GPUs and new Mac Pros
by Ben Holmes
on
Aug 8, 2006 at 4:08:25 pm
Hi all.
Feel a bit out of touch on this topic, but I understand there are some performance gains in FCP to be had from the GPU. Is this correct? Obviously it is for Motion, but does Core Video implementation in FCP mean it applies to FCP as well? Any brief clarification of this would be appreciated.
With that in mind, what do people recommend fitting in a new Mac Pro? We woud need to buy and test a new system as soon as poss, as it will be used (with the new Kona 3 drivers due end of August) to work in an HD environment at the Ryder Cup in September.
It's a tight schedule as far as I'm concerned for a new system, which is why we'll have a dual 2.7/ Kona 2 system there as well, but if there are tangible performance gains (such as reducing horrific HD render times) I'm prepared to give it a go. Maybe I should purchase a PowerMac Quad? These 1.4x speed-ups based on a BETA release of FCP sound a little fishy to me, and the drivers will work NOW.
Any suggestions? As always, thanks in advance for sage advice.
Ben
PS - On a tangent, why test the Mac Pro on a Beta release? Is it 64-bit optimised in some way? Will the currrent release show LESS or NO performance increases over a PM quad?
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.
Producer/Director "The Supercar Run" now available for international distribution from www.electricsky.com
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by walter biscardi on Aug 8, 2006 at 4:42:51 pm
[Ben Holmes]"Feel a bit out of touch on this topic, but I understand there are some performance gains in FCP to be had from the GPU. Is this correct? Obviously it is for Motion, but does Core Video implementation in FCP mean it applies to FCP as well? Any brief clarification of this would be appreciated."
From what I understand you'll some implimentation of the Core Video with FCP 5.2.1 when it's released, but it most likely won't be until FCP 6 that you'll really see the GPU come into play.
That being said, if you use Motion a lot, you should definitely upgrade the graphics card. We're going with the ATI Radeon 1900 because we're going to run Final Touch HD with our system and the ATI is recommended for that app.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
http://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network's "Good Eats"
HD Editorial for "Assignment Earth"
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" - Adam Savage, Mythbusters
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by Peter Wiggins on Aug 8, 2006 at 5:02:41 pm
I think you might be pushing the timescale somewhat. I'd rather rely on machines & software versions I know will work.
99% of it might work, but it could be that 1% that doesn't get you on air.
Yes the GPU will come into play with FCP, when? who knows but I would strongly recommend you buy the beefiest GPU
there is to stuff into a new MP. As we have said before Nvidia seem ahead of the curve with SLI implementation - could we
possibly stuff more cards in to use them to render faster? Again, who knows!
Just to give you an idea, I'm working on a plugin for Motion to replicate a script I wrote in Shake. Shake took ten minutes
to render, the plugin runs in just about realtime. Seriously cool.
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by walter biscardi on Aug 8, 2006 at 6:04:10 pm
[Peter Wiggins]"who knows but I would strongly recommend you buy the beefiest GPU
there is to stuff into a new MP."
Of course, Graphics cards can be upgraded at any time so if you don't need a whole lot of Motion work, then you could just go with the stock graphics card today as it won't have any effect on FCP. When the time comes later, you can always change out the GPU later.
Who knows what graphics cards will be available over the next 6 - 12 months as the Mac Pro's roll out and get ever faster processors.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
http://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network's "Good Eats"
HD Editorial for "Assignment Earth"
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" - Adam Savage, Mythbusters
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by Ben Holmes on Aug 8, 2006 at 10:03:37 pm
[Peter Wiggins]"I think you might be pushing the timescale somewhat. I'd rather rely on machines & software versions I know will work.
99% of it might work, but it could be that 1% that doesn't get you on air. "
Totally agree - I have a perfectly stable dual 2.7 system that works and works all week without a problem - I plan never to change any versions of anything on it...
Partially, it's a desire to get those HD render times down. I think Walter has a Quad (don't you?) and works in HD a lot - have you seen a great increase in performance?
Also, we NEED another system, as one is now permanently installed in our truck, and we are building another. I can't quite bring myself to consider picking up a G5 quad with the MacPro out, but I know it'll be a safer bet for compatability (Kona working now, not in 3 weeks etc., Sapphire on full release, not beta etc. etc.)
Bad timing I guess - and not really a good answer I would imagine. Thanks both for the thoughts - any to add?
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.
Producer/Director "The Supercar Run" now available for international distribution from www.electricsky.com
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by debe on Aug 9, 2006 at 12:09:30 pm
[Peter Wiggins]"They are coming back!"
Seriously? Am I going to have to dust off that section of my brain I haven't used since 1994 that used to know the K-scope effects hierarchical tree by heart?
Actually, the company I worked for replaced the K-scope with the DME-7000 the year I was transitioning from assistant to editor. I never got much past learning where everything was before it was gone. Although the DME never quite had the same "feel" as the effects one could produce with the K-scope, it certainly was by FAR much easier to program, as well as much easier on the eyes!!
If there's anything I miss from the linear days, it's multiple effects from a DVE in real time.
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by Peter Wiggins on Aug 9, 2006 at 3:43:42 pm
Well, I still use a DME 7000 when I'm doing tape, but I always groan when an AP says they want an effect that is three clicks
on that, but multiple filters & a render in FCP.
Re: GPUs and new Mac Pros by debe on Aug 9, 2006 at 7:31:03 pm
[Peter Wiggins]"Well, I still use a DME 7000 when I'm doing tape, but I always groan when an AP says they want an effect that is three clicks on that, but multiple filters & a render in FCP.
Thats why I'm building my own emulator!"
Keep me posted, Peter! I'll definitely be at the front of the line to give that a whirl!
