HD multicam hardware requirements

[Trixster]

I´d like some feedback and discussions about the hardware requirements for Vidblaster Broadcast.

I´m trying to figure out the best way to produce high quality broadcasts, webstreaming, bigscreen, and fast dvd/blu-ray productions. And to do that with Vidblaster I need a computer that can handle the stress, without dropping frames! and the frame dropping is essential, because I´ve seen way to many productions with low framerates, and honestly, that is not ok!

This is not an easy question/discussion, but since the hardware required to do this with Vidblaster costs alot, I need some extra input from all of you :)


This is the hardware I´m considering.

CPU: Dual XEON E5520
Motherboard: EVGA Classified Super Record (supports dual xeon cpu´s and has 7 pci-express x16 slots)
DDR3 Ram: Corsair Dominator DHX, 24GB (3x4gb/cpu), DDR3 PC12800/1600Mhz CL9
Graphic card XFX Radeon HD 5770 1gb (a thin card that only requires one pci slot)
SSD Hardrive 2x OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB (Raid)
Harddrive 2x Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB, sata 6gb/s, 7200rpm, (raid)
Capture card 1 1x Decklink Intesity Pro (for HDMI video output)
Capture card 2 2x Decklink Duo, 2 independent HD-SDI inputs/outputs
Screen 1 2x Dell U2311H, 23" IPS screen
Screen 2 ACER T230HBMIDH, 23" Multitouchscreen (For the producer to use as a mixer. pressing the modules on the screen instead of using a mouse)

So, that´s the hardware I´m looking at, all in all with applications etc it´ll cost ~7´000€
Which is still almost 1/3 of a Tricaster solution, but is it powerfull enough?

Money does ofcourse matter, but it´s not the flipping point! If this system is not good enough to handle, say 5 HD cameras without dropping frames, it is money wasted!

any and all input is greatly appreciated.

[lill]

Hi

I would go with the i7 processor... I have tested VidBlaster with powerfull XEON machines... and I can't say that they work well...

[Trixster]

Daniel: that seems strange, I thought vidblaster was designed for multicore cpu's...? And the xeon and i7 cpu's are both nehalem based, so in theory, dual xeon cpu's should give twice the processing power over a single i7... Ofcourse, theory and practice are two different things, but still, it should give a big boost.
Can you explain your findings abit more? :)

i'm just very concerned over the framerate, i don't want a ~7'000€ production system that drops frames.

[Mike]

I am intrigued by your plans but can't provide you with any feedback as I've neither experimented with this processor, nor run extensive tests in 1080p. I know some high end users that run 720p, but they use multiple PCs and distribute tasks.

Do you know the PCMark score of 2 of these processors?

Is this a system you can buy, or do you plan to assemble it yourself?

[Trixster]

it seems, after abit more research that Daniel is right. The Xeon cpu´s can´t match the performance of a single i7 in most situations.
It´s probably more important to look at really fast harddrives and memory!

However, a single i7 cpu, overclocked or not... will probably not be enough for my needs. So the situation turns to what Mike suggested, a setup with two or more computers.

I´ll have to look further into how to distribute tasks in Vidblaster, without it being to complicated for a single producer to handle at a live event.


Mike: The system in my first post is something I picked out myself, and I plan to do build my own rig, with case and built in screens etc.

[lill]

I can see that you found the information you needed... I havent seen any dual i7 motherboards but the might come...

I have a alot of hardware to play with at my workplace...