Skip navigation
Bucketheadd
Bucketheadd
Currently Being Moderated

Video card importance on a dedicated encoding computer

Sep 13, 2012 11:39 AM

Hello,

 

We are looking into getting a separate computer specifically for encoding from AME. This computer will not even have Premiere on it most likely.

 

The purpose of this is because out IT dept. won't allow us to stay logged in and encode overnight

 

This computer will have top of the line processor and memory amount.

 

My question is: A top of the line gfx card isn't necessary correct? Since we won't be taking advantage of NVidia's acceleration because we will be encoding straight from AME.

 

What would be a decent gfx to have in this case?

 

 

Thanks in advance

983 Views   9 Replies   Latest reply: Jim Simon, Sep 15, 2012 6:34 PM
 
Replies
  • Harm Millaard
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Harm Millaard,
    Sep 13, 2012 12:50 PM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    Encoding from what to what?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bucketheadd
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Bucketheadd,
    Sep 13, 2012 1:06 PM   in reply to Harm Millaard
    Report

    HD footage .prproj's --> .wmv's, .flv's, and .mp4's using AME

     

    I'm thinking a top end CPU(

    Intel Xeon CPU X5670 @2.93 Ghz

    Hex-Core

     

    6 gb's RAM

     

    and a cheapy $100 256MB ATI FireMV® 2260 video card will do?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Harm Millaard
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Harm Millaard,
    Sep 13, 2012 1:43 PM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    Better get a very cheapy nVidia GT 630 with 1 GB DDR5 for around $ 70 or a GTX 550 Ti for around $ 110, since there is scaling all around so hardware MPE is very usefull. ATI Fire is a waste of money. Another suggestion is to increase the amount of memory to at least 12 GB.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bill Gehrke
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Bill Gehrke,
    Sep 13, 2012 1:46 PM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    Forget the single Xeon ($1450) and instead get an n/vidia card.  Right now I would suggest a GTX 660 Ti

     

    For a single CPU get an i7 it will do better than a single Xeon and is overclockable

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bucketheadd
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Bucketheadd,
    Sep 13, 2012 2:55 PM   in reply to Bill Gehrke
    Report

    Thanks for the info...Just wanted to confirm the gfx card isn't important for this instance. I'll shoot for Nvidia for sures.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Jim Simon
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. Jim Simon,
    Sep 14, 2012 8:00 AM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    HD footage .prproj's --> .wmv's, .flv's, and .mp4's using AME

     

    I don't think you can encode a sequence from a PP project without having PP installed.  You may have to export a lossless intermediate file out of PP to encode on a machine without PP.  But then, that rather defeats the purpose of what you're trying to do here.  So you'll probably have to have PP installed on the encoding machine.  Which means you'll need any plug-ins also installed (which usually means a separate license), and you'll need all media transferred over to the encoding machine, and since it's basically a replica of the editing machine, it would be very helpful to have the nVidia card for acceleration.

     

    In short, getting your IT guys to back off is probably the better option here.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bucketheadd
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Bucketheadd,
    Sep 14, 2012 8:18 AM   in reply to Jim Simon
    Report

    “In short, getting your IT guys to back off is probably the better option here”

     

    HAHA… you have no idea how many people here say that around here. Security is so tight it’s ridiculous. No one has any idea what it really takes to make a video and encoding hd anything. Encoding overnight is like the industry norm.

     

    This is a good point. I’ve never done this exactly. Some more input would be helpful.

     

     

     

    Thanks Jim

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bill Gehrke
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Bill Gehrke,
    Sep 14, 2012 10:34 AM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    Since you cannot buy Adobe Media Encoder seperately, I would guess that you cannot install it alone.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Jim Simon
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Jim Simon,
    Sep 15, 2012 6:34 PM   in reply to Bucketheadd
    Report

    Security is so tight it’s ridiculous.

     

    And what does that have to do with leaving the machine on all night?  You can lock a room.  You can disconnect from a network.  None of those very simple security measures will require a duplicate machine to be built, with duplicate licenses for all software.

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points