Silverdraft - NAB 2015

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An interview from the 2015 National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas with Steve Bannerman and Amy Gile of Silverdraft. Silverdraft, makers of the high-performance Devil and Demon systems based on supercomputing technology, is unleashing the next-generation of its solutions with custom-tuned Devil supercomputers and fast Demon workstations offering greater computing muscle in small footprints. In this interview Steve talks with us about the Devil & Demon Strategy, and updated versions of its Devil supercomputers and Demon workstations.

Devils are scalable, supercomputing systems that deliver virtually unlimited compute power to performance-hungry applications. Now 20% faster, each Gen 2 Devil system features over 400 Intel E5 v3 CPU cores in 12 nodes, connected via a lightning-fast InfiniBand backbone. Combined with Micron DDR4 RAM and storage, this virtually latency-free design delivers huge gains in performance over previous models in an enclosure that fits under a desk. Multiple Devil systems can be clustered together via InifiBand, delivering practically limitless scalability.

Demons are highly tuned desktop workstations that are optimized for specific applications. The Demon systems feature the same Intel E5 v3 processors and Micron DDR4 RAM and storage as the Devil range. Now 20% faster, the new Demon systems include single and multi-processor configurations in both a standard desktop form factor, with eight PCIE slots (four of them x16), and a compact form factor that delivers the same performance as the previous generation but in half the footprint.

The Demon line has been expanded to include Demon Gamer Extreme, DGx, a new gaming configuration that gives users ultimate control over the performance of their system and gaming experience. The DGx system features the same Demon architecture but with user controls on the case front for over-clocking without going into the BIOS. It also features modules for user monitoring of fan speed, CPU temperature, bus speed and bus multiplier.

Additionally in this interview Amy talks with us about Silverdraft's plan to create a unique supercomputing lab in the heart of Hollywood, slated to open in the fall of 2015. Located at the historic Jim Henson Studios, The Silverdraft Center For Content Creation (SC3) will enable freelance artists, and creators of content, such as games, Virtual Reality (VR) and immersive cinema, to post-produce and render their projects using the fastest, most highly-optimized technology in the industry. It will offer a 4K screening theater, as well as multiple creative bays running professional systems for postproduction and rendering workflows for 3D animation, VFX, Digital Intermediate (DI) and finishing, as well as VR content creation for platforms such as Oculus Rift.

The SC3 will give content creators first-hand experience with state-of-the-art workflow tools typically associated with high-end facilities, while enhancing the quality and production value of their projects and decreasing turnaround times.

The SC3 will also serve as a showcase for Silverdraft technologies, where artist feedback will go directly into the pipeline for future product development. Each of SC3’s creative bays will contain a combination of Silverdraft Devil & Demon supercomputers and workstations featuring, high-performance Micron components, to power their workflows. Meanwhile, all artists will have access to a shared 4K screening room. The Silverdraft team will collaborate with artists as they create their projects to deepen the understanding of workflow bottlenecks and challenges, and to deliver new solutions.

For more information please visit: http://www.Silverdraft.com