michael gardner
Level 1 (48 points)
Mac OS X

Q: FCPX and Radeon(sapphire) HD 7950

2009 macpro, 10.10 and recently 10.11, 20G ram, lots of disk, FCPx - up to date.

 

I recently upgraded my graphics to the Radeon HD7950.  FCPX doesn't seem to be one bit faster than the antique card I replaced.  That card is listed as one of the third party cards that should work.

 

How does one know if FCPX is using the GPU?  There are no preference settings or indications that I can find.

 

I see lots of posts on the internet how this card works great in that machine.

 

mgg

VIN,Mac Pro (Early 2009), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 4, 2016 2:10 PM

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michael gardner

Q: FCPX and Radeon(sapphire) HD 7950

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 4, 2016 2:16 PM in response to michael gardner
    Level 10 (118,056 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 4, 2016 2:16 PM in response to michael gardner

    TThe GPU is used for interface processing like filmstrips and waveforms and for effects processing and rendering.

  • by michael gardner,

    michael gardner michael gardner Sep 4, 2016 2:24 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (48 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 2:24 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    So, when I drop in a Digital Juice generator that wants to create 15 seconds of video and it takes 2 minutes to render - shouldn't I be pretty sure that the GPU is not being used?  My question is the same - is there some way to make sure it is or is not being used by FCPX?  Adobe apps seem to see and use it.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 4, 2016 2:56 PM in response to michael gardner
    Level 10 (118,056 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 4, 2016 2:56 PM in response to michael gardner

    Do you have multiple GPUs in the box? FCP doesn't support that. If there's only one FCP is using. How efficiently I can't tell you.

  • by michael gardner,

    michael gardner michael gardner Sep 5, 2016 2:03 PM in response to michael gardner
    Level 1 (48 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2016 2:03 PM in response to michael gardner

    Well I answered my own question.  I found a menu stat program that showed GPU load - and indeed FCPX is using the GPU.  These must just be some really complicated generators we are using.  I've got 20GB of ram and the system isn't starved.  I have the system on one drive, the project on another and cache and render on a third - all sata or esata.  Prevent App Nap is set. The only thing that seems stressed is Number of Disk reads/second which hits 500 or more/second during rendering.  Seems maybe an SSD work drive is in order.