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Flexi 8.1 Multi-threading

choucove

New Member
I've been wondering what exactly Flexi 8.1 supports in the way of multi-threading. Is it optimized for dual-core processors, a noticeable increase in performance? How about more than just dual-threading like in a dual-core processor, like is it capable of really utilizing a quad-core processor?

I tried to contact SAi about this all directly twice and each time I've emailed them I have gotten absolutely no response back from them. I tried to contact the company that we originally purchased the Flexi 8.1 upgrade software, but they didn't know either exactly and would have to contact SAi as well to find out. I wished them best of luck.

I know this may be kind of confusing, I apologize, but with so many having so much experience and understanding of Flexi out there, perhaps you may be able to help me!
 

eforer

New Member
Flexi is not really setup well for SMP. Of course, neither is windows. It can't multi-thread a single RIP job, but it will utilize multiple cores/cpus (for those of us dinosaurs with multi xeon, opteron sytems) with multiple jobs ripping simultaneously.
 

signguy95

New Member
I actually just upgraded our computer a few months ago and when ripping a wrap job through production manager, it only used two threads. After upgrading to a dual core processor, it now will rip with five threads. The maximum is six threads but I couldn't get it to use all six? As far a flexi goes it will not use more than one instance. As where the benefit is with production manager!

Jay
 

choucove

New Member
Thanks for your quick input! I was actually researching this for purposes of a digital printer as well, so that is helpful to hear. Our big debate is using a single quad-core with higher clock speed or two quad-core processors with lower clock speeds to see which would have better performance if you ran one or two printers from the computer.
 
S

Sign-Man Signs

Guest
Sorry Fred , I know SAi is a merchant member but what is up with not answering emails. We pay $5000.00 for software and you would think someone in the company would fix the problem. Just another case of no service after the sale. Sad but true. I have had Flexi since I started but it's getting to a point that I will jump ship to whoever can support me. SAi, you need to get your act together and soon!
 

choucove

New Member
Sorry Fred , I know SAi is a merchant member but what is up with not answering emails. We pay $5000.00 for software and you would think someone in the company would fix the problem. Just another case of no service after the sale. Sad but true. I have had Flexi since I started but it's getting to a point that I will jump ship to whoever can support me. SAi, you need to get your act together and soon!

I know JUST what you mean. The sad thing is this time I didn't even have a problem I was trying to get solved. I just had a question about the software we've already purchased (on several machines even) that wouldn't take that much research to find the answer for. I didn't even go in to asking directly the debate between using a single quad-core processor with higher clock speed versus two quad-core processors with lower clock speeds. I figured that may cause them to never answer back. Guess it didn't take even that much.
 

eforer

New Member
It depends on whether you need to rip many jobs at once frequently, or whether you plan to mostly rip a couple at a time. Also, are you planning on doing any other work on it while it rips? I assume you have separate design stations.
 

signguy95

New Member
We have a dual core and I think the biggest gain on our printer came from have a good scratch disk, and our programs running from a raid setup! Without the scratch disk it took forever to generate and rip the wrap files, while adding a "GOOD" scratch disk proved to really improve rip times. Adding the dual core which allowed multiple instances of production manager to process the file at the same time (which was processing to the scratch disk, not VM) proved to also speed rip times.

I don't think a Quad core would produce any better results in the rip time, but might cause your system to be more stable during this? Actually mine doesn't even hiccup during the riping with the dual core. I can do anything I want during this!

Jay
 

Matthew Scher

New Member
Sorry Fred , I know SAi is a merchant member but what is up with not answering emails. We pay $5000.00 for software and you would think someone in the company would fix the problem. Just another case of no service after the sale. Sad but true. I have had Flexi since I started but it's getting to a point that I will jump ship to whoever can support me. SAi, you need to get your act together and soon!

Who are you emailing to? Typically, we respond within one day to any emails (my personal response time is much faster)
 

choucove

New Member
Who are you emailing to? Typically, we respond within one day to any emails (my personal response time is much faster)

I emailed twice to the General Info@SAintl.biz email address with the same sender address and questions but did not hear back from anyone.

This really helps me sorting out some planning for the computer system. This system wouldn't really be used for designing while it is also printing, but perhaps light design work might be done on it as well. The real multi-tasking it would be doing would be printing. Currently it will be running a single Mimaki printer, but the plans are running two digital printers from it so running two prints at once would about be it. In this case a higher clock speed may be more beneficial then, than additional cores for multi-threading.

We have also been looking at using a RAID array of two 15,000rpm serial attached SCSI hard drives for fast drive speed to help with large prints, but as this is the first time having any SAS drives, it's kind of uncharted territory for us. Still, most records indicate that a single 15k SAS drive can offer between 15% and 25% more performance in areas over a single Western Digital Raptor 10,000rpm hard drive.
 

stickerhead

New Member
Call Matthew Scher. He just helped me in a huge way with some of our Flexi issues at the shop! He's an extremely nice guy and eager to help.
 
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