Straddling the line: Nvidia GTX285

[Don Smith]

I took the NVidia GTX285 out of my MacPro and replaced with ATI Radeon HD 5770 and got MUCH better FCPX performance. I wasn’t working with Motion at the time and can’t tell you about that, but with the NVidea card FCPX was running like a stubborn mule. Just switching back to FCPX from, say, Safari, took 20 to thirty seconds of the spinning pizza of death. After the change to the ATI card, the switch was instant. FCPX then performed like BUTTAH! Before, there was a delay for every click!

FWIW

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[Alex Udell]

hmmm….

well….not really going down the fcpx road.
Perhaps Motion 5.

Alex

[Kerry Chartier]

Hi Alex.

I have a 2010 12 core Mac Pro, with both the GTX285, and 5770 cards installed. The ATI card is in slot 1, so it’s the boot card. Both FCP and Motion perform far better with the 5770 than the GTX card.

I use the GTX card primarily for 3D work with C4D, which looks for the fastest compatible Open GL card, regardless of where it’s slotted. Of course, new drivers can change the landscape pretty quickly. If that ever happens.

Hope this helps.

[Don Smith]

Kerry, how do you come up with a third power cable to run both cards? The ATI card just needs one but the GTX card needs another two. I have two power cables in my Mac Pro.

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[Kerry Chartier]

Hi Don.

You have to add a splitter to one of the PCIE power connectors on your motherboard with a cable like this –

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200935

You can now feed both cards.

The MP has a 1000 watt power supply, so plenty of headroom. In addition to the graphics cards, I also have a Black magic Intensity Extreme card in a third slot, and the machine just happily plows along. This machine is also part of my 3D rendering network, and it’s typical to run for days (sometimes weeks) on end, all cores pushing 100%, and all PCI cards cooking. Things get a little warm (which is nice in the winter) but have never had any power or overheat issues for well over two years now.

[Don Smith]

Very nice of you to go to the trouble to find the link. Thank you. I’ve ordered the cable.

My work Mac Pro had a GTX card in it which I took out when I discovered that FCPX would work much better with the ATI card. Now that I’ve learned from you how to put the GTX card back in along with the ATI card, I’m in heaven.

My workstation has two Apple 30″ screens attached to it and the ATI card would run one of them at full res from it’s one DVI Dual-Link connector, but the Mini Display port would not drive the other one except at a much lower resolution. My manager just HAPPENED to have an Apple adaptor that went from Mini Display to Dual-Link! Both 30″ screens now are at full res off the ATI card.

Now I can have Open GL as at the same time. Life is good. So what that Apple didn’t announce a new desktop!

Thank you very much.

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[Kerry Chartier]

Glad I could help. Hate to see a nice (and expensive) piece of hardware sit on a shelf!

Enjoy. -K

[Don Smith]

Kerry, I meant to add that, like you, I’m working in C4D as well.

Except, not like you, I’m just a serious student of C4D at the moment trying to get up to speed. But, I love the program. It also helps that my son Chris (author of CSTools) is my guiding force. You may have seen Chris’ demo of his camera fly-through plug-in at NAB on GreyScaleGorilla.com.

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[Kerry Chartier]

I’ve heard of CSTools, but haven’t checked them out. I’ll have a look. It’s definitely handy having a family C4D expert to show you the ropes!

As far as CGI, I do mainly car stuff for the Detroit add agencies. Here’s a link to one of the demos, if you’re interested.

https://vimeo.com/33321361

Have fun in 3D land! Best, -K

[Don Smith]

EXCELLENT work Kerry!

Chris not only does C4D but he’s also a commercial director of national spots. He does all the Ram Truck commercials for example.

See https://sugartv.com/

Choose Chris Smith from the list of directors.

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