Multiple GPU vs Rocket

[Alan Gordon]

I don't know if anyone has had a chance to test this or not, as the update just came out, but I'm curious about performance differences when grading R3D footage if you were to use 2 CUDA GPUs (and one GUI GPU) vs 1 CUDA GPU and 1 Red Rocket (and one GUI GPU)?

Thoughts? Tests?

Thanks,
-Alan Gordon
Post Pro Gumbo

[jake blackstone]

Debayering is performed by CPU not GPU, which means, that increased number of GPUs doesn't affect that aspect of the process.

[Robert Horwell]

so when grading red footage and already having a RR installed what are the benefits of the multiple GPU?

[N_Villers]

Everything but the debayer.

[Ben Brainerd]

To answer the implied question in the OP, and build off what everyone else has said:

If your projects are primarily RED footage, you'll get better results with a single processing GPU (That doesn't include the GUI GPU) and a Rocket. Like Jake said, Debayering isn't sent out to the GPU(s) at all, so you're either doing a CPU debayer or a rocket debayer.

Multiple GPUs will only help *after* the debayer, which is probably the most intensive step in the whole chain. So if you're speccing a system, I would suggest GPUx2 (One for the GUI) and a Rocket as the initial step. If you've got the cash, GPUx3+ Rocket.

[jake blackstone]

I guess, it is a sign of times, where with 3x FX4000 GPUs and RR it's possible to grade 4k images in real time with $1k software on a Mac.
Can't quite display it though...

[Robert Horwell]

thanks,

so i have 2X gtx 285 gt120 and RR.

anyone know if prem pro will make use of the gtx285 even though its not being used as the gui gpu?

[Alan Gordon]

Thanks all! Seems like my originally spec'd system is still the way to go. I'm all about the R3D.

Maybe soon I'll have another GPU or two and maybe an additional RR to really be doing it real time, but for now it seems 1 GPU, 1 RR, 1 GUI will do.

Now just to figure out how to monitor all this...but that's another can of worms for another thread.

[Nikolai Vavilov]

Anyone tested performance of GTX 285 vs Quadro 4000? Shame on Apple, why they didn't get us GTX 580 / Quadro 5000/6000 support...

[M Most]

I guess, it is a sign of times, where with 3x FX4000 GPUs and RR it's possible to grade 4k images in real time with $1k software on a Mac.
Can't quite display it though...

Or play it in real time unless you also have a very, very fast disk array. Or play real time through dissolves unless you have a very, very, very, very fast disk array.

[Gunleik Groven]

Or play it in real time unless you also have a very, very fast disk array. Or play real time through dissolves unless you have a very, very, very, very fast disk array.

Hm...

If one are grading from r3d's I'd guess one could...

I am the first to not be an unconditional fan of raw grading on most tools, yet. But for throughput, it should kinda work, untill you render?

Or not?

[jake blackstone]

Or play it in real time unless you also have a very, very fast disk array. Or play real time through dissolves unless you have a very, very, very, very fast disk array.

Only dissolves, if needed can be pre cached.
As far as a need for very fast disk array for playback in real time, this would apply to any other grading system, regardless of manufacturer.

[jake blackstone]

Hm...

If one are grading from r3d's I'd guess one could...

I am the first to not be an unconditional fan of raw grading on most tools, yet. But for throughput, it should kinda work, untill you render?

Or not?

Render would apply on any system and multiple GPUs would accelerate the process as well.

[sander kamp]

Or play it in real time unless you also have a very, very fast disk array. Or play real time through dissolves unless you have a very, very, very, very fast disk array.

For playback of Red One R3D files you don't need a disk array, a single hard disk works fine with Resolve just as it does with RedCine-X.

[jake blackstone]

For playback of Red One R3D files you don't need a disk array, a single hard disk works fine with Resolve just as it does with RedCine-X.

Not for dissolves. You can't dissolve between two R3D clips. For that you'd need first to debayer two clips to something like DPX and only then you can do the dissolve. Luckily, Resolve has sophisticated pre cacheing algorithms, that can aid in these kind of situations. But Mike is correct, to take full advantage of that capability, you'd still need to have very fast disk arrays, capable of playing at least 4k uncompressed files.