Best GPU Configuration For FCPX Question

Hi all,

Need some advice on the best setup with my current GPU's.

I have a Mac Pro Mid 2010 12core.

I have the basic GPU in slot 1 (5770) powering 2 monitors via display ports.

And the Quadro 4000 in slot 2 with NO monitors.

How does FCPX see the main GPU? Is it slot one or the more powerful GPU?

Also I understand FCPX only sees the 1 GPU for rendering, but does it use both for editing?

Would it be better to run the 4000 in slot one? If so how does it effect CS6 PPRO Performance?

Any advice would be great.

FCPX will only read the.primary GPU.
The Quadro, last I checked are not OpenCL and won't do FCPX any good, but is great for CUDA apps such as PPro and Resolve.

I run the ATI Radeon HD 5870 in my MP with 16GB RAM and have great performance.

Great, how do you determine the primary GPU fcpx reads?

Also, even though the quadro 4000 doesn't do open CL, will it perform better than the 5770? Even if it slight performance.

Would I see a noticeable difference from the 5770 if I replaced it for the 5870?

Thanks in advance.

The Quadro won't do FCPX any good, but is great for CUDA apps such as PPro and Resolve.

I went from a 4870 to the 5870 and have noticed a performance increase. It's about the last reasonable upgrade I an do for this old Mac Pro before having to simply replace it.

No clue what performance in real life is between 5770 and 5870.

@desilva_oz I also have a Mid 2010 MP 12 core with the 5870HD and 64G ram. Love the performance. What specific performance issues are you having? And what is your typical project size you deal with? Hard drives can be one of the biggest bottlenecks in any NLE workflow.

The system is running 6G 240GB SSD for the OS and apps. And 2 other 480 SSD's in bay 2&3.

64Gb of RAM
5770 in bay 1
Quadro 4000 in bay 2

I'm looking to get the best performance whilst editing in fcpx and exporting using the GPU accelerated export options from the share menu (ie Apple TV, Mac or PC).

I'm trying to work out if the 4000 is a better card to use as the main GPU, and also work out how FCPX will choose the main GPU.

Projects are mostly h.264 movs approx 300gb projects max with several 30min projects.

I honestly don't know how fcpx chooses the card. Perhaps it chooses whichever card is in the first slot, but an easy test would be to swap their position and see if the performance changes.

Although you have 6G SSD's as do I, your MP has a 3G sata bus limiting their speed to 3G. I installed a 6G sata card to feed my external raids but my internal SSD's are still at the slower speed.

Having said that, my exports are amazingly fast as I would think yours should be given the specs you list. Unless you have a real specific problem, its hard to diagnose anything based on just wanting the best possible performance.