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G5 dual core set up
I’m about to make the transition from Avid Express Pro to FCP Pro Studio 2. The first project we have is an HD hour long multi-cam show shot DVC Pro HD 1080. My G5 has the following already…sorry if this is TOO much info..
Hardware Overview:
Machine Name: Power Mac G5
Machine Model: PowerMac11,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 2.3 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 2.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1.15 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.7f1
PCI FireWire Slot 4:
Type: FireWire
Hardware: FireWire
BSD Device Name: fw1
IPv4:Graphics/Displays:
NVIDIA GeForce 6600:VA712b:
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: O!
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display:
Status: No display conne
pci-bridge:
Type: pci
Bus: PCI
Slot: SLOT-4
Vendor ID: 0x104c
Device ID: 0x8231
Revision ID: 0x0003
firewire:
Type: ieee1394
Bus: PCI
Slot: ax0
Vendor ID: 0x104c
Device ID: 0x8025
Subsystem Vendor ID: 0x14db
Subsystem ID: 0x702a
Revision ID: 0x0001I would like to edit in DVC Pro HD (in full resolution), loading from a Panasonic 1700 deck (rental), then output the project and take to a facility for output to HD Cam and a final QC of audio and video. Can this work reasonably well as far as speed? I’d like to avoid purchasing a new computer at this point, but if I have to add more to this existing unit then it might make more sense to purchase a new system. If so, what’s the opinion on macbook pro versus going with a tower. I’d like to be more mobile, but it’s not a must have. Love this forum BTW. I will have approx 20 hrs of footage and estimate I’ll need about 1 TB of drive space, and currently have a WD “Book” 1TB firewire drive. What else will I need (besides upgrading and getting another monitor)? Thanks so much!
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11 Replies
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[Sara Nichols] “Can this work reasonably well as far as speed?”
The computer? Sure, that is plenty fast. I cut four long form docs on a Dual 2.0Ghz G5. Works fine. The thing you need to do, if you want to cut multiple streams, as you mentioned multi-cam, is get really fast RAID storage. Something to the tune of 200MB/s or faster. eSATA is your best choice, as with an older G5, the options are slim. Fibrechannel is too expensive and overkill, but something like a Caldigit VR or GRaid 3 with PCI-X eSATA card will work.
[Sara Nichols] “If so, what’s the opinion on macbook pro versus going with a tower. I’d like to be more mobile, but it’s not a must have.”
It’s comparable. And with the Express34 slot, you can still connect the eSATA drive. Smaller screen space, but you can get a second monitor.
[Sara Nichols] “I will have approx 20 hrs of footage and estimate I’ll need about 1 TB of drive space”
That will take up 1.2TB of space. And you want room for rendering and things like pictures and music and VO. So you need at least a 2TB drive. Easy enough to get, and not expensive.
[Sara Nichols] “, and currently have a WD “Book” 1TB firewire drive.”
NOT FOR EDITING! Those drives are consumer drives. Don’t cheat yourself, get a CalDigit VR or G-RAID 3…use that for editing. But then get a 2TB backup drive to back up that footage. Unless you want to invest in a RAID 5 solution, that will be more expensive than the two drives.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Don’t even TRY to do multicam HD editing off of a FW800 drive! Much pain will result.
TomLife moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.–Ferris Bueller
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Shane, thanks so much for the clarification. As for the loading of the DVC Pro HD, do I need an i/o box? And if so, would the Matrox MX02 be the one of choice?
And to confirm, I do not need to upgrade graphics card?
Thanks again.
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Thanks Tom. Pain is always a good thing to avoid.
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And… I just purchased the DVDs. Why read the manual when you can get the movie:)
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[Shane] something like a Caldigit VR or GRaid 3 with PCI-X eSATA card..”
I think this G5 is actually with PCI-e, that’s the last series of G5 (motorola chip), isn’t it?
In About This Mac > PCI Cards, it says under Bus – PCI (no “e” no “x”, it just says PCI).Mio
http://www.digitalvideovault.com.au
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I have a G5 2.3 and edit HDCAM via a multibridge extreme (uncompressed 8 bit 1920×1080 50i) using 2 x 1 TB 7200rpm drives in raid – it is close to the limit but it works! But my octo core Mac pro is the bee’s knee’s for that type of work.
Baz
What would I do without the ‘UNDO’ button!!!!
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It has pci x slot. Shane is correct.
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Just a quick update for anyone who has the same g5. In fact it is NOT a pci-x it is pci Express. I just dug up the manual and checked the firewire card I had installed a couple years ago. It’s PCI-e.
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That’s right Sara, it’s the last G5 series, last one with Motorola chip,
and first one with PCIe.It’s not stated clear in System Profiler but in your Mac’s User Guide,
page 19, it clearly says “Your Power Mac G5 has three PCI Express slots…”Confusion may arise from the fact that Apple had G5, 2.3 GHz DP in previous lineup (early 2005),
but that one had PCI-X (plus, that one had ATI Radeon graphic card…).Mio
http://www.digitalvideovault.com.au
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