Hi,

I need the list of Media Composer compatible cards. I can't find this list on the site or from google-ing.

I need the best card that works w/ Avid MC for under $300.

Thanks!

I'd prefer ATI, but I can't get an answer anywhere as to whether it works.  I know it's not supporteed, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

Hi,

here you will find the system specs for Avid MC. The "cheapest" supported graphics card is the NVidia Quadro FX 560, which you should get below your $300.- limit. And staying in spec with MC is not a bad idea!

Regards, g_f

Search on "ATI" on this forum.  The subject has been covered in detail.

Hi, and thanks.

I had found that link before, but it didn't list any cards on it.  The only thing it really says is "Quadro 560" or higher. The 560 isn't even made anymore.  Does it have to be a 'Quadro'??   That page only says it has to be Nvidia, not quadro.  And the Quadro cards jump from $158 for the 570 to the 1700 at $400.

What exactly does "higher" mean?  I'm assuming the 570 is 'higher' than the 560 (though that is not always the case).  Is the GeForce gtx 285 higer?  Is the 9800 higher?  What's their definition?

Also the GeForce 285 is $100+ more than the 570, so is it 'higher'?? This is by no means clear.

Another quirk,  the FX 3400 runs around $135 and the FX 1700 $400 or so.  Shouldn't the 3400 be better than the 1700 (based on model #)?  It's probably not, so is it better than the 560?  The 570?  What am I supposed to be looking for?

Very confusing ...

Yeah, the model number of graphics cards are confusing! Regarding nVidia's Quadro series: the first digit defines the "class" of the card (read the FX560 as FX0560), the second defines the generation, so the FX1800 is the "new generation" of the "1700". Try to orient yourself by the qualified systems (PDF!) and choose the cheapest card, if you only want to run MC.

Hope that helps, g_f

"... That page only says it has to be Nvidia, not quadro ..."

It says:

NVidia Quadro FX 560 or higher

• Note 1: Only Nvidia cards are supported
• Note 2: Full Screen play feature requires a minimum of 128MB of graphics memory

Avid prefers nVidia, due to their implementation of OGL.  The Quadro series supports this.  Higher numbers typically mean a better card, but not always.

Thanks for the explanation.  Why then is the fx3400 more expensive than the 1700?  I'm guessing it's just older.

The docs say "Nvidia Quadro 560 or higher", but this is ambiguous.  Does it HAVE to be a Quadro, or just better than the Quadro 560?  Is the 3400 better???  The 3700 is even cheaper than the 3400!  Which is better?

The GeForce GTX 285 is a much better card for all the other work I do, but Avid has such terribly stiff limitations on what it supports.  Would the GeForce GTX 285 work? 

My biggest question is:   What is the best overall card I can get for $300 or so that Avid MC supports???   If you don't know, who would?

Thanks for all your help!

"Why then is the fx3400 more expensive than the 1700?"

Ask nVidia.

"Does it HAVE to be a Quadro, or just better than the Quadro 560?"

If you want Avid to support it and have no issues out of the box.. yes, it MUST be a nVidia Quadro board model 560 or higher.

"Is the 3400 better???  The 3700 is even cheaper than the 3400!  Which is better?"

I have the 3450 with no issues... but, then again, I could run the system on a 560 (technically speaking).

"Would the GeForce GTX 285 work?"

No guarantees.. try performing a search to see if anything comes up in the forums.

"What is the best overall card I can get for $300 or so that Avid MC supports???"

Pick any of the certified boards and you should have no issues...

"If you don't know, who would?"

This is really a personal choice based on numerous factors. I went for the 3450 because it was the best card available, at that time. Would I upgrade? No. No need to. Until Avid list that the 3450 is no longer supported (and I have issues), the 3450 stays.

Personally, I always aim for as high as my budget allows (hopefully it falls into [close to] the newest technology available) to future proof for, at least, 2 years.

Personally, I chose the FX3700.  Although not documented well by Avid, with the release of MC v3.0, Avid introduced "Distributed Processing".  Various tasks are distributed between the computer CPU, graphic card GPU, and DX hardware if you have it.  The nVidia FX3700 is currently the only card that supports it.

When I recently upgraded to an xw8400, I only bought a single QC, as Avid isn't really hitting all 8 procs anyway.  The savings from the 2nd proc easily paid for the FX3700.

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I think the 570 is the only card that works that fits into my under $300 budget.

I really wish Avid would make this much clearer in its documentation and I wish they'd support a much better variety of cards.

Thank you all!