Some Reasons Why 8core Isn't Going To Make You Workflow Faster!

[Michele Gavazzeni]

8-core processor bandwidth is up to 21.3 GB/s

That says that if the task is pure CPU, the 8-core is
twice as fast as the 4-core.

But if your task has to do a lot of interaction with memory (RAM or HDD Writing/Reading), the advantage drops almost to nothing.
Video editing has a lot of interaction with RAM and HDD.

Memory bandwidth is inadequate for both 8-cores and 4-core.
Memory copy speed is at best 2.9GB/sec on the Mac Pro while maximum processor bandwidth is up to 21.3 GB/s. More than double the memory copy speed.

NOTE: 2.9GB/sec is the max RAM bandwidth independently from processor's number or Ram modules installed.


HOPE THIS CAN HELP
Michele

[Rob Lohman]

I assume you're talking about the new 8-core Mac Pro machines? In the PC world you can put different 8 cpu machines together.

In the end it all boils down to real-world performance. Obviously we will be testing and tweaking on the 8-core Mac Pro's.

[Michele Gavazzeni]

YES 8 core Mac but the same reasons can be extended to PC world

[istvanttt]

Here are some speed comparisions btw the 4 and 8 core Mac

http://www.barefeats.com/octopro1.html

[PaulClements]

So by that account a duo core with 16GB RAM would be as good for editing 4k footage as an 8 core with 16GB RAM would?

[TimothyD]

To me it sounds like just the increased speed when running multiple apps is worth it.

I often will have a render going in FCP, and be wishing I could be working on something or rendering in AE at the same time. Now I will be able to with no problem. I can easily see myself having renders going in FCP and AE at the same time as I am working on something else in photoshop.

Tim

[PaulClements]

But that's only three applications, according to the OP and other sources a quad ought to suffice because you have the capability to run 4 processes.

[TimothyD]

Sure, but if you have a few applications that are efficently using the multiple cores, then you may be able to make use of more than four cores at a time pretty easily.

I just always believe in more horsepower than I predict needing, because I've burned myself too many times by trying to cut corners. For instance, I have never been able to run Motion on my machine at home because I cut corners on the video card. :(

[Thomas Mathai]

To me it sounds like just the increased speed when running multiple apps is worth it.

I often will have a render going in FCP, and be wishing I could be working on something or rendering in AE at the same time. Now I will be able to with no problem. I can easily see myself having renders going in FCP and AE at the same time as I am working on something else in photoshop.

Tim

Running mutiple apps especially while one is rendering isn't always ideal. That's why it's best to have different workstations or a small renderfarm to deal with the heavy rendering while you work.

[istvanttt]

To me it sounds like just the increased speed when running multiple apps is worth it.

I often will have a render going in FCP, and be wishing I could be working on something or rendering in AE at the same time. Now I will be able to with no problem. I can easily see myself having renders going in FCP and AE at the same time as I am working on something else in photoshop.

Tim

Well in theory with OS 10.x if one applications crashes the system still alowes to work on the other application. But when the crash comes on a Sytem call, well then all the application will go down the river. T happened to me 2-3 times in the last years. Personally I will never use again an other application during an important work like rendering or data-transfers like dupplications.