Davinci Resolve: program only?

[Mike Halper]

With Resolve 8.2.2 on Lion with the rMBP I get an error that the 650M is not supported and that CUDA isn't working. However, performance still exceeds that of the same software configuration on my 2011 17" MBP. I have to be careful though and make sure I have the computer set to use the Nvidia GPU. Even with auto switching turned off sometimes it doesn't seem to change so I use the gfxCardStatus utility (http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus) to force it to the Nvidia. I also restart the computer and don't run anything else other than Resolve in order to be sure I avoid the out of GPU memory error that sometimes shows up if I run something else.

Also, I tested Resolve 8.2.2 on Mountain Lion GM and it was a no go on the rMBP. I get a few different errors related to the GPU. The CUDA driver that installs with Resolve is an older version than what's current and won't update through the preferences panel. I downloaded the latest from Nvidia website and that installed but didn't fix the problem. I also found the 5.0 CUDA driver beta and that didn't fix it either. When I try to load a project/session in Resolve it completely crashes out every time. 8.2.2 is supposed to be Mountain Lion compatible so it appears to be a Resolve/650m compatibility issue right now. However, note that my rMBP is defective and this could be related to that, but I'm guessing not since the rMBP is not officially supported by BMD for Resolve right now.

[Will Steer]

I think you'll pretty amazed with Resolve 9 running on the Retina Display MBP .... screen is gorgeous and the performance of the RetDisp MBP is awesome ... just remember to turn OFF the energy savings switches in System Preferences ... especially the graphic option ... the RD MBP defaults to the onboard Intel GPU and of course with Resolve you need to utilize the CUDA cores in the nvidia 650M GPU.

We have our RetDisp attached to the 27 inch Thunderbolt display and Promise Tbolt RAID ... the extra screen and I/O performance is unreal ... plus check out USB 3 drives (sweet!) ... 5GB per second compared to 3GBs for eSATA ... as soon as they bring out USB3 and Tbolt on the MacPro Tower, Apple will regain a lot of professional users and undo some of the damage they did with FCP X and the WWDC non announcement :-(

The RD MBP really is an amazing feat of engineering ... i'm running all the CS6 apps on it plus Resolve 9 plus Colorfront's Express Dailies ... we showed the system to some ASC chaps yesterday ... not often you see crusty old geezers behaving like kids at Christmas ... the times they are a'changin.

Cheers,
Neil

Thanks Neil, ooo that's good news! I can't wait to get my new baby! My plan was in fact to get a USB3 Drive as a backup for the internal SSD and have a G-RAID hooked up via a LaCie eSata hub for footage. Getting a BM I/O card for monitoring too. :)

Mike Halper[/URL]]With Resolve 8.2.2 on Lion with the rMBP I get an error that the 650M is not supported and that CUDA isn't working. However, performance still exceeds that of the same software configuration on my 2011 17" MBP. I have to be careful though and make sure I have the computer set to use the Nvidia GPU. Even with auto switching turned off sometimes it doesn't seem to change so I use the gfxCardStatus utility (http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus) to force it to the Nvidia. I also restart the computer and don't run anything else other than Resolve in order to be sure I avoid the out of GPU memory error that sometimes shows up if I run something else.

Mike, I've heard of this problem elsewhere, I think it may to do with - as Neil mentioned - turning off the graphics switching so as to make sure Da Vinci is running on the Nvidia and not the Intel 4000? Or maybe you've already tried that... if so apologies, heh.

[Mike Halper]

Mike, I've heard of this problem elsewhere, I think it may to do with - as Neil mentioned - turning off the graphics switching so as to make sure Da Vinci is running on the Nvidia and not the Intel 4000? Or maybe you've already tried that... if so apologies, heh.

I tried that. That's what gfzCardStatus is for. We need to wait for Mountain Lion compatible CUDA drivers that are compatible with Resolve and for Resolve to support the 650M. Maybe Resolve 9 fixes this, but I'm going to guess not yet since the rMBP is still very new.

[Sergio Perez]

I'm planning on going Davinci with my Retina Mbp, some question for you guys in the frontline:

If I buy 8 now, will I have to pay to upgrade to 9?

I would like to get the Elements panel, but cannot afford the full kit, but 2 modules. For the element owners our there, I'd you could only buy 2 modules, which ones would they be? Would you be able to work smoothly with that setup for, say, 6 months?

[Mike Halper]

Resolve upgrades are free.

If you're only buying 2 panels right now, you'd have to get the Trackerball and Multifunction or the Knob and Button panels together (the won't work one without the other). It's a tough choice which 2 to get as both pairs are so helpful. I guess I'd find the Kb and Bt panels more useful since a lot of the controls on the Mf panel have keyboard shortcuts. But then you don't have the Trackerball panel which is typically standard for color correction surfaces. You can get the whole thing cheaper if you buy the full kit together. I got it all for $3,205 shipped from AV Alive. B&H had a similar price at one point too.

[Will Steer]

I tried that. That's what gfzCardStatus is for. We need to wait for Mountain Lion compatible CUDA drivers that are compatible with Resolve and for Resolve to support the 650M. Maybe Resolve 9 fixes this, but I'm going to guess not yet since the rMBP is still very new.

Ahhh, I see. Cheers for the info! (EDIT: Re-read your earlier post more carefully where you want through all that more carefully, lol, must haved missed that before reading it at about 2am here in the UK!)

[Neil W. Smith]

I'm planning on going Davinci with my Retina Mbp, some question for you guys in the frontline:

If I buy 8 now, will I have to pay to upgrade to 9?

I would like to get the Elements panel, but cannot afford the full kit, but 2 modules. For the element owners our there, I'd you could only buy 2 modules, which ones would they be? Would you be able to work smoothly with that setup for, say, 6 months?

It will be a free upgrade from Resolve 8 to Resolve 9 ... amazing deal ... other companies would charge you an arm and a leg to upgrade from a 32 bit app to a 64 bit app with a re-designed GUI and extra functionality ... say a big thanks to Peter and Rohit :-)

Mike's points above are totally valid .... you probably want to start with Trackerball Module .... adjusting Lift, Gamma and Gain is something you'll be doing most of the time while color correcting.

Also, don't forget to download the 'Hub' software from the Tangent Devices website ... the panels will not work without them when using Resolve:

http://www.tangentdevices.co.uk/support.asp

Neil

[Mike Halper]

Ahhh, I see. Cheers for the info! (EDIT: Re-read your earlier post more carefully where you want through all that more carefully, lol, must haved missed that before reading it at about 2am here in the UK!)

No worries. Glad I can help with some info.

[Sergio Perez]

Thank you Mike and Neil for the very valuable info! Will do. Just to be clear, you guys are suggesting I get the MF and the KB panels, right?

Will get resolve this week :)

Cheers and thanks again,

Sérgio

[Mike Halper]

You can't use the Kb panel by itself with Resolve. If you're definitely getting 2 panels now you'd have to go with: Tb and Mf -or- Kb and Bt. It's a tough choice between the 2 options. I find the Kb and Bt panels indispensable personally, but it would also be weird to see a color correction panel setup without the trackerballs.