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Advice on PC config for pp pro 5.5.1
Hi All,
Since Apple doesn’t seem to be interested in pros anymore, i thought it might be time to get a PC instead of wasting money on ATI cards and cool designs.
Things is: I never owned a PC. My budget for Hardware (no monitor) is $3000-$4000.
What should I get? -
11 Replies
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You can do it for a lot less that the price you are talking about. I just did it 2 weeks ago and I am thrilled.
1. Off the shelf HP AMD II – 6 core @2.9Ghz, 8GB RAM, 1.5 TB hard drive, and the usual IO
2.Remove the video card, and buy one of the recommended cards. I spent $339 on an Nvidia GTX 570 wit 1.28GB of DDR3
3. I purchased a SATA 3 PCIE card and put in 2 X 3TB SATA III drives software raided drives (5.5TB total)
4. I bought an ESata external card to feed my G-Raid 4TB raid system.
Everything else is the software which you can cross grade.
I spent $1200.00 on the hardware. I get 8-10 layers (That’s how much I have tried) of HD (XDCAM EX) of video with animation, and FX on every layer. I might get more for an additional $100 for 16GB of RAM, the max the system can take.
I finished my last FCP 7 project today, and will begin my first non testing CS5.5 project on Monday.
Worth every penny. Now, I will tell you I plan on keeping the Mac’s, as they work better than anything on the internet, and I don’t worry about virus, etc. I consider my PC an Editing Machine. I come from the old days, when we used 3/4 inch tape, and a Special FX generator, so to call this PC an edit only system is not an issue for me, especially as it cost so little to get so much.
Good Luck
Darren@dbkcreative.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/dbkcreative -
Pierre, before you make any decisions, I suggest you get input from some very knowledgeable folks at the Adobe Hardware forum. These people have been using PrP with PCs for a while and might have some helpful input into your investment for the future.
https://forums.adobe.com/community/premiere/hardware_forum?view=discussions
BTW did you try implementing mys suggestion about switching the Preview function in the Sequence Settings screen? Its nice to know if it helped or not 😀
Tom Daigon
Avid DS / PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
Mac Pro 3,1
8 core
10.6.8
Nvidia Quadro 4000
24 gigs ram
Maxx Digita / Areca 8tb. raid -
See this post and all that it links to:
“What computer and components should I buy for Premiere Pro…?”———————————————————————————————————
Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
Technical Support for professional video software
After Effects Help & Support
Premiere Pro Help & Support
——————————————————————————————————— -
Any feedback on this build? Again, I’m a form mac user..
Features:
STD-PACKAGE – (3) Front USB 2.0 – Multi Card Reader – Symantec Ghost 15 – Free Remote Setup HelpChipset:
X58SABR-A – Intel x58-GigabitLAN-(6) SATA 3.0Gbps-(2) SATA 6.0Gbps-1394a-(9) USB 2.0-(2) USB 3.0-(2) eSATACPU:
BX80601960 – Intel Core i7-960 Quad Core Processor 3.20 GHz 4.8 QPI 8MB CacheSystem RAM: DDR3133312GB-2 – 12GB (6x 2GB DDR3-1333)
Case: CSE733TQ665B – Black Workstation Mid Tower – 665W HE PS – (4) SATA 3.0Gbps Bays
System Drive: ST32000641AS – 2TB SATA 6Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 7200RPM
Spare Drive: ST32000641AS – 2TB SATA 6Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 7200RPM
Primary Bay Option: LG22X – LG 22X DVD-Writer (Double-layer) DVD/CD Recorder w/ NERO
Display Adapter: QUAD4000 – nVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB DDR5 DVI/Display Port PCI-e 2.0
Internal Video Raid: 2xST32000641AS-0 – 2x 2TB SATA 6Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 7200RPM 4TB RAID-0
Operating System: singlebootwin7 – Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
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While I could very easily be wrong and there is probably a lot of things Apple has done up to now that would lead you to think they are or have left the Mac Pro market.
But, if you’ve never owned a PC, I’d suggest you wait.
If Apple is going to leave the Mac Pro business, I think they would have done it by now. The current Mac Pro needs updating, but they have yet to update it. So, why keep a Mac around that needs updating, if you’re not going to update it?
Apple recently ended the MacBook products. But, they dropped the MacBook Air in it’s place. They waited for the new Air before the dropped the MacBook. So, I think they’re keeping the Mac Pro around for the same reason. It’s going to either get updated and/or somehow replaced.
Most Mac Pro users seem to think that Apple is simply waiting for Intel’s next round of processors for the Mac Pro. Which I believe will come out 4Q of this year.
For me, I got tired of waiting and decided to upgrade my Mac Pro. I have an early 2008, Quad Core 3.2 GHz version. I installed an SSD Boot/Application/User drive. Really fast. Boosted my memory up to 24 GB. And installed an NVIDIA Quadro 4000. Now my Mac is much faster. And, coming from FCP7, Premiere Pro runs very fast and is very happy with the Quadro 4000.
You might be sorry if you buy a Windows machine now and a few months later a new Mac Pro comes out.
If, however, FCPX was your last straw as a hard core Apple lover, I mean user … Then I would suggest considering building your own PC. I realize that sounds crazy. But …
It’s not that hard, I’ve done it. You pick what you want and can even save some money. Having been a PC user, I’ve been through several Micron and Dell workstations over the years. None have held up as well, with as few problems as my Mac Pros.
If you build your own, get an Intel Motherboard for your Intel processors. Most big PC companies design their own motherboards. Get the SATA/RAID controllers you want. Get the HDDs you want, such as good enterprise drives, or even SSD boot drives. And get the best Adobe approved CUDA graphics card. Newegg.com is a great place to find everything you need, best prices and some decent value reviews. Including getting a Quadro 4000 For Mac.
The other advantage about building your own Windows machine, is you get to install Windows. Just Windows. When you buy a PC from companies like Dell, you have to un-install all kinds of SW you will never need. Plus, if you ever have to re-install the OS (hey, that never happens) you have a Windows install DVD, not some system restore DVD.
Most important, don’t forget to get some Anit-virus software. I realize if you have only been a Mac user, you’ll probably have to google Anit-virus.
Either way, good luck.
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You will get more responses if you post in the Adobe Hardware forum I gave you the link to. 😀
Tom Daigon
Avid DS / PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
Mac Pro 3,1
8 core
10.6.8
Nvidia Quadro 4000
24 gigs ram
Maxx Digita / Areca 8tb. raid -
Follow the RAM guidelines, and err on the side of gratuitous. 3GB RAM per CPU core is one level of the Adobe guideline. Add another 2-6GB for system & other apps.
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I have included a component list, from a recent consulting job for an independent video producer who is finally upgrading his primary edit system. I gave him 2 different cost/performance levels. The listed costs are from a popular, reliable online supplier. The prices have surely changed somewhat by now, but should still be very close. He had already purchased internal drives. The 2 final cost totals do not include the assembly. He plans to have an experienced builder put it together for him. Obviously, an internal (and external)raid setup should be implemented.
The Lists
Computer Case with Cooling Fans – COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Compucase Case with USB 3.0 and Black – $129.99 AFTER MAIL-IN REBATE.
Power Supply – COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RS850-AMBAJ3-US 850W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply – $138.22
Motherboard – ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard – $224.99
Processor – Intel Core i7-990X Extreme Edition Gulftown 3.46GHz 6 x 256KB L2 Cache 12MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80613I7990X – $999.99
Alternate – Intel Core i7-980 Nehalem 3.33GHz 6 x 256KB L2 Cache 12MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80613I7980 – $599.99Memory (Ram) – G.SKILL Ripjaws X + Fan Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2200 (PC3 17600) Desktop Memory Model F3-17600CL9Q-16GBXLD – $629.99
Alternate – G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7Q-16GBRL – $119.99Video Display Card – PNY VCQFX3800-PCIE-PB Quadro FX 3800 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 SLI Supported Workstation Video Card – $839.99
Alternate – PNY SuperClocked VCGGTX580XPB-OC GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card – $509.99System Hard Drives – Western Digital VelociRaptor WDBACN6000ANC-NRSN 600GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5″ Internal Hard Drive x 2 – 2 x $219.99 = $439.98
The first drive has Windows 7 Professional operating system installed and all of your programs; the second drive is a clone of the first drive but is left
disconnected in the case as a backupInternal Sata 6 Media Raid 0 Drives – What did you already buy?
External Sata 6 or USB 3.0 Storage Drives – What did you already buy?
CD/DVD/BluRay Burner Drive – Pioneer Black 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 8X BD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner BDR-206DBKS x 2 – 2 x $109.99 = $219.98
Computer LCD Monitors – Need 2 – Should be able to display 1920 x 1080 full HD res. – What did you buy?
Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit – $140.00
System 1 with fastest processor, ram and video display card – $3,764.00
System 2 with fast processor, ram and video display card – $2,524.00
Mouse and Keyboard
External audio speakers
John D. Frey
25 Year owner/operator of two California-based production studios.Digital West Video Productions of San Luis Obispo and Inland Images of Lake Elsinore
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I think you will get just s much bang for your buck with a GTX570, or 580. It’s about half the price of the card you have spec’d, and I’m not sure it’s not overkill.
Just a thought
DBK
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My background: I’m a PP5.5 user, and I’ve build my own workstations.
Thoughts:
1) Scrap the Quadra. The GeForce 570/580 cards are faster for PP usage and SOOOO much cheaper.2) more RAM if you can. My current build has 24GB and that fills up when I render. AME knows how to use RAM, and it uses ALL of it.
3) Get BluRay if you feel like it… this isn’t Mac anymore, you can have anything you want!
4) RAID 0 can be scary… I’d suggest, if there’s room in the case that you add one more drive and make a RAID 5 with 4 disks, leaving one for the system.
5) you can probably make all the changes I’ve suggested and it’ll cost less because of ditching the Quadro.
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