Early 2008 MacPro + OpenCL support?

Have been using my reasonably spec'd 27" iMac at work to run Resolve.
Brought some footage home to work on via my early 2008 MacPro running OSX 10.8.2.
However on starting Resolve I get:
"No OpenCL Acceleration Hardware Detected. Install a OpenCL accelerated GPU or update you OpenCL software driver... etc."

What are my choices? Can I update / install OpenCL drivers and get usable performance?
Or do I need to buy a new GPU?
The existing GPU is an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT, 256MB ram.

[Rohit Gupta]

Have been using my reasonably spec'd 27" iMac at work to run Resolve.
Brought some footage home to work on via my early 2008 MacPro running OSX 10.8.2.
However on starting Resolve I get:
"No OpenCL Acceleration Hardware Detected. Install a OpenCL accelerated GPU or update you OpenCL software driver... etc."

What are my choices? Can I update / install OpenCL drivers and get usable performance?
Or do I need to buy a new GPU?
The existing GPU is an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT, 256MB ram.

I would recommend replacing the GPU you have a NVIDIA CUDA capable GPU.

Thanks. Will follow the spec. Any ideas where or who in NZ would supply these cards?
None in the Apple store...

All PC computers store will sell GTX cards which are compatible with Resolve.

Great, but that doesn't mean they'll work in my MacPro... no?

The GTX 5xx and GTX 6xx series will work in a MacPro. Just make sure you check the exact model - as some cards require additional power requirements, etc. Do your research before purchasing.

In a lot of cases with the newer cards, you need to be running Mountain Lion.

You could also just buy the cards off eBay from suppliers such as:
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/macvidcards/m.html

The official Apple Store, and most 3rd Party Apple Stores do not sell GPU cards suitable for Resolve. Most PC gaming stores however do.

Hope this helps!

[Dwaine Maggart]

As long as you are running OS X 10.8.2, GTX series cards will work in the Mac. There are no Mac versions of GTX cards. Also note that all this is related to Resolve specifically. Other apps may not like GTX cards as well or at all.

If the GTX card is the only card you have, it will not show you the Mac boot screen. Most people don't seem to care. But you should be aware. Once OS X is running, GTX cards work normally.

You should visit the NVIDIA Driver Download site and download the latest GPU driver for OS X 10.8.2. This is most easily found by searching for: Quadro /Quadro Series / Quadro 4000 for Mac / Quadro ODE Graphics Driver. Today's driver is :304.00.05f02 - Link: http://www.nvidia.com/object/macosx-304 ... river.html

You should use CUDA 5.0.37.

Since your 2008 Model 3,1 MacPro is Resolve performance limited, you should not get the best card, as it won't help performance. A GTX570 card would be fine.

If you are only going to use a single card, and you want total Apple compatibility and a boot screen, the Quadro 4000 for Mac card would work fine. It's performance in Resolve is not as good as a GTX570, and it costs more, but if you want a boot screen and perhaps better compatibility with other apps, it might be a way to go. And the lower performance won't matter in a 3,1 MacPro.

GTX cards normally come in 2 versions, one with more VRAM than the other. We recommend that you get the card with the most VRAM. The Quadro 4000 for Mac is only available with 2GB of VRAM. If you get a GTX card, we would recommend it have at least that much VRAM.

Your lowest cost option would probably be an ATI HD5770 for Mac card. This will use OpenCL. This will only work with OS X 10.8.2. This will not support Resolve Noise Reduction. But in a 3,1 MacPro, I'm not sure the performance will be much worse than an NVIDIA card. It probably will be somewhat worse. If you don't care about NR, and you want cheap, this could be a choice.

Thanks guys that's awesome detail.
Re: one card vs. two card set up.
Can't I just keep the card I have and add the GTX570 as Dwaine suggested?
Re: performance, I take your point being somewhat limited by my older Mac, but I'm trying to squeeze out every bit I can... so I'm going to avoid the ATI 5770.

[Dwaine Maggart]

I'm not sure, and would lean toward doubting, that your HD2600XT will be a suitable GUI card for Resolve. You could try it and see. If it does work, it might reduce Resolve performance. Resolve performance might be better without it. But you could test that and see for yourself, assuming it works at all.

Okay, well I guess I'll just buy the GTX570 and put it in and see.
If it doesn't work, I'll just take the 2600XT out and have a one card set up.
Yea?
Will the GTX570 drive my Apple 30" monitor though? I've also got an apple 20"... I think that's what it is... same silver beziel around the screen as the 30"

Would this be a good option?
http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Giga ... /20960257/

[Peter Chamberlain]

Not for image processing, please refer to the Resolve config guides.
Peter

Yes, just realised that after a 2nd read through. Thanks.

You can use the ATI Card with the GTX Card however the 2008 Mac Pro is going limit your performance greatly. You will not be able to playback real time and Rendering will be the same or slower than with just the ATI Card. The problem is the bus speeds in these older Mac Pros. Please read the following posting on this forum " viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4438 " it lists all the issues you will run into with the 2008 or 3,1 Mac Pros. Thanks

Thanks for the heads-up. Think you just saved me sinking $800 on more ram and a new GPU.
Ugh. How disappointing.
Guess I'll just either wait for Apple's new desktop or go buy the highest spec'd iMac I can.

Hello!

I'm running an Early 2008 Mac Pro (2x 2,8GHz QuadCore Intel Xeon / 14Go Ram / Yosemite), with a recently purchased ATI Raedon 5770 HD 1024 Mo, and Resolve 11 always unxepectedly quits when choosing the media i'll be working on.

Any hint?? Thx!!