Hey all,

    I'm trying to see if I meet the minimum requirements for Media Composer (currently using Xpress Pro 5.8) and could use some help. I'm sure these are probably easily answered questions for some. I'm confused and appreciate any and all help. Thanks.

     -Nvidia Quadro FX 560 - I don't know what's higher than this. How do I find out what is a part of the progressive improvement from the Quadro FX? Also, does anyone know what price the quadro fx starts at? If I need to get a new card to upgrade I'd like to spend the least amount. I'm having a hard time finding prices.

    Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz - I also don't know where this falls in the line of processors. If you have a Pentium 3 or 4 does that automatically mean you're okay?

    Also, it says that only Nvidia video cards are supported. Does that mean other cards may work with media composer and that avid just doesn't offer "support" like technical support, etc. for those other cards? Or does it mean no other cards work with media composer?

Thanks again.

"Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz - I also don't know where this falls in the line of processors. If you have a Pentium 3 or 4 does that automatically mean you're okay?"

 From what I read of system specs the only system with a single processor is the xw8200 on a 3.4 of 3.6Ghz (I believe on that system it is only a Pentium Xeon processor). So the answer is no.. if you have a pentium 3 or 4 you MAY not be okay.

"Nvidia Quadro FX 560 - I don't know what's higher than this. How do I find out what is a part of the progressive improvement from the Quadro FX? Also, does anyone know what price the quadro fx starts at? If I need to get a new card to upgrade I'd like to spend the least amount. I'm having a hard time finding prices."

Ever heard of eBay? Or even nVidia? HERE is the page on nVidias website that lists all the Quadro FX boards... from there you can discover the pricing (i.e. eBay or some other selling source).

"Also, it says that only Nvidia video cards are supported. Does that mean other cards may work with media composer and that avid just doesn't offer "support" like technical support, etc. for those other cards? Or does it mean no other cards work with media composer?"

As usual it means Avid has tested those boards and states they work and are supported. Anything outside of the 'supported' boards is your guess and at your own risk, as usual.

MikeD2:

I'm trying to see if I meet the minimum requirements for Media Composer

Hi,

If you tell us what you're running now (processor, gfx card, etc) we can help you figure out what you may need to upgrade.

good luck,
Carl 

 I'm using an ATI Radeon 9800 128mb video card - I know it's not the newest but it works fine with xpress pro 5.8. And I'm using a Pentium 4 3.0GHz processor. I didn't find anywhere in the 5.8 documentation that said the video card I'm using isn't supported, but I gues Media Composer is only supported with Nvidia.

Check out my specs below. I have a pentium 4 3.06 and MC3 is working fine.

Salud!

 do u think an ati video card would work?

To be quite honest, I don't know. I do know my 7800gs work great, and one day soon I'll make the transistion to the recommended specs. But I would look into an Nvidia card though...

Salud!

Don't even try ATI.  Maybe if you are only cutting DV footage for wedding videos and that is all you do the ATI might work....if all the stars are lined up correctly in the sky.

But seriously, even if you get it to work, the day will come when you are under a deadline with some HDV footage or something you don't normally do, you'll hit a bug with Avid and the ATI drivers, and then everyone on here will tell you "your card isn't supported" and then you'll miss your deadline and lose more money and years off your life than if you just bit the bullet and got an nVidia card now.

jasperfdo:

...and then you'll miss your deadline and lose more money and years off your life than if you just bit the bullet and got an nVidia card now.

Couldn't agree more. Basically with unsupported hardware, you have a 50-50 chance that it will work and even if it does initially, there are no guarantees for the long term. So the question now is, how much is your peace of mind worth?

Yep, I think I'm going to look into an nvidia card. I'm still confused on the processor though. I'm not really sure how to tell that I'm above the minimum requirements, with all the different types, etc. Anyone know?

 Mike:

Here are the official system requirements for Media Composer Soft, Media Composer Mojo DX, and Media Composer Nitris DX.

The official announced prices are: Media Composer Soft - $2,495.00   Media Composer Mojo DX - $9,995.00   and  Media Composer Nitris DX - $14,995.00.

 I'm really not trying to keep hammering on the same subject, I just really don't understand.

I have a pentium 4 3ghz processor. Does anyone know if this is above the intel core 2 duo 2.33ghz (which is the minimum requirement for media composer 3)? I think I can afford the graphics card upgrade but if my processor's not good enough I'm kinda out of luck for upgrading.

Again, I'm not trying to try anyone's patience, I just have a hard time when it comes to the details of computer components. Thanks again all.

"Does anyone know if this is above the intel core 2 duo 2.33ghz ..."

Pentium 4 = approx 2004
Core 2 Duo = approx 2007

Here's the history, in reverse order ....

http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickrefyr.htm

Avid is a little precious when it comes to the various components and minimum requirements required to successfully run their products; essentially the quoted specs are built around two factors; 1) which companies have paid Avid a gratuity in exchange for the blessing of their equipment and/or 2) bullet-proof system specs which reduce, as far as possible, the chances of technical assistance being required by the customer (which makes perfect sense on myriad levels).

If you are running a high-end business, it is wise to invest in a fully qualified system; to do otherwise is to set yourself up for disaster. I say this with some qualification as I have first-hand experience of high-end Avid systems in the Broadcast environment and the problems which have arisen with every link in the chain.

If, like me, you have a low-end business, i.e. a sole operator running a single edit workstation, you can adopt a more flexible approach to Avid's recommendations. In my private work, I don't think that any of the systems I've used over the years has ever contained a single component that has Avid's blessing (and if there has been Avid-approved componentry it's purely coincidental).

I recently installed MC v3 and while it is stable on my current system (see my system specs), I will nevertheless be upgrading with the following components:

Intel Core 2 Quad processor

GeForce GV-NX98X512H-B (9800 GTX) graphics card

4GB Ram

The cost of my new system will be about a quarter the cost of an Avid certified system, and should, all things being as equal as they have been for the last ten or so years, be more than able to handle anything expected of it.

One very important word of advice: do NOT use Realtek HD audio as your sound card as Avid simply will not work with Realtek audio.

cheers.

MikeD2:

 I'm really not trying to keep hammering on the same subject, I just really don't understand.

Mike - I'm going to assume that you are not a hardware guy and hence the confusion.  So please don't be offended if I get too basic, but here's the deal:

Intel has made huge leaps in the technology driving their processors in the last few years.  What does that mean? 

1) that 2.33GHz processor you mentioned is a 'dual core' processor which means it is actually two 2.33GHz processors (or cores) in a single processor 'footprint' meaning a 4.66 processor (for multi-threaded apps which Avid is).

2) Additionally, a single core in the new 2.33GHz Xeon processors will smoke that Pentium 4 3GHz processor.  Xeons are designed to handle more work than Pentium processors, but in addition to that, the architecture in the new Intel core 2 processors means they can do more in less cycles than the older versions.  For conversation sake, let's say it takes your Pentium 4 10 clock cycles to do a task.  That newer 2.33 processor will do it in 5-6 easy.  And then combine that with an additional core and you have just cut processing time for the same task by like 80%.

Those are not book accurate comparisons, but the example is very close.  So my answer to you would be you'll probably get Avid to open and be able to do some basic stuff but it will be SLOW. If you are just cutting DV home videos that are not that long it might do it.  But don't even think about touching HDV and getting into long sequences with many FX, etc.