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Recommended Windows system for PremProCS4? HD
I am researching the best complete computer system for use with Premiere Pro and the entire CS4 Master Collection. My budget is $4,000. (I will already be spending an additional $1,200 to upgrade my CS3 to CS4 Master Collection).
Here are the parameters I’d like to have:
The ability to edit HDV, Red 2k, XDCAM (Possibly some Red 4k for green screen)
Computer with 4 to 8 cores. Hopefully can go with 2 processors.
12gb to 16gm RAM.
A sufficient nvidia Quadro graphics card. (2 outputs if I want to add a 2nd monitor later)
20-24″ widescreen monitor
Raid with at least 2tb of hard drive space. (I don’t know much about Raid but think I need the speed for HD).
64 bit Windows 7?
Firewire for my existing DVCam deck.
Blu Ray driveAm I missing anything? Any special hardware combinations needed for CS4? I’m not sure what to ask?
Anyone know of a system in this price range? And who to purchase from? And will it work without too many crashes or errors?
Thanks.
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4 Replies
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Gary:
I just ordered almost precisely what you have described. I went with a Dell Studio XPS 9000. The specs are:
1 Intel Core i7-920 processor (4 cores)
12 GB RAM
One 1 TB OS drive (SATA) (WD Caviar Black variable speed)
One Project RAID 0 array with 3 drives of 2TB each (SATA) (WD Caviar Black variable speed)
Dual 30″ 2560 x 1600 monitorsAs for the video cards … I spent all week trying to figure this one out. It is a very difficult decision. However, I found a site that benchmark’s Premiere Pro windows machines and the top machines all used the ATI Radeon HD 4870 cards. They are less expensive than nVidia Quadro cards, and are actually much faster in many ways. They don’t have the CUDA stuff, but I am not sure that matters very much for Premiere. Maybe more so for CS5, but the card is only $300 … I can always swap it out later if I want.
I have been editing for a while on the predecessor to this Dell (the original Dell StudioXPS 435) and it works like a champ.
By the way, we are planning on doing the RAID and video card ourselves … we ordered a base machine and will upgrade it when it gets here.
Neil Myers
Connect Public Relations
CS4 Master Suite, 3DS -
Neil! How do ou like the i7-920?
What computer did you upgrade from, and how do they compare now that you’re working with the new machine?
https://www.youtube.com/graphicsdump
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My current desktop is very similar — i7 920 @ 2.67Mhz and 12GB of RAM. The desktop I used before was different (sorry, I wish I had the specs but I don’t). But it was an older CPU and 4GB of RAM and Windows XP 32 bit.
When I upgraded I went with the i7, 12GB and Windows Vista 64. What a difference!
No more crashing and I can run Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, Bridge and Soundbooth simultaneously.
But, I am not sure how much of the improvement was due to each change. I suspect the 64 bit OS and the 12GB of RAM was the biggest thing.
Neil Myers
Connect Public Relations
CS4 Master Suite, 3DS -
I found the specs on my older desktop …
Dual-core Intel® Core™2 Duo with 1066MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache, XD, VT, EIST
4GB RAMNeil Myers
Connect Public Relations
CS4 Master Suite, 3DS
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