Resolve/BMCC on 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad-Xeon

Am I reading the config guide correctly in understanding that Resolve will NOT run properly on a single processor 2010 Mac Pro Quad Core 2.8 Xeon?

Currently I have 16gb RAM, external eSATA RAID, ATI 5770 for display duties, Matrox MX02 Max for monitoring, and wanting to add Quadro 4000 for GPU processing duties.

My requirement is to grade BMCC RAW files. Are only the dual processor models approved? If this Mac is not approved - what does this mean? That it will only play back and slower frame rates, or it simply won't work at all?

many thanks
Ian

Or with Nvidia 120/570 combo, which is apparently beefier than the 4000.

[Peter Chamberlain]

Your single CPU system will work very hard with any compressed formats and real time playback is not formally qualified, but Resolve will run, just as it does on an iMac and rMBP which has a single CPU. We just spec the MacPro for realtime and to be safe that means dual processors.

I recommend you consider a faster GPU. The Cinema DNG raw files are debayered in GPU and the q4000 is about the slowest in today's terms. Just using a 570 as a shared GUI and image processing GPU without the GT120 is likely to be better than using the Q4000 with the ATI for UI.. The main benefit of the Q4000 is that it's a single width card that needs just one power connection.

I'm trying another new GPU tomorrow and can give you some details after that.

Also, you will need a DeckLink for video out..... No support for the card you have.

Peter

Hi Peter

Thanks for the advice. I believe the 4000 isn't that great. I'm happy to get a 120 for UI and the best double width card card for graphics I can afford. With the state of Mac Pros at the moment I'm unlikely to buy a new one in the next few months. So please let me know what you come up with on new GPU tests. I read somewhere on the web someone had success getting a 660 working.
Thanks
Ian

[Peter Chamberlain]

Just did a quick test with the GT120 as UI card and GTX680 (the model with two 6pin power connections and MacPro cables) for image processing. First tests went well so we will do some more an add details in the next config guide.

Peter

Hey Peter - did you get any further with tests? thanks, Ian

"the model with two 6pin power connections and MacPro cables"

I have a problem with graphic card with two slots. What kind of wire should I buy to be able to supply the power? Should I buy a converter that splits one wire into two or there is another socket on a motherboard so I can connect a second wire?


Thanks for any advice.

Marek

Hello Marek,
There are two connections for GPU power on the Mac Pro motherboard.
You can find the power cables cheap on ebay.

Just did a quick test with the GT120 as UI card and GTX680 (the model with two 6pin power connections and MacPro cables) for image processing. First tests went well so we will do some more an add details in the next config guide.

Peter

Hi Peter

Have you guys made any more progress with testing on the GTX680? Would it be a reasonably safe bet to go ahead and buy one? Urgently need to get a basic Resolve up and running and the standard Mac Pro, as is with ATI, won't even load reasonable ProRes sequences.

ciao
Ian

Have you guys made any more progress with testing on the GTX680? Would it be a reasonably safe bet to go ahead and buy one?

Not sure about the official tests, but we have a couple systems setup with the GTX680 and it works great. You can easily use it for both UI and CUDA and have lots of headroom for realtime. Please note that you must use 10.8.2 plus download the latest nvidia "quadro" drivers, or wait for 10.8.3 for native support. The native 10.8.2 drivers were slow and buggy.

s

Great - would that be on the 2gb or 4gb version of the 680? Is it worth holding out for a 4gb card - they're very hard to come by here at the moment. Thanks, Ian

Great - would that be on the 2gb or 4gb version of the 680? Is it worth holding out for a 4gb card - they're very hard to come by here at the moment. Thanks, Ian

Tempting as the 4GB card is, don't do it. OS X does not currently support openCL on >2GB cards (though it is a pretty easy hack to get it working). I would stick to the common 2GB version which works very well and now that 10.8.3 is out along with the new CUDA drivers for 10.8.3 everything will work out of box.

s.

[Peter Chamberlain]

If you are using Resolve and CUDA the 4GB GTX680 is a good card. The only issue is how much power it needs and so its best to get the 2x6pin power connection model.
Peter