New MacPro, iMacs

[Gary Taylor]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for sharing your insight. Since Resolve uses CUDA for almost all processing what is there to keep the MacPRo 3.1 from running Resolve?

Does the 4800 provide any CUDA benefit over the 285 and will you guys support an Nvidia 285/285 configuration in lieu of the 120/4800 configuration?

Thanks!

Gary

[Illya Laney]

Or you could just buy a PCI-e chassis. Do a little research and you’ll find many PC users and audio professionals have been using them for years. A GT 120 will run fine on one as well as any other card that uses less than it’s available power supply, and that includes capture cards.

If you’re concerned about cost, you’d probably have to pay more to Apple for extra slots anyway.

Motion Design, Color, Editing
SWGC Incorporated

[Arthur Puig]

That’s another option, although I’ve never seen it working, I wonder if the performance is the same since basically you’re sharing one pci-e port with many devices.
I’d rather pay the difference in price for an extra port though…

[Peter Chamberlain]

I have limited testing on MacPro3.1. We use 4.1 here. Different performance on PCI slots, may be ok for HD with both GTX285 or FX4800 and the GT 120. Note; GTX285 uses two additional power connections, FX4800 just one. I suggest 8GB RAM for this model but not 8GB for MacPro4.1. 6GB or 12 is better from our tests.
Official build guide coming shortly will indicate 4.1 model or newer.
Peter

[Illya Laney]

It depends on what you’re doing. Multiple GPUs and DSPs work fine, so after you load up your GPUs/etc. on a Magma or Cubix, you’ll have an extra slot or slots to rock out with. Considering GPUs are what really matter when it comes to performance, I don’t see a point in worrying about the new 12 cores.

As a side note, I wouldn’t ever buy a first generation Apple product.

Motion Design, Color, Editing
SWGC Incorporated

[Vladimir Kucherov]

I’m surprised multiple GPUs can share that pipeline, but I must admit my understanding of PCI-express architecture is limited.

Are you referring to anything in particular talking about 1st gen apple product? Surely this mac pro can’t be qualified as first gen.

[Illya Laney]

It’s the first Mac 12 core with a Westmere processor. Why wouldn’t it be considered 1st generation?

Motion Design, Color, Editing
SWGC Incorporated

[Jeff Bernstein]

The motherboard between the Mac Pro 4,1 and 5,1 are essentially the same. The pin count between Westmere and Nehelem is exactly the same. Thus, the daughtercard that houses the processor and memory controller and slots are the only things that changed. Oh, the Power Supply is a little beefier.

Jeff Bernstein

Digital Desktop Consulting
Apple Pro Video VAR
XSAN Certified
MetaSAN Master Reseller

323-653-7611

[Illya Laney]

So you’re still saying it’s a new computer even though a few things are the same. Maybe we have a different view on what “first generation” means. They’ve thoroughly tested Resolve on the previous MacPro so taking a chance with a new Mac doesn’t make any sense. I’d come up with an analogy right now, but I can’t think of any.

Motion Design, Color, Editing
SWGC Incorporated

[Adam Hendershot]

We’re going to attempt it on a 3,1 system (8-core, 2.8Ghz, 14GB RAM, and FC to a Terrablock). Already have the GT120, GTX285, Tangent Wave, and Decklink Extreme 3D waiting to go.

Need a beta tester? 🙂 We’re a small film lab with 2 telecine suites and we’re using this to get our feet wet in file-based workflows (aside from playing in Color).

Adam
Continental Film & Digital Labs