So, is the general consensus still that Max 2009 64-bit is superior to later versions including 2013? For next-gen modelling tasks?

If you look at Per's performance comparisons, performance has steadily dropped since 2009. Correct me if I'm wrong, but next gen modeling means higher polycounts, right?

Originally Posted by Brygelsmack

Max users, do you still prefer Max over Maya despite this negative trend? How many of you have switched over? Because I mean, no one's stopping you. But it all depends on how what software you prefer I guess.

Obviously no excuse for Autodesk to treat their users like this, but I'm just curious how many actually got so tired of it that they switched.

Yeah my thoughts too. I always had problems with performance in 3ds max and always found the modifier workflow very clunky. While Maya crashes a bit more frequently than Max, I don't miss Max at all... It could be just personal preference, but Maya feels more organic and simpler than Max.

Definitely recommend any disgruntled 3ds max users to give Maya a go and see what I mean. The first few weeks are going to be painful, but then you will never miss max anymore!

Max is a application with 20 years of patches applied to it and it shows.

Yeah ... I just tried 2013 for the first time a few weeks ago ... it really, really is slower than 2009. Without even going into raw polygon count performance comparaisons, the menus (!) themselves are slower and everything is glitchier UI-wise. Crazy stuff ! I kinda feel bad for whoever trying his/her hand at Max for the first time with such a release.

Also, for the lucky ones still with a 2009 license : it runs faster under winXP pro 64, too. Mind you it's good enough under win7 BUT for raw performance it sure is faster on good old XP. (compared it on the same system with dual OS boot.)

my feeling is that with the benchmarks shown, they focus very much on "look we can render an entire game level faster now", but completely ignore actual "edit" performance. All the "shiny ui" bits, just cost, looking at how minimal uis are design wise in other apps, everything is tuned for high responsiveness in a professional environment. It seems like "looks" is more important (to make shiny marketing brochures, "growing markets") than every-day use.

It's really frustrating cause we all know that under the hood the actual stuff that manages the features doesn't change much codewise, so it is not the big problem (seeing older max versions did better).

But since there is no pressure on AD (everyone has max or maya subscriptions) it's hard to imagine a positive change. Why invest into something that you know you get money for anyway as people have created toolchains and whatnot around it.

I had to step back and find an old copy of Max 2009 64bit to compare to Max 2013. HOLY CRAP. I don't remember Max being that fast (Win7 64 bit)!

But, here's a little gem I just found that was posted a little bit ago:

3dsmax Sneak Peek: Nitrous part 1 - YouTube

I heard you will be able to turn caddies off in max 2014... but thats just a rumor ;p Huge step for ADSK.

Last time they showed clip where they were showing improved performance they released max with UVW unwrap so bad it was unusable. I hope something changed in ADSK.

I miss the old ui max had, it had no freaking redraw issues with the graphics card??? caddies more like garbage... If people wanted max to be like autocad they would use autocad...