GPU Ram for 4K projects, how much is enough?

[Dwaine Maggart]

I did this test. This was not a test of rendering ability or speed. This was simply a test to see how much having 2G of VRAM on the GPU card over 1G of VRAM would help, as far as getting the “Error running GPU algorithms. GPU memory might be exhausted” error message.

As noted, it helps a lot.

Regarding the GTX580 cards, yes, we recommend using the 3G cards over the standard 1.5G cards, since these are the 2 standard available sizes.

But you would not normally put a GTX580 card inside a MacPro chassis. You more likely will have a GTX285 or Quadro 4000 card. The Quadro 4000 is preferred, since it has 2GB of VRAM stock, making it a much better choice than the standard 1G GTX285 for high resolution timeline grading or rendering, even though the GTX285 has better performance. Now that a 2G GTX285 is available, that might be a better choice for people, if they are in the process of deciding what GPU card to get when putting together a Resolve on Mac system. For Lite users, who can’t use timeline resolutions higher than 1920×1080, this is not much of an issue.

I realize that with the new NVIDIA 270.00.00 driver under Lion, you have a wider choice of GPU cards you can use, but the Mac 2G GTX285 will work in Snow Leopard or Lion with the standard Apple NVIDIA driver.

Dwaine Maggart
Blackmagic Design DaVinci Support

[Eric Santiago]

With all this GPU talk, how will three Quadro 4000 in a CUBIX fare?
We work mainly with R3D and have a ROCKET in that ex.

[Juan Salvo]

Don’t waste your money, get 3xgrx580 3gb instead. Check out the results of the candle tests for more info.

online editor | colorist | VFX | BD author

https://JuanSalvo.com

[Eric Santiago]

Ill ask the vendor I deal with and see if I can get these.

[Eric Santiago]

Juan do you mean GTX580?

[Juan Salvo]

Yes I do. Big fingers, small screen.

online editor | colorist | VFX | BD author

https://JuanSalvo.com

[Paul Mitchell]

Hi guys

now that we are on the VRam topic

I have a Cubix desktop 4 with 3 x GTX 285 with 1 G ram each, does that mean that they add up to 3 G, is the ram then tripled by having 3 cards?

if I was to replace them with 3 x GTX 580 3g each I would then have 9 G ram?

also if anyone know, what’s the minimum VRam needed for working just in HD?

note for David Pirinelli

by the way, 1 of the cards is an original mac version the other 2 are flashed and they all show up the same is system prefs inside the Cubix, all three at link speed of 5.0 GT/s and Link width x 16

maybe your mod 580’s will be also at 5.0 GT/s inside the Cubix

[David Pirinelli]

Who wants to find out?

So your Cubix shows up in System Profile under the “PCI Cards” section?

I have heard from several Cubix folk that this section doesn’t work.

If it DOES work, I would be eager to do some 580s for someone.

In addition to selling the finished cards, I am also going to be doing a mod service for people’s pre-purchased GTX5xx cards. Got the first one one today and will be shipping it out today or tomorrow. If there is a post-production house in Hollywood with some 580s in a Cubix, get in touch. Will take me a couple hours per card, especially if it is a card I haven’t written an EFI for, they have to be custom tailored to each card.

From this discussion, it appears to me that the “sweet spot” for people NOT wanting to Cubix is a GTX570 with the 2.5 GB of RAM. Works in a Mac Pro power envelope and fast as a 480 with less heat and power.

A guy picked one up 2 days ago, I’ll see if I can get him to post about it. The fact that these can also run Apple LED displays is icing on the cake.

[Juan Salvo]

I believe multiple gpu each process on their own. Se each need 2gb ram.

online editor | colorist | VFX | BD author

https://JuanSalvo.com

[Kevin Cannon]

Hi Dave,

Since you mentioned that you’re doing a mod service, here’s another question – Is there anything permanent about modding the 580 for Mac, or would you be able to revert a 580 back to PC? I ask because I’m currently running Resolve with a Cubix on a mac and (probably like a few people here) am trying to keep my options open for future machines…

I don’t see the cubix itself in the PCI cards, but I see the three GTX 285s inside it and their link speeds (5.0 GT/s). That’s on 10.7.3. I’d be happy to test anything with you, but I don’t have any 580s yet…

Cheers,

KC

Prehistoric Digital