help with mac spec (final cut + after effects will be used)

[bledd]

my housemate makes music videos on a professional level, he's getting a new mac under his business, because he's a mac user, he doesn't have a clue on what hardware he needs

he said the 'guy in the shop' said he'd need an X1900 256MB because of the after effects work

i would have thought that after effects would just be software rendering, but since i've never used it, and never looked into it -i wouldn't know

is he better off getting more ram / better cpu than shelling out on the graphics side of it



so far he's gone for..

MacPro Intel 2x2.66GhzDC 1Gb/250Gb/DVD±RW/X1900/BT/AP
Includes X1900 256MB, Airport, Bluetooth
Standard Wired Keyboard / Mouse

4x Kingston 1Gb PC2-5300 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM Memory

thanks in advance

 

[BillytheImpaler]

i would have thought that after effects would just be software rendering, but since i've never used it, and never looked into it -i wouldn't know

is he better off getting more ram / better cpu than shelling out on the graphics side of it.

I had a look at Adobe's system requirements page and it only said the GPU had to support OpenGL 2.0. I don't conclusively know if a faster GPU will make for quicker operation. Perhaps the OpenGL function in use is its 2D rendering abilities.

What's the DDR2 RAM in there for? The Mac Pro doesn't use DDR2. It uses FB-DIMMs.

 

[Will_3rd]

What's the DDR2 RAM in there for? The Mac Pro doesn't use DDR2. It uses FB-DIMMs.

Last I heard that was DDR2...

1GB memory (667MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered DIMM)

@ OP would double check that Kingston RAM to make sure it is compatible etc

Graphics blurb from Apple Site, looks like the 1900 is the middle of the road option, doubt he needs the Quadro

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT
For excellent all-around performance in creative and productivity applications, choose one or more NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT. It features a 256MB frame buffer and both a single-link DVI port and a dual-link DVI port, making it capable of simultaneously supporting one 23-inch and one 30-inch Apple Cinema Display.

ATI Radeon X1900 XT
If you’re working in motion graphics, animation, or 3D design and visualization, the powerful ATI Radeon X1900 XT with 512MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory may suit your needs perfectly. It offers two dual-link DVI ports that can simultaneously support two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays for an incredibly large widescreen workspace.

NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500
If industrial-strength 3D design work, stereo 3D visualization, or using two large 30-inch displays are on your list of requirements, configure your Mac Pro with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500. One of the most advanced graphics cards available, it has an integrated stereo 3D port, so you can use stereo goggles for stereo-in-a-window visualization applications. With two dual-link DVI ports, you can connect two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays. The Quadro FX 4500 boasts 512MB of ultrafast GDDR3 SDRAM.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

Last I heard that was DDR2...

@ OP would double check that Kingston RAM to make sure it is compatible etc

You're quite right. I should've been more specific.

Bledd, you need to be sure you get fully-buffered memory, not the unbuffered memory that goes into most applications. Both types have 240-pin form factors but unbuffered memory won't work in a Mac Pro.

It four such DIMMs look like so: