Multiple Titan GPUs within REDCINE-X...?

[Dave P]

**Edit: All I ask is unless you, yourself, have tested the configurations I've posted and have CONFIRMED that those configurations have burned out your hardware, there is no reason to warn people off of them. I find it strange that those friendly warnings invariably steer people towards your products.

Balderdash.

When I warn people to get external power for Titan, they don't buy the card. We offer products above and below 225 Watt cutoff. I am doing nothing other than trying to avoid headaches for customers and myself. I gain or lose nothing other than peace of mind. I would just rather sell or endorse something that I simply can't crash. I can say that a GTX780 won't do the "power-off" click of death, while the titan can. What's wrong with me recommending the 780 for that reason? It's more stable, no way to dispute that.

I had a 2009 that DID burn out lowest PCIE slot. It's in Vegas at a system builder there as a test machine now. Not much use to me with just a single x16 lane slot. Still good to test CPU daughter card upgrades, so they took it from me. What killed it? Too many cards tested, so a combo of wear and power. But oddly enough, it died while I was finalizing a stable GTX580 3GB rom.

We've actually gone out of our way specifically to fry a MP. We can't get it done. Not with graphics cards and overloading the PSU anyway. The best result we've had so far is a sudden power off. Disconnect the card, reboot works fine and all benchmarks return to the same.

I encourage you to re-check the accuracy of this statement. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have overloaded the PSU with a GPU, it has required an SMC reset. So the MP considers it a bigger deal than a "reboot". And a novice sitting at MP would think it was dead. Power button non-responsive. Unplug and replug, still dead. Have to remove power cord, hold down power button for 3-5 seconds then release and replace power cord, THEN reboot. A DIT on set with a DP or Director over his shoulder might not remember in heat of moment. Who wants to make the camera wait?

If you are going to minimize the risks, at least honestly specify the consequences.

 

[Rob Anderson]

What killed it? Too many cards tested, so a combo of wear and power.

Again, not an example of what I asked. If you're going to suggest a configuration I post is unreliable or prone to fail, prove it. that's all I am asking and have asked repeatedly. I am proving it works and I am backing that up with my name and my business. You're claiming it might not work. Ok, prove it.

A DIT on set with a DP or Director over his shoulder might not remember in heat of moment. Who wants to make the camera wait?

All of your arguments against the configurations I have shared (precisely 2) are suggesting they are untested. They're not. Obviously we and anyone else with half a professional mind wouldn't go into the field with untested gear or configurations of that gear in any condition. That goes way above and beyond graphics cards and Mac Pros.

You're dragging my point about tested, proven tried and true, reliable configurations and driving it all the way back to here.

 

[Adam Johnson]

Rob - thanks again for all the help off this board with figuring this stuff out! I pulled the trigger on a Titan for our new 12 core Mac Pro 2.4ghz 64GB tower. I ended up buying a OCZ 600wat external psu to error on the side of caution (even though I trust your judgement). All I can say is I greatly enjoy the geeknes in this thread it is very educational ))

I do have a question though, a non-flashed Titan won't show you the Apple bootup screen, it is black until the login screen, even if yo are running your monitor off another approved card? Not a big deal and certainly not going to spend $400-500 more for an Apple boot up screen. So what else does a flashed card give me over a non-flashed? Thanks

 

[Dave P]

Again, not an example of what I asked. If you're going to suggest a configuration I post is unreliable or prone to fail, prove it. that's all I am asking and have asked repeatedly. I am proving it works and I am backing that up with my name and my business. You're claiming it might not work. Ok, prove it.


All of your arguments against the configurations I have shared (precisely 2) are suggesting they are untested. They're not. Obviously we and anyone else with half a professional mind wouldn't go into the field with untested gear or configurations of that gear in any condition. That goes way above and beyond graphics cards and Mac Pros.

You're dragging my point about tested, proven tried and true, reliable configurations and driving it all the way back to here.

I'm not going to argue with you.

Ultimately, it boils down to this, if someone follows your advice and ends up with issues you can type the words "sucks to be you" and be done with it.

If I sell someone a card and they have issues, I can't weasel out so easily.

So I will always take a more cautious approach.

I am glad that you have found a setup that works for you.

I have always looked at shoot days as a period of time when anything that can possibly bite you in the butt, will. So I have always looked for ways to rule out issues in advance. The fact that things I do onscreen can make a Titan crash the system makes me nervous.

In response to the other poster asking what does an EFI card get you, it is simple.

Boot screens let you choose between OS's and enables you to easily get to recovery partition if you have issues.

They enable PCIE 2.0 functionality in all OS choices. Unflashed cards will have PCIE 1.0 in Windows and only achieve 2.0 speeds in newer OSX versions on 4,1 and later machines. Flashed cards give PCIE 2.0 on 3,1 and later in OSX and Windows. (3,1 machines only get 1.0 on unflashed cards)

Lots of people use unflashed cards, it's no big deal. Some people just prefer having 100% functionality.

 

[Rob Anderson]

Rob - thanks again for all the help off this board with figuring this stuff out! I pulled the trigger on a Titan for our new 12 core Mac Pro 2.4ghz 64GB tower. I ended up buying a OCZ 600wat external psu to error on the side of caution (even though I trust your judgement). All I can say is I greatly enjoy the geeknes in this thread it is very educational ))

I do have a question though, a non-flashed Titan won't show you the Apple bootup screen, it is black until the login screen, even if yo are running your monitor off another approved card? Not a big deal and certainly not going to spend $400-500 more for an Apple boot up screen. So what else does a flashed card give me over a non-flashed? Thanks

The only reason you'd want to spend any money on a flashed card today is if you plan on or already use Bootcamp for mixing Windows with OS X. Otherwise there is no advantage at all. Really glad you're enjoying the thread. Thanks Adam. I posted a link a little earlier with instructions I created for mounting a secondary PSU inside of a MP tower.

 

[Adam Johnson]

Thanks to both of u guys - Rob, Awesome I'll check that thread out!

 

[Adam Johnson]

Rob - what would be needed to "turn on" the OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W PSU at the same time as the computer? It has lots of different connection options. Just trying to figure out the easiest way possible. I'm planning on leaving this big psu outside of the computer (only option really) but would prefer to have it turn on with the computer if it's not to complicated to configure

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

 

[Rob Anderson]

Rob - what would be needed to "turn on" the OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W PSU at the same time as the computer? It has lots of different connection options. Just trying to figure out the easiest way possible. I'm planning on leaving this big psu outside of the computer (only option really) but would prefer to have it turn on with the computer if it's not to complicated to configure

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Best suggestion I have is using my step-by-step guide published here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1076970

A few things are different with the parts list, but the recommended equipment and the process for getting a PSU installed inside the MP chassis remains the same.

 

[Adam Johnson]

I can't get a monitor display out of the Titan card. I am powering it via an external power supply and here it running full blower. And hear the boot up Mac tone but no display. Any advice for this computer newb

 

[Adam Johnson]

Got it figured out. The problem was I didn't have the external power supply "jump started" by the motherboard or anything for that matter. A simple paperclip saved the day!

 

[Jason H]

+1 on this thread. thanks for the info guys!!!! just did my first dragon job today. It requires some heavy lifting for xcoding thats for sure... 12 core with 680gpu snd raids not cutting it.... old redrocket just sat there helpless.