I have an idea about to build a portable Mini-ITX multifunctional PC, which could get the big amount of RAW data from the Beta, store it on HDD + maybe it could work as a system which could process/encode the files and as a workstation too.
So we have 2 functions, recordingstation (A) and workstation (B).
I started to count with DCI 4K RAW data amount:
1 frame is: 4096 x 2160 x 12bit / 8 / 1024000 = 12,96 MB
So a 50fps 1 second long footage is: 12,96 x 50 = 648 MB
We need to transfer this data-amount and write it to somewhere. There is a relative "fresh" option for high speed SSD speeds, the M.2 connector with M key (PCIe x4 and SATA):
**[[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2 | M.2 connector ]]** with M key (PCIe x4 and SATA):
Till now the best M.2 SSD is the Samsung XP941**[[ http://www.samsung.com/us/hpworkstation/media/XP941_ProdOverview_2014_F.pdf | Samsung XP941 ]]** (**[[ http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Samsung-XP941-Plextor-PX-G256-M6e-M-2-Qualification-575/ | review, test ]]**), it has a "Peak Read Sequential Performance: Up to 1170 MB/s, Peak Write Sequential Performance: Up to 930 MB/s" in that case if the host interface is a PCIe 2.0 x4 port:
http://www.samsung.com/us/hpworkstation/media/XP941_ProdOverview_2014_F.pdf
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Samsung-XP941-Plextor-PX-G256-M6e-M-2-Qualification-575/.
The next question is, that which Mini-ITX motherboard has a support for this PCIe 2.0 x4 speed, till now I could find the Asus Maximus VII Impact:
specs:**[[ http://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VII_IMPACT/specifications/
pdf: | Asus Maximus VII Impact ]]** (**[[ http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/D1-e6snpizS.pdf | manual pdf ]]**)
Note: "The M.2 slot shares bandwidth with PCIe 3.0/2.0 X16 slot. Bandwidth on the PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 slot becomes x8 when M.2 device is inserted."
It doesn't count too much in the point of graphic card performance, if the PCIe port runs only in x8 mode:
**[[ http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GTX_980_PCI-Express_Scaling/21.html | It doesn't count too much in the point of graphic card performance, if the PCIe port runs only in x8 mode. ]]**
So this 256GB M.2 SSD could be a buffer (it's enough for 6-7 minutes DCI 4K 50fps RAW data) in recording mode (A) and could be a cache + storage for actual video datas in the workstation mode (B).
The Mini-ITX setup could look like this:
- Motherboard: Asus Maximus VII Impact (TDP ~30W)**[[ http://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VII_IMPACT/specifications/ | Asus Maximus VII Impact ]]** (TDP ~30W)
- Processor + cooler: Intel Core i7-4770S + Noctua NH-L9i (TDP ~65W + TDP ~10W)**[[ http://ark.intel.com/products/75122/Intel-Core-i7-4770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz, | Intel Core i7-4770S ]]** + **[[ http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=50&lng=en | Noctua NH-L9i ]]** (TDP ~65W + TDP ~10W)
- Memory: HyperX Fury 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600MHz (TDP ~18W)**[[ http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/HX316C10FBK2_16.pdf | HyperX Fury 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600MHz ]]** (TDP ~18W)
- SATA III port 1 (for 2 os, 2 partition + programs): Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD (TDP ~5W)**[[ http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/memory-cards-hdd-odd/ssd/840-evo/MZ-7TE250BW | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD ]]** (TDP ~5W)
- SATA III port 2 (for storage): Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200RPM (TDP ~20W)**[[ http://www.seagate.com/gb/en/internal-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/desktop-hdd/ | Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200RPM ]]** (TDP ~20W)
- M.2 SSD port: Samsung XP941 256GB (TDP ~5W)**[[ http://www.samsung.com/us/hpworkstation/media/XP941_ProdOverview_2014_F.pdf | Samsung XP941 256GB ]]** (TDP ~5W)
- PCIe x16 port in x8 mode (function A, recordingstation mode): a capture card, which can deliver the DCI 4K 50fps RAW data (TDP ~6-10W) ???
- PCIe x16 port in x8 mode (function B, workstation mode, many CUDA cores): MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB ITX Video Card (TDP ~170W)**[[ http://www.msi.com/product/vga/N760_2GD5OC_ITX.html#hero-specification | MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB ITX Video Card ]]** (TDP ~170W)
In the recordingstation mode, there is no need for powerfull graphic performance, so the onboard graphic function of the motherboard/processor could be used.
We have to power the system and till now I think so, that there is need for 2 separete power supplies.
- A mode (portable, recording station), 160W or 250W: HDPLEX**[[ http://www.hd-plex.com/fanless-ATX-power-supply | HD-PLEX 160W or 250W ]]**
- A mode, battery: ???
- B mode, 500W: there are many options
- B mode: AC power
Additional stuffs:
- There is need to switch the cards on the PCIe x16 port without to remove them, is there any active riser with a jumper or something?
- There is need to find and build a battery solution for 1 hour continous usage in recording station mode, which can be switched easily. This power supply and battery should be in a separate box, because in workstatoin mode the another power supply should be attached. Maybe wire out the ATX connector to the recording station body?
- There is need to design a good looking ikea style aluminium body for the setup, maybe with passive cooling and 2 modes (a closed and as good weatherproofness as possible in recordingstation mode and an "open" style for workstation mode). Cooling something like here (see gallery) + fan in workstatoin mode:**[[ http://www.hd-plex.com/hdplex-h1.s-fanless-computer-case.html | Cooling something like here (see gallery) ]]** + fan in workstatoin mode.
- There is need to control the device in recording mode without any keyboard or mouse, so a 7-10" touchscreen would be fine: (data-display group: **[[ http://www.datadisplay-group.com/tft-controller/tft-controller-rgb-dvi-hdmi/prismamini/ | link1 ]]**, **[[ http://www.datadisplay-group.com/distribution/tft-displays/according-to-size/ | link2 ]]**, **[[ http://www.datadisplay-group.com/message/detail/new-7-projected-capacitive-touch-screen-in-wide-format-169/ | link3 ]]**)
If you are interested in this please write your toughts, this is only an idea, I don't have any electricity and 3D design knowledge.