For PC workstations, Avid states on the system requirements that you will need a 'Nvidia Quadro FX560 or higher' for the Media Composer Software. Because there are no Quadro cards available for Mac, Avid recommends a graphic card just from the GeForce series. I cannot see any reason why such a GeForce should not be running on PC systems. But:

Which other graphic card than a Quadro FX is okay for use with Media Composer on PC systems? Maybe a card from the GT-series, from the GTX-series or two cards from one of these series connected via nVidia SLI?

It is possible to "trick" MC into using unsupported cards but the results maybe unpredictable.

Many cards will gibve normal basic operations ok (playback etc) but to gain the extra GPU power during effects and rendering you need Avid to see the card as a supported card. I'm not sure how much extra you gain from a very top end supported card and a base supported card. I'm pretty sure SLI is way over kill and won't yield much if anything more.

A supported card like an FX3700 can be picked up used for not much money and if you need a reliable and stable system this is the best route.

 

Hi,

PNR:

I cannot see any reason why such a GeForce should not be running on PC systems.

It's the difference between "might" work and "is guaranteed to" work.

If you get a Quadro FX card that is a 560 or higher, Avid guarantees Media Composer will work, because they have tested it and they know it works.

If you get any other card, it might work or it might not.  Your best advice is to search the forum for whatever card you're thinking about getting to see if anyone has had any success or failure with it.

ciao,
Carl 

since no one has touched on the fact that geforce are supported for macs and not pc..............................

johnlucas88:

no one has touched on the fact that geforce are supported for macs and not pc.

How is that relevant?  They're operating in entirely different environments.

The answer lies within yourself.

johnlucas88:

The answer lies within yourself.

No, the Apple O/S may provide acceleration that compensates for the functions that Avid relies on the Quadro card to give in the PC world.  Or the Mac version of MC may provide some of that functionality itself.  Or it may be a combination of the two.

Since Avid has clearly stated that they require Quadro cards in the PC world, you can either choose to believe them or not.  But the fact that Quadros are not required in the Mac world is, in my opinion, more likely to be due to O/S and/or firmware differences than that Avid has a malicious desire to make PC users spend more money than they otherwise need.

The Mac version and the PC version of MC, while superficially similar, are in fact quite different programs.  As I said above,

jwrl:

They're operating in entirely different environments.

You can't expect their needs to be the same.

Well it's one thing to TRY and work within given environment (with unsupported card), the other to CODE IN an exit clause which DISABLES further loading of the software when unsupported card is detected. 1st is consumer friendly (Adobe/FCP), 2nd is simply peremptory and patronising. Losing share of the market are we? Do we care?

ampolbe:

Well it's one thing to TRY and work within given environment (with unsupported card), the other to CODE IN an exit clause which DISABLES further loading of the software when unsupported card is detected. 1st is consumer friendly (Adobe/FCP), 2nd is simply peremptory and patronising. Losing share of the market are we? Do we care?

 

Avid won't stop you from using any damned card you want, there's just no guarantee it will work.  To use your own dumb argument, what would they gain in this conspiracy by deliberately cutting out part of the market?

 

OSX and Windows manage the graphic card in a different way, the fact that a card is supported and works on the Mac doesn't mean that it does work on the PC as well, unfortunately. Many forum members run different flavours of nVidia gaming cards with their Avids, and the thing just works, wether it works good or not it's to be seen, and subjective: what is acceptable or good performance for me might be not enough, or too good, for You... but if You want the most reliability off Your system, eg if it's Your primary source of income and not an hobby, a Quadro card is highly recommended; the newish Quadro K600 is very affordable and as powerful as the old Quadro 2000...

I think AVid have it just right.

They test their software on a range of cards from affordably cheap to blisteringly fast but expensive.

They setup a config file that allows knowledgable users to see that list and the tested supported drivers and if they wish to ammend it.

For the less informed Avid will launch check. Advise then and then run in the most stable way it can.