Avid Technology HP Z840 Instruction Manual

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Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
Avid Configuration Guidelines
HP Z840 Dual CPU Workstation
Dual 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 core

Page 2 of 23
Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
1.) HP Z840 AVID Qualified System Specification:
Z840 / AVID Qualified Operating System:
Supported: Microsoft® Windows 7 Pro 64-bit Edition withSP1 (SP1 required)
Supported: Microsoft® Windows 8.1 - Pro and Enterprise (64-bit)
Supported: Microsoft® Windows 10 - Pro and Enterprise (64-bit) –Requires M/C 8.5 minimum
Z840 Hardware Configuration
Supported v4 CPU Choices
 Dual Intel® 8-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2620v4 2.1Ghz 8-core / 2400Mhz Memory (Processor will run memory at 2133MHz)
E5-2667v4 3.2Ghz 8-core / 2400Mhz Memory
 Dual Intel® 10-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2630v4 2.2Ghz 10-core / 2400Mhz Memory (Processor will run memory at 2133MHz)
E5-2640v4 2.4Ghz 10-core / 2400Mhz Memory (Processor will run memory at 2133MHz)
 Dual Intel® 12-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2650v4 2.2Ghz 12-core / 2400Mhz Memory
E5-2687v4 3.0Ghz 12-core / 2400Mhz Memory
Please note: The following 14-core and 16-core CPU configurations require a minimum
of Media Composer 8.5.x
 Dual Intel® 14-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2680v4 2.4Ghz 14-core / 2400Mhz Memory
E5-2690v4 2.6Ghz 14-core / 2400Mhz Memory
 Dual Intel® 16-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2683v4 2.1Ghz 16-core / 2400Mhz Memory
Supported v3 CPU Choices
 Dual Intel® 8-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2630v3 2.4GHz / 2133MHz memory (Processor will run memory at 1866MHz)
E5-2640v3 2.6GHz / 2133MHz memory (Processor will run memory at 1866MHz)
E5-2667v3 3.2GHz / 2133MHz memory
 Dual Intel® 10-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2650v3 @ 2.3GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory
E5-2660v3 @ 2.6GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory
E5-2687v3 @ 3.1GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory
 Dual Intel® 12-Core Xeon® Processors
E5-2670v3 @ 2.3GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory
E5-2680v3 @ 2.5GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory
E5-2690v3 @ 2.6GHz 20MB cache / 2133MHz memory

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Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
Supported Video Card
1.) NVIDIA K4200 4GB PCI-e graphics card
2.) NVIDIA K5200 8GB PCI-e graphics card
3.) NVIDIA M4000 8GB PCI-e graphics card (MC ver 8.4.3 or later required)
4.) NVIDIA M5000 8GB PCI-e graphics card (MC ver 8.4.3 or later required)
5.) AMD W7100 8GB PCI-e graphics card (AMD driver 15.20.1045 required)
6.) AMD WX7100 8GB PCI-e graphics card (AMD driver 16.40.3801 required)
7.) NVIDIA M6000 12GB/24GB PCI-e graphics card (Nvidia driver 362.13 required)
8.) NVIDIA P4000 8GB PCI-e graphics card (Nvidia driver 376.84 required)
9.) NVIDIA P5000 16 GB PCI-e graphics card (Nvidia driver 376.84 required)
10.)NVIDIA P6000 24 GB PCI-e graphics card (Nvidia driver 376.84 required)
System Disk Drive - 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 7200RPM (minimum recommended) , H.P. offers higher performing
solid-state and SAS boot drive options which are acceptable options. Recommend an HP qualified drive be
selected.
Memory Configurations
- Systems using the newer gen v4 CPU’s will use 2400MHz memory
- Systems using the older gen v3 CPU’s will use 2133MHz memory
-
Standard 32GB AVID memory configuration: All dual CPU configurations.
32GB (8 x 4GB) ECC memory –
(Requires eight 4GB DIMMs, DIMM sizes cannot be mixed sizes)
4GB 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
Higher capacity memory configurations: Avid Media Composer software can run in a larger capacity memory
environment
Supported 64GB memory configuration: All dual CPU configurations.
64GB (8 x 8GB) ECC memory –
(Requires eight 8GB DIMMs, DIMM sizes cannot be mixed sizes)
8GB 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
Supported 64GB AVID memory configuration: All dual CPU configurations.
64GB (16 x 4GB) ECC memory –
(Requires sixteen 4GB DIMMs, DIMM sizes cannot be mixed sizes)
4GB memory modules must be installed in the following memory slots:
CPU0-DIMM1, CPU0-DIMM2, CPU0-DIMM3, CPU0-DIMM4
CPU0-DIMM5, CPU0-DIMM6, CPU0-DIMM7, CPU0-DIMM8
CPU1-DIMM1, CPU1-DIMM2, CPU1-DIMM3, CPU1-DIMM4
CPU1-DIMM5, CPU1-DIMM6, CPU1-DIMM7, CPU1-DIMM8

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Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
Memory configurations above 64GB: Media Composer has not been tested, and does not formally support
memory environments above 64GB. If configuring the Z840 for an environment larger than 64GB capacity, for
the benefit of Media Composer the following rules should be adhered to for all dual CPU configurations.
1.) The configuration must use 8 DIMM’s or 16 DIMM’s
2.) Memory lanes must be balanced
3.) Memory configurations which use “unbalanced” memory configuration are not recommended or
formally supported in AVID environments
4.) Memory configurations which mix and match memory module sizes and locations may result in a
poor performing, non-optimal operating environment.
5.) For 8 DIMM configurations the same size memory DIMM must be installed in the following DIMM
slots:
CPU0-DIMM1, CPU0-DIMM3, CPU0-DIMM6, CPU0-DIMM8
CPU1-DIMM1, CPU1-DIMM3, CPU1-DIMM6, CPU1-DIMM8
6.) For 16 DIMM configurations follow step #5 above, and then populate the following 8 additional
DIMM slots. The size of the memory DIMM for these slots must all be the same, but, do not have
to be the identical size as the DIMM’s installed in step #5 (i.e., for example, the DIMM’s installed in
step #5 could be 8GB DIMMs and the DIMM’s installed in the following slots for this step could be
4GB DIMM’s):
CPU0-DIMM2, CPU0-DIMM4, CPU0-DIMM5, CPU0-DIMM7
CPU1-DIMM2, CPU1-DIMM4, CPU1-DIMM5, CPU1-DIMM7
2.) Qualified Operating Systems, Avid Client Editing Applications and CPU core-count restrictions:
Supported OS:
Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition with SP1 (SP1 required)
Microsoft® Windows 8.1 Professional / Enterprise 64-bit Edition
Microsoft® Windows 10 - Pro and Enterprise (64-bit) –Requires M/C 8.5 minimum
Not Supported - Microsoft® Windows –any 32-bit version, or Home, Ultimate or Educational version
Application
Minimum Rev
Supported CPU
core-count
Media Composer 8.x
8.5.0
Supports the new v4
14 and 16 core CPUs
Media Composer 8.x
8.2.0
Maximum
12-core CPU’s
Media Composer 7.x
7.0.4.1
NewsCutter 11.x
11.0.4.1
Note regarding Service packs:
As of this writing Service Pack 1 is the current Service Pack release for Win7 and is required for Avid software.
As future Service Packs are released Avid will evaluate and announce formal support when testing is
completed.

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Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
3.) Qualified Hardware and shared storage support:
Qualified / Supported
Nitris DX / Mojo DX
Yes
Avid Artist DNxIO
Yes –Supported
Can connect via PCIe or Thunderbolt 2
PCIe vs Thunderbolt Guidance
PCIe Guidance
Supports Win7 , Win 8.1 and Win 10
PCIe preferred as it requires less system over-head due to
direct PCIe to PCIe connection between the host CPU and
Artist DNxIO.
(PCIe is limited to 3-meter cable max length).
Thunderbolt 2 Guidance
Thunderbolt 2 - higher system over-head , particularly if
sharing additional Thunderbolt devices on the same
Thunderbolt bus with DNxIO.
HP Z840 supports only one Thunderbolt HBA in a Z840
with single Thunderbolt port (resulting in Thunderbolt bus
sharing for multiple Thunderbolt devices).
Thunderbolt 2 offers support of cable lengths up to
60-meters (via qualified Corning Thunderbolt cables) for
users needing to physically place the Artist DNxIO at
longer distances from the host CPU Workstation.
Avid Artist DnxIQ
PCIe only with BMD cable kit
Thunderbolt 3 not supported
3rd Party Qualified Hardware
See release notes and Avid website for information
regarding supported 3rd party hardware
NEXIS / ISIS Single 1Gb Ethernet Client
NEXIS / ISIS Dual 1Gb Ethernet Client
ISIS 5500 / 5000 , 7500 / 7000 v4.0
NEXIS Pro, E2, E4, E5 V6.01
NEXIS / ISIS Hi-res (single10Gbit) client
Myricom Single-Port 10Gbit
ISIS 5500 / 5000 , 7500 / 7000 v4.0
NEXIS Pro, E2, E4, E5 V6.01
NEXIS / ISIS Ultra Hi-res client
(dual 10Gbit)
Myricom Dual-Port 10Gbit
ISIS 5500 / 5000 v4.7
NEXIS Pro, E2, E4, E5 V6.01

Page 6 of 23
Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
4.) AVID qualified HBA info
AVID qualified HBA
AVID Part Number
Slot
Location
Function / Notes
Vendor qualified 3rd party
PCI-e interface requiring:
x16 PCI-e Gen3 or lesser
interface
Not stocked by AVID
#6
Vendor qualified 3rd party hardware interface. See release
notes and Avid website for information regarding supported
3rd party hardware
Avid Artist DNxIO interface
HBA
Active: 7030-30048-02
Active: 7030-30048-01
#1
Avid Artist DNxIO interface HBA
Supported only with the Gen 2 version HBA’s:
7030-30048-02 and 7030-30048-01
Avid Artist DNxIQ interface
HBA
BlackMagic PCIe cable
kit
#1
PCIe Gen 3 Interface card and cable kit from BMD
DNxIQ only
Nitris-DX / Mojo-DX
Interface HBA**
Active: 7030-30048-02
Active: 7030-30048-01
Active: 7030-20084-01
#5
Avid Nitris / Mojo DX Hardware Interface HBA –Supported
with any of the three listed Active HBA’s
HP Thunderbolt-2 PCIe I/O
HBA**
HP Option G8U72AV
(After-Market HP P/N)
F3F43AT
#5
Thunderbolt devices including:
- 3rd party supported video I/O devices
- storage solutions
- Avid Artist DNxIO - when cable distance longer than
3-meters is required (Host Workstation to DNxIO)
Myricom Single-Port
10G-PCIE-8B-S
7030-30041-01
#4
Shared Storage: NEXIS / ISIS 10Gb-Ethernet for
Hi-Res client (ISIS 5000 / 5500 / 7000 / 7500)
Myricom Dual-Port
10G-PCIE2-8B2-2S
Not stocked by AVID
#4
Shared Storage: NEXIS / ISIS Dual 10Gb-Ethernet for
Client v4.7 only (ISIS 5500 / 5000 only)
Requires installer package 1.1.13 which installs driver 1.1.14
(the install package is bundled with ISIS 4.7.3)
Intel i350-T2 Dual Gb NIC
Not stocked by AVID
#4
Shared Storage: NEXIS / ISIS Dual Gb-Ethernet
Intel PRO 1000 PT
7030-20139-01
#4
Shared Storage: NEXIS / ISIS Dual Gb-Ethernet
Intel PRO 1000 PF Gb Fiber
(Single or Dual Port)
Not stocked by AVID
#4
Shared Storage: NEXIS / ISIS Optical Fiber Gb-Ethernet
HP Z Turbo Drive
PCIe Solid State Storage
Not stocked by AVID
Various
See HP link for config info:
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/z-turbo-drive.html
Red Accelerator
Not stocked by AVID
#3, #4, #5 or
#6
Hardware Accelerator for RED files
** Critical Support Note for Avid DX Interface and HP Thunderbolt HBA: (See page 16 for detailed information)
- Important note –If installing an Avid DX interface HBA (for Nitris-DX or Mojo-DX), or HP Thunderbolt HBA in slot
#5, jumper E3 on the Z840 motherboard must be placed on pins #1 and #2. Failure to do so will result in
intermittent / unreliable operation of any hardware connected to either HBA.
Artist DNxIO and Nitris-DX / Mojo-DX Interface HBA Support Note: (See reference pictures on page 17).
- For Artist DNxIO –Only the Gen2 versions 7030-30048-02 , -01 are supported
- For Nitris-DX and Mojo-DX –Any of the 3 versions are supported: Gen2 versions 7030-30048-02 , -01 and Gen1 ver 7030-
20084-01

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Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
6.) Slot Configuration:
Slot Configuration Information
Slot #
Electrical
Mechanical
1
x4 PCI-E Gen 3
x8
Artist DNxIO PCIe interface, Artist DnxIQ BMD PCIe card
Or, user defined use, potential utilization:
HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Storage HBA , SAS Storage controller etc.
2
x16 PCI-E Gen 3
x16
Graphics Card:
Nvidia K4200, K5200, M4000, M5000, M6000, P4000, P5000, P6000
AMD W7100, WX7100
3
x8 PCI-E Gen 3
x8
Not accessible when Nvidia K5200, M5000, M6000, P5000 or P6000
Graphics Card is used.
User defined use, potential utilization:
HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Storage HBA , SAS Storage controller,
Red Accelerator etc.
4
x16 PCI-E Gen 3
x16
Shared Storage Controllers for NEXIS / ISIS:
Myricom 10G-PCIE-8B-S
Myricom Dual-Port 10G-PCIE2-8B2-2S (ISIS 5500 / 5000 v 4.7 or later)
Intel i350-T2
Intel PRO 1000 PT
Intel Pro 1000 PF Gb Fiber HBA (single or Dual-port)
or Red Accelerator / HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Storage HBA
5
Configurable via
motherboard Jumper E3
x8 PCI-E Gen 3
or
x4 PCI-E Gen 2
x8
Avid HIB, Nitris-DX / Mojo-DX Interface HBA
Active: 7030-30048-01 , 7030-30048-02 & 7030-20084-01
Or HP Thunderbolt-2 PCIe I/O HBA ,
HP Option G8U72AV when ordered with system.
HP Option F3F43AT if ordered as an after-market option.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/oas/product-
detail.html?oid=6946210#!tab=features
Important note –If installing an Avid DX interface HBA or H.P. Thunderbolt HBA in slot
#5, jumper E3 on the Z840 motherboard must be placed on pins #1 and #2. Failure to
do so will result in non-recognition / intermittent / unreliable operation of either HBA.
See page 16.
Or Red Accelerator / HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Storage HBA
(For Red Accelerator or Z Turbo Drive, slot #5 must be set for x8 Gen3 PCI-E)
6
x16 PCI-E Gen 3
x16
Vendor Qualified 3rd Party Hardware PCI-e Interface requiring:
x16 PCI-E Gen3 (or lesser interface) / Full –Length PCI form factor
or Red Accelerator / HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Storage HBA
7
x1 PCI-E Gen 3
x1
Use this PCI-E space for Break-out connections for 3rd party products such as the
BlackMagic DeckLink HDMI ports, external x4 SAS connection from embedded mother
board SAS ports etc.,
Embedded Intel
I218-LM Gb NIC
PCI-E x1
Gen 2
Qualified for Avid NEXIS / ISIS connectivity
Embedded Intel
I210 Gb NIC
PCI-E x1
Gen 2
Qualified for Avid NEXIS / ISIS connectivity

Page 8 of 23
Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
7.) Required system BIOS settings for AVID environments:
Hyper-Threading Setting:
Please Note: CPU Hyper-threading should be enabled. It is currently enabled by default by HP
Z840 Required system BIOS settings:
1. Verify CPU Processors are set to Hyper-Threading
2. Set Memory NUMA –Disable
Z840 Optional system BIOS settings**
** Only required if the User is experiencing recognition, operational or audio “popping” when using a USB
audio I/O device (such as an Mbox or 3rd party USB audio device). These settings will resolve any of these
issues which might be experienced with USB audio I/O devices.
1. Set Runtime Power Management - Disable
2. Set Idle Power Savings - Normal
3. Set Intel Turbo Mode –Disable
Set Z840 Required system BIOS settings:
- During boot up press F10 at the HP splash screen to invoke Set Up.
- Select the Advanced tab
- Select Performance Options
- Verify Intel Hyper-Threading setting is Enable
If Hyper-Threading is set for Disable then it must be changed to Enable
- Return to the Main screen
- Select Advanced Tab
- Select Performance Options
- Select Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA)
- Default setting is Enable
Change this setting from Enable to Disable
- Return to the Main screen
- Select “Save Changes and Exit”
- When prompted to “Save Changes?” , select “Yes”
- System will reboot
Set Z840 Optional system BIOS settings: **Only required if connecting USB audio I/O devices and experiencing any of
the issues described above..
- Select Advanced Power Options
- 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
- Return to the Main screen
- Select the Power tab
- Select Hardware Power Management
- Select Turbo Mode (This setting might not appear once the Runtime Power Management setting has
been disabled. This is o.k. and means Turbo Mode has been disabled).
- Default setting is Enable
Change this setting from Enable to Disable
- Select “Save Changes and Exit”
- When prompted to “Save Changes?” , select “Yes”
- System will reboot

Page 9 of 23
Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
8.) Qualified GPU’s, Drivers and settings:
AVID S/W
Version(s)
OS
GPU
Driver Required
Media Composer
8.6 and later
Win 7
Win 8.1
Win 10
Nvidia P4000, P5000,
P6000
AMD WX7100
Nvidia 376.84*
AMD 16.40.3801
Media Composer
8.6 and later
Win 7
Win 8.1
Win 10
Nvidia K4200, K5200
M4000, M5000,
M6000 (24GB or 12GB)
AMD W7100
Nvidia 362.13*
AMD 15.20.1045
Media Composer
8.5 and later
Win 7
Win 8.1
Win 10
Nvidia K4200, K5200
M4000, M5000,
M6000 (12GB ver)
AMD W7100
Nvidia 353.82*
AMD 15.20.1045
Media Composer
8.4.3 and later
Win 7
Win 8.1
Nvidia K4200, K5200
M4000, M5000,
M6000 (12GB ver)
AMD W7100
Nvidia 353.82*
AMD 14.301.1019.1001
Media Composer
8.2.0 and later
7.0.4.1 and late
Win 7
Win 8.1
Nvidia
K4200, K5200
Nvidia 340.84
NewsCutter
(11.x)
11.0.4.1 and later
Win 7
Win 8.1
Nvidia
K4200, K5200
Nvidia 340.84
After installation of the AVID software the supported Nvidia driver can typically be found in the following directory:
Program Files / Avid / Utilities / Nvidia
If needed search the Avid KB for the specified Nvidia or AMD driver.
*For Nvidia drivers, two separate Nvidia installers exist–One is for Win7 / Win8.1 and the other for Win10.
Both versions are provided with M/C
The required GPU files and installation instructions for AMD graphics can be found at the following Avid KB
link:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/download/AMD-Supported-GPU-Drivers
The required GPU files and installation instructions for Media Composer 7.0.4.1 can be found at the following
Avid KB link:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/Media-Composer-7-0-4-1-Nvidia-GPU-Update
The required GPU files and installation instructions for NewsCutter 11.0.4.1 can be found at the following Avid
KB link:

Page 10 of 23
Dave Pimm –Avid Technology –May 4th 2017
Rev E
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/NewsCutter-11-0-4-1-Nvidia-GPU-Update
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