New MacPro 8-Core Test Results. What Do You Think?

[Corey Benoit]

So I was thinking about getting the 12-core Mac Pro however after reading numerous posts the 12-core is faster than the eight core with multithread processing however is actually noticeably slower than the 8-core when it comes to single core computing specifically for encoding H.264.

Here is a link to my geek bench result, how does this look?

browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/1093026


Below is some of the test results I have achieved between my different machines.

Macbook Retina Pro (mid-2012): Editing off of the SSD Sandisk extreme pro via USB 3.
core i7 2.6ghz
16gb ddr3
nVida 650m 1GB

Hackintosh Tower: Editing off of 7200 rpm drive. 109 mbps via black magic utility LOL.
core i7 nehalem overclocked @ 3.4ghz
16gb ddr 3
nVidia GeForce 480GTX 1.5 GB

Mac Pro: Editing off internal SSD 950 MB/s WRITE, 905 MB/s READ!
8-core xeon E5 3.0ghz
32 gb ddr3 ECC
AMD FirePro D700's 12gb gddr5
1 TB SSD Flash



TEST: 15 second duration for each test clip


Playback:

4k ProRes HQ NO Effects
macbook retina = 20 fps
hackintosh = 24 fps

4k ProRes HQ LUT, Color Correct
macbook retina = 16 fps
hackintosh = 18 fps
Mac Pro = 24 fps

4k ProRes HQ LUT, Color Correct, NR
macbook retina = 1 fps
hackintosh = 5 fps
Mac Pro = 24 fps

4k RAW NO Effects
macbook retina = 11 fps
hackintosh = 5 fps
Mac Pro = 24 fps

4k RAW CC, LUT
macbook retina = 3 fps
hackintosh = 9 fps
Mac Pro = 23 fps

4k RAW CC, LUT, NR
macbook retina = 1 fps
hackintosh = 4 fps
Mac Pro = 17 fps

2.5k RAW NO Effects
macbook retina = 14 fps
hackintosh = 19 fps

2.5k RAW CC, LUT
macbook retina = 8 fps
hackintosh = 20 fps
Mac Pro = 24 fps

2.5k RAW CC, LUT, NR
macbook retina = 3 fps
hackintosh = 10 fps
Mac Pro = 22 fps

Render:


4k ProRes HQ NO Effects
macbook retina = 13 fps
hackintosh = 13 fps

4k ProRes HQ CC, LUT
macbook retina = 12 fps
hackintosh = 12 fps
Mac Pro = 41 fps

4k ProRes HQ CC, LUT, NR
macbook retina = 1 fps
hackintosh = 5 fps
Mac Pro = 32 fps

4k RAW NO Effects
macbook retina = 4 fps
hackintosh = 8 fps

4k RAW CC, LUT
macbook retina = 3 fps
hackintosh = 7 fps
Mac Pro = 22 fps

4k RAW CC, LUT, NR
macbook retina = 0-1 fps
hackintosh = 4 fps
Mac Pro = 17 fps

2.5k RAW NO Effects
macbook retina = 7 fps
hackintosh = 11 fps

2.5k RAW CC, LUT
macbook retina = 5 fps
hackintosh = 11 fps
Mac Pro = 38 fps

2.5k RAW CC, LUT, NR
macbook retina = 2 fps
hackintosh = 7 fps
Mac Pro = 23 fps


5 second 4k prores clip with color correction:
macbook retina pro (mid 2012): 3 minutes 29 seconds
hackintosh: 1 minute 3 seconds
8-core new mac pro: 28 seconds

Resolve 4k ProRes HQ. Color Correction, LUT, NR
Macbook Retina 2012: Playback = 1 fps, Render = 1 fps
Hackintosh: Playback = 5 fps, Render = 5 fps
8-core mac pro: Playback 24 fps, Render = 32 fps

EDIT: More Test Results Added.


**The Macbook Retina Below is the newer version. I sold the one above and conducted these tests with the new Macbook Retina Pro. Its noticeably faster than the 2012 model, and 2013 model.

Cinebench CPU

Macbook Retina Pro 15" (mid-2014 *Brand New*) - 602 CB
MacPro 8-Core - 1180 CB (12-core is 1279cb)

1080p HD timeline in FCPX - Approximately 3:52 length. Render to h.264

Macbook Retina Pro 15" (mid-2014 *Brand New*)
Single Pass = 0:44
Multi Pass = 6:20

MacPro 8-core
Single Pass = 3:20
Multi Pass = 3:59

4k Timeline 3840x2160 FCPX - Approximately 5 Second Clip. Render to ProRes HQ - Film Look, contrast, color, txt

Macbook Retina Pro 15" (mid-2014 *Brand New*)
Render Time = 0:09

MacPro 8-core
Render Time = 0:05

4k Timeline 3840x2160 FCPX - Approximately 5 Second Clip. Render to h.264 - Film Look, contrast, color, txt

Macbook Retina Pro 15" (mid-2014 *Brand New*)
Single Pass = 0:17
Multi Pass = 0:33

MacPro 8-core
Single Pass = 0:10
Multi Pass = 0:18

[William Hohauser]

Very impressive results however how much of the incredible speed difference between single and multi core is the result of the video boards in the MacPro?

[Corey Benoit]

Thanks. More test results added

[Corey Benoit]

Its also cool to see that the 8-core is only 5.8% slower than the 12-core on cinebench in multi-cpu test, yet its 30.5% faster in the single cpu test. 8-core truly is the best balance.

Also many have worried or complained about the GPU not being ready for gaming. The cinebench results show that the D700's are powerful.