Graphics card for P2 in Avid

markyramone62

markyramone62

Member
Hi,

I'm building a new PC to run Avid Express Pro HD with P2 (mxf) files. Would appreciate advice on suitable graphics card. The Avid site lists system requirements but not specifically for P2. Also I'm reading in the Avid forums that DVCPro HD is not always stable in Avid (depending on the system). Can't find a definitive answer there and I don't have the budget or the work to warrant a top end card.

Otherwise I plan to include Intel Quad core 2.66ghz with 2 x 3mb cache and 2mb RAM. Not interested in gaming capabilites.

Appreciate any advice.

Regards,
Mark.
 
Go with the best Avid approved video card you can. That means nVidia, something in the Quadro series. If you're dead set on running Xpress Pro you should be okay with an FX1300, 1400, or maybe the 570 (I think, it may have been the FX590). You can find 3450 cards for reasonable prices too.

Any card outside the Quadro series may work, but it may not or it may break when you upgrade your software. Better to spend more now for a system that definitely works than take a chance on a card that doesn't.

I also suggest you upgrade from Xpress Pro to Media Composer (upgrade is about $500 and worth every penny). You'll get a more powerful system, be totally up to date, and get much better handling of P2. Plus, mixed formats and framerates in the timeline, full quality and realtime!

Also, bump up your RAM. I'd go with Vista64-bit so you get a free upgrade to Windows7 when it's released (but don't install W7 until Avid approves it). With Vista64 then Windows7 64-bit you can throw more than 4GB of RAM into your system and it will use it all. I'd go with 8GB.

One last note regarding video cards. In Avid, there isn't one card that will handle P2 better than another, per se. The more powerful graphics card (from the approved list) you have the more powerful your system will be but there isn't any one card that's designed to handle P2 better than another. So just go with the best Quadro you can afford and you should be fine.

And DVCProHD is fine in Avid, especially if you upgrade to Media Composer.

Michael
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top