Best Mac for the Job

[Chris Elliott]

Thanks for posting this question as I am in precisely the same position myself. I don’t know if I should invest in a Mac Pro (quad or 8 core) or a Macbook Pro with lots of grunt.

I look forward to replies!

Chris

A complete and utter new boy but willing to learn and contribute if I can!

[Brian Charles]

I’m very happy with the previous MacPro 8 Core (2008). I have 16GB of RAM and the standard 8800GT 512MB video card. From experience I can tell you that the video card makes little difference for AE renders. OpenGL is poorly implemented in AE and nearly useless. The more expensive cards really only make a difference for gamers, not in a production setting.

The newer MacPros use DDR3 RAM, they work best in matched sets of 3 DIMMS. The 8 core has 8 slots so you’re best bet is to fill the first 6 with matched pairs. The tests I’ve seen at Bare Feats and elsewhere (https://mac.blorge.com/2009/03/18/nehalem-mac-pro-performance-it-goes-to-11/) clearly show where the sweet spot lies. They benefit from faster throughput despite the lower processor speed vs the 08 model.

I’d advise against a laptop for performance, only 2 cores and you’re limited on RAM. That said, the laptops are much faster than the production desktops of a few years ago, so if you need the portability and are willing to spend more time rendering and waiting for previews – go for it.

[Brendan Coots]

For both of you a quad-core mac with 8GB RAM is plenty of power, if not overkill, for your needs. The octo mac is total and complete overkill except when it comes to doing 1920×1080 content with many dozens of 3d layers etc. Even then the octo really only helps with render times.

Spend the money on more RAM instead. You should always aim to have 2GB RAM per CPU core, per Adobe’s recommendation. This will allow After Effects to max out each core’s potential while rendering (each CPU core can address up to 2GB RAM, so for a quad-core you need 8GB total). This is one area I wouldn’t skimp on if you can afford it, as it really makes a difference when it comes to render/preview times.

As for the video card, it makes no difference whatsoever as After Effects makes little use of it.

For video previewing I can strongly recommend the Blackmagic Decklink Studio card for monitoring on a professional broadcast monitor with BNC inputs on the back. If you are planning to monitor on an LCD HDTV, the BlackMagic Intensity is cheaper and features a single HDMI out. Both are specifically for video production use. They don’t merely show the desktop on your monitor, they only send your comp window and even then only when you want it to (per the preferences in AE). Both downscale HD for viewing on standard def monitors which is quite handy. If you can’t afford a true professional broadcast monitor, you will be previewing via a firewire cable. If you have a monitor/TV that takes Firewire you can just plug right into it. Otherwise, you will need a device that goes between your computer and the TV, translating the Firewire signal into standard Component or Composite outputs that all TVs accept. One such device that is commonly used is the Grass Valley ADVC110.

Aside from that you shouldn’t need anything too special. Some people will always suggest insane systems but it’s just not necessary, especially for standard def. I completed probably 15 High Definition (full 1920×1080, not HDV) projects last year on macs configured to the above specs and it was very smooth sailing.

Let me know if any of this is confusing.

Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com

[Janice Gowan]

I do all my video work in AE. Lots of 3d layers and effects.My composites are 1920×1080. I not sure I’m working in the correct format. I want to produce a 3min video for hdtv.(in my composites are videos from my hd camera) When I do a ram preview it stops at 15secs, I thought I was running out of ram but now from reading these posts it might be ram and cpu power. I’m new to this type of video work and I’m loving it but I feel I’m missing something. (not sure how everything works…yet)
I bought this imac (DDR2) a year ago and bumped the ram to 4g. My question is do I buy a mac pro with 16g ram or the new (DDR3) mac pro laptop with 8g ram. I had a laptop and I kinda miss the mobility. Plus I’m thinking I could hook the laptop up to the hdtv and use it as a monitor if I need to. I think I have read too much that I need a simple answer.
This website has taught me so much in a short period of time. Maybe I have outgrown my imac….
I hoping you can help me. thks