System Recommendations

From this trread

1.   Media Composer uses multi-threading in most cases, so the benefit is that more processors being used to handle the editor and its tasks, the better performance. Hyperthreading should be enabled on latest generation of Intel chips.

2.   Top of the line CPU speeds do not get the best bang for the buck.  Buy one or two down from the fastest speed processor and you will be fine.  Never buy the lowest processor speed available (usually the chips are from the previous generation Intel processors).

3.  Memory should be identical and match the number of channels on the motherboard (3 channels for Intel Nehalem Zeon and i7, dual channel for Intel Core2Duo).  6 GB for most editing situations (6 x 1GB or 3 x 2GB), 12 GB for intense HD work (6 x 2GB or 3 x 4GB).  Do not mix memory DIMM size or speed.

4.  XP32 maxes out at 3.0GB memory so run with Vista 64 business or Win 7  Professional 64 bit when approved.  

5.   Nvidia is the only graphics cards qualified with MC/NC/Symphony/instinct/assist except for some models of iMac & MacBook Pro. Top of the line FX series will give you GPU acceleration (FX3700, FX3800, FX4800). This is needed for complex real time effects in HD full quality mode. If you do mostly SD definition then buy the min spec Nvidia FX card. 

6.   Local storage is either SAS at the high end or e-Sata for single drives. Avid does not qualify the thousands of 3rd party Sata drives out there due to resources and cost to test but the system should have either SAS, e-SATA, or USB 3.0 for fast local storage.

7.  Shared storage is network based. Intel gbit ethernet chips have better performance than Broadcom. Avid recommends the Intel Pro 1000 instead of the Broadcom.