How sweet a Quadro 4000 provides both GUI and GPU function for Resolve

[Kaku Ito]

Such a problem saver!! Great work, Blackmagic Design.

[Tom.Wong]

link? does this mean if i have 2 quadro 4000's in my tower, it will take advantage of both for cuda cores, and still be able to use one of them as gui?

[Kaku Ito]

It's described in the downloadable manual of DaVinci Resolve. It is official. GTX285 and Quadro FX4800 won't provide both functions out of single card but Quadro 4000 does. So, if you have two Quadro 4000s in your tower, then the first one would take care of both GUI and GPU and the second one would add more real time process power for GPU.

[Gabriele Turchi]

thanks kaku
do you have 2 4000 on your tower ..i was thinking to buy the cubix to put 2 GTX 285 , but this my be an alternative ...

thanks


g

[Tom.Wong]

wonderful! time to save up for another 4000! will solve the issue with having to switch cards for Adobe mercury playback too. this is such awesome news

[Shane Betts]

And, to be really clear, this means that you can get some level of RT in Resolve with just the one GFX card? Meaning you get a slot back???

[Tom.Wong]

I'm really not finding any literature for it, but I think going OPEN CL makes it possible, but would be nice if there was some written word on what the performance would be like, and if having 2 quadro 4000's will give you that amount of performance. Hard to believe it until they out right say it yah know?

[Zakaree Sandberg]

will having 2 cards mean i wont need a redrocket for processing red stuff? or does that not matter

[Paul Nordin]

will having 2 cards mean i wont need a redrocket for processing red stuff? or does that not matter

Unfortunately, cuda cores are not used in red debayering. So red rocket is still useful if you want full quality real time

[Tom.Wong]

will having 2 cards mean i wont need a redrocket for processing red stuff? or does that not matter

having a rocket card, IMHO is a invaluable tool when you are dealing with r3d. even if you don't transcode anymore, and we will get there, my firm belief is that rocket will be integrated in r3d workflow as much as a hard drive would be. I would hate to think what I'd do without a rocket, I've worked without one for some time and it was just painful. without rocket, rendering out of resolve at full debayer was 2.5-5 fps. with a rocket, in a 4x slot i was getting 15-18 fps. SOOOo much faster. if cuda and gui are gonna meld into one gpu now, now i can run some tests with single gpu and rocket in slot 2 for full power, vs 2 quadros and a rocket in slot 3. gonna be fun ;)

[Chris Parker]

i'd put a rocket AND a 4000 in if dealing with r3d material. works like a dream

[jake blackstone]

Unfortunately, the info is incorrect. It did sound to good to be true.
Here is the BM's take on the subject:

While you can use a single card (a 4000 for instance) for both the GUI and GPU, the performance will be much worse than using a separate card for each, which is why we don't recommend doing that. In fact, we recommend you DON'T do that. But it's your machine, you can do whatever you want. Just be aware of the consequences to performance.
Using 2 4000 cards, one for the GUI and one for the GPU, will not give you any better GPU performance than using a single 4000 GPU and any other card for the GUI. Using a second 4000 card for the GUI should make the GUI more responsive than say a GT-120, but it won't improve the GPU performance.

Dwaine Maggart
Blackmagic Design DaVinci Support

[Kaku Ito]

I missed the word "or". It could work as GPU or GUI. Thanks jake for the clarification.

I will try the performance comparison between using the different cards. I have the Quadro 4000, GTX-285, HD5780 and GT-120. The configuration manual does say these.



The highest performance is achieved with GT-120 providing the GUI and GTX-285 providing the GPU.
Quadro 4000 is less performance comparing to Quadro FX4800 and 4000 is not meant to replace the FX4800.


So this is going to be what I'm doing for now:

4 ATTO 644 (internal connected as RAID5 to the internal drive bays)
3 Multibrdige Pro
2 to Magma 2bay expansion
2 RED ROCKET running at x8
1 GT120 running at x8 as GUI
1 Quadro 4000 at x16 as GPU

Magma 2bay shows RED ROCKET is connected at x8 speed, but I don't know what happens when I put GT120 to the second bay, probably eats up some bandwidth? But Since even x1 PCI express can handle palying back 4K R3D, so it won't matter?

[Kaku Ito]

So actually that shows how everyone wants a single card solution for the Resolve. I hope newer generation of cards can do this to conserve the PCI slot. Sorry to disappoint everyone.

[John P]

Dear Kaku,
Can you please give me the link for downloading the Resolve 8 manual,

Thanks

[Kaku Ito]

John,

Go to Blackmagic Design's support page, choose Mac, then DaVinci, finally the Resolve Software version, then it will search the related downloadable files.
Then look at the Configuration Guide.

[Tom.Wong]

has anybody attempted to see if other brand PCI E expanders work? it would be nice if this worked with cyclone, as you can just buy the backplane and really create a custom expansion with a really nice big and fast internal raid.

[Kaku Ito]

has anybody attempted to see if other brand PCI E expanders work? it would be nice if this worked with cyclone, as you can just buy the backplane and really create a custom expansion with a really nice big and fast internal raid.

Blackmagic Clearly describes that Cubix chassis work. I like what they mention that the chassis has quiet fan. I hear the fan on Cyclone is very noisy.
I've been using Magma ExpressBox 2 at x8 PCIe speed and it does play back R3D on Resolve at 24frames/sec. for 24frame timebase clips (didn't try 30frame timebase yet).

[Kaku Ito]

Can anyone confirm this Cubix model (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749072-REG/Cubix_XPDT_X16_24_OSV_GPU_Xpander_Desktop_Pro2.htm l) is the ideal one when used with Quadro 4000's and RED ROCKET's? Of course with DaVinci Resolve.

[Paul Nordin]

Can anyone confirm this Cubix model (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749072-REG/Cubix_XPDT_X16_24_OSV_GPU_Xpander_Desktop_Pro2.htm l) is the ideal one when used with Quadro 4000's and RED ROCKET's? Of course with DaVinci Resolve.

Thats the model with 4x16 single-width slots. It will work fine with the Rocket and 4000 cards. I have the model with 4x16 dual-width slots, as I've put two GTX285s, a Rocket, and a 4xesata card in it. If it were my money, I'd probably make the same choice for the double-wide slots...both for cooling capability and future expansion options.

[Tom.Wong]

i wish the cubix made a 5 or 6 slot version that isn't rackmount. if you want a 3d rocket set up, it makes it difficult. My ideal xpander would be 3 quadro's, 2 rockets, and a esata card

inside the tower would be quadro, xpander card, ATTO, and decklink. which is why i'm wonderng if other brands work just as well... magma or cyclone. With cyclone you can just buy the backplane and I can house it with any PSU I want and the fan noise won't be an issue.

[jake blackstone]

i wish the cubix made a 5 or 6 slot version that isn't rackmount. if you want a 3d rocket set up, it makes it difficult. My ideal xpander would be 3 quadro's, 2 rockets, and a esata card

inside the tower would be quadro, xpander card, ATTO, and decklink. which is why i'm wonderng if other brands work just as well... magma or cyclone. With cyclone you can just buy the backplane and I can house it with any PSU I want and the fan noise won't be an issue.

If you do all that, you'll probably run out of bandwidth for the expansion box...

[Tom.Wong]

If you do all that, you'll probably run out of bandwidth for the expansion box...

so maybe 1 less gpu, and no esata :)

jake stop spoiling the fun!

[Tim Sutherland]

Cubix told me at NAB that they don't recommend putting the GUI card in the expander since the expanded is doing rapid switching between cards, it would be ideal to put processing power in it and leave the GUI card in the MAC.

They also told me in Jan that the desktop 2 model can take an x16 host card but can't run at 80gb / sec, only 40. For the full 80 you need the desktop 4 or rackmount 2, which can hold 4 single height cards but only lightweight cards can go on top because only the bottom slots are supported physically.

I like the idea of rackmount but I will probably go desktop to put whatever cards I want in.

Tim

[jake blackstone]

so maybe 1 less gpu, and no esata :)

jake stop spoiling the fun!

Oops, sorry, didn't mean to do that:-)
Just wait for the bidirectional Thunderbolt expansion chasis...

[Tom.Wong]

probably just gonna wait for next gen mac towers, than think options... maybe dual thunderbolt ports, and hopefully more pci e lanes/slots.

than it's time to rob a bank...

[Robert Frank]

probably just gonna wait for next gen mac towers, than think options... maybe dual thunderbolt ports, and hopefully more pci e lanes/slots.

than it's time to rob a bank...

Just a rumor, but there is noise about a Mac Pro revamp, possibly rackmountable.

If you need help with that bank...

[Shane Betts]

We're using the Cyclone and it seems to work fine. Time over I'd go with the Cubix as the Cyclone's slots are too close together to get many GPU cards in there. (We jumped too early). As for the noise issue though, it's an easy fix. The Cyclone comes in a generic 4RU PC case (enormous case for very small board). Just swap the fans out for silent ones or even find a (way) smaller case and silent fans. No biggy. However, just buy the Cubix...

[John P]

Kaku,
I did go to the support page-it says 2010 version- where can i get the latest Resolve 8 version?

[jake blackstone]

Kaku,
I did go to the support page-it says 2010 version- where can i get the latest Resolve 8 version?

Are you still looking for Resolve 8 manual? You know, that it's not even close to be finished, right? They still working on it and they may even add a few things (I hope) prior to June release, so why do you think there will be a manual for a such product?:-)

[Kaku Ito]

Kaku,
I did go to the support page-it says 2010 version- where can i get the latest Resolve 8 version?

Oh, didn't realize you meant version 8. The configuration I was talking about is from the current version.

[jake blackstone]

Oh, didn't realize you meant version 8. The configuration I was talking about is from the current version.

Kaku, you're on fire lately:-)

[Kaku Ito]

Kaku, you're on fire lately:-)

This is what happens working on two movies and installing systems to University at the same time. I'll stop posting.

[Kaku Ito]

I set up the Resolve with Magma Express2 expansion chassis with GT120 and RED ROCKET inside, GTX285 installed in the Mac Pro 4,1, Multibridge Pro and ATTO R380 also installed in the Mac Pro. The playback indicator shows 24frame playback at 8bit video output and the GPU indicator shows green. When I switch to 10bit playback then the frame rate drops to 20 frames/per sec and the GPU indicator turns red but not flashing. Express2 is working at x8 lane at PCIe spec. verson 1.1. I'm planning to buy the Cubix and the latest Mac Pro (scary to buy it now but), but anyone with similar setup getting better performance? I tested the latest MacPro with RED ROCKET on Apple Color and it was playing back a lot better than my Mac Pro 4,1.

[Matt Gottshalk]

Nice.

[Tom.Wong]

how many nodes you got going Kaku? I'm running a base setup, all internal slots, and getting much better performance than that. quadro 4k. gt 120, rocket, internal 5 bay soft raid. I don't see performance hit until I start adding on blurs. i usually switch from half to quarter debayer. always outputting in 10 bit playback.

[luigivaltulini]

I set up the Resolve with Magma Express2 expansion chassis with GT120 and RED ROCKET inside, GTX285 installed in the Mac Pro 4,1, Multibridge Pro and ATTO R380 also installed in the Mac Pro. The playback indicator shows 24frame playback at 8bit video output and the GPU indicator shows green. When I switch to 10bit playback then the frame rate drops to 20 frames/per sec and the GPU indicator turns red but not flashing. Express2 is working at x8 lane at PCIe spec. verson 1.1. I'm planning to buy the Cubix and the latest Mac Pro (scary to buy it now but), but anyone with similar setup getting better performance? I tested the latest MacPro with RED ROCKET on Apple Color and it was playing back a lot better than my Mac Pro 4,1.

Ciao Kaku,
are you sure that redrocket goes to x8?
I think you go to x4, normally expected to fall to 20 fps when using only 16 bits.
If you use 8bit and 10bit you must to go in real time.
The playback speed to full debayer, depend only on the redrocket.
Not hard drive and not cpu and not gpu nvidia.

I try to leave only the redrocket in the magma so to run at x8.

i wait your reponse , thanks Kaku
ciao
Luigi

[Kaku Ito]

Hello Luigi,

Yes the Mamga Express 2 indicates that the RR is running at x8 speed. I have a RAID card that I have to keep in the Mac Pro, so GT120 has to be in the Magma. Again, this is only for the temporary and I will buy the Cubix later.

Tom,

I will check on how many nodes it can handle today.

[luigivaltulini]

Hello Luigi,

Yes the Mamga Express 2 indicates that the RR is running at x8 speed. I have a RAID card that I have to keep in the Mac Pro, so GT120 has to be in the Magma. Again, this is only for the temporary and I will buy the Cubix later.

Tom,

I will check on how many nodes it can handle today.

Ciao Kaku,
I read the specs, the host is x8 speed.
i think that when you have two cards in magma go half that speed because of the switching.
If You Have 120 gt and magma redrocket work at x4, Magma show in the menu x8 because this is the speed of the host.

I hope to be wrong but I think it works that way.
I think the only solution is that you buy the version cubix x16 host.


hello
Luigi