working configuration of catalyst server, need tip

[faceoff]

Tomorrow I must consider to make a decision between catalyst software and hippotizer for my main job (I must take), so I need to know If someone have properly working configuration of catalyst software with right hardware that do not crush with normal working like on Mac Pro 4.1 or 3.1 revision. May be some one got tested configuration that works fine.

the core of the system is the top mac pro 5.1: 12 core xeon 64gb ram dual d700, i think properly working sonnet extender with sonnet ssd - if some one can advice more faster pci-e ssd w/o nvme that normally works; also working properly video in (aja, datapath, matrox may be something else?) at least with 2 HD SDI. I hope it would be mac os 10.9.4.

e.g. for my today experience I got top mac pro 5.1 with 10.10.2 mac os, with a lot of problem on working with any type of catalyst software. (peripherals: sonnet extender; decklink quad (more than 2 input don't work), intel p3700 (not seeing by mac os), as phoenix and lfg (not work at all)) too much crush etc.

Thanks in advance for real configuration not theoretical.

[samsc]

e.g. for my today experience I got top mac pro 5.1 with 10.10.2 mac os, with a lot of problem on working with any type of catalyst software. (peripherals: sonnet extender; decklink quad (more than 2 input don't work), intel p3700 (not seeing by mac os), as phoenix and lfg (not work at all)) too much crush etc.
.

decklink quad: decklink driver problem
intel ssd p3700? : theres a super fast ssd inside that mac pro- why?
phoenix and LFG? don't work on 10.10 - needs driver update

too much 'crush'?? what you trying to do?
for non-theory - you have to indicate your file type - how many movies? what size output screen?

[faceoff]

so I ask for working conf (may be some1 hasn't problem), I cannot wait until blackmagic or active silicon write a new driver and ask my employer to wait with me :D. About pdf, i will send to dropbox and then link to you via email (update: send ).

About crush is in on 466 thread: s-> add video files to library -> a-> scan files -> crush; convert 1st times -> normal -> 2nd times -> crush; and few more scenario to crush, i don't remember it all.

[samsc]

it all works!
- even mac book air works - you dont need a top end mac pro

depends entirely on what you trying to do-
and i cant figure that out from the information you have supplied
what files you have?
what codec they using? who supplied them?

[faceoff]

top end mac pro is only core:
I got various scenario of tv show: some of the hardest for hardware is 12 full hd layer, with 2 incoming HD SDI stream, plus about 12 layer for various res video. All video I convert to icod before starting a realtime tv show, and when offline show I convert it due recording, because sometime i receive it due recording of a tv show. PDF files from latest tv show with configuration I will send to you via forum email, with dropbox link inside.

[samsc]

top end mac pro is only core:
I got various scenario of tv show: some of the hardest for hardware is 12 full hd layer, with 2 incoming HD SDI stream, plus about 12 layer for various res video. All video I convert to icod before starting a realtime tv show, and when offline show I convert it due recording, because sometime i receive it due recording of a tv show. PDF files from latest tv show with configuration I will send to you via forum email, with dropbox link inside.

ok - so the screens you have connected are:

one datapath at 4k/30Hz and a 2.5k/60hz screen
these screens dont have compatible refresh rates- why you doing this to start?
what outputs you trying to get? 25fps? 30fps?


Datapath x4:
Resolution: 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
Adapter Type: Apple Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03
PA272W:
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 59 Hz Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888) Display Serial Number: 47106723TW Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
Connection Type: DisplayPort

[faceoff]

It's my datapath at home, that going from work where I must send Full HD 60HZ, :) at work another one it 3840*2160 @ 25hz and NEC PA272B is my working screen with presets etc (at work I got 30 inch HP with 2560*1600 also 60HZ). And why its not compatible if they multiples of each other.

All worked perfectly with my old one catalyst server based on 10.6.8 with gtx285 with the same resolution with crushes but it will be about 1-2 time in a few month. So I think output resolution is not a cause of crushes and can't load my video cards for 100%.

[samsc]

It's my datapath at home, that going from work where I must send Full HD 60HZ, :) at work another one it 3840*2160 @ 25hz and NEC PA272B is my working screen with presets etc (at work I got 30 inch HP with 2560*1600 also 60HZ). And why its not compatible if they multiples of each other.

All worked perfectly with my old one catalyst server based on 10.6.8 with gtx285 with the same resolution with crushes but it will be about 1-2 time in a few month. So I think output resolution is not a cause of crushes and can't load my video cards for 100%.

full HD 60Hz output? 1080p60?
datapath doesnt do that-
you using dathpath to convert 30Hz to 60Hz?


what did you do with gtx 285? - exact config

[faceoff]

datapath do that :) it 4output works on 50Hz or 60Hz multiply to input 4k@25Hz or 4k@30Hz. Nad of corse I switch on catalyst software playback from 25fps to 30fps and back.
My old one cat is: 2*4core xeon 12Gb ram GTX285 with 1 GB vram SSD 128Gb and HDD 1Tb. How crushes or whatever depends from output refresh rates and resolution? Or you trying to say me that D700 cannot handle 4k+2,5K resolution?

I had experience with same refresh rate at second output (if you means that 2 output must be at same refresh rate): its only affect on a new mac pro (on old one same load stable at any combination of refresh rate):
monitor datapath in load
2.5k@60 4k@30 8-50% (various)
2.5k@60 4k@25 10-30-60-90~100% (spasmodically)
2.5k@60 fHD@50 10-40% (various)
2.5k@60 fHD@60 8-40% (various)
fHD@50 4k@25 3-5%
fHD@60 4k@30 3-5%

So GTX285 better work than D700 :(, and this problem only appear on cat software (and no drop frame, all video playback at 25fps and 30fps stably) strange effect. Now I going to try datapath in 30Hz out 50Hz :/

[samsc]

datapath do that :) it 4output works on 50Hz or 60Hz multiply to input 4k@25Hz or 4k@30Hz. Nad of corse I switch on catalyst software playback from 25fps to 30fps and back.
My old one cat is: 2*4core xeon 12Gb ram GTX285 with 1 GB vram SSD 128Gb and HDD 1Tb. How crushes or whatever depends from output refresh rates and resolution? Or you trying to say me that D700 cannot handle 4k+2,5K resolution?

trying to unpick this…. you mixing up loads of things in one go… you got to be careful with this stuff

one thing at a time:

what outputs you do on gtx285? 4k? 2.5K? what screen sizes and refresh rates?

[faceoff]

on GTX285 same things as on D700, both 2.5k@60Hz and second had 4k@25Hz (and it work normally), I update previous post :(, for now I am testing with multiply outputs 30Hz + 60Hz from d700 with output on datapath at 50Hz

[samsc]

we believe from testing that the new mac pro do not like mixed up refresh rates -

that does not mean gtx 285 is better -

it means different setups require different considerations to make them work correctly-

new mac pro might require - exact same refresh rates for best performance - and that means checking EDID from monitors

[samsc]

monitor datapath in load
2.5k@60 4k@30 8-50% (various)
2.5k@60 4k@25 10-30-60-90~100% (spasmodically)
2.5k@60 fHD@50 10-40% (various)
2.5k@60 fHD@60 8-40% (various)
fHD@50 4k@25 3-5%
fHD@60 4k@30 3-5%
/

you know which physical display outputs you connected monitors to?
you aware of the physical ordering of the thunderbolt busses?


815

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202801

[faceoff]

ofc I put a link (http://samsc.co/showthread.php?2384-4-outputs-from-Mac-Pro&p=11990#post11990) at few thread below. I finish for today, but now I got headache with my job :( I need to take big resolution 'cause I have many layers and presets, and its possible with 60Hz. But all camera work on 50Hz shutter and 50Hz current frequency. I am going to sleep...

[samsc]

50Hz- you got to make everything work at exactly that?

you need 50Hz outputs- in europe - everything needs to be 25/50

thats why we are testing 6 outputs at dvi 1080p50 from new mac pro- n541 build
all exact same refresh rate -

no datapath - all monitors exactly the same- you need active mini display port adaptors to dvi - unpowered - to do this

if you need 25/50 -
you should try this option

lots of monitors don't support EDID for 1080p50 - i have lots of monitors that don't - i have to replace them with ones that do
we had another recent thread about the correct EDID to do this-

[samsc]

your content:

from your pdf - you convert most things to AIC - and most files are normal SD resolutions 720x480 etc

dont convert using catalyst - it doesnt work with h264/mpeg type codecs - and doesnt do frame rate conversions

use one of the batch convertors out there like apples compressor - or episode - or others

use apple prores codecs - not AIC

there are 5 different ones

proxy - faster than AIC
LT - about same as AIC
422 - slower than AIC
422HQ - high quality - much slower than AIC
4444 - super high quality - much much slower than AIC

prores codecs dont use any interframe compression like h264 - and work very well -
https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper.pdf

[faceoff]

thanks for tips, staying, from now I will convert all in proress codec, but still a problem with crash when doing periodically a - s - a actions.

And what means color bars in stats hud in stats1 tab near draw mp etc. red green and violet (sometimes violet bar goes to 100% and all freeze for a 5-10 seconds.)

Also sometimes when trying to save all preference now it would hang on colors stage...

[samsc]

please do pdf profile in catalyst -
your problems may be unique to your specific system -
and not seen or reported by anyone else - this is very often the case

and run etrecheck - to see what stuff you got installed
http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

[faceoff]

send both via dropbox

[samsc]

you using mac OS x- very close to initial release of the mac pro 6.1 - 10.9.2 - you not upgrade to last one -10.9.5?

you have firewall in mac os turned on?
thats your network connection issue-

your hp display is using the display port connection - and not responding with any screen EDID- and no valid screen refresh values - ( your catalyst crash at startup was when screen reported no EDID ) - it have a dvi port?

the catalyst safenet dongle driver is crashing all the time- not my software - but 3rd party

try installing latest version-
http://sentinelcustomer.safenet-inc.com/sentineldownloads/?s=&c=End+User&p=Sentinel+HASP+HL&o=all&t=all
Sentinel HASP/LDK Mac OS X Run-time GUI Installation

-

you mixing display port with dvi-
x4 at 3840x2160 30Hz - with 2560x1600 unknownHz
you not try to use all same outputs at 1920x1080@50Hz ?- i thought this was your show requirement?

like i suggested before? so you get 25/50 on all outputs all at same size and refresh?

i do not believe the x4 can do correct EDID and refresh for exact frequencies at this resolution at either 25Hz or 30Hz

[faceoff]

Trully version of mac os is 10.10.2 for now. When install hasp driver used the last one at site :) but I check if it updated. HP work on 2560*1600@60Hz and in logs tab it discovered properly. I cannot use now dvi because I haven't second converter from mini DP to dual dvi. I use datapath with 4k resolution, because I need 4 separate full HD output, and I have it with 50Hz, as I say earlier datapath can set for each output any refresh rate. (and for trying to test n541 with 5 output I need 5 miniDP - Dual Link DVI wires and usb power hub for this reason, otherwise it wouldn't work)

[samsc]

Trully version of mac os is 10.10.2 for now. When install hasp driver used the last one at site :) but I check if it updated. HP work on 2560*1600@60Hz and in logs tab it discovered properly. I cannot use now dvi because I haven't second converter from mini DP to dual dvi. I use datapath with 4k resolution, because I need 4 separate full HD output, and I have it with 50Hz, as I say earlier datapath can set for each output any refresh rate. (and for trying to test n541 with 5 output I need 5 miniDP - Dual Link DVI wires and usb power hub for this reason, otherwise it wouldn't work)

please install 10.9.5 - do updates for 10.9.2


if you want 4 ( or 5 or 6 ) separate 50hz outputs:
use startech unpowered active adaptors mini display port to dvi- no usb power required - usb power only required for dual link
1080p50 ( and 1080p60 ) is single link for dvi
MDP2DVIMM6BS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Startech-DisplayPort-Active-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00HJZCFO8/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1424035307&sr=8-12&keywords=startech+active+mini+display+port
there are different colors sexes and lengths