Laptop recommendations
 

Hi All - I need to get a powerful laptop for CS5.5 to use when my main PC is occupied rendering etc - I am having difficulty finding one with a CUDA card for GPU acceleration as I'm guessing the list of supported cards are all for PC units rather than laptops. I have seen a good priced laptop with a 2GB GeForce GT650M - can premiere Pro be forced to recognize it

Any advice?

Pete

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

The 650M and higher can be CUDA enabled by using the 'hack', a simple modification to a text file. Just be sure to get a laptop with adequate monitor resolution and at least two internal disks.

If you go to http://ppbm5.com/DB-PPBM5-2.php and select Computer type and then Laptops, you will see currently 61 laptops that have run the benchmark test.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Thanks Harm - I've been looking at lots of laptops - none of the Nvidea cards/chipsets I've seen so far feature on the Adobe spec list

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

That is no surprise, nearly all of them have been 'hacked'. Look at the number of 'unsupported' cards amongst the most popular cards here MPE Gain - PPBM5

Adobe actually likes people using the 'hack', since it saves them time and effort to certify cards, and by allowing the 'hack', they increase their target market enormously. They even introduced the 'hack' in AE too for the 3D Ray Tracer renderer.

I suggest you also have a look at http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1069742

@ Chris: I know this is frowned upon to link to other forums, but what is a more acceptable way to help Peter?

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Check this out Peter Acer Aspire 5750G Core i5 Laptop LX.RXL02.060 - Acer Direct
Sorry, just noticed your post is regarding 5.5, I got one of these for 6, the graphics are hackable for Mercury playback

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

I have a Sager 9170 with the nVIdia 680M, for which I performed the "hack" in both PPro and AE, works a treat. Has USB3, eSata, and still has a Firewire port for those doing audio from digitial mixers, or those using mini-dv tapes, one of the few laptops to still do so. They have a newer model but it doesn't have firewire.

It's not cheap but is hightly satisfactory. (Usual disclaimer, no connection except as satisfied customer, etc, etc.)

Details here: http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.p...el_name=NP9170

I belive this is available in the UK under the brand name of Clevo as the Clevo P170EM.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Hi Guys - what do think of this one for spec? I only really will need to use it when my other machine is occupied - I have separate hard drives for my footage

MSI GT780DXR-621UK 17.3" Gaming Notebook *Clearance Item* - - CCL Computers

Pete

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

(Don't want to start another thread for a quick question)
Where is the information about this "Hack"

Thanks
Art

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

It's been extensively talked about here, I think the original post was this:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/adobe-cr...00-gpus-5.html

There is also a very good tutorial here: Adobe Premiere CS5, CS5.5 and CS6 Video Cards with CUDA Acceleration Mercury Playback Unlock Enable MPE Hack Mod Tip David Knarr

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Thanks much. The tutorial is for me. I need the simple explanation for everything!
Battle Vaughan...thank you for your help.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

This is all you need Video Cards for Adobe Photoshop CS6 with the Mercury Graphics Engine, OpenGL and OpenCL
Sorry same as above

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Colin - That link provides a lot of info but again - hardly anything for laptop cards.

Looking at the Adobe Spec - no laptop cards (with the suffix 'M') are supported - I'm currently looking at a laptop with a GTX 670M 1.5GB DDR 5 - but I'm still unsure if Premiere can be made to recognise it.

Pete

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Sorry Peter.
Right site, wrong page.
Check this out Adobe Premiere CS5, CS5.5 and CS6 Video Cards with CUDA Acceleration Mercury Playback Unlock Enable MPE Hack Mod Tip David Knarr
Bottom of page 2, should tell you what you need to know

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Peter -- fwiw I have a laptop with a 680M card, did the hack for PPro and AE both, simple to do and works a treat.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

GTX 670M is easily hackable, check the second page of the link I provided

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Save you the trouble, here are the hacked files (cuda for PPro, raytrace for After Effects) These are for the 670M. Just rename your existing files to .old or something so you don't lose them, and copy these to the proper destinations. You may have to do it again if Adobe sends updates.

In Premiere (PC version) it is found in the first folder, program files > adobe premiere pro cs6. In After Effects, it's in the program files>adobe after effects cs6 > support files folder.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

The hack didn't work for my ge 330m although it was listed. It has enough mb. It shows it as recognized but the Mercury playback won't highlight. I tried it twice but I'm working on a project so I'll try again later.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Try if ONLY renaming the file to .OLD or similar and then restarting PR will suffice to enable hardware MPE.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Art, look back at the link the the David Knarr tutorial, and check how to use GPUSniffer.exe to get the exact naming convention for your card. It must be exactly the same in the line you add to the .txt file.

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Ok,
I haven't used the sniffer but I tried both the manual and automatic installation. I believe I type the name exactly but with these old eyeballs...

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Art, in start>search all programs, type cmd to open the command function
A la the good old DOS days, navigate to the program files > adobe >adobe premiere pro cs6 folder.
type gpusniffer.exe (cd c:\ etc etc)

look to see what name it gives your card. Copy and paste.....

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Well I'm about to buy this Laptop guys - I think it should do the job if I can get the graphics card hacked

Chassis & Display
Vortex Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-3630QM (2.40GHz) 6MB

Memory (RAM)
16GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (4 x 4GB)

Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670M - 1.5GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11

Memory - Hard Disk
250GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD2500BEKT, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)

2nd Hard Disk
500GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD5000BPKT, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)

DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
4x BLURAY ROM, 8x DVD ±R/±RW & CYBERLINK SOFTWARE

Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)

Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING

Sound Card
Intel 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio + SPDIF/MIC/Headphone Jack

Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® N135 802.11N (150Mbps) + BLUETOOTH

USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD

Firewire
1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT

Battery
Vortex Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,200 mAh/76.96WH)

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Sounds like a winner!

Really, the "hack" is no big deal, it's just a text file. See earlier post, I did the hack for you, just follow the info and you should be fine. Check your project settings in PPro for Project Settings > General> Video Rendering and select "Mercury Engine GPU acceleration" .

In After Effects, it's Preferences > previews. Check that your video card is listed there and select GPU for the ray-tracing option.

In Photoshop, it's Edit >preferences>performance. Check that the card is listed, check "use graphics processor" and in the advanced settings window, check the same again.

Best wishes!

Re: Laptop recommendations
 

Cheers - you've been a real help Battle!