Best After Effects Workstation, cost not an issue

[5050]

You know, I think it's a combination of clock speeds, hard drive speed, RAM speed and probably the in/efficiency of the code behind the software.

With the Boxx configurations I'm looking at, all of those are greatly improved. We'll see though. I'm not a huge fan of benchmarking. I just need to load up some of my known, problematic projects and see how they behave in AE and C4D.

Thinking a Titan and much higher clock speeds should really help the most.

I actually started to window shop around the BOXX website after I replied to your post (sacrilege). A chat window popped up on the site and I ended up having a brief conversation about my Mac Pro frustrations (especially after I saw all the hardware options on the BOXX website . . . liquid cooling?). He even offered a 5% discount to switch to one of their systems, so you might want to bargain with them a bit if you decide to go through with it. Either way, even though this is a "Mac Pro" forum, you definitely have to follow up and let us know the details of the BOXX setup and how it compares to your previous Mac Pro experience.

 

[echoout]

I actually started to window shop around the BOXX website after I replied to your post (sacrilege). A chat window popped up on the site and I ended up having a brief conversation about my Mac Pro frustrations (especially after I saw all the hardware options on the BOXX website . . . liquid cooling?). He even offered a 5% discount to switch to one of their systems, so you might want to bargain with them a bit if you decide to go through with it. Either way, even though this is a "Mac Pro" forum, you definitely have to follow up and let us know the details of the BOXX setup and how it compares to your previous Mac Pro experience.

Yeah, I will. I would kill for a new and improved Mac Pro but, man, I got work to do! I was thinking about pitting Boxx and Promax against each other if it comes down to it. I must say though, it sure is nice having these folks help me figure out strategies for configuration.

 

[Tesselator]

He even offered a 5% discount to switch...

Go back and act more belligerent... He offered me 12%. Though I told him to stuff that too. And retorted that I might consider it if he could go 40%.

He was kind tho. And now I have received a few hand-written emails from him about various configuration quotes (with that 12% figured in). After 3 or 4 he has stopped which is also very commendable!

 

[brand]

cost not an issue

Cost is always an issue. Those that say otherwise are lying. If cost wasn't an issue then you would buy the best spec'd Mac Pro that could possibly be built and be done with it.

 

[echoout]

Cost is always an issue. Those that say otherwise are lying. If cost wasn't an issue then you would buy the best spec'd Mac Pro that could possibly be built and be done with it.

Some would prefer something faster than that.

 

[brand]

Some would prefer something faster than that.

I didn't say from Apple or not by upgrading it after purchasing it.

 

[echoout]

I didn't say from Apple or not by upgrading it after purchasing it.

Touche?

 

[5050]

Cost is always an issue. Those that say otherwise are lying. If cost wasn't an issue then you would buy the best spec'd Mac Pro that could possibly be built and be done with it.

True, cost is always an issue. Especially when technology is constantly obsolescing itself. The question was proposed however to analyze the "best" of what the Mac Pro currently has to offer After Effects users and others working in post production (and unfortunately, it isn't great).

 

[bsbeamer]

Cost no issue, then fastest Mac you can buy/build: 12-core 3.45ghz, loaded RAM, K5000, SSDs and the usual.

Or buy a hack-pro workstation.

In reality, spend money on external RAID or media storage solution - that's where the industry is heading. At least the good ones can be used cross platform and really are some of the best places to invest after camera lenses.