FCP X: POOR R3D playback performance using NVIDIA GPUs

[Brian Timmons]

I have now run FCP X on a 2008 Mac Pro with 3 different GPUs (AMD 6870, 280x, Nvidia GTX 970) and notice
that using the latest Apple workflow plugin 6.0, R3D playback is much better on the AMD cards than the Nvidia GTX 970.
FCP X R3D playback with the 970 is VERY choppy.
This is the case, despite the GTX 970 being considerably more powerful than the 2 AMD cards.

REDCINE X does seem to take full advantage of the 970 so I'm quite surprised that R3D performance is so limited on FCP X.
My 2014 Mac Book Pro (w/ Nvidia 650M 2GB VRAM) also suffers from choppy playback.

Can RED address this issue with an update to the Apple workflow plugin?

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[David Battistella]

Fcp x plays nicer with open CL than it does Cuda.

 

[Brian Timmons]

Fcp x plays nicer with open CL than it does Cuda.

True but, as we know, NVIDIA cards support both Open CL and Cuda.
Within REDCINE X, the GTX 970 running in Open CL mode gives similar performance compared to running in CUDA mode.
Don't see why this would not translate to FCP X.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[David Battistella]

I'd file fcp x feedback on this. Go direct to apple, they actually listen and are helpful.

Just also double check check your settings are to better performance over better quality. Playback at high quality is full debater and would choke and gpu.

 

[Brian Timmons]

I'd file fcp x feedback on this. Go direct to apple, they actually listen and are helpful.

Just also double check check your settings are to better performance over better quality. Playback at high quality is full debater and would choke and gpu.

Yes good suggestion.
I sent a message regarding this to Apple FCP X team

https://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html

and NVIDIA

https://developer.nvidia.com/contact

Between both of them and RED, I hope this improves.

There's strength in numbers.
Others should make themselves known on this issue.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[David Battistella]

If you post your feedback here, then I will provide similar feedback to the FCP X site.

If if more people can chime in it is a good way to get the ball rolling.

 

[Matthew B]

New Nvidia Web driver today has fixed my issues on a 2010 mac pro with GTX980 !!!

One user on netkas reported he saw a 300% improvement in bruce X speeds - mine still didn't beat my 5870, BUT I can playback red footage in my timelines now and not have to revert to version 5 of the plugin to get smooth playback.

And as always, version 6 of the plugin and rendering footage in the timeline to prores (Control-R) is STUPID FAST with the 980.

I'm very happy about this. (Was just about to sell the 980 and go find an r9280x...)

Also for laptop and imac users - they removed the check so you can install it on your mbps to make the 750m perform a little better.

 

[jake blackstone]

nVidia cards all run Open CL in emulation mode, which will never be as fast as native mode. That applies to pretty much all apps, that run on modern Mac Pro. Apple made a choice of OpenCL and ATI cards now, so, unfortunately, nVidia cards very often will run much slower, than ATI with few exceptions. If you using Mac Pro you're much better off with ATI cards, as those run Open CL natively. Actually, with Mac Pro 6.1 you don't even have a choice any more.

 

[Matthew B]

FWIW, on our 2010 mac pro with a GTX 980 - open cl in redcine is maybe 5-15% "worse" than CUDA.

 

[Brian Timmons]

Thanks Matthew B for emailing the news on the new NVIDIA drivers.
Happy to report that it does solve the playback issue for the GTX 970.
I commend NVIDIA for stepping up their driver support and APPLE and RED for
taking advantage of these NVIDIA cards.

The 750M on the Macbook Pro also plays back better though it seems to fluctuate between perfect playback to slightly choppy. Scrubbing is fine.
I hope further tweaks can solve this as it's so close to perfect playback.

The BRUCE X performance is still bad on my 970 but this may be due to my card running in PCI 1 bus speed. My MBP actually beats out the 970 in my Mac Pro.
One would think this has to do with the CPU speed but the BRUCE X test uses the export function which almost wholly relies on the GPU.
May look into some Rom hacking solutions or perhaps paying $180 for MAC VIDEO CARDs to hack the ROM.

Glad to see this update.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Brian Timmons]

FWIW, on our 2010 mac pro with a GTX 980 - open cl in redcine is maybe 5-15% "worse" than CUDA.

That's very encouraging news.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA