Avid Configuration Guidelines
HP Z820 Dual Six-Core / Dual Eight-Core CPU Workstation
Media Composer 6.x Symphony 6.x NewsCutter 10.x and later
Page 1 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
1.) HP Z820 AVID Qualified System Specification:
Z820 / AVID Qualified Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition with Service Pack 1
Z820 Hardware Configuration
Supported CPU Choices
1.) Dual Intel® 6-Core Xeon® E5-2640 Processors @ 2.5GHz 15MB cache / 1600MHz memory
(The 6-Core Xeon® E5-2640 Processors will run the 1600MHz memory at 1333MHz speed due to the speed limitation of the memory controller in the E5-2640 Processor).
2.) Dual Intel® 8-Core Xeon® E5-2665 Processors @ 2.4GHz 20MB cache / 1600MHz memory
Supported Video Card
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB PCI-e video board
System Disk Drive - 1TB (minimum recommended) SATA-II 3Gb/s 7200RPM
Standard AVID memory configuration: 16GB (8 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 ECC memory –
(Requires eight 2GB DIMMs, DIMM sizes cannot be mixed sizes )
2GB memory modules must be installed in the following memory slots:
CPU0-DIMM1, CPU0-DIMM3, CPU0-DIMM6, CPU0-DIMM8
CPU1-DIMM1, CPU1-DIMM3, CPU1-DIMM6, CPU1-DIMM8
Memory configuration constraints
-
No other memory configurations are formally supported in AVID environments. Only the 16GB (8 x 2GB), configuration is supported. Un-balanced memory configurations which mix and match memory module sizes and locations will result in a poor performing, non-optimal operating environment.
2.) Qualified Operating Systems, Avid Client Editing Applications, Hardware and Shared-Storage support for the HP Z820:
-
Media Composer / Symphony 6.x , NewsCutter 10.x or later
-
Supported: Only Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition with SP1 (SP1 required)
-
Not Supported – Any version of Microsoft® Windows XP or Vista
-
Not Supported - Microsoft® Windows 7 – any 32-bit version, or any version of Home, Ultimate or
Enterprise editions.
Note regarding Service packs:
As of this writing Service Pack 1 is the current Service Pack release for Win7. SP1 is required for Media
Composer 6.x, Symphony 6.x and NewsCutter 10.x. As future Service Packs are released Avid will evaluate and announce formal support when testing is completed.
Page 2 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
3.) Qualified O.S., Hardware and shared storage supported:
Nitris DX / Mojo DX
3 rd
Party Qualified Hardware
Unity ISIS 1Gb Ethernet Client
Unity ISIS Hi-res (10 Gbit) client
Qualified Operating System
Service Pack
1394 Adrenaline DNA
1394 Mojo-SDI DNA
1394 Mojo-Analog DNA
Qualified / Supported
Yes
See release notes and Avid website for information regarding supported 3 rd
party hardware (vendor qualified)
ISIS 5000 / 7000 V4.0
ISIS 5000 / 7000 V4.0
Win 7 Pro 64-bit
SP1 – Required
N/A Not Supported
N/A Not Supported
N/A Not Supported
Page 3 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
AVID qualified HBA
Vendor qualified 3 rd
party hardware interface requiring:
x4 PCI-E or lesser interface
¾ Length PCI form factor or smaller
Vendor qualified 3 rd
party hardware interface requiring:
x8 PCI-E or greater interface
Full Length PCI form factor
Intel PRO 1000 PT
AVID qualified HBA info
Slot
AVID Part Number
Not stocked by AVID
Location
#1
Not stocked by AVID #6
Function
Vendor qualified 3 rd
party hardware interface.
See release notes and Avid website for information regarding supported 3 rd
party hardware
Vendor qualified 3 rd
party hardware interface.
See release notes and Avid website for information regarding supported 3 rd
party hardware
Intel i350-T2 – Dual Gb NIC
Intel PRO 1000 PF - ISIS
Myricom
10G-PCIE-8B-S
Avid HIB, DX Interface HBA
**
7030-20139-01
Not stocked by AVID
Not stocked by AVID
7030-30041-01
#3
#3
#3
#3
Shared Storage: Unity ISIS Copper Gb-Ethernet
Dual Gb ISIS Connectivity
Shared Storage: Unity ISIS Copper Gb-Ethernet
Dual Gb ISIS Connectivity
Shared Storage: Unity ISIS Optical Gb-Ethernet
Shared Storage: Unity ISIS 10Gb-Ethernet for
Hi-Res client
(ISIS 5000 / 7000)
Avid DX Hardware Interface HBA
Active: 7030-30048-01
Active: 7030-20084-01
Passive: 7030-30021-01
Not stocked by AVID
#5
Atto R680
LSI 9200-8e SAS controller
Pro Tools HD h/w
Red Rocket Accelerator
7030-30036-01
Not stocked by AVID
#1 or #4
#1 or #4
#3 and / or #4
#3, #4 or #6
Local SAS Storage Support –
Avid VideoRAID ST (5-bay)
Xtore StudioRAID 5Ti (5-bay)
SAS Local Storage:
Xtore StudioRAID 16Re (16-bay) chassis
Xtore StudioRAID 5Te (5-bay) chassis
Pro-Tools h/w for Pro-Tools co-install
Accelerator for RED files
**
Avid DX Interface HBA Support Note: (See reference pictures on page 7 of this guide ).
All 3 versions of the DX interface HBA are supported on the Z820 with Media Composer / Symphony 6.x and
NewsCutter 10.x
1) Active DX interface HBA 7030-30048-01
2) Active DX interface HBA 7030-20084-01
3) Passive DX interface HBA 7030-30021-01
Page 4 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
4.) Slot Configuration:
Slot #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Electrical x4 PCI-E Gen 3 x16 PCI-E Gen 3
(225Watts) x8 PCI-E Gen 3 x16 PCI-E Gen 3 x4 PCI-E Gen 2 x16 PCI-E Gen 3
PCI-E 32bit /33MHz
Embedded Intel
82574L
Gb NIC
Embedded Intel
82579LM
Gb NIC
Mechanical x8
Openended
Connector x16 x16 x16 x16 x16
PCI 32/33
PCI-E x1
Gen 1
PCI-E x1
Gen 1
Slot Configuration Information
Vendor
Qualified 3 rd
Party Hardware PCI-e Interface
requiring: x4 PCI-E or lesser interface
¾ Length PCI form factor or smaller
OR
(Secondary slot location) Local SAS Storagec ontrollers:
Atto R680
LSI 9200-8e
Graphics Card:
Nvidia Quadro 4000
Shared Storage Controllers ISIS 5000 / 7000:
Intel PRO 1000 PT
Intel PRO 1000 PF
Intel i350-T2
Myricom
10G-PCIE-8B-S
or Pro Tools HD h/w or Red Rocket Accelerator
Local SAS Storage Controllers:
Atto R680
LSI 9200-8e
or Pro Tools HD h/w or Red Rocket Accelerator
Avid HIB, DX Interface HBA
Active: 7030-30048-01 & 7030-20084-01
Passive: 7030-30021-01
Vendor
Qualified 3 rd
Party Hardware PCI-e Interface
requiring: x8 PCI-E or greater interface
Full - Length PCI form factor
or Red Rocket Accelerator
Secondary SAS Port Break-out connector (Embedded)
Qualified for Avid ISIS 5000 / 7000 connectivity.
This is the NIC port adjacent to the Firewire port
Do not use for ISIS. Not qualified and is not functional with ISIS 5000 / 7000.
This is the NIC port adjacent to the blue and green audio jacks
Page 5 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
5.) Use of embedded NIC ports for ISIS connectivity Important Information
The Z820 has two embedded NIC ports. One port is the 82574L. The 82574L port is qualified for ISIS and should be used for single Gb connectivity to ISIS 5000 / 7000. The 82574L port is the port directly above the Firewire port. The other embedded NIC port is an 82579LM. The 82579LM will not work with ISIS and should never be connected to either ISIS 5000 or 7000. The 82759LM port is marked with the letters AMT and is adjacent to the blue and green audio jacks.
Embedded Intel network interface for ISIS connectivity:
Do not use the embedded
Intel
82579LM network interface for any
ISIS connectivity.
Use the embedded
Intel 82574L network interface for single Gb ISIS
5000 / 70000 connectivity.
For proper operation and connectivity of the Intel 82574L network interface with ISIS the following settings are required:
1. For the Intel 82574L driver, under the performance settings, change the following parameters:
- Receive Buffers to 1024
- Transmit Buffers to 1024
2. Disable the windows firewall.
6.) Utilization of the Z820 embedded (on-board) 1394 ports for Camera / Deck / Disk Drive support
Media Composer / Symphony 6.0 and NewsCutter 10 do not support Avid 1394 hardware such as Adrenaline and
1394 Mojo-SDI. This simplifies utilization of the Z820 embedded 1394 ports. The embedded 1394 ports can and should be used
for all 1394 Camera / Deck / Disk Drive connectivity for all configurations running Media Composer / Symphony 6.0 and
NewsCutter 10.
Page 6 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
7.) Various Configuration Details:
A.) D/X hardware configs –
All 3 versions of the DX interface HBA are supported with the Media Composer / Symphony 6.x and NewsCutter 10.x
1) Active DX interface HBA 7030-30048-01
2) Active DX interface HBA 7030-20084-01
3) Passive DX interface HBA 7030-30021-01
Active DX interface HBA 7030-30048-01 Active DX interface HBA 7030-20084-01
Passive DX interface HBA (7030-30021-01)
Page 7 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
B.) Qualified Avid system BIOS version(s): (As of this writing):
Failure to update the Z820 to an “Avid qualified BIOS” and set the BIOS settings per the instructions below may result in non-optimal operation of the AVID software and hardware.
- Minimum BIOS ver 1.12
Current Avid qualified Z820 BIOS information is maintained at the following Avid KB link: http://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=267609&Hilite=hp+bios
C.) Required system BIOS settings for AVID environments:
Hyper-Threading Setting:
Please Note: CPU Hyper-threading should be enabled in all configurations per the chart below. It is currently enabled by default by HP for shipping Z820’s with BIOS ver 1.12 or earlier
Software Version
Media Composer v6.x
Symphony v6.x
NewsCutter v10.x
Dual 6-core CPU
Enabled (Mandatory)
Dual 8-core CPU
Enabled (Mandatory)
Z820 Required system BIOS changes:
1. Verify CPU Processors are set to Hyper-Threading – Set per chart above. Current version
BIOS v1.12 has Hyper-Threading enabled by default
2. Set Memory NUMA – Disable
3. Set Runtime Power Management - Disable
4. Set Idle Power Savings - Normal
Z820 Optional system BIOS change:
1. Set Intel Turbo Mode
**
– Disable
**
Only required if connecting USB audio I/O devices. This setting will eliminate any audio
“motor-boating” or audio “popping” which may be experienced with USB audio I/O devices.
Page 8 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
Set Z820 Required system BIOS changes:
- During boot up press F10 at the HP splash screen to invoke Set Up.
- Select the Advanced tab
- Select Device Options <Enter>
- Verify setting is Enable
If Hyper-Threading is set for Disable then it must be changed to Enable
- Hi F10 to save the Hyper-Threading setting
- Select the Power tab
- Select OS Power Management <return>
- Select Runtime Power Management
- Default setting is Enable
Change this setting from Enable to Disable
- Select Idle Power Savings
- Default setting is Extended
Change this setting from Extended to Normal
- Hi F10 to save the Runtime Power Management and Idle Power Savings settings
- Select Advanced Tab
- Select BUS options
- Default setting is Enable
Change this setting from Enable to Disable
- Hi F10 to save the NUMA setting
- Press F10 twice to Save
- Save Changes and Exit
- System will Reboot
Set Z820 Optional system BIOS setting:
**
Only required if connecting USB audio I/O devices.
- Select the Power tab
- Select Hardware Power Management <Enter>
- Select Intel Turbo Mode
- Default setting is Enable
Change this setting from Enable to Disable
- Press F10 twice to Save
- Save Changes and Exit
Page 9 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
D.) Nvidia Qualified Driver:
Nvidia qualified drivers
AVID Software
Media Composer / Symphony
NewsCutter
Version(s)
6.0 and later
10.0 and later
Nvidia GPU
Quadro 4000
Nvidia Driver Required
275.89
After installation of the AVID software the supported Nvidia driver can be found in the following directory:
Program Files / Avid / Utilities / Nvidia
Set optimized Nvidia driver settings for Avid editing environments:
1. See picture below
2. Right-Click on the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel
3. Select the “Desktop” menu selection in the control panel menu bar.
4. Enable “Desktop -> Video Editing Mode
Page 10 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
5. Select Manage 3D Settings
6. Select “Global Settings” Tab
7. Under the “Global Settings” tab select “Base Profile” as shown in the picture below:
Page 11 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
8. Scroll down and locate the “Power Management Mode” feature. The default setting is “Adaptive” as shown in the picture below.
Page 12 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
9. For the “Power management mode” feature, select “Prefer maximum performance” as shown in the picture below.
10. Depress the “Apply” button.
Page 13 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
Make the following setting for “Multi-display/mixed-GPU acceleration”
11. Stay in the “Manage 3D Settings” and “Base Profile” area
12. Select “Global Settings” Tab
13. Scroll down and locate the “Multi-display/mixed-GPU acceleration” feature. See picture below. The setting should be set to “Multiple display performance mode”. If not set properly, select Multiple display performance mode and depress the “Apply” button. (The other settings are “Single display performance mode” and “Compatibility performance mode”. These settings are not recommended for
Avid editing environments).
Page 14 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
Make the following additional setting for “3D App-Video Editing”
14. Stay in the “Manage 3D Settings” area
15. Select “Global Settings” Tab
16. Under “Global Settings” tab select “3D App-Video Editing” setting as shown in picture below:
17. Depress the “Apply” button
18. Nvidia driver optimization settings for Avid environments are complete.
Page 15 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
E.) Nvidia Quadro GPU monitor connectivity:
The Nvidia Quadro 4000 graphics card has a single DVI port and two Display-Port ports
(Important: Display-ports are not HDMI ports; at first glance they do look very similar to HDMI ports)
( Please Note: Only two of the three video ports can simultaneously be used. Connecting to all three video ports at the same time will result in non-functioning video output from the Nvidia GPU video card.)
The HP Z820 includes one Display-Port-to-DVI adapter. HP P/N 481409-002
For dual monitor connectivity:
1. Use the DVI port and one Display-Port (Display-Port connection can be native display-port to monitor via display-port connection, or use the display-port-to-DVI-adapter supplied with the system to connect to a native
DVI monitor).
2. Or use two Display-Ports (Requires monitors with native display-port connections, two display-port to DVI adapters are not recommended when using dual display-port connections).
DVI Port
Display Ports
Page 16 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
F.) Serial Port Deck Control:
Serial Port Deck Control:
The HP Z820 workstation does have an embedded serial port. The embedded serial-port has been qualified by Avid and will maintain frame accuracy in Avid environments. Primary or secondary / additional serial port deck control can be established via two methods (both of which have been qualified by Avid and will maintain frame accuracy in Avid environments)
USB port of the Z820 directly to the RS422 port of a deck.
http://www.addenda.com/addenda-elect/products/rsUSB4.php
2. Combination of a Keyspan (Tripp-Lite) Model USA-19HS USB-to-serial-port adapter with Addenda Rosetta
Stone model RS – 2/8 RS232-to-RS422 converter
- Keyspan (Tripp-Lite) Model USA-19HS (AVID P/N 7080-20013-01) http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtSeriesID=518&EID=13384&txtModelID=3914
- Addenda Rosetta Stone (or equivalent) model RS – 2/8 RS232-to-RS422 converter (AVID P/N
7070-00507-01) http://www.addenda.com/addenda-elect/products/rs28.php
To connect the Keyspan 19HS / Addenda RS -2/8 combination:
- Install the Keyspan 19HS driver before plugging the device into a Z820 USB port.
- Once the Keyspan 19HS driver is installed then plug the Keyspan 19HS into a Z820 USB port.
- The Keyspan 19HS will now show up in device driver.
- Using a serial cable, connect the 9-pin serial port of the Keyspan 19HS USB adapter to the port of the
-
Addenda marked RS232 from PC
Using a 2 nd
serial port cable connect the port of the Addenda marked “RS422 to VTR” to the deck control serial port of the deck.
G.) O.S. setting recommendations for optimum performance with Avid Editing applications:
The following links provide O.S. setting suggestions for ensuring optimum performance when working with your Avid editing application with a Windows operating system.
- Optimizations for Video Editors - Windows 7 http://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=390339
Page 17 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
H.) Supported external local SAS storage connectivity via embedded SAS controller ports:
Supported
-
AVID VideoRAID SR (16-bay)
-
Xtore StudioRAID 16Re (16-bay) / 5Te (5-bay) chassis
The Z820 can support: a. Up to two external AVID VideoRAID SR (16-bay) SAS local storage chassis b. Mix and match of up to two external Xtore StudioRAID 16Re (16-bay) / 5Te (5-bay) chassis
Simultaneous connectivity of AVID VideoRAID and Xtore chassis is not formally qualified or recommended.
External SAS Port 2 External SAS Port 1
Page 18 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
I.) Set Windows “Visual Effects” for “best performance”:
1. Right-Click on My Computer / Computer
3. The screen below will be displayed:
4. On the left side of the screen above, locate and select “Advanced system settings”
Page 19 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
5. The System properties window will be displayed. (Picture below).
6. Under the “Advanced” tab depress the “Settings...” button for performance.
Page 20 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
8. Under the “Visual Effects” tab select the “Adjust for best performance” selection. (Picture below).
9. Depress the “Apply” button
10. Reboot Windows
11. Required Windows visual performance settings for Avid environments are now complete.
Page 21 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
J.) Intel NIC Port(s) for ISIS connectivity:
Embedded 82574L port / Intel PRO 1000 Dual Gb HBA / Intel i350-T2 Dual Gb NIC HBA
For proper operation and connectivity of any Intel NIC port used with ISIS the settings below are required.
Example below is for the Intel PRO 1000 PT.
1. For the performance settings, change the following parameters:
- Receive Buffers to 1024
- Transmit Buffers to 1024
2. Disable the windows firewall.
To set the Intel NIC Receive / Transmit buffers:
Go to device manager and select each instance of the network adapter device which will be used for ISIS connectivity.
Select performance options and then select Properties.
Page 22 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
Set Receive Buffers to 1024 Set Transmit Buffers to 1024
Perform this for each instance of and Intel NIC port which will be used for ISIS connectivity.
K.)
Disable the windows firewal l:
Navigate to Control Panel / Windows Firewall -- Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off
Page 23 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
Select Turn off windows firewall in both network locations, OK to save
Revision Update
Revision Date
Initial
Release
Sept 18 th
, 2012
Name
Joe Conforti
Update
Initial release of the Z820 configuration guide for support of
Media Composer 6.x, Symphony 6.x and NewsCutter 10.x
Page 24 of 24 Joe Conforti
– Avid Technology – September 14th, 2012
Rev A - Initial Public Release
