Skip to main content
K
KittykatKelvin
Participant
April 9, 2015
Question

Best CPU configuration for Premiere Pro/ After Effects

  • April 9, 2015
  • 2 replies
  • 15325 views

Hello, I'm slightly frustrated. I'm using an aging Mac Pro currently and I'm planning to build a custom made workstation to replace it. Since I've began using some Windows Only applications in my workflow Mac isn't in the picture right now.

As of right now Intel has two types of i7 based CPU's on the market utilizing the 2011 V2 chipset. Quad Core CPU's that have excellent single thread performance and marginal relative multithreading performance and 6 and 8 core CPU's that offer better multi threading support but lack the single thread performance the quad cores achieve.

I'm trying to figure out what configuration would be better for Premiere Pro and After Effects with my workflow which is mostly 2k footage but I'm beginning to use 5k and 6k downscaled.  My current Mac pro (a 2010 6 Core unit) has trouble running more than one 2k stream even when utilizing ram preview and SSD swap storage. The Mac Pro also uses a 760TI for accelerated playback.

As far as I've read Premiere isn't very equipped currently to utilize the 6+ core CPU's, is that true? Should I expect Premiere to utilize them in the future??

Thanks, Kelvin

Film Maker, Creator and editor.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

BartonGarrett256
BartonGarrett256
Inspiring
April 10, 2015

‌Thanks for asking this question. I'm researching the same thing, as my current ride is getting a little long in the tooth.  I looked around the hardware section forum, as well as the Adobe website and did not find much current info.

I've built my own computers for the past decade or so.  It is actually pretty simple to do, mostly because of guys into gaming, who are numerous and zealot like to the point everything we need is refined. Poke around the web, the how-to knowledge that is everywhere is scary.  If we, as a society, applied the collective effort spent on all aspects of video games into space travel and medicine we'd be lounging on Mars, cured of cancer.

My opinion of Macs for editing, I grew up with them and am typing this on an iPad, is you are paying (extra) for the OS, and for what we are doing I don't see the point.  I don't think the hardware is any different these days. But to each his own.

Stick to brand names, the serious components are all decent- I will use an ASUS a motherboard (get one that holds 4 RAM sticks, not two) 4 TB 7200 rpm Hitachi drives, at least one 500MB SSD, an NVIDIA graphics card (at this point either a K4200 or a K5000, as well as reuse my existing K2200) a quiet 850 watt PS, and good fast RAM.  Make sure it has plenty of USB 3 ports and lots'o bays for drives.  All the components are warranted, and the support structures are there too.  I've gotten great support from NVIDIA, and I stick with trusted retailers, the prices are more or less the same everywhere now on components.

I would love to hear an expert opinion about which chipsets are best, as well as unbiased dissertations about video cards. An expert in those I am not. The other components are fairly easy to figure out, but video cards and chipsets, I am not current there.


My general rule is figure out the best tool I can afford then buy the next higher grade. When applied to electronics it will lengthen the service life of the computer, and although the build part is easy, migration is never something I look forward to.

K
KittykatKelvinAuthor
Participant
April 10, 2015

Thanks for the reply, I think that everyone is missing my question.

As for everyone here who keeps mentioning that brand above, I'm not interested in a premade computer. They are not cost effective, their build quality isn't to my standard *The Mac Pro Standard* and their chassis looks unprofessional and consumer which matters allot when you're dealing with clients directly. I've been building computers since well before the ATX standard. The question that I asked which apparently isn't answerable is, what kind of CPU in the current Intel 2011 V2 lineup is best for Premiere Pro and After Effects, the quad cores that offer better performance per core OR the hexa and octa core Intel CPU's that offer diminished single thread performance but are better when dealing with a heavily threaded workflows. I'm finding it hard to find reputable information or as BartonGarrett mentioned modern content. CC 2014 is very different then CS6 or even the earlier versions of CC so previous discussions on older versions are not very useful. If I invest the 1500$ or more on a 8 Core Intel CPU I would like to know that it has benefits over the quad cores which are a third the cost. I Know that AE will benefit from the 8 core but I hardly use it compared to premiere. I spent close to seven grand altogether on my last Mac Pro which was perfect, the unit never had downtime in 5 years which is unheard of in the consumer PC market. That's why I'm buying mostly superMicro server components such as the case, PSU and motherboard. If my computer were to fail due to a blown motherboard capacitor or dead power supply I could potentially lose thousands if not more not to mention reputation damage and lost data. Which could be catastrophic. I think everyone is on a different page, I'm not discussing this in the context of somebody who doesn't understand computer components and the differences between a professional solution and a consumer one.  I didn't mention that in my original post because I figured that it would be assumed here.

cc_merchant
cc_merchant
Inspiring
April 10, 2015

Only look at 2011v3 CPU's. The v2 's are outdated. If the emphasis is on Premiere, look at the i7-5960X 8-core 2011v3 CPU. Otherwise look at dual Xeon 14-core or better, but at a price.

If price is no object, consider participating in the Aurora project:

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 9, 2015

Read Tweakers Page

Buy a Desktop Video Editing PC

-http://www.adkvideoediting.com/ or http://www.sharbor.com/

K
KittykatKelvinAuthor
Participant
April 9, 2015

Maybe you didn't read "planning to build a custom made workstation to replace it."

Who would buy a premade desktop PC anyway? My application requires it to be built because I tend to be very stringent about the quality of the components, case and power supply. Mac Pro quality is a must.

Bill Gehrke
Bill Gehrke
Inspiring
April 10, 2015

If you really want a reliable true Premiere Pro video editing computer forget Apple and get a guaranteed supported computer from ADK as John suggests.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices