2008 Macpro, Rocket, GTX570, Reslove

[david_winters]

We use the following for overnight transcodes, Macpro 3.1 2.8 GHZ Quad Core, Red Rocket, 8Gb ram (4 2GB OWC sticks). I would like to add RAM and CUDA to learn and create transcodes w Resolve.

If I add the following, what is the approx playback fps and render performance? 4kHD source w 1 primary + 1 basic secondary, 1080 prores/DNxHD output.

Adding the following
+8GB RAM (16 total)
+1 GTX570 (From macvidcards).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Peter Chamberlain]

Hi, can we assume you set the system up as per the config guides?
A MacPro 3.1 with just a single CPU will be limited in its render speed by the motherboard bus speed, CPU cores and speed and hard disk I/O.
What GUI GPU are you using or is the 570 doing GUI and image processing?
Peter

 

[david_winters]

Hi, can we assume you set the system up as per the config guides?

Hi Peter

No! It did not occur to me to look for a Resolve config guide, will do so now. I have ordered a GTX580 from macvidcards w external ATX power supply. Planning to use the 580 for processing only. Existing ATI card for GUI. I will locate and review the config guide now.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Which existing ATI card? The GTX580 is a double-width card and so are most of the ATI options. In the Mac Pro 3,1 2008 model, the de-facto ATI card of choice was the Radeon 4870. If you install the GTX580 in addition to that ATI card, you will be left with only one usable expansion slot inside the Mac.

You're facing two huge bottlenecks with the Mac Pro 3,1. First and foremost, you have a quad-core system. You RAM capacity is cut in half. It's only a quad-core system and with only one CPU and memory interface, your potential memory bandwidth is also seriously hampered. Add to that, the RAM itself only operates at 800MHz. Even on a well-configured 8-core Mac Pro of this era, there isn't enough memory bandwidth to handle 1080p or greater resolution at anything but 8bpc color depth.

16GB RAM is the bare minimum to be useable for a task like this... I want to recommend you add more. OTOH, there comes a point where dumping more money and tech into an older system like this is counter productive.

On the bright side, the GTX570 or 580 will help speed along your node processing and you have a RED Rocket, which is definitely necessary in this older quad-core box to approach any sort of real-time performance with R3D media from EPIC or Scarlet.

 

[david_winters]

Ok to use ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256 MB for GUI and GTX580 for GPU? Keep in mind I also have one rocket installed.

 

[Rohit Gupta]

We use the following for overnight transcodes, Macpro 3.1 2.8 GHZ Quad Core, Red Rocket, 8Gb ram (4 2GB OWC sticks). I would like to add RAM and CUDA to learn and create transcodes w Resolve.

If I add the following, what is the approx playback fps and render performance? 4kHD source w 1 primary + 1 basic secondary, 1080 prores/DNxHD output.

Adding the following
+8GB RAM (16 total)
+1 GTX570 (From macvidcards).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

If you are using Resolve for transcoding only, then I would have gone with a GTX 680 model with 2 x 6-pin connectors, or a GTX 570 (also with 2 x 6-pin connectors). Leave the ATI or a dedicated GUI card out. It will avoid the need for a power supply etc. I would definitely get 16GB RAM. The Rocket is good for R3D, and get a Decklink if you want to monitor on SDI/HDMI.

 

[david_winters]

Update. Resolve system up and running for a few weeks, cooking transcodes every week. With 3 nodes, 1 base grade, 2 static power window with gain change, 3 LUT. Source SATA writing to another single SATA = render at 25-28 fps.

Current system spec

•*Macpro 3.1, 2 x 2.8 quad core
•*8 GB ram (room for +8 gig, which I plan to add asap).
•*GTX580 w external ATX power (for GPU & CUDA)
•*One Redrocket
•*PCI to eSata 2-channel

No open PCI slots. I'm planning to remove the eSata PCI card and replace with a PCI HD-SDI. I installed the rocket in slot 1, as there didn't appear to be enough space for the 580 fan to breath, when in slot 1&2 Rocket in 3.

Right now I'm running 4hrs 15min of interview footage, to prores 422 1080, to a USB2.0 client drive. Render speed is 16-17fps, the drive being the bottleneck.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Jason Osterday]

I'd follow the advice of others here and ditch that 580. Get a 570 2.5GB or 680 and lose that power supply and additional heat. 1st 16x slot is GPU, 2nd is Rocket, 3rd is $150 Decklink if you want SDI or Intensity if you want HDMI, 4th you can get a cheap Caldigit USB3/ESata. Then up the memory to 16GB.