I just purchased a dual dual core HP xw8400 to replace the grotesquely deficient workstation sold by my former vendor Promax.  (As an aside, consider any other vendor but them.  Every component I ever purchased that was built by them from hard drives to workstations failed after a short lifespan). 

After attending Avid's New Thinking event at Universal Studios last night, I know that the dual quad core 8600's will work with Media Composer 3.0.  The new hardware and software won't be available until June.  I need to replace my workstation now, and I'd prefer to invest in technology that's going to be relevant, useful and the most powerful available for the new Avid products.  My connundrum is that I'm told is that MC 2.8.1 is not supported on a dual quad core HP xw8600.  

It may not be supported, but does anyone have any insight as to whether it will work?... I still need editing capablity between now and June.   I have a brand new 8400 in my edit bay that I haven't taken out of the box yet... I'm considering returning it and ordering an 8600 dual quad, if in fact, there's any reasonable assurance at all that 2.8.1 will work on that machine.  So if anyone has any experience with MC on a quad core 8600, your comments would be most appreciated!   Thanks for your help.

I would get the 8600 as one big difference in the new Avid software is multi-threading (YES).  Keep the "not supported" mindset relevant.  If the 8600 is using the same nVidia technology and such you should be fine.  However if the 8600 is introducing a brand new video card that hasn't existed from nVidia before and Avid doesn't have a tested driver - you might run into issues.  MAYBE.  I still doubt it.

It is still Intel processors, an nVidia GPU, same controllers, etc.  It isn't like you are jumping to a completely different animal.

but that's just my two cents...I jumped to my "unsupported" system from Dell (gasp) and have been cutting fine. 

Thank you for the input... What you say makes perfect sense, and I thought the same as well...  however, I sort of remember reading something that they're may be some kind of incompatibility due to a timing issue because of the faster clock speeds of the quad core processors... Have you or anyone else heard something similar?

Check out this thread

http://community.avid.com/forums/p/55261/310267.aspx#310267

it has a pdf on it to configure quad core 8400 for use with MC (not technically supported). The 8600 is quite similar to this...

We just got an Xw8600 running MC 2.8 on MOJO SDI, no worries, Nvidia 17000 runs like clockwork. we now have the technology, only cos HP lowered the price on theses monster machines, to move to Vista and ver 3.0 in the future. Our vendor is Amber technologies, theyre great!!! Future minded blokes. Piece of life advise, never buy the older chick a drink, every ones thinking of new ways to get the ounger ones attension. It's a 8 core PC mate, who will not associate?

Yes the xw8600 wasn't tested with x.8.x and was only qualified on the v3.0 release slated for June.  But as one of the posters stated.....  the systems are VERY similar.  You shouldnt have a problem and I know 2-3 sites using them today with the x.8.x releases.

Need to discuss or ask any specifics - call me on cell 813-493-6800 or email me directly.

Marianna

Thanks so much, Marianna...  I went ahead and purchased the 8600... and installed the latest version... We're still however working out some capture issues with our Panasonic DVCPro 50 deck...  In fact, I'm waiting for my tech to return in the hopes we can make it work... given that I'm a severe deadline, it would be nice to be able to get all the footage we shot this week into the system. 

Apparently the latest info from Avid enginners is not to run the Mojo through the HP's motherboard... We were given a white paper that recommends two firewire cards, one PCI and the PCI-e... We're running the SD93 and our Digi002 mixer through one card and the Mojo is running through the other.  We obviously don't use the Mojo for DVCPro 50 capture.  But it's useful for our other decks.   I may take you up on your offer to allow me to call you... I do appreciate your kindness, support and response.   Thank you!!!! 

Marianna:

Yes the xw8600 wasn't tested with x.8.x and was only qualified on the v3.0 release slated for June.  But as one of the posters stated.....  the systems are VERY similar.  You shouldnt have a problem and I know 2-3 sites using them today with the x.8.x releases.

Need to discuss or ask any specifics - call me on cell 813-493-6800 or email me directly.

Marianna

 

 

I'm looking at the 8600 and trying to figure out which processors to get- did you get the 5450 3.0ghz?

Thanks!

 "Apparently the latest info from Avid enginners is not to run the Mojo through the HP's motherboard... We were given a white paper that recommends two firewire cards, one PCI and the PCI-e... We're running the SD93 and our Digi002 mixer through one card and the Mojo is running through the other. " 

Would you mind sharing that information or giving a link to that white paper please! I am looking for this information and can't seem to find it.

Thanks!

The pdf on this thread is for xw8400 quad core but should work

http://community.avid.com/forums/p/55261/310267.aspx#310267

We are running the SDi mojo through the secondary firewire port, only no other devices. The players run on the onboard firewire port. We were running our Xw8400 the same just invirted.

Here's the info you requested.. it should be helpful to a lot of people out there.

Configuration for HP xw8600 Dual Quad-Core Workstation

NOTE: These configurations are preliminary and are subject to change
between now and FCS. 

Initial Recommended Slot Configuration:

            * Slot 1 - PCI 32-bit  33MHz (Firewire card required for
Adrenaline / Mojo connectivity)

                     Required: 1394 Firewire Card, FW323 Agere based
with 4K buffer              

            * Slot 2 - PCI-E(2) x16 Video Board

            Required:  NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600 or NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700             

            * Slot 3 (PCI-E x8 mechanical - x4 electrical)

        Optional: 1394 PCI-E adapter for Avid Studio 002, DV camera /
deck or FireWire storage

            * Slot 4 PCI-E(2) x16 mechanical - (set to x8 electrical via
system BIOS)

         AVID HIB (DX Box Interface Board)

            * Slot 5 PCI-E  x8 mechanical - (set to x8 electrical via
system BIOS)

            Local Storage Connectivity:               

            Option 1:      Atto UL5D PCI-E u320 Dual-Channel SCSI
controller (u320 SCSI  connectivity to original AVID Video RAID 5-bay, 10-bay,  MediaDock,
R&S,   Altevo etc )

            * Slot 6 (PCI-E x8 mechanical - x4 electrical)

            Shared Storage Connectivity:  

               Option 1:      Atto Celerity FC-41EL / FC-41ES Fibre
adapter    (Unity MediaNetwork Fibre connectivity)

            * Slot 7 (PCI-X 133MHz) **       

- Optional:    Tarari Encoder Accelerator for Windows Media 

               ** Important - This slot shares the same bus as the
embedded SAS 1068 controller.   Installation of any non-specified HBA
into this slot (in particular a PCI 32-bit/33MHz HBA) will result in
severely degraded performance of the SAS controller.  Use only specified
HBA's in this slot.

HP XW8600 Layout
ISIS Connectivity

Connect to dual-port embedded BroadCom NIC ports on rear of XW8600

For Broadcom functionality with ISIS, find all instances of the
RxStdDescCnt registry key and increase its value from 200 to 511 and
reboot the system.

BroadCom NIC Ports

Adrenaline and Mojo Connectivity

Adrenaline and Mojo must connect via an add-in 1394a Firewire card (with
4K buffer) installed in Slot #1

The XW8600 embedded 1394 port should not be used.

Qualified Firewire cards are:

a.)      H.P. p/n  PA997A  1394a Firewire Card, PCI 32-bit/33MHz
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11955_ca/11955_ca.html#Technical%20Specifications

<http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11955_ca/11955_ca.html#Technical%Specifications>

b.)     Sonnet Technologies  Allegro FW400 1394a PCI 32-bit/33MHz

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/allegro400.html

Current qualified BIOS ver: 1.0.7

Required system BIOS change to set PCI-E speeds for slots #4 and #5

During boot up press F10 at the white HP screen, for Set Up.

Select English. <Enter>

Select the Advanced tab

Select Chipset / Memory. <Enter>

Select PCIe Lane Allocation (SLOT4: SLOT5)

Default setting is AUTO 

Change this setting from AUTO to x8:x8

Press F10 to Save

audio2:

 "Apparently the latest info from Avid enginners is not to run the Mojo through the HP's motherboard... We were given a white paper that recommends two firewire cards, one PCI and the PCI-e... We're running the SD93 and our Digi002 mixer through one card and the Mojo is running through the other. " 

Would you mind sharing that information or giving a link to that white paper please! I am looking for this information and can't seem to find it.

Thanks!

Just to let everyone know... Our 8600 is now working perfectly!   And it is fast!!!!   I'm very happy with the performance...  The 8600 unquestionably works with Avid 2.8.3.    I did try posting the white paper I was sent, but I was moderated... maybe Avid doesn't want that info out yet.. but the bottom line is that it works -  BTW we're running everything through two Fireiwre cards.   One standard PCI the other PCI-e for the deck and Digi002.   That was the recommended configuration by the Avid engineers.

TVFilmDirector:

Just to let everyone know... Our 8600 is now working perfectly!   And it is fast!!!!   I'm very happy with the performance...  The 8600 unquestionably works with Avid 2.8.3.    I did try posting the white paper I was sent, but I was moderated... maybe Avid doesn't want that info out yet.. but the bottom line is that it works -  BTW we're running everything through two Fireiwre cards.   One standard PCI the other PCI-e for the deck and Digi002.   That was the recommended configuration by the Avid engineers.

What Firewire cards are you using?

 Bump.