Building Linux System for Resolve 12

Now that the config guide is out, I'm seeing what the best options would be to build a new Linux system. I have come up with the following list, but might consider using two GTX cards instead of one Quadro for the processing.

Superserver 7048GR-TR $2000
Nvidia M6000 (GPU) $5000
Nvidia K4200 (GUI) $800
DeckLink Studio 4K $600
2x E5-2640 v3 2.6GHz 8-core $1960
32GB DDR4 ECC $460

$10,820

I believe that's all that would be needed, as long as we can just pull the HBA from our old machine.
Any input from anyone else looking to build a new system for version 12?

[Peter Chamberlain]

If you do any 4K work, or any with heavily compressed codecs, like RED r3d or Sony XAVC, I recommend far more CPU cores.

I also think you're better off working with a specialist dealer who has experience with setting up and configuring Linux Resolve systems as well as the i/o infrastructure. A lot of this stuff is not exactly plug & play.

Are there any good Linux tutorials out there ?

I mean specifically for the OS. Though something with an inclination for color would be useful as well.

I've only ever used OSX or windows and would like to eventually take the plunge to linux as it opens resolves potential even more so.

Bear in mind it's $30K for the Linux software. But they throw in the panels for free.

We already have the dongle and control panel, so there's no need to repurchase anything from BMD except for the DeckLink. The reason we are upgrading is to be ready for V12. Our current system works well for ProRes of all resolutions, and sometimes we need to cache Red and Arri raw. Everything would be a major upgrade, since we only have 24GB of DDR3, a Quadro FX 3800 for GUI, and 4 QuadroPlex 2200s in an external rack. As far as I can tell, that whole QuadroPlex system only has 1024 CUDA cores, compared to the 3072 in the M6000. It also only has 16 cores (2 CPUs), so I would assume the same amount in these newer architectures would be sufficient. Current storage is FC connected to a DDN SAN, but we are looking to upgrade the whole facility to 10GbE, and keep footage on a local RAID for the Resolve.

[Peter Chamberlain]

I just published last night an update to the config guide. I think you should review the SuperMicro config listed there.

Note, old Quadroplex GPUs are not supported for v12.

In all honesty you would get way, way more performance from a pair of Titans and more CPU cores than out of the M6000 and K4200 in that config.
It would end up cheaper and considerably faster.

Bear in mind it's $30K for the Linux software. But they throw in the panels for free.

In this regard, I am a bit confused about one aspect of the compare features list for Resolve 12. Within the category "Native File Formats Supported" there are some points which say for Resolve Studio "Mac OS X & Linux Only" (Prores) "Mac OS X & Windows Only". (HQX) These statements only make sense if there would be a Linux Version of Resolve Studio without the control panel.

In all honesty you would get way, way more performance from a pair of Titans and more CPU cores than out of the M6000 and K4200 in that config.
It would end up cheaper and considerably faster.

That certainly seems like a better choice. While looking in to all this, I don't see what the advantage of Quadros is... In every case, you get more for your money with a Geforce than a Quadro.

Quadros have specific uses but for resolve they appear to have no advantage. Titan x are the way to go. Although in windows we're having trouble seeing much performance increase in resolve between one and two Titan x cards. This is with 24 CPU cores of v3 Xeon. (Which bmd seems to consider an entry level machine now).

In this regard, I am a bit confused about one aspect of the compare features list for Resolve 12. Within the category "Native File Formats Supported" there are some points which say for Resolve Studio "Mac OS X & Linux Only" (Prores) "Mac OS X & Windows Only". (HQX) These statements only make sense if there would be a Linux Version of Resolve Studio without the control panel.

I'm sure you could refuse to take the free panel with the $30,000 Linux version if you wanted to. But it won't run with any other panel -- except (somewhat) with the full-size ethernet daVinci 2K panel.

Either it's $30,000 software with a free panel, or a $30,000 panel with free Linux software. You be the judge.

I'm sure you could refuse to take the free panel with the $30,000 Linux version if you wanted to. But it won't run with any other panel -- except (somewhat) with the full-size ethernet daVinci 2K panel.

My point was that in this list, a linux version is mentioned within the column of DaVinci Resolve Studio which is the software without the control panel: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/produc ... ve/compare