AE optimized workstation build needing advice

[Walter Soyka]

You do not need to dedicate an entire SSD to project files. I’d put project files and assets on one drive, and the cache on another.

The Quadro M5000 is very probably overkill, unless you need a Quadro-specific feature. Consider high-end GeForce cards.

The performance difference between the memory slot configurations you’re discussing is negligible. The quantity of RAM is more important if you’re doing a lot of high-res, high-frame rate work. Planning for expansion as you are is smart.

Ae CC 2015 has a lot of interactivity improvements over 2014, but it doesn’t yet have the same level of multi-CPU support for renders. I suggest installing both 2014 and 2015, working in 2015, and rendering with 2014.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Manu Dre]

Thank you for your response Walter.I was planing on getting a Titan X before especially for the CUDA since i work a lot with Element 3D but I’ve heard it doesn’t support 10bit and as I’ve mentioned, my company wants to start implementing RAW footage from our new Black Magic Ursa. I’m not sure how much of a difference it would make to color correct RAW footage without 10bit output.So the reason i opted for the Quadro M5000 is that it supports 10bit output and also has a fare amount of CUDA cores. Uh decisions!

So you’d say that getting 4 32gb cards would be a good idea instead of 8 16gb?

That’s a great tip about CC 2014. I’ll check if i can download it from my CC account.

One more thing. I’ve read that Windows uses part of the primary hard disc memory for ram memory paging and if you have a lot of ram it is recommended to get bigger ssds. Do you know anything about that?

Again thanks a lot for your help Walter. The world needs more people like you!

Andre Monteiro

[Walter Soyka]

[Andre Monteiro] “I’m not sure how much of a difference it would make to color correct RAW footage without 10bit output.So the reason i opted for the Quadro M5000 is that it supports 10bit output and also has a fare amount of CUDA cores.”

I hear you. I have a Quadro for 10-bit output, too. Which monitor are you looking at?

[Andre Monteiro] “So you’d say that getting 4 32gb cards would be a good idea instead of 8 16gb?”

If you intend to upgrade, it’s entirely possible that replacing all the memory later will be less expensive than buying the higher-density RAM now. Not sure this matters too much.

[Andre Monteiro] “That’s a great tip about CC 2014. I’ll check if i can download it from my CC account.”

You can. CC subscribers are entitled to all versions of Ae going back to CS6.

[Andre Monteiro] “I’ve read that Windows uses part of the primary hard disc memory for ram memory paging and if you have a lot of ram it is recommended to get bigger ssds. Do you know anything about that? “

You can move the page file to whichever drive you like, or even disable it entirely on a high-memory system.

https://www.howtogeek.com/126430/htg-explains-what-is-the-windows-page-file-and-should-you-disable-it/

[Andre Monteiro] “Again thanks a lot for your help Walter. The world needs more people like you!”

Thanks for the kind words, Andre. A lot of people helped me early in my career, so I’m just paying it forward. I’d invite anyone to do the same.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Manu Dre]

[Walter Soyka] “I hear you. I have a Quadro for 10-bit output, too. Which monitor are you looking at?”

The monitor will have to wait a little so at the moment, none. Any suggestions? I’ve been using an Aquos HDTV 40 inches for a couple years and love it for it’s size. Most of my projects are broadcasted on tv and when I get to watch them,i’ve never felt like i could have done anything better if I had a proper monitor.(I work at a small production company though) So getting a 4k tv crosses my mind some times. Or maybe I’ll keep using my tv and add a 4k monitor just for 10bit stuff.

[Walter Soyka] “If you intend to upgrade, it’s entirely possible that replacing all the memory later will be less expensive than buying the higher-density RAM now. Not sure this matters too much.”

I think you’re right on that. Although the 4 32gb cards are slightly more expensive than the 8 16gb ones,they say 4 cards for each CPU is recommended and I don’t have the budget to get 8 32gb cards.

That article about the paging was a mind opener. Thanks a lot!

I’d like to ask you what are your thoughts on water cooling? The station I’m building was originally configured with air only. I hear various opinions about it and got curious on what you might think.

[Jon Simpson]

Water cooling is always a better option but as AE is highly RAM intensive, that is your best focus at this point, given your expense limitations. Your CPU will not be bearing nearly as much load as your RAM will be.