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Is a G5 enough for editing over GigE
We have a dual 2.5 G5 that we are thinking of turning into a server. We would connect our Xserve Raid to it and ad a 2 port small tree card. We will mainly be editing in IMX 50 and possibly be capturing in 10-bit uncompressed SD. Also do we need any special software like metalan or Final share? I’ve heard just turning on the file sharing feature in Leopard works via AFP. We are getting a new Mac Pro but think it better to use for editing and have the G5 as a dedicated server.
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4 Replies
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Devon,
I’ll reply to you here because I can give you some helpful information.
In a dual 2.5 G5, you should be fine with a Dual Port Gige as well as the one internal port. The rule is that it takes about 1Ghz to power 1 x 1Gb port. This means that if you have 3 Gigabit ports, the server would need to allocate 3Ghz of processing power to fully run those ports (100MB/sec) –Also, you need to be clear on your memory in the server. If you are going to implement the server as a video editing server for Final Cut, you’ll want to use 1Gb (2Gb if your planning for ProRes) of memory for every 1 Client connected to the server. This will ensure FCP has enough buffering overhead to keep up with the users.
Depending on how many clients you have, which you didnt’ mention and is also equally important, you may or may not have sucess with your xraid.
XRAIDs are slow. Even Apple will tell you not to edit video from them. They have low bandwidth, and their disk latency is very high (making it very difficult to move data fast). This may not affect you in a DV environment like it would a ProRes environment. The requirements vary, and your only true way of testing this for yourself, is to get it hooked up and bang on it.
My two cent’s for now ….
Matt G
651-209-6509 x 1 -
To avoid any aggrivation, I urge you to use your new computer as the server. If you have an Apple XServe RAID, it probably will only do about 180Mb/sec. Download the free AJA System Test from the AJA website and test this drive array now, because if is doing 70Mb/sec, you ain’t doing nothing with this drive array. 2 internal SATA drives on a new MAC Pro stripped RAID 0 will go over 120Mb/sec. . You will ultimately need a PCI-e fibre channel card from Apple if you decide to continue to use the XServe RAID with your new MAC Pro if it becomes your server.
You need a minimum of a Small Tree PEG4 card, not a 2 port card.
If you contact Maxx Digital, they will sell you a turnkey solution, that includes the Small Tree gear, a proper drive array, and the knowlege to get your stuff hooked up. This will work with AFP.If your existing MAC’s are older G5’s, and do not have 2 ethernet ports, you will need a Small Tree PXG1D card in each older MAC G5, which will let you have jumbo frames. The “newer” MAC G5 Quad PCI-e computers had 2 ethernet ports, and these do not need the PXG1D card.
I assure you that this solution works. You can use your G5’s for HD editing if you listen to what I am telling you. Just use the new MAC Pro as your server.
Bob Zelin
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At this time it’s mainly working with IMX 50mb/s video and at most Uncompressed 10bit SD, no HD at this time. I have the 2 volumes separated since my Xserve raid is about 4-5 years old now I don’t want to loose the whole volume if 1 side goes out. AJA system tests run them at about 90MB/s each.
Thanks for the replys
DC
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Devin writes –
AJA system tests run them at about 90MB/s eachDevin –
I am sorry, but it’s over. This is typical of all the insanely expensive older Apple XServe RAID’s that I see. Do you understand that a $100 internal SATA drive will perform as fast as your entire $14,000 Apple Xserve RAID. I am sorry it’s this way, but it is. You can extend the life of your MAC G5 as a CLIENT computer, but as you know, a new MAC Pro Quad core with 8 Gig of ram is $2700. This is NOTHING compared to a new large drive array, that would be the equivalent of an Apple Xserve RAID. AND, 3 internal SATA drives stripped RAID 0 will cost you just over $300, and outperform your $14,000 Apple XServe RAID.So my general advice to you is to NOT attempt to build a shared storage solution from your older MAC G5, nor should you even try to use a new MAC Pro if you intend to use your Apple XServe RAID as the shared volume. You will just be disappointed, and be wasting your money.
Bob Zelin
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