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Best Video Card for my system
Video card question:
I have a Mac Pro with Two 3.0Ghz Quad-core processors, plus 8GB of RAM and a 30 inch Cinama display. I am using a ATA Kona 3 card for my video output and Capture with FCP. My current graphics card is the Nvidea GeForce 7300 and needless to say, I’d like to upgrade asap. What is is the best video for running After FX, Motion, FCP, and possibly Maya on my system? I hate slow frame rate playback so I’d like to get the most robust card for the system. Right now I am trying to decide between the ATI X1900 XT and the NVidea Quadro FX 4500. Does anyone out there have experience with either of those cards on a system like mine? If there is another card I should be considering, please let me know about it as well.
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3 Replies
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the x1900xt is the one most would recommend. in the tests i’ve seen, it performs as good or better in most apps, the only app you listed that may perform better with the quadro is maya…
you may be able to find data or recommendations for maya and the two cards cards on maya’s site.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
I agree with Moldyboot, and just bear in mind that neither of the cards you listed will necessarily give you increased frame playback. In most apps that is more a function of available RAM than it is the video card. In After Effects you can enable OpenGL rendering when you have either of these cards and it will help, but the OpenGL implementation in After Effects is still fairly weak. Adding 4-8GB RAM is usually the biggest performance booster with these apps.
I don’t think FCP will use the GFX card too much either, except for some real-time effects. Motion and Maya both will take better advantage of the card, with Maya being the biggest winner here.
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[beenyweenies] “Motion and Maya both will take better advantage of the card… “
Along those lines, Apple’s Color app is very dependent on the graphics card. But beware, it’s a finicky app, not for the timid.
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