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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 :)

CUBIX Desktop 4 or Cyclone 2707 Expander for Davinci Resolve 5K r3d

Dustin Cross said:
Thanks for the info Neil. I really like my 2707.

I have been thinking about going crazy and builing a Resolve system with two Cyclones. Each with two 480s and a Rocket. Raid in one and 10gigE in the other. That would be a smoking fast Resolve system.


Dusty
Click to expand...

You could just about fit them both in the one case. Those Antec cases Cyclone use are stupid big - could be half that depth. Glad to hear everyone is loving their Cyclones. I bought ours before support and was worried I'd pulled the trigger too early.
 
Asif Limbada said:
Do you think its better to get Cyclone as it has 3 x16 slots, especially helpful when using RCX converting dailies from R3Ds to other formats, because 2 Quadros wont be used during the conversion process of RCX. I am leaning towards Cyclone Expander rather than Cubix, because of this.
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter how many X16 slots you have if you're going to use more than one of those cards in the expander at the same time. The Cubix Desktop Pro2 models have all X16 slots anyway. When it all comes down to it, I don't think you can go wrong with either the Cubix or the Cyclone. Pick the one that has the right number of slots for what you want to install. Just keep in mind that no matter what slots are in that expander box, they are alls still being pushed into your system via a single X16 slot interface. Other than your video cards, most PCIe cards are not X16 anyway. These expander boxes all give slots that are X16 electrically, so they can handle any PCIe card. If you will be installing video cards like the GTX480 that are double-wide, the Cyclone is probably the way to go. The 2707 or the 2710 would be the models to get and they both accommodate double-width cards. For Cubix expanders, at least the "desktop" ones, the double-width cards can put a real cramp on your choices.
 
Hi All,

Not intending to hijack this thread, but I thought I'd ask if anybody was using (or has looked into using) the Magma ExpressBox 4 G2 (http://www.magma.com/expressbox41uG2.asp)?

I just heard about this unit recently, and what attracts me to it is the 1RU form factor. I'm currently using a Cyclone 2707, and while I'm a big fan in just about every way, lugging it's 4RU dimensions around on location on my cart is pretty burdensome. Currently, my 2707 houses x2 REDRockets and x2 RAID controllers. Any input on the feasibility of the ExpressBox 4 G2 as a viable replacement for a Cyclone 2707, and of course, in the context of a Resolve application, would be greatly appreciated!

Best,

- Jordan
 
Meh... Those Magma 1U ExpressBox 4's don't look that good. They're on sale for $700 more than the Cyclone and have a slower host interface, as far as I can tell. They don't seem to want to come right out and give exact details. Looks like the attractiveness of their design is the 1U form factor and it seems you can link multiple units together to get up to 12 slots. Really, other than the thin, 1U design, I don't see anything about it that I like. Too many other compromises as far as I can tell.
 
Wow Neil,

I would not mind coming to LA to check it out. But I am bit of a traditionalist when it comes to hacking the graphics cards. I want something that works and can be returned if its burned out, hence Quadro 4000 is the only safe bet. But with anything, I get my mind into, need to know how these multiple GPUs work and is it worth having that extra GPU in the box for realtime plackback of native R3D with a dozen nodes.

Lets say we compare the following in terms of FPS (Native r3d at 5K, realtime playback) + Node Count:

Setup 1 (1 Card):

Mac Pro
Slot 1: Quadro 4000
Slot 2: RED Rocket
Slot 3: BMD HD Decklink
Slot 4: HBA for storage

Setup 2 (2 Cards):

Mac Pro
Slot 1: Quadro 4000 (GUI)
Slot 2: HBA for Cyclone
Slot 3: BMD HD Decklink
Slot 4: HBA for storage
Cyclone 2707
Slot 1: RED Rocket
Slot 2: Quadro 4000
Slot 3: Empty
Slot 4: Empty
Slot 5: Empty
Slot 6: Empty


Setup 3 (3 Cards):

Mac Pro
Slot 1: Quadro 4000 (GUI)
Slot 2: HBA for Cyclone
Slot 3: BMD HD Decklink
Slot 4: HBA for storage
Cyclone 2707
Slot 1: RED Rocket
Slot 2: Quadro 4000
Slot 3: Quadro 4000
Slot 4: Empty
Slot 5: Empty
Slot 6: Empty

I am assuming SETUP 1 will not give real time playback with even 1 node, so lets say we invest 4000USD on a expander + extra card, how many nodes are possible with realtime playback, again, no exact numbers but approximate (there are many variables I understand, like storage bandwidth, CPU speed etc), same goes for the SETUP 3 how much will that increase the performance approximately.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
Doesn't matter how many X16 slots you have if you're going to use more than one of those cards in the expander at the same time. The Cubix Desktop Pro2 models have all X16 slots anyway. When it all comes down to it, I don't think you can go wrong with either the Cubix or the Cyclone. Pick the one that has the right number of slots for what you want to install. Just keep in mind that no matter what slots are in that expander box, they are alls still being pushed into your system via a single X16 slot interface. Other than your video cards, most PCIe cards are not X16 anyway. These expander boxes all give slots that are X16 electrically, so they can handle any PCIe card. If you will be installing video cards like the GTX480 that are double-wide, the Cyclone is probably the way to go. The 2707 or the 2710 would be the models to get and they both accommodate double-width cards. For Cubix expanders, at least the "desktop" ones, the double-width cards can put a real cramp on your choices.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff,

I do understand that x16 is the bandwidth we get from any of these expanders. However, my question to all of this is that by installing 2 Quadros in the expander, how does it help achieve better performance when we have only x16 bandwidth.

So from my perspective why would I buy an extra GPU if it is not being fully utilized by Resolve.
 
+1 regarding the Cyclone love.

I had problems getting my 2707 chassis working with Resolve on a 2008 Mac Pro (bottom line: it DOESN'T work, and I wish BMD would be explicit about this fact in their Resolve Config guide), but since upgrading to a 2010 Mac Pro, everything works insanely great with Resolve 8.1.

And Cyclone techsupport is probably the best I have ever experienced in my near-20 years of being in this career.

As mentioned, make sure you get the 1500W version of the 2707 if you want to use it with Resolve.
 
Cyclone 2707 - only five card slots

Cyclone 2707 - only five card slots

Asif Limbada said:
Wow Neil,

I would not mind coming to LA to check it out. ....

Setup 3 (3 Cards):

Mac Pro
Slot 1: Quadro 4000 (GUI)
Slot 2: HBA for Cyclone
Slot 3: BMD HD Decklink
Slot 4: HBA for storage
Cyclone 2707
Slot 1: RED Rocket
Slot 2: Quadro 4000
Slot 3: Quadro 4000
Slot 4: Empty
Slot 5: Empty
Slot 6: Empty

.... .
Click to expand...

Asif,

Anytime you're in the West Hollywood area drop by and we'll show your around ... also, some good restaurants near by!

One quick thing, you may have mis-understood the slot configuration of the 2707 ... there are only FIVE slots available ... two of them have room for double-width cards .... the other three are single width cards only .... the first three are x16 lane PCIe slots and the last two only x8 lane.

However, the Quadro 4000 is a single width card so for optimum performance with Q4000 cards you could actually install 1 x Q4000 in the Mac Pro and then 3x Q4000 in the 2707 (first three x16 lane slots) plus the RedRocket (slot #4) and still have one slot free.

That would give you pretty good performance on DV Resolve 8.1

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,
Neil
 
Our Cubix has a love/hate relationship with us at Babs Do Productions. Sometimes it will just stop working and I have to reset the BIOS or re-insert the interface card to get it working on our BOXX workstation. Now, this could be due to several things, I'm thinking it's the funky BOXX computer case that feels slightly too tight for the motherboard and expansion slots, but it's not too big of a deal to fix. Other than that, it's absolutely awesome! It runs a Quadro 6000 and AJA Kona 3G with ease. I've been considering one for my Mac Pro but it's a 2007 model so may not benefit as much under OSX due to the lack of support for nVidia cards beyond the 8800GT and old Quadro 4500. We're definitely keeping our eyes out for alternatives and new PCI Express expansion options (ie. Thunderbolt) but I don't think anyone could go wrong with any of these.
 
Mel Matsuoka said:
+1 regarding the Cyclone love.

I had problems getting my 2707 chassis working with Resolve on a 2008 Mac Pro (bottom line: it DOESN'T work, and I wish BMD would be explicit about this fact in their Resolve Config guide), but since upgrading to a 2010 Mac Pro, everything works insanely great with Resolve 8.1.

And Cyclone techsupport is probably the best I have ever experienced in my near-20 years of being in this career.

As mentioned, make sure you get the 1500W version of the 2707 if you want to use it with Resolve.
Click to expand...


Thanks Mel, I am glad to see another recommendation for the Cyclone 2707. Mine is waiting in DHL Hub here in Sharjah, will receive it tomorrow morning! YAY!
 
Neil W. Smith said:
Asif,

Anytime you're in the West Hollywood area drop by and we'll show your around ... also, some good restaurants near by!

One quick thing, you may have mis-understood the slot configuration of the 2707 ... there are only FIVE slots available ... two of them have room for double-width cards .... the other three are single width cards only .... the first three are x16 lane PCIe slots and the last two only x8 lane.

However, the Quadro 4000 is a single width card so for optimum performance with Q4000 cards you could actually install 1 x Q4000 in the Mac Pro and then 3x Q4000 in the 2707 (first three x16 lane slots) plus the RedRocket (slot #4) and still have one slot free.

That would give you pretty good performance on DV Resolve 8.1

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,
Neil
Click to expand...

Dear Neil,

I will sure make a visit and how do you know I am a foodie ;-).
My bad on 6 Slot, I should have checked on it that it is 5 Slot. Neil, one more thing, if you put 3 cuda card + 1 red rocket in the expansion slot with 80gbps bandwidth, wouldn't that choke the bus and make it much slower?

I mean how does CUDA cards work in conjunction with Resolve and r3d?
 
Zack Birlew said:
Our Cubix has a love/hate relationship with us at Babs Do Productions. Sometimes it will just stop working and I have to reset the BIOS or re-insert the interface card to get it working on our BOXX workstation. Now, this could be due to several things, I'm thinking it's the funky BOXX computer case that feels slightly too tight for the motherboard and expansion slots, but it's not too big of a deal to fix. Other than that, it's absolutely awesome! It runs a Quadro 6000 and AJA Kona 3G with ease. I've been considering one for my Mac Pro but it's a 2007 model so may not benefit as much under OSX due to the lack of support for nVidia cards beyond the 8800GT and old Quadro 4500. We're definitely keeping our eyes out for alternatives and new PCI Express expansion options (ie. Thunderbolt) but I don't think anyone could go wrong with any of these.
Click to expand...

Thanks Zack for the heads up on Cubix. As far as alternative to PCIe is concerned, I think it will take at least a year for it to be fully supported, Thunderbolt. Hopefully Apple updates Mac Pro's or else we will switch to Windows. hehehe.
 
Just got my Cyclone, installed Quadro 4000 in that. And the Mac Pro Slot 1 installed another 4000. I will be testing them soon.

Now my dilemma is that I have a spare GT120. I know in Davinci, I can use GT120 as my GUI Card and the other 2 4000 cards in the Expander will boost performance. However, is it the same for Adobe Premiere CS5.5 or it just uses one Quadro 4000 in Slot 1 of Mac Pro through which my GUI Monitors are connected? I am asking this because, I do not want to buy another Quadro 4000.
 
RAID inside Cyclone 2707 - yep ...

RAID inside Cyclone 2707 - yep ...

Jarek Zabczynski said:
Is it silly to think you can build a RAID array inside the Cyclone case running off a RAID Card? Would be too convenient wouldn't it? LOL!
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that .... in one of our Cyclone 2707 expansion boxes we have 3 x GTX 285s and 12TB of RAID .... don't necessarily recommend using the Cyclone RAID for heavy online real time processing with multiple nodes but as near-line back-up it works like a dream. Just put the RAID controller in the 5th slot and put a bunch of 2TB or 3TB drives inside the enclosure.

Cyclone box now weighs a ton but very convenient ... let me know if you try it as your only source of real-time storage.

Cheers,
Neil
 
I have 10 drive raid 6 and LTO4 drive inside my Cyclone. I got a different 4u case so I could use drive trays, but it has been working great for well over a year and the speed is great. Here is a pic of my Cyclone below a Mac Tower to get a better idea.

Dusty


wide_2.jpg
 
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