XP Pro: 77.56 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation None

Nvidia 7800 GTX

Model Version Driver Settings
Nvidia 7800GTX Windows XP Pro: 84.21 OpenGL preset: Maya
Limitations and Solutions
Limitation You may experience refresh problems with the overlay plane.

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.


Compiler Requirements

If you are building plug-ins for Maya, note the following:

The Maya API requires a specific compiler and linker, on each of the platforms Alias supports in order to build compatible plug-ins. The Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 compiler is used to build Maya on Windows. Using this compiler will guarantee binary compatibility when building plug-ins.