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Activity Forums DaVinci Resolve 4k exr playback from NAS – on windows

  • 4k exr playback from NAS – on windows

    Posted by Andreas Hylander on March 20, 2023 at 2:51 pm

    Hello all,

    Helping someone setup a workflow for viewing 4k EXR-files from a File-server on a Windows-machine running DaVinci Resolve. And I need help finding out the hardware requirements for this to work.

    I have a test-machine (DELL workstation) with the following specs, and it does NOT work (only getting 10-20fps).

    • Win10 64bit
    • 128GB RAM
    • XEON E5-1680 3.4GHz
    • GPU 1080Ti
    • 25GBit fiber connection to file server (File Server is a m.2-based NAS, more than fast enough)
    • Typical EXR-file: 30-35MB each, so ≈ 780 MB/s @ 24fps.

    With the current test-machine it maxes out the CPU giving me only 12-20 fps. GPU is at 0-1%, not doing anything.

    What CPU would be needed to let DaVinci Resolve playback these 4k EXR (let’s assume straight RGB-files, and no extra layers/channels). And, am I correct in assuming the CPU is indeed the bottleneck?

    Thanks in advance,

    / A

    Steven Martillo replied 1 month, 3 weeks ago 5 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Riccardo Luppi

    March 20, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    Hey Andreas,

    Given your setup, I would agree that the CPU is currently the bottleneck. Specifically, the cache could be the limiting factor there. I would probably suggest a Ryzen 9 (even a 3900 should do). Unfortunately, I know that it would imply swapping the motherboard, but that would be true for most of CPUs that come to mind.

  • Andreas Hylander

    March 21, 2023 at 7:55 am

    Thank you Riccardo,

    And I believe you are correct. What they’re trying to circumvent is using the cache, so we’re most likely looking at a getting a new computer and salvage parts from the old one.

    Regards,

    A

  • Michael Gissing

    March 25, 2023 at 2:40 am

    Are you sure Resolve is seeing the GPU? It should be doing the heavy lifting. I was also thinking the 1080Ti might not have enough VRam for 4k. Either way check your settings to make sure the GPU is set to CUDA and is seen by the software. It might require an up to date driver as well to be fully utilised.

  • Paul Carlin

    April 14, 2023 at 3:16 pm

    The compression used in the EXRs may make a difference. PIZ and ZIPs require less bandwidth, but are heavy on processing to decompress in real time. Uncompressed requires lots of space on the drives and lots of bandwidth, but very light on processing. You should do tests using all three types of compression to see which works best for your setup.

    You can also use a proxy workflow. Build DNxHR 4444 proxies, or even half size EXR proxies for real time playback. When it comes time to render, Resolve will automatically pull from the full res originals. For color, it’s very hard to see a difference between 4K and 2K.

  • Steven Martillo

    April 15, 2023 at 11:22 am

    Hi Andreas! To playback 4K EXR files in DaVinci Resolve smoothly, you need powerful hardware and a proper setup. Make sure you have a good CPU, such as Intel Core i9-11900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and a state-of-the-art GPU with at least 8 GB of video RAM. With 128 GB of RAM and a fast, high-capacity hard drive, you already have a good foundation. It’s also important to adjust the workflow settings in the application and make sure you have a high-speed, low-latency network connection. And yes, the CPU is likely to be the bottleneck in this case.

    If your motherboard is compatible with the CPU and GPU you need, then there is no need to change it. You should check the specifications of your motherboard to make sure it is compatible with the CPU and GPU you want to install. If your motherboard is not compatible, then you will need to replace it along with other components needed to upgrade your hardware.

    I hope that can help you if you have any questions with anything just let me know! 🙂

    Steven.

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