New System Or GPU Upgrade & GPU For RED Debayer?

Episode 20: From The Mailbag

Time For A New System Or Just A New GPU? & Does GPU RED Debayering Work?

In our first MailBag of 2015 and we’re talking hardware!

Specifically, both questions we’ll cover in this episode have to do with GPUs.

As someone interested in color grading, you know that GPUs or the graphics card(s) used in your computer are a key hardware component to get high quality, real-time playback of complicated grades.

Remember, if you have questions that you’d like to get an opinion on please use the contact form. Your questions can be aesthetic, technical or even client related. We’d love to hear from you, and your question might make future episodes of From The Mailbag.

Buy New Machine Or a New Graphics Card?

First up we discuss a question from Mixing Light member Simon Tingle who asks if he should consider getting a new computer or just upgrade his GPU.

This is a question that many people have these days – especially on the Mac.

As you’ll hear, our resident equipment longevity expert Pat has some sage advice on the subject including a few litmus tests in order for him to get an all-new machine.

We’ll also discuss why new all in one, non-upgradable machines like the new Mac Pro’s and iMacs can be scary investments since GPUs can’t be upgraded and how a Windows machine in combination with an older Mac i a powerful combination.

If you’re on the fence about a new machine or just getting a new GPU be sure to check out Part 1.

Ditching The RED Rocket For GPU Debayering

Next up, we get a question from member Dan Diaz about getting RED Rocket type performance from a GPU.

It used to be that if you were doing a lot of RED work a Rocket was almost a prerequisite, but recently RED has opened up their SDK to allow other software to de-bayer RED footage on GPUs.

As GPUs have become faster and faster performance has increased in a big way and as a group we think that yes, you can get near Rocket performance from GPUs.

Additionally, we discuss how the Render Cache in Resolve 11  can also help with RED performance and how fast CPUs can help in a big way.

Enjoy the Mail Bag

– Team Mixing Light