buying a new system for realtime 4k in davinci resolve

[Peter Chamberlain]

“You can’t just go buy a Resolve LINUX system, it has to be build for you. And with TESLA and INFINIBAND, your price went up to about 150k+++ depending on storage.”

Not correct. We publish the guides so you can build your own Linux system. If however you’re not Linux and StorNext experienced you might be better to purchase a turnkey system from someone with experience…. And these don’t need to anywhere near US$150k.

The guide is the key.

[Margus Voll]

Whats the lower end estimate Peter?

—

Margus

https://iconstudios.eu
https://vimeo.com/iconstudioseu/videos

DaVinci 10, OSX 10.8.5
MacPro 5.1 2×2,93 24GB
GUI 4000 / GPU GTX 780
DL 4K
Eizo Color
Scope Box
Full Ligthspace CMS

[Teo Rižnar]

We are just upgrading our DaVinci system. With intention to maybe sometime use it under Linux licence (we do not own BMD panels that are required for Linux DaVinci version). Anyway let me tell a bit about config:

It is all about news E5 v3 xeons, we were waiting for them, there will be 2x CPUs: E5-2643V3 6C 3.4 Ghz, 32 RAM DDR4, all that will be put on new SuperMicro motherboard X10DAi. Similar price performance would be done with SuperMicro SuperWorkstation 7048GR-TR that is in DaVinci config guide. Just that that SuperMicro workstation is very loud system, so our will be custom build, water cooled so it can stand next to the desk in DI room. Regarding the GPUs we are planing 3x 980 GTX but are waiting for 8GB version to come out later in a month or two. PCI SSD wit 1800 MB/s should handle 4K DPX but 240 GB will not be enough. Existing Areca RAID will be put in but with 600 MB/s it just will work for 2K stereo probably but 4K DPX not.

Biggest help in building this system was actually a local reseller of PC parts (regional SuperMicro reseller). We were planing and checking all the details for more than a month now, and finally got all the pieces together.

But all that will be hooked to 2K viewing environment so no big plans for 4K, that is the biggest issue for me with 4K what I can render out 4K for clients archival or whatsoever, but do not offer 4K system if I can not monitor it under true 4K. That is the biggest misleading people are treating 4K. From my point of view.

Color grade reel: https://vimeo.com/15480583
Cofounder of https://nuframe.si postproduction

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[Pedro Ricardo]

I’m running a 12 core MacPro with Dual D700s and it handles 4K without a problem. We are running a Sonnet PCI expansion chassis that allows extra GPU cards etc. to be fitted.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/news/plug-your-mac-pro-new-sonnet-xmac-pro-server

[Sean Pollaro]

Is that your reel!? My God Amazing stuff! Grades are absolutely beautiful.. If you dont mind me asking was the outdoor stuff at the beginning shot in a studio or was it actually filmed in daylight? Reason I ask is we shoot outdoors on a red epic with master primes frequently and have never came close to this level of color depth and crispness. We rarely have budget for a lighting crew so we usually have to get creative with available sunlight and whiteboards. Is it just incredible lighting or was this look more generated in post with the grade? or is it both?

[Sean Pollaro]

Dude that thing’s sick! Great to know this is an option. Thanks for posting!

[Neil Sadwelkar]

Hang on. You cannot add external GPUs to a MacPro over Thunderbolt with the Sonnet PCIe extender. You can a large variety of cards for sound, storage, video capture but not GPUs. Not under MacOSX anyway.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Marc Wielage]

I believe Neil is correct. Nothing in the Sonnet tech information about adding additional GPUs under Thunderbolt 2.

[Pedro Ricardo]

Odd, replied earlier, but the post has disappeared. I’ll repost below roughly what I typed befire.

Sorry, I should have been more clear.
In our case, we are using it for RED ROCKET and fibre channel networking, and for an SSD array, not for extra GPUs, as we haven’t had a need. The 12 Core with Dual D700s has been fast enough to keep us realtime without having to resort to extra GPUs.

We assumed it would work, just at reduced speed (similar to PCIe 4x) due to the limited bandwidth of thunderbolt2, but that wasn’t what we purchased it for, and we haven’t had a need for extra GPUs yet.

Thanks for the heads-up though, good to know as we just assumed it would work, as every other PCIe card we have thrown at it has worked fine.

The expansion chassis works great for what we need and allows us to use compressed footage from the REDs in realtime without having the CPU load.

[Malcolm Matusky]

https://www.mediaworkstations.net/

Call these guys, a friend of mine went to them, but decided to go the New Mac Pro route, at least they are knowledgeable about what you are trying to accomplish.

Good Luck

Malcolm
http://www.malcolmproductions.com