Linux vs Mac

[Margus Voll]

I wonder what are your exact needs ?

Generally mac based version is a bit cheaper so to say but expandability has some limits.
In the other hand you can expand linux version more. I have to say even insanely more
as you are not limited to one physical machine and you can combine multiple
machines with many many gpus what makes tour cluster super fast.

So what is your needs?

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Margus

https://iconstudios.eu

[Helge Løken]

It also depends on your workflow… If you’re a mac based facility, there are great advantages to having Resolve on the mac since it’s a simple “drop in” – it can run FCP and it has access to most of the mac based codecs. It also works great of the XSAN.

The Linux version supports a lot less codecs which is okay if you mainly do film finishing, but can be a pain if you work with multiple formats from a myriad of sources.

There are no indications that the Linux version will be discontinued, but as the GPUs on the Mac become increasingly powerful I believe the Linux version will be more and more of a niche product for the extreme high-end (f.ex 4K 3D, 8K etc…).

[Michele Ricossa]

Thanks for your reply.
I have the version 6.2.37 with a single GPU, the second is broken and I don’t find a spare part.
Working only with DPX sometimes is troublesome.. so I would understand with which mac configuration I can work easily a 2k 3D workflow in real time and after think about to switch to mac or if is better upgrade my machine.
Thanks to everyone for the advices.
Michele

[Luke Maslen]

Hi Michele,

Resolve for Linux is being actively developed and Resolve 8.0 is due out by June. It contains a lot of new features and enhancements. The Mac version has had more media coverage mainly because it is newer. The Mac and Linux versions have the same interface and are almost identical except for platform differences.

If you already have da Vinci-branded, Ethernet-based panels, then you may wish to stay with Linux as the older panels are still supported on Linux but not on Mac. The current DaVinci Resolve panels connect via USB 2.0.

The Resolve 7.0 software and newer do require new computer hardware and GPUs. If ongoing support of old da Vinci panels is not a consideration, then you could choose either platform as they both need new computer hardware anyway.

Resolve for Linux can provide the most power as multiple computers can be connected via Infiniband whereas Mac computers do not have Infiniband.

Resolve for Mac can run on a single Mac Pro and 3 GPUs can be installed in an external PCI Express expander. That is currently the maximum amount you can expand the hardware in a Mac but even a 2 GPU Mac system would provide more power than your older 2 GPU Linux system (with both GPUs working). The extra power is simply due to the Mac computer hardware and GPUs being newer and faster that what existed in the past.

A Resolve for Mac system will cost less than the equivalent Resolve for Linux system but the Linux system has Infiniband so it can be scaled up to 16 GPUs whereas the Mac is currently limited to 3 GPUs. If you are going to work with 4K, then a Linux system would be preferable.

The decision comes down to how much power you need now, and for the next few years, and whether you have old panels that you wish to use with the new software and computers.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design

[Michele Ricossa]

Thanks for your help!
Best regards
Michele