Additional SSD or a better graphic card for faster AE performance?

[iamraag]

I was working on an ASUS G752VY since the past 2 years, here's the configuration -

Intel i7 2.7GHz

64GB RAM

512GB SSD + 1TB HDD

Nvidia GTX980M 8GB. This was working great for me while using Adobe After Effects by default.

I recently switched to the Dell Precision 7730 (the ASUS computer broke down) on this configuration -

Intel Core i9-8950HK, Six Core 2.90GHz, 4.80GHz Turbo, 12MB 45W

Intel HD GFX

64GB RAM

1TB M.2 NvMe SSD

And I feel After effects is being quite slow on the new system (Dell Precision)

My question - Do I need to get an additional internal SSD for my new system OR an Nvidia graphic card for a faster workflow/render times in After effects and Media encoder?

[Byron Cortez · Accepted solution]

Both are important. An SSD will always be better than an HDD, about 5 to 6 times faster and you will not have any delayed read / write problems. But, you may not take advantage of that SSD if you have a slow or discontinued graphics card. Also, how fast or slow it depends a lot on what process you are doing.

In your case, as you already have the new SSD, what corresponds to you is to get a better GPU, maybe if you remove the GPU from the old computer and install it to the new one with that you save a lot of money.

Regards!

[iamraag]

Thanks a lot! If I install an additional SSD, do you have any idea for how I should distribute the OS, AE installation, project/media files and cache folders on the two SSDs?

I mean is it better to have the OS and software installed on one SSD, and pull the media files from the other and assign that one for cache too?

[Byron Cortez]

If you like to move your projects from one computer to another, it is a good idea to have the projects, the footage and the media cache in an external SSD, so when you move them you have everything in a single drive.

If you have 2 internal SSDs and what you want is to distribute them, that depends on the size in GB of each one because really you would not have reading/writing problems. However, if you have enough space in both internal SSDs, you could configure it like this: in an SSD it installs the operating system, the Adobe applications and routes the media cache. In the other SSD put the footage and projects. Then, while you are working, in an SSD the media cache is generated and in the other you read the footage linked to your project. Everything will flow better this way.

I hope my recommendation will help you.

[Roland Kahlenberg]

As a general guide, cos there are users with fewer/more drives. However, 3 fast drives are a good thing.

Fastest drive should contain your media used in a current project.

Second fastest drive should be used for cache

Third fastest drive should be used for storing current/on-going AEPs and to place your AE renders.

More drives allows you to set up each drive for dedicated use by AE. This precludes a single drive from being used by AE at the same time. When a drive is being tasked with more than one instruction at a single time, performance will deteriorate. In short, a drive either writes or reads - ensure only one of these tasks is being done at any one time.