Please review my Adobe CS6 computer hardware

B

Bruce Watson

Veteran
I've got to build a new computer. The biggest thing it will face is the Adobe Production Premium CS6 suite (PPro, AE, AME, etc.). I'm probably not moving to CC, so this is CS6 only. Handling NLE software well is goal one. Most of the work I do involves capture at 1920x1080, editing at 1920x1080, and output to DVD (sometimes Blu-ray), and output to YouTube.

Goal two, this new PC has to be quiet. Not completely silent, but it should be as unobtrusive as possible since the tower is going to be sitting on my desk (yup, has to, don't ask).

I'm trying to build a PC that will do those things, be fairly well balanced, and come in at under $2000 USD. I've spent weeks researching, everything from the Video Guys DIY v10 built to the highly detailed work that Harm Miilaard has shared over on the Adobe PPro Hardware forum. And I've asked this same question on that forum. I'm asking here because I think this group has even more practical experience. This is what I've come up with so far:

Case: Antec P183v3
PSU: Seasonic x-850
Mboard: Asus Z87-Expert (for on-board Thunderbolt support, make RAID in much future easier)
CPU: Intel i7 4770K Haswell
CPU cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Optima (fits in case with about 2/3 inch to spare)
Memory: 16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 (might go 32GB right away, IDK)
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX-760, superclock version
HDD boot disk: WD VelociRaptor 500GB (OS, programs)
HDD: WD Black 1TB (sources and work files)
HDD: WD Black 1TB (rendering output)
Blu-ray: Pioneer DBR-209
OS: Windows 7 64 bit

Question 1: My reading of the Adobe specs indicates the graphic card support includes the GTX-6xx series, but not the GTX-7xx series. But everything I've read indicates the GTX-760 is safe to use, is faster (more cuda cores), and more energy efficient (so, cooler) than it's GTX-660 older brother. Any thoughts on video card?

Question 2: Win7 is old (mature?) and heading to EOL. But Win8 is largely reviled. Adobe seems to have given the all-clear to win8. So... for CS6, what do you think?

Question 3: Anything you would change in the above hardware list? If so, what and why?
 
Call ADK video editing. Try to talk to Eric, they'll point you in the right direction. They offer lifetime support and probably isn't more exspensive than doing it yourself.

A. You don't want to use on board raid
B. You don't need the volicirapter for your boot drive a 250GB ssd bill be plenty
C. If you plan on doing any 12 bit 444 or even 4K you need more than 16GB Ram.

A few tweaks you'll be on your way but I would consult with ADK first.

Good luck
 
By the way, I want to switch to an SSD drive for my main drive. Is there a reliable copy software out there so that I can transfer my main boot disk to SSD without problems?
 
I believe you can save a disk image feom your drive and then transfer it to your SSD. But I have always found if you can back up your important stuff you might as well do a clean install on the new SSD and just upload/reinstall what you need.
 
yea the main thing you could improve is switch to SSDs, they're 50cents a gigabyte now. use spinning discs for a second backup
 
But I hear SSD drives are not as reliable and the data gets lost and the lifespan is short.
 
OK, for the record this is what I actually built:

Case: Antec P183v3
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 850w (couldn't source the Seasonic X-850s)
Mboard: Asus Z87-Expert (for on-board Thunderbolt support, make RAID in much future easier)
CPU: Intel i7 4770K Haswell
CPU cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Optima (fits in case with about 2/3 inch to spare)
Memory: 16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 (might go 32GB right away, IDK)
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX-760, superclock version
SSD boot disk: Samsung 840 Evo
HDD: WD Black 1TB (sources and work files)
HDD: WD Black 1TB (rendering output)
Blu-ray: Pioneer DBR-209
OS: Windows 8.1 64 bit
Logitech k740 back light USB keyboard

This system works a treat for me. It's fast, quiet, cool. The SSD is really fast; I get 18 second boots and I haven't tried to tune it much yet. Win8.1 is a PITA (compared to win7) but it seems to be fast and reliable now, and yes, I did set it to log me in directly to the desktop and skip that Metro interface pretty much completely.

The Antek P183v3 case is excellent. Really like it. Easy to work with, really well made, and they send you everything, and I mean everything you need to put it all together (even the smaller thread screws needed to use their silicon rubber drive mounts with the SSD) so that I didn't need any additional mounting hardware once I started building. And that, is remarkable, which is why I'm remarking on it.

Only two tiny "complaints" if you can call them that. First, the case fans themselves are 3 pin instead of 4 pin, so their speeds have to be set manually by switches on the back panel, instead of letting the motherboard control fan speed. I suspect I'll have to replace the case fans with 4 pin fans this summer, but we'll see. Might not matter.

Only other shortcoming is that the audio from the motherboard is disappointing. I'll have to add a sound card I guess.

Other that that, I'm a happy camper.

Thanks to everyone who helped.
 
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