Preview of critique for the planned 4k After Effects editing build
Preview of critique for the planned 4k After Effects editing build
Hello everyone,
I’m gearing up to buy the components for my second project ever (the first one was in 2017). This setup will mainly handle 4K projects in After Effects, which requires a lot of RAM—128GB. I’ll be using Premiere Pro as well. I’m eager to finalize the purchase this weekend but thought it would be wise to get some seasoned advice before making the decision. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I’ll be reusing my Phanteks Enthoo full tower case, along with my existing speakers, keyboard/mouse, and monitors.
Here’s the breakdown:
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VQDQQP)
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
Everything fits the budget except for the GPU and power supply unit. They're fine, but I still have some concerns. The price of the 3060 is similar to the RTX 4060. The 1000w PSU seems reasonable. I'm in agreement with geofelt that a single NVMe drive would be more convenient unless you require scratch disks? I don't agree with the idea of a 4x48 Gb setup. It's quite costly and hard to find. While memory is necessary, 128Gb is much more practical. It's okay to verify the QVL for that MSi UNIFY. That's a good point about the motherboard. Z690 models have dropped in price significantly. If you come across a 4x48 Gb kit, it's worth considering, but be mindful that pairing two 48Gb kits isn't guaranteed to work or at all. Regarding the liquid cooling solution, it's unfortunately quite average for Intel components, so you might want to explore alternatives. Check out this review: An air cooler tends to last longer.
Here are some alternative PSUs you might consider:
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Rq...fu...ex-gx-1000
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/dCs8TW/...-ssr-750px
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/P6...fi...-ssr-850px
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/nGjRsY/...pply-bn337
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fK...er...pply-bn506
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mW4Ycf/...f-850f14mp
AH, okay. Here are some things to consider.... After my initial comment, I switched to the MSI MAG z790 Tomahawk because it seems to support the 14th gen Intel chip natively. It's only about $10 more. I'm choosing the 4TB m.2 drive. I want separate storage for boot and scratch disks, but I'll bring over some existing m.2 drives from my current build to make that possible. I'm installing a 1000w PSU just in case—better safe than sorry? Would an 850 watt unit be enough? What about recommending an AIO cooler? I've heard these newer chips get very hot, so liquid cooling seems like the best choice.
I wouldn't want an MSi z790 motherboard. Unfortunately there have been issues with cracks in the chipsets. You will probably be ok, but there is an element of lottery involved. I wouldn't recommend it.
A z690 board loses almost nothing. A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot that interferes with the GPU? You may want a 5.0 NVMe drive some day but right now it's not worth chasing. Thsi is opinion from some guy on the internet so ask for more opinions.
Take a look at the AsRock z690 Extreme. It has damn near everything and sells for a very low price.
Its is a DDR4 motherboard!!!!!! This may be a blessing or a curse. There are high capacity DDR4 kits available, and for less money than DDR5.
Yes, it will need to be flashed before it can take the 14900K, but it has a VRM that can feed that CPU with no problems. Something many z690 and z790 motherboard cannot do.
In addition, the z690 Extreme can be flashed with just a PSU and a USB stick.
That's wise.
The Deepcool is kinda noisy. Better to spend on quality than watts. Durable and quiet PSUs are listed in my other post. You can again ask for more opinions.
With a 14900K and 3060/4060, you can't break more than 600w so anything 750-850 will be good. If you buy a more power hungry GPU, your requirements may increase. 850w would be a good spot. A high quality PSU, for your peace of mind and silent operation.
They are designed to run hot. That doesn't mean they need a hurricane to keep them cool, because you can't and don't want to keep them cool. They cool down when idling but get close to 100C under load. You'll be fine with a Phantom Spirit EVO, or Noctua NH-D15, or Scythe Mugen 6, or a number of other air coolers.
Liquid cooling is not required.
Of course it's an option so you may want to go that route but you'll have to do some reading to find the right one.
I wouldn’t be concerned about 13/14 gen compatibility.
The support was likely a year or more ago, and all Z790/Z790-2 motherboards released afterward include the necessary 14th-gen BIOS.
In rare cases where you purchased older hardware, there are still possibilities:
The higher-end boards can be updated with BIOS without needing a CPU installed.
You could use an affordable 12th-gen processor to perform the flashing.
From a general standpoint, I’d prefer a Z790 over a Z690.
They’re quite alike, and the Z790 offers incremental upgrades.
I took some time reviewing recommended boards and their compatible RAM options.
Confusion is fading!
Specifically, I need to know which 4 x 32GB RAM kits are supported and what speeds they support.
Choose a kit that clearly lists its part number in the motherboard specifications or the RAM manufacturer’s list.
I think a 5200 speed is realistic given your plans.
Here’s a Kingston kit that seems suitable, but make sure to double-check compatibility.
For a high-end build, the i9-14900KS might be worth considering.
It’s a refined version of the 14900K with higher clock speeds.
An Intel engineer warned that you risk missing out on performance if you don’t reach 100 MHz.
The cooling system and cooler design play a role here.
A better cooler will help, but how much improvement is it?
What Enthoo case are you using?
Most should accommodate a top air cooler such as the Noctua NH-D15.
Checking front intake air compatibility is key for your cooling setup.
If your case only supports a 240mm AIO, it matches the capabilities of the Noctua NH-D15.
But if it only supports a 360mm AIO, you’ll get slightly better performance.
However, an AIO top-mount cooler is less effective since the airflow comes from inside the case, which typically operates around 50°C, not the 24°C expected from ambient air.
Lastly, AIO coolers have a limited lifespan—the pump can fail or clog, and dust can enter through the tubes, requiring eventual replacement.
Over a decade, that’s a significant consideration.
I don’t have the exact date of this report from Puget Systems on Premiere Pro.
Hardware Recommendations
Our workstations for Adobe Premiere Pro are thoroughly tested and optimized to deliver top performance and reliability. Check out our hardware recommendations.
www.pugetsystems.com
Maybe think about a graphics card with a minimum of 16GB VRAM for potential 8K editing. 24GB would be even more ideal.