Maximum Performance Guidelines for Pro Tools|HD & Pro Tools|HD Accel Systems

With Pro Tools 6.9.1/6.9.3 for Windows XP

32-192 track performance with Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel systems requires the following configuration:

Click on above links for important information about each CPU.

Total System RAM

  • 512 MB minimum required
  • 1 GB (1024 MB) or higher recommended
  • 2 GB (2048 MB) minimum required for Pro Tools systems with Avid Mojo or AVoption|V10

1 GB or higher recommended for sessions with:

  • Large amounts of audio, large DSP engines, high edit density, or large DigiBase databases
  • A large number of installed plug-ins
  • Options like MachineControl and DigiTranslator 2.0

More RAM increases overall system and Pro Tools performance

System Software

  • Windows XP Professional or Home Edition (Professional required for Avid Mojo, AVoption|V10, Avid Unity)
  • Not Supported:
    • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
    • Windows XP Media Center Edition
  • Pro Tools 6.9.1/6.9.3 is qualified with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP1 not tested)
  • If you are updating from SP1 to SP2, please read the following beforehand to help insure a smooth transition:
  • Pro Tools 6.9.1/6.9.3 software can't be installed or used on systems running Windows 98, Me, 2000, NT, 95, or 3.1
  • Windows XP Settings & Requirements

Windows XP SP2, Microsoft DEP and PACE InterLok Drivers Update

  • if you encounter unexplained blue screens, freezes or spontaneous reboots when launching Pro Tools with Windows XP Service Pack 2, please update your PACE InterLok drivers:
  • The current InterLok drivers solve the described problems without having to disable Microsoft's DEP (Data Execution Prevention) feature introduced with Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Pro Tools-Qualified Hard Drives

As with all Pro Tools systems, drive performance depends on a number of factors, including track count, edit density, and the use of crossfades or processing like Beat Detective. For sessions with high edit density, we recommend the following configurations. Testing has been conducted using Digidesign's DigiDrives. Performance with other drives may vary.

Compatible SCSI HBA card

SCSI Drives — Approximate Track Counts:

SCSI Drives
44.1/48 kHz
No Chassis
44.1/48 kHz
With Chassis
96 kHz
192 kHz
No Chassis
192 kHz
With Chassis
6
192
160
96
36
30
4
128
128
64
24
16
2
64
64
32
12
12
1
32
32
16
6
6

When using QuickTime movies with Pro Tools|HD systems, for reliable performance of 16 or more audio tracks, audio drives should be connected to a compatible SCSI HBA card, with video drives connected to a separate SCSI bus or IDE/ATA bus.

Apple QuickTime 6.5 or Higher Recommended

  • Available at www.apple.com/quicktime
  • Required only on systems using video
  • AGP graphics card with 16 MB or more video RAM required for movie playback
  • Known Issue: Apple QuickTime 7 is currently not supported with the Digidesign WaveDriver on Windows XP

AGP Graphics Card

Avid Mojo and AVoption|V10 are qualified with the following AGP monitor cards on the following systems:

  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100 AGP Card on the HP Workstation xw8000
  • NVIDIA Quadro4® 980 XGL AGP card on the HP Workstation xw8000 and Dell Precision Workstation 650
    • This card requires Nvidia driver version 67.22. This driver is available for download from: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
    • The NVIDIA Display Driver Service should be disabled. To disable this service, select START-> MY COMPUTER-> MANAGE-> SERVICES. Right-click the Nvidia service. Choose Properties and disable.

PCI Express Graphics Card

The HP Workstation xw8200 and Dell Precision Workstation 670 do not use AGP graphics cards. Instead they use PCIe Graphics (dual monitor capable) cards, listed as options when configuring the HP xw8200 or Dell 670. The following PCI Express Graphics cards are qualified for use with Avid Mojo and AVoption|V10 systems:

Digidesign Compatibility Documents Index