Cinema & Broadcast Editing

Hardware component

The 4 main components are either memories (RAM/hard drive) or Processing Unit  (CPU/GPU). Every editing/color grading software is using them

CPU

these days, CPU is demultiplied and 1 Central Processing Unit has several « core ” (from 2 to 20). Generaly the more Core there are, the less the frequency is, with the aim of keeping a decent thermal shell. Running full capacity the CPU can get really hot !

For softwares and Operating Systems that are coded for multi cores, the power is proportionate to the frequency and the number of cores. It is very effective for parallel calculations.

Hyper-Threading : 1 Core hide another Core

L’hyper-threading (Simultaneous MultiThreading d’Intel), consists of emulating 2 logical cores ➧ threads for each physical/real core.

Hyper-Threading : A gauche SANS ; A droite AVEC
Hyper-Threading :On the left : WITHOUT, on the right : WITH

For the same cost the system will see twice as much Cores and gain 25% computing power.

For softwares and OS operating SMT and multi cores, the power is proportionate to the frequency and number of Cores.

logo PCI express

The number of PCIe lines managed by the CPU will allow to link/communicate quickly with other components: GPU, monitoring cards, NVMe

RAM

Random Access Memory is an ultra fast memory very useful when the CPU is working. It is the computer’s “working space”, 8GB is the minimum/ 

Common sense wants that we assign 2/4/8 GB per Core, depending on the kind of use. 

It appears as a sticks and are usually used by pairs or by 4. 

GPU

Graphical Processing Unit is not only used for the screening display, but mainly for scaling/various effects work. GPU has its own RAM, which is very fast: The VRAM, it uses 16 PCLe lines.

n’est pas seulement utilisé pour l’affichage sur les écrans informatiques, mais surtout pour le travail d’étalonnage/effets.

Mac/Windows/Linux determines the maximal number of GPU’s
Several GPUs wont enable working on bigger definition pictures, but working on a several pictures simultaneously. 

Hard Drive

There’s is 2 types :
– Mechanical Hard drive : the price per GB is low with correct datarate.
– Memory Flash Hard drive : High price per GB but with high datarate.

The most important point and often unknown, is the management of the hard drive on the system. You should avoid writing and reading at the same time on the same disk.