OT: Could be a great rendering solution

JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/8/2006, 1:08 PM
This is not really OT since this is a request for Sony Media Software to support Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and port the Sony Vegas Network Rendering Engine to Linux!

IBM just announced the new Cell processor-powered IBM BladeCenter H featuring nine cores to “meet multi-core architecture demands to tackle compute-intensive workloads and broadband media applications. Cell BE's breakthrough multi-core architecture and ultra high-speed communications capabilities deliver vastly improved, real-time response for entertainment and rich media applications. Effectively delivering 'supercomputer-like performance' by incorporating advanced multi-processing technologies used in IBM's sophisticated servers. Available 3Q.”

Forget about modding an Xbox360 or PS3 with only 3 cores. These babies are ready for serious business. All we need is Vegas Network Rendering Engine on Linux. Wadda ya’ say guys? Pretty please! ;-)

(Disclosure: just so there is no misunderstanding, I work for IBM as my "day gig" but I am not representing IBM in this post. I just thought this would be way cool for rendering HD from Vegas since people have previously discussed modding a PS3 for rendering in this forum.)

~jr

Comments

winrockpost wrote on 2/8/2006, 3:34 PM
.................... I work for IBM as my "day gig"

And you need another gig ? Oh ,and you use AMD :)
rmack350 wrote on 2/8/2006, 3:52 PM
One major stumbling block is getting al the codecs you want on a Linux platform.

To my mind that's the biggest issue. Aside from an unwilingness on Madison's part to spend time and money on it.

Rob Mack
JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/9/2006, 6:09 AM
> One major stumbling block is getting al the codecs you want on a Linux platform.

I think this is a case of “if you built it, they will come”. MainConcept has ported MainActor v5 to Linux. There must be codecs for that! Since MainConcept already makes DV, DVCPro 25/50, MPEG2, MJPEG, and H.264 codecs and has Linux expertise in house; I’m sure it would not be a stretch for them to port those to Linux as well if there were a demand.

On top of this, computer stores like Fry’s are selling PC’s with Linspire (a Linux distribution) installed as the OS instead of Windows! It is totally feasible for Linux to compete for the desktop. I’ve been using Linux since 1995 when you had to compile your own kernel and it is a rock solid platform.

> Aside from an unwilingness on Madison's part to spend time and money on it.

A company will only spend money if there is a business case to support it. I believe the pieces are falling into place to make that business case viable and HD is the leading driver. My better-than-realtime rendering for DV on my PC is now “wait 3x as long” for HD. I’m back rendering overnight again which makes me feel like I’ve taken a giant step backward. So there is a need and a way, we just have to build the business case for the return on the investment.

That was one of my reasons for starting this thread. To get people interested in the possibility of having an affordable rendering farm solution for HD shooters.

I’m not sure if you are familiar with what a Blade is. It’s an entire hot-swappable computer on a single card. They fit into a BladeCenter which is a chassis that can hold 14 other blades. That’s 14 PC’s in the space of a 7U rack mount! With this new announcement, each one can now have a Cell processor with 9 cores. That’s some serious rendering power.

> And you need another gig ?

Well... I have to do something when I retire. Since IBM froze my pension I won’t be counting on that to support me. :(

> Oh ,and you use AMD :)

Which tells you something about my technical integrity. I won’t compromise it. I will use the best-of-breed regardless of who makes it. IBM (now Lenovo) makes business PC’s, not gaming PC’s, or video editing PC’s. I’m really not part of their target market so I have to use what’s best for me. I just bought an IBM ThinkPad R51 for my wife and it is a smoking little laptop for the money (built-in firewire and supports two displays). So I do use what my company sells when it fits the need.

~jr
TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/9/2006, 6:18 AM
getting it on Linux would be a dream. the IBM cell processor is only the start. We could buy a dozen old SGI O2's, put linux on them & link them together to make a render farm.