Linux version vs Mac version

[Margus Voll]

Hi.

Linux version is expandable with infiniband. Just set up more machines with gpu’s and het more realtime power. No prorez support under linux.

—

Margus

https://iconstudios.eu

[Rory Hinds]

infiniband is a Linux thing though and not unique to Resolve.

When I asked a reseller all they would say is “its very different” but wouldn’t tell me what which makes me think its a “don’t ask us about our pricing” type of cover.

I was quoted $85k which is $50 for the License and Panel and thats $35k for a PC with one GPU and no storage.

Thats pretty price for a basic PC which would cost around $7k

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Jens Herold]

Hi Rory,
the scalability is the main advantage of the Linux Systems compared to the MacOS.

– The MacOS Version is limited to just one GPU, while you can scale up to 16 GPUs on the Linux systems. You could start with 1 or 4 GPUs and add more Power as you need. This is an important point if you think about 4k and/or stereoscopic 3D.

– You will be able to connect DaVinci Coprocessor (or more than one) via IB if you want to process RAW camera material in full res.
(RED r3d files can also be played in realtime at low resolution without Bayer decoding on a system with no Coprocessor).

– With the Resolve Waveform server, also Linux only, you will have the ability to monitor Waveform, Vectorscope, Histogram and Parade on images greater then Video formats and in higher bit depth.
You could also apply 3D LUTs to the monitored image.

– There is no Telecine control on the Mac

Just a few on

Jens
creative tools
Hamburg, Germany
https://www.creativetools.de/products/davinci.html

[Rory Hinds]

Thanks for the info Jens.

So basically for $85k you get what the Mac version give you expect you can later upgrade to more GPU’s at a cost. i was quoted $110k for a 4 GPU system.

Does seem rather crazy high when you compare the 2 single GPU systems, one being on Mac and the other being on Linux.

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Joseph Owens]

[Rory Hinds] “So basically for $85k you get what the Mac version give you”

Not really.
Point #1: This figure is still only 10% of what a daVinci system used to cost, but is functionally equivalent. The Mac price, which is what most people see first, is for the software only.

Point#2: A single GPU Mac version with either no control panel or a Wave basically is a closed-ended system that will choke beyond HD, while the Linux version requires the dedicated DaVinci control panel and is open-ended. An operator can make it as big or as fast as they can afford. Essentially it starts where the Mac version leaves off. So a serious A-List facility would opt for this with no questions and pay it off 10 times faster. A daVinci system used to take about a week to install and get functional, especially with all the fudges that needed to be put in place for telecine work.

I don’t see it being aimed at an “enthusiast” market, and the business plan initially appears to loosely mirror (although there is bigger scaling factor for Blackmagic) the original Silicon Color concept for Final Touch, which was to offer an HD version for about $5K, and a 2K version for about $30K. There was an SD package which no one ever purchased, to my knowledge.

Of course Apple put the boots to all that, and I guess most of us are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

jPo

You mean “Old Ben”? Ben Kenobi?

[Rory Hinds]

Hi Joseph

I was referring to a +-$45k Mac setup which would be Resolve, Panels and Mac and storage.
Which if fitted with the right cards will give you the same performance if not better at a lower price than the single GPU version of the Linux version which sells for $85k.

My point being the $35k they are charging for a single GPU PC is just crazy.
Regardless of what it used to cost, its what it costs now and what else is in the market.

All this talk about BM recouping their money by charging more for the Linux version is just retarded, for a start BM charge $20k for the license then $30k for the control panel… so the other $35k is going to the reseller.

I estimate the PC costing around $12k so thats $23k to the reseller.
No I don’t have a problem paying for a service I need and that has value… but come on $23k.

When I was talking to the reseller they came off quite rude with a “don’t question me about my pricing” type attitude… my stand is I’m spending the money and have a right to understand what I’m being charged for.

From what I can tell the Linux version only comes into its own when you have at least 4 GPU’s in the Quadro Plex and with its current pricing the $20k advertised at NAB is just a marketing ploy with no mention of the hidden costs… and I really don’t like hidden costs , which I’m sure I’m not alone in.

I think my point that Black Magic really have a change to do something amazing here and there is a market too but having hidden costs just annoys people and this is not about making it cheap, its about making the price justifiable and avoiding middle men.

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Rick Turners]

Why not just by the Linux software alone and get an HP or BOXX and skip the reseller all together?

[Rory Hinds]

yes that would be the sensible option but it seems BM has some deal to protect its resellers who before were making hundreds’ of thousands of dollars when Davinci owned it but now that BM have dropped the price things have changed and I’m guess the resellers are not to happy about loosing the golden cow they had.

You can’t purchase the Linux software alone. Not sure why BM advertises it for $19,999.
You have to purchase the Linux software, panel and you have to buy it as a system from a reseller which the lowest cost is $85k

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Jack Jones]

If you’re thinking of the Linux version it’s worth seeing what the competitors offer for the same value.

Esecially Digital Vision as you can probably get a Nucoda HD for a similar cost. Defo Fuse. Baselight always costs a little more, and in my opinion aren’t as flexible pricing wise.

The guys at Digital Vision were quick to say, ‘buy your own machine’ if you like and attempted to cut the costs where possible.

I’m on the verge of giving up waiting on DaVinci OS X. It looked amazing when I saw it but I’m not sure Apple are on the same wavelength. As for Linux, if I’m going to spend that much my prefered choice is always Digital Vision mainly due to it’s excellent multitrack functionality as well as it’s tracking, new keying technique, single machine expandability, great support and especially it’s noise reduction ‘clarity’.

I think it’s always wise to assess the whole market, new tools are being created everyday.

See you at the DV stand at IBC to check out their incredible new panels!

Jack Jones
Freelance Colourist

[Arthur Puig]

[Rory Hinds] “You can’t purchase the Linux software alone. Not sure why BM advertises it for $19,999.
You have to purchase the Linux software, panel and you have to buy it as a system from a reseller which the lowest cost is $85k”

That’s just BS in my opinion. And I know I’m an outsider, but it kind of seems to go against BM way of doing business, it may be just an interim situation, to try to not give all these resellers the ax so soon, it’s actually cool they do that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if panels and Linux version goes for cheaper in the future, with no resellers selling you overpriced computers. I mean, a DaVinci for $999 was utopic, even when they just bought the brand.