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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

RAID option

Eric Santiago

Eric Santiago

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were looking at the G-Tech G-Speed eS 8TB or like.
trying to find a solution that would fit in our MP 12core.
current set-up has Quadro 4000 (slot1), ROCKET (slot2) and Apple FC 4x (slot3).
since this is a 12core, their isnt an option for Express Lane edits.
is there anything out there that matches/better than the above set-up?
the G-Speed will require a 4x slot for RAID controller.
 
not sure what you're asking exactly. rocket only takes up 8 lanes max. so your slot 4 should easily take in a 4x or a 8x card. As per raid, I'd probably go with a custom built with sas connection ATTO for more flexibility, and LTO add on later. the caldigit hdpro2 also gets raving reviews.
 
Tom.Wong said:
...I'd probably go with a custom built with sas connection ATTO for more flexibility, and LTO add on later. the caldigit hdpro2 also gets raving reviews...
Click to expand...
Thanks Tom :) Just researching as to what the pros/experienced are using. I was looking for something that might work with the FC card but Ill look into your suggestions :)
 
well so far I found the CalDigit HDPro2 as an option. anymore out there? need more options so that I can make a case for purchase.
 
all sas cards whether it's from the company or the ones that just need one like an ATTO or ARECA will function in your 4th slot. Is the fiber card a 8x card? cause if it isn't, that last slot should have more lanes to handle a 8x.

quadro 4000 - 16x
red rocket - 8x


that leaves another 16 lanes to be used up, so no matter what that slot whether the card is 4x or 8x, it will work fine at max speed. the rocket may be in a 16x slot, but it only uses 8 lanes maximum, so it will divvy up to the other slots.
 
Tom.Wong said:
..the rocket may be in a 16x slot, but it only uses 8 lanes maximum, so it will divvy up to the other slots...
Click to expand...
Oh man thanks for clearing that up ;) The Apple specs show as one 16x and two 4x lanes. I dont have a fourth in this 12Core Mac Pro :( And with the newer MP, you cant use the Express Lane Utility :P
 
I have and love the Caldigit HDPro. Highly recommended, very expensive. Not to sure about "divvying up" the remaining bus bandwidth though, the apple documentation is contrary to that statement.
 
with 2009+ mac pros they should divvy it up. i have both my 16x slots taken up right now with two gpu's and my rocket in third slot, and decklink in 4th. when i start up rcx it says my rocket is in 4x mode. when i take out my gt 120 and free it up and leave my rocket in the same slot, i'm back in 8x mode. so the switching should be there.
 
Unfortunately, the PCIe bus in the Mac Pro is hard-locked. It does not divide up any bandwidth. In the '08 Mac Pro, slots 1 & 2 are PCIe 2.0 X16 and slots 3 & 4 are PCIe 1.2 X4.

In the '09 and '10 Mac Pro, The slot arrangement is still X16, X16, X4, X4 and all are PCIe 2.0 compliant. The Intel chipset supports a maximum of 40 lanes for PCIe expansion and they are all accounted for there. Some boards from PC vendors have more as you can run a second chipset in cascade mode and gain more lanes that way. Apple didn't bother with it since they only give us 4 slots... bastards.
 
Certified?

Certified?

Tom.Wong said:
guess i'm getting cubix after all...
Click to expand...
Is this the LaserCube option? Will all my cards e.g. ROCKET, ATTO, NVIDIA, ATI etc.. run on this? Is it certified by RED?
Curious and intrigued ;)

Just to add, it looks like a workstation, not a PCIe Extender :(
 
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From a different angle...

From a different angle...

Okay how about this article: http://www.barefeats.com/hard120.html
I know its dated but anyone out there with experience with this set-up?
We have the SAS link system from MaxUpgrades but I removed it last year.
Now Im thinking of populating all 4 drive bays with SSD along with an SAS card.
Then adding another SSD as system drive in extra DVD tray.
Anyone?

Also this item: http://www.ocztechnology.com/produc...revodrive/ocz-revodrive-pci-express-ssd-.html
 
Last edited:
Eric Santiago said:
were looking at the G-Tech G-Speed eS 8TB or like.
trying to find a solution that would fit in our MP 12core.
current set-up has Quadro 4000 (slot1), ROCKET (slot2) and Apple FC 4x (slot3).
since this is a 12core, their isnt an option for Express Lane edits.
is there anything out there that matches/better than the above set-up?
the G-Speed will require a 4x slot for RAID controller.
Click to expand...

Eric
Please contact me directly and I can walk you through our options. many of the solutions out there are similar but it is our service that sets us apart from any other company out there. We are on the RED site under gear we use and that means we are dedicated to helping the RED community. My contact is ron@maxxdigital.com or 714-374-4944. Look forward to talking.
 
i use the g-tech gspeed es pro and i love it...it is very fast, i use two with 8tb in each in a raid 5 config for 732 m/sec...it comes with a mini-sas card that works perfectly in a 4x slot.

i have had it for 6 mo+ with no problems...obviously when the 14tb raid gets to about 3tb left, i have to off load stuff to a lto5 which i do via 2tb drives which i fill up and install into another 8 core with the atto hba for tape backup.

dino
 
Feel the love...

Feel the love...

You guys have been great with all your posts :)
I do have one question, with the amount of data Ill be working with...
Let me rephrase that. With the minimal amount of data Ill be working with, is it overkill to go with an external SAS/SATA RAID?
I dont work with long format and the most Ill see as far as 16GB media is around 8 mags. We ordered a single 256SSD but thats a long ways away.
On average, Ill be working on seconds as oppose to minutes.
I also deal with the VFX so a lot of these files will be put thru constant re-renders (after conversion of course).
So long story short, could I just live with a few SSD in RAID format housed within my Mac Pro? I posted links with this option but no one has made any claims to them yet. I guess thats a good thing :)
 
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