nVidia Quadro 4000 mac TESTS? anyone?

[Jason H]

anyone test the nVidia Quadro 4000 mac with their davinci yet? Love to hear about it!

thanks!

j

[mikeburton]

Supposedly it's slower than the 285 from Blackmagic internal testing with Resolve. Fastest is still the GTX285 even over the FX4800.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Have not tested with Resolve. But I have a Quadro 4000 Mac edition here I'm doing CUDA stuff with. Save your money, buy the GTX285. :-/ I'm seeing about 6~7% overall gain with the Q4000 over the 285. The only advantage I can see is if you need the DisplayPort connector or if you're running specific software or CUDA development that would benefit from the extra onboard RAM. You only get 8bit out of the DisplayPort on the Mac anyway... There is still some advantage to the Fermi design and some functionality that is not available on the 285, but I'm doubtful that will play a role with Resolve.

On paper, the Q4000 is almost 15% faster than the 285. In PC land, many 285 cards are faster as they are clocked higher.

I'm curious to see what people come up with in terms of Resolve performance.

FWIW, the Quadro 4000 for Mac can be bought from J&R right now for $819.95 w/ free shipping. I've seen it a few other places over the past week where it's under $850. From what I can tell, based on some insider info, is that the cards received less than a luke-warm welcome. People want the GTX480/580 and nVidia & PNY give us the lower mid-range Quadro at a hefty premium.

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I was very excited about the Quadro 4000, but have since become less interested.

I still want it because of its single slot solution, but I think I'm back to a GTX285 for the dedicated Resolve GPU. I'd also be happier with a later model GTX as Jeff mentioned.

I'd be happier if there was a new non-Quadro single slot card that offered very modern features and performance right in that range.

[Nikolai Vavilov]

Like this?
http://www.evga.com/products/enlarge.asp?PN=015-p3-1589-ar&I=1

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Like this?
http://www.evga.com/products/enlarge.asp?PN=015-p3-1589-ar&I=1

Yes that would be perfect... if it was supported under Mac OS X.

I could happily take that particular unit as the GUI card and use a dual slot GTX580 for the Resolve GPU unit... if only they were supported under OS X.

[Nikolai Vavilov]

GTX480 already works with mac davinci (on Hackintosh at least), someone should try 580...

[Alexander Ibrahim]

GTX480 already works with mac davinci (on Hackintosh at least), someone should try 580...

I've run into this before.

Its important to me that the card actually be a Mac version. Its the official support that matters.

If I'm billing a client and there is an issue while they are sitting in the room... it just doesn't make sense to have cut that particular corner. I don't know the relative performance of the Quadro 4000 and the GTX 580, but the price difference is just $200 or so.

So... despite some dissatisfaction, Quadro 4000 remains on my things to buy list.

I'd rather be sitting on two Quadro 4000 Mac editions than two hacked GTX580's if trouble stirs its ugly head.

Of course, that's a strategy of best of available evils, not an ideal strategy.

[Mike N]

I always thought that the Quadro cards offer superior performance over their "gaming" counterparts even if they have lower clock/memory speeds ? Or is this true only in their specific driver tailored applications such as Maya, CAD etc. ?

[Uli Plank]

I think there's a lot of marketing babble around them.

For us the GTX 285 is definitely performing a tad better than the Quadro FX 4800 under PPro and Resolve.

[Vladmartins]

"I still want it because of its single slot solution, but I think I'm back to a GTX285 for the dedicated Resolve GPU. I'd also be happier with a later model GTX as Jeff mentioned."


Alexander,

Does Da Vinci works with only one quadro 4000 and no other cards?
I have a red rocket, black magic 3d and e-sata card...

It would be great if I could use just one graphics card single slot, would it reduce performance if it's just the quadro and no other Nvidia card and how much you lose in speed % ?

Cheers.

[Chris Kenny]

It would be great if I could use just one graphics card single slot, would it reduce performance if it's just the quadro and no other Nvidia card and how much you lose in speed % ?

Yeah, I'm also really interested in this. If using just a Quadro 4000, with no second graphics card, drops things below real-time performance generally, that wouldn't be worth it. But if it's just a matter of dropping from real-time with 10 or 11 nodes down to real-time with 7 or 8 nodes, that would absolutely be worth it for us to free up a slot for a RAID controller.

[Uli Plank]

I tried with a single Quadro FX 4800 and a GTX 285, which both dropped in performance by about 30% when used alone. Could mean the difference between RT and non-RT.

[Charles Angus]

I always thought that the Quadro cards offer superior performance over their "gaming" counterparts even if they have lower clock/memory speeds ? Or is this true only in their specific driver tailored applications such as Maya, CAD etc. ?

That would only be true in apps with specific driver tailoring.

In any case, the 4000 is most similar to a low-end enthusiast GPU like the GTS450 (which is under $150). There are gaming cards with much, much more raw power than a 4000 that would outperform it in any application.

[Frank Cueto]

Well I know Autodesk has that card as part as the minimum configuration for the Smoke on OSX. recently ordered it for our SMACK. Will report here once we have it up and running.

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Does Da Vinci works with only one quadro 4000 and no other cards?


No.

You must have TWO graphics cards in the system for real time performance.

The configuration manual implies it won't work at all without two cards... but I can't find any direct statement to that effect.

One card is used for the "GUI." That's the term in the Resolve configuration manual for all the normal OS X functions.

The other card card is used by Resolve as "GPU." Resolve completely takes that card over for its own use, and it can not be used by the system for anything else while Resolve is running. The Resolve configuration guide recommends not connecting monitors to the GPU card. The Resolve configuration guide says that you should put the GPU card into the two slot wide "graphics slot" of a Mac Pro.

Most fast video cards require the extra space for cooling gear. (fans, heat sinks etc.) Some cards offer extra i/o ports in the extra slot they use.

There are Windows versions of various high end gaming cards that are made to use a single PCIe slot. Earlier in this thread someone linked to an EVGA GTX580. I'd REALLY like to see an officially supported OS X version of those cards.

So getting back to the Quadro 4000. It has approximately the performance of a GTX285. (It outperforms the GTX285 by a very small margin 5-8% typically.) I expected a lot more before its release, but it will do.

The performance level of the GTX285 is my "minimum standard" for both the GUI and GPU card in a resolve system.

So getting back to configuring a Mac- and why I want a single slot card for the GUI... the stupid Mac Pro only has 4 PCIe slots... one of which is the graphics card slot.

If I used two GTX285 or two QuadroFX 4800 cards in the system I'd use up the Graphics card slot and two "regular" slots. Leaving just one slot for other PCIe hardware. Boo.

So.. its acceptable, but not ideal. I can use a Quadro 4000 as my GUI and a GTX285 as my GPU card.

I remain hopeful that we'll see a Quadro 5800 or a GTX580

That leaves me two PCIe slots. One is used by a BlackMagic i/o card. So... the other card is either a Rocket, or some type of external disk access device.

Presently my plan is to use a fast drive for the system boot drive for Resolve. On the second drive I'll have another barebones system boot, day to day storage and data backup for the boot drive.

I reserve two internal drive bays for my current project. These can be configured RAID-0 in software for speed and capacity.

Firewire 800 is acceptable for tertiary storage for my regular system use, and secondary storage/backup for the current project.

If those limitations are acceptable, I can install a Rocket. For many workflows finishing in ProRes that is in fact acceptable.

If I need faster disk access (which is rare given my current workload) I can deinstall the Rocket and install some type of host bus adapter. (Fibre Channel or whatever)

If I do a lot of properly paid work in Resolve, there is a strong chance that I'll end up moving to Resolve Linux, which obviates these issues.

[Philipe Ratton]

Would you buy one of these ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-nVidia-GTX-285-1GB-OC-Video-Card-Mac-Pro-GTX285-/130427957384?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1e5e1cb088#ht_3039wt_1141

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Would you buy one of these ?

No.

It's a generic, unlabeled, slightly overclocked card that has been re-flashed wth the Apple EFI. Price is a bit high, IMO.

[Uli Plank]

Definitely works with one specified CUDA card only, but considerably slower.

[Philipe Ratton]

Thanks Jeff, that's what I thought too

[Jeff Kilgroe]

No problem, Philipe.

Anyway guys, I'll have some comparative benchmarks for the GTX285 and Quadro4000 under Resolve here soon. I bit the bullet and ordered Resolve finally and will get it up and running this week. Probably won't have much in benchmarks right away -- hopefully next weekend. Have some family coming in from out of town and other things that will take up time. I wish I could say I'm working, but it's pretty slow around here right now... Oh well.

[Jim Geduldick]

Hey all have been messing with the Quadro 4000 on new Mac Pro 2010 .
Here is the deal no OSX support for 10 bit monitors.
The 4000 Mac edition currently is not 10 bit capable. That I have confirmed.
Bummed but everyone should also hit up Nvidia and Apple emails to get them on this support.
Checking performance with Storm,Nuke,Resolve and Cinema4D all seem extremley perky but stacking up against my GTX285 Id kill to have a GTX580 for Mac .

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Hey all have been messing with the Quadro 4000 on new Mac Pro 2010 .
Here is the deal no OSX support for 10 bit monitors.
The 4000 Mac edition currently is not 10 bit capable. That I have confirmed.
Bummed but everyone should also hit up Nvidia and Apple emails to get them on this support.
Checking performance with Storm,Nuke,Resolve and Cinema4D all seem extremley perky but stacking up against my GTX285 Id kill to have a GTX580 for Mac .

You mean for direct display by the graphics card right?

I don't think that any graphics card supports 10 bit display on OS X.

I suspect that its a limitation of 10.6 and older... but would be happy to learn different.

In any case this isn't directly relevant to me... I get my 10 bit display via video cards. (i.e. AJA or Black Magic)

[Dave Blackham]

Im told by BM that the Quadro 4800 and 4000 are both virtually the same for normal grading in Resolve but for Blur and rotate the 4800 is still faster by about 20%.

Are you guys saying the 285 is faster or prefered over the 4800 ?

[alexjentz]

Wouldnt this be great:

-a PC GTX 580 modded so that it runs smoothly on a Mac Pro
-not using a second Graphics Card, since the 580 is fast enough
-Decklink Card
-RED Rocket
-RAID HBA

seems like the best Config you could do in a not Hackintosh ?

anyone got a GTX 580 running in a Mac Pro ?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

FWIW, Quadro 4000 Mac cards are now selling for the same price as the PC version.

Provantage.com has them for under $770, so does Amazon.com

[Eric Santiago]

FWIW, Quadro 4000 Mac cards are now selling for the same price as the PC version.

Provantage.com has them for under $770, so does Amazon.comWere currently having issues with the 4000 in our new 12core.
Seems to hang and crash when using any sort of energy saver option.
The other problem is were trying to fit this into a dual 30 display option shared by another Mac Pro using a Gefen 2X2 DVIDL Switcher.
The new 4000 has a single large display port and a DVI link.
Have to use few cable/convertors to get it to play nice with the above set-up.
Now as far as After Effects CS5, REDCine X and Storm, the card works great :)

[Peter Chamberlain]

I recommend to turn off energy saver if you find that improves stability.
Peter

[Eric Santiago]

I recommend to turn off energy saver if you find that improves stability.
PeterI had it off for a few weeks. same problem.
Took out the RED Rocket and after a few days, found the crashes are less but still there.
Currently took (Quadro) it out and put back ATI/AMD 5870.
No crashes so far (day two) and After Effects dont cause crashes.
However this card does the awful black frame during openGL uses in AE :P
Were going to try the Quadro on another 12-core for testing.
Ill keep you all posted.

[Eric Santiago]

I talked to PNY (mfg of Nvidia Quadro card).
They helped me get this card running again and so far so good.
I have it installed in the same Mac Pro 2.93 with 32GB RAM.
Just the RED Rocket into a BOB then RED CineX (both 351 and 356 but this dont work with card).
Im not going to install anything like Adobe, Avid or FCS for now.
Ill test this baby for a week with RED CineX and see what happens.
Screen saver is on so I can try and replicate original problem.
The current config is 10.6.6 with the latest Nvidia drivers 256.01.00f03v5.
The steps this time around was to re-install OS with original ATI 5870 first.
Upgrade to 10.6.6.
Then install Nvidia drivers.
Remove ATI and replace with Quadro.
So far its been great.
I know I did the same steps when I first got the card but the fact that I had everything (mentioned above) installed on this system before, I couldnt pin-point the problem.

Crossing fingers ;)