Problem: Mac Pro struggling with DV footage after only a few hours use

Guys. I hope someone can help me out here.

I've got an editor working on a brand new Mac Pro. I set this machine up just last week - its a 2.66Ghz with 3GB of Ram (and a Kona LSe with latest drivers). Its running latest version of the OS and Final Cut 5.1.2

This is a clean system other than The Kona Drivers and FCS. Everything is universal, no PPC apps or utilities.

The editor is working with just over 550GB of DV res footage which is split over two 500GB G-RAID2's. - both connected by FW800 (one on front port, one on back).

The editor is reporting that after a hour or two use its getting very sluggish. He's having to wait to do cut and paste edits etc and its obviously not good enough. Hes on a tight deadline and i want to get this fixed. This machine shouldn't be getting sluggish! When he first reported it i said to restart the machine - it fixes the problem but of course its a tempery solution.

My first thought is the RAM - i heard rumors a while back about FCP and the mac pros having issues with more than 2GB of ram installed? Can anyone say whether they've had similar problems and or if they had more than 2GB of ram?

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

Josh

Hi Josh,

I encourage you to read this article:

[www.larryjordan.biz]

Read the "Safe Boot & Rebuild Permissions" section under "Regular Maintenance."

I find it very helpful when my Mac gets sluggish.

Hope this helps set you in the right direction.

-Dan

Hi Daniel thanks for th einput.

I normally rebuild permissions after installing software etc, and did so after installing FCP last week. But to be safe i'll go in and do it again.
Everthing else was done when setting up the rig or is not relevant. Im just wondering whether i should start pulling my hair out about now.

Running the same set up and no issues,
try filling your Sata slots and lose the FW config.

Hmmm...well, I do know there is an issue with the G-Raid 2 drives. If you connect one, you get the full 85MB/s speed out of it, and if you connect a second one, either daisy chain it or just connect it to another port, then the transfer speed instantly drops to 16MB/s. This was noted by a leader at the Creative Cow.

[forums.creativecow.net]

I'll wager this is your issue.

Buy internal 500GB drives, put then into the MacPro and copy the footage off the G-Raids and onto them. Or just get one and remove one G-Raid from the mix.


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
[itunes.apple.com]

gee, that sounds pretty crummy, Shane.
are the G-folk doing anything about this?
no one wants too be stuck with drives that dont work.

nick

They know about this and are working on it. When a solution is available is anyone's guess.

I am glad I have the first gen G-Raids.


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
[itunes.apple.com]

I got a first gen G-Raid. Solid as a rock. Cute too.

Michael Horton
-------------------

Fortunatly i was one step ahead... when The Mac Pro was ordered i also got 3 500GB Drives to go inside... and backed up all the media to that internal SATA RAID. I've relinked to that and turned the FW drives off - will be interesting to see what happens next!

Thanks for that heads up shane does look like you got the money shot there. I'll run the AJA System test tommorrow and report back. - if it was this then i am VERY disapointed in G-Tech.

Josh...nice going. That was very good thinking ahead.

Call G-Tech and see if you can return the drives, or have them repaired...


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
[itunes.apple.com]