TechNote

Optimize Windows XP for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4

What's Covered

Minimum system requirements
Optimize Windows XP for Premiere Pro CS4

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Before you begin optimizing your system, be sure that it meets the minimum system requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4.

1. Make sure that the system meets the requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4.
The system requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 vary depending upon the type of media with which you work. For example, if you work with low resolution media--that is, still images or audio files from your computer that you're outputting to CD-ROM or to the Web--you need less processing speed and memory than if you work with digital video. Some issues, such as poor playback of video or audio, can be the effects of not having enough RAM or processing speed in your system.

Make sure that the system also meets the requirements for the capture card you use. For details, contact the capture card manufacturer.

Minimum system requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4:

2GHz or faster processor for DV; 3.4GHz for HDV; dual 2.8GHz for HD (an SSE2-enabled processor is required for AMD systems)
Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (Service Pack 3 recommended) or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (certified for 32-bit Windows XP and 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Vista)
2GB of RAM
10GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on flash-based storagedevices)
1,280x900 display with OpenGL 2.0-compatible graphics card *
Dedicated 7200 RPM hard drive for DV and HDV editing; striped disk array storage (RAID 0) for HD; SCSI disk subsystem preferred
For SD/HD workflows, an Adobe-certified card for capture and export to tape *
OHCI-compatible IEEE 1394 port for DV and HDV capture, export to tape, and transmit to DV device
DVD-ROM drive (DVD+/-R burner required for DVD creation)
Blu-ray burner required for Blu-ray disc creation
Microsoft Windows Driver Model- or ASIO-compatible sound card
QuickTime 7.4.5 software required to use QuickTime features
Broadband Internet connection required for online services

* For updates to system requirements and more detailed information about video hardware compatibility, visit http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/systemreqs

Note: This product may allow you to access certain features that are hosted online ("online services"), provided you have a high-speed Internet connection. The online services, and some features thereof, may not be available in all countries, languages, and/or currencies and may be discontinued in whole or in part without notice. Use of the online services is governed by separate terms of use and by the Adobe Online Privacy Policy, and access to these services may require user registration. Some online services, including services that are initially offered at no charge, may be subject to additional fees. For more details and to review the terms of use and Online Privacy Policy, visit www.adobe.com.

OPTIMIZE WINDOWS XP FOR ADOBE PREMIERE PRO CS4

Optimizing Microsoft Windows XP can eliminate compatibility problems that interfere with video editing. To optimize Windows XP for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, work through the tasks in this section. To further eliminate problems, simplify the system to include only those components necessary for editing video.

2. Check hard disk speed.
To check the hard disk speed--and determine if it's fast enough to capture DV without dropping frames--test with a third-party hard disk utility, such as Simpli Software Hd Tach or Canopus EZDVtest.

Note: Before running a speed test on your hard disk, we recommend that you defragment your hard drive. For instructions, refer to your Windows documentation.

If you work with analog or high definition (HD) video, contact the manufacturer of the capture card for hard disk speed requirements. If you work with DV video (IEEE 1394), Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 requires a hard disk that can sustain a minimum data rate of 5 MB per second for smooth playback. If you work with HDV video, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 requires a hard disk that can sustain a data rate up to 20 MB per second (for best performance use a RAID array with two or more disks) for smooth playback.

In addition, disks should have a rotational speed of 7200 rpms or greater. As you save more content to the disk, access and transfer times to the disk increases and performance decreases. If you work with disks at near-capacity, add another hard disk or use a faster disk (for example, one with a speed of 10,000 rpms) to compensate for the decrease in performance.

If you use external drives, make sure that the cables can handle the drives' data rates and rotational speeds. Adobe recommends that you use large capacity UDMA 133 IDE/SATA or SCSI drives dedicated to video only. If you use an IDE disk drive for capturing video, see the next task in this document, "Optimize IDE disks." Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 doesn't support multiple devices on a FireWire chain or multiple devices on a FireWire card.

3. Optimize IDE disks.
Windows Vista enables Direct Memory Access (DMA) by default on most IDE devices. If DMA has been disabled, re-enable it to improve the transfer rate of IDE disks and prevent dropped frames and jerky video during capture and playback. For more information on DMA mode, visit the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com/whdc/default.mspx or see "Turn Direct Memory Access (DMA) on or off" in Windows Help.

4. Repair and defragment hard disks.

See "Repair and defragment hard disks (Windows XP)" (TechNote kb404981) for details.

5. Verify that device drivers are compatible with Windows XP.
Device drivers are files that allow Windows to communicate with devices such as capture cards, video display adapters, SCSI cards, and disk drives. Contact the device manufacturer to ensure that you have the latest driver for it.

For more information, see "Verify that device drivers are compatible with Windows XP" (TechNote kb404864)

6. Disable nonessential applications that load during startup.
Quit Premiere Pro CS4 and then remove any startup items and services that aren't related to your work in Premiere Pro CS4.

See "Disable startup items and services (Windows XP)" (TechNote kb404984) for details

7. Adjust the size of the virtual memory paging file.
Virtual memory enables the system to use hard-disk space to store information normally stored in RAM. Windows manages virtual memory using a paging file. To improve performance in Premiere Pro CS4, adjust the size of the paging file to a maximum of twice the amount of installed RAM.

To adjust the size of the virtual memory paging file:

Log into the system as an administrator.
Quit all applications.
Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then double-click System.
Select the Advanced tab; in the Performance section, select Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.
In the Virtual Memory section, click Change.
From the Drive list, select a hard disk that has available space equal to at least twice the amount of the installed RAM on the system. For example, if your computer has 1 GB of RAM, select a hard disk that has at least 2 GB of free space.
Note: To determine the amount of space available on a disk, click the drive letter in the Drive [Volume Label] section. The amount of space available is displayed in the Paging File Size For Selected Drive section.
In the Paging File Size For Selected Drive section, enter an Initial Size equal to the amount of RAM installed on the system plus 12 MB (i.e. 1036 for a system with 1 GB of RAM. 1 GB = 1024 MB)
In the Maximum Size box, enter a value equal to twice the amount of your computer's installed RAM.
Close the System Properties dialog box:
- Click Set, and then click OK.
- Click OK in the Performance Options dialog box
- Click OK in the System Properties dialog box.
- Click Yes in the System Settings Change dialog box to restart Windows.