Hi all,
I have just joined this forum. I am looking for some advice in settinp up a
workstation specifically for runninng Combustion only. I might also be running
Avid Xpress Pro HD and Softimage or Maya on it but I am ok with optimizing the
box for Combustion only, even if that means sacrificing performance on other
software packages that I mentioned. After reading through the threads, I have
decided to go with a PC-based system as I already have a dual 2.5 G5 and I would
like to give PC a chance this time. I have quite a few questions and I would
really really appreciate any help and suggestions. And I apologize for this
might be a long post.
Basically, I am looking for the highest level of interactivity possible with
Combustion and thats why I am looking for a box that would get the last ounce of
performance out of the software. I will be doing work in both SD and HD (both
1080p and 720p). Most likely, I will end up purchasing a customized system
either from Boxx or another vendor. And for customization, I have quite a few
questions that I am seeking some help with.
Is there a difference in combustion performance between AMD and Intel based
systems? The graphics card that I am thinking of using is Nvdia Quadro FX4400 or
3400. The 4400 has more memory (512 MB), will combustion benefit from it or will
3400 (with less graphics memory, 256 MB) be just fine? (I will be using my
Cinema HD display with 1920 x 1200 resolution). I was also looking into the
Nvidia SLI technology of using two cards together, can that have any affect on
combustion performance? Also, this may seem a bit far fetched, but I read
somewhere in the threads about 4 or 8 processsor mother boards (not counting
dual cores, etc.). Is there such a thing? and if there is, or if one can be
custom made, would combustion benefit from it? Are there any limits to the
number of processors combustion can benifit from? Also, is there any performance
advantage of running combustion on 64 bit Windows, and does it run as smooth and
fast as it runs on the 32 bit Windows. For ram, am I limited to 2 gigs only or
does 64 bit Windows allow for more? I was thinking of purchasing later an
external medea drive, will that be unnecessary as combustion does not play thru
disks directly and everything needs caching? Or will internal SATA raid 0 be
just fine? Or will I even need a raid setup at all? Or is it that an internal or
external raid 0 drive setup might be helpful when doing final rendering or when
simply importing/loading clips into the workspace? I will also be adding either
a Blackmagic or Bluefish444 card for QCing my work on a broadcast monitor. Aside
from the obvious price differences between the two companies products, are there
any quality differences in there video cards? (I like the Symmetry input/output
module that comes with the Bluefish444 Card, is there such a utility that ships
with the Blackmagic boards?)
Once again, I apologize for such a long post and I would really appreciate any
help.