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TechNote
Optimize Windows Vista for Adobe Premiere Pro CS4

Deutsch | English | Français

What's Covered

* Minimum system requirements

* Optimize Windows Vista 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 processor 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 storage devices)
* 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 VISTA FOR ADOBE PREMIERE PRO CS4

Optimizing Microsoft Windows Vista can eliminate compatibility problems that interfere with video
editing. To optimize Windows Vista 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, then contact the manufacturer of the capture
card for hard disk speed requirements. If you work with DV video (IEEE 1394), then 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, then 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, then 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. 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 Vista)" (TechNote kb405363)" for details.

5. Verify that device drivers are compatible with Windows Vista.

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 Vista"
(TechNote kb404887)

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.

To disable startup items and services:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start , type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then click OK. If you are asked for
permission to continue, click continue.
3. Click the Startup tab, and select Disable All.
4. Select startup items that are essential for your work (For example, any capture card related
files or utilities. Contact your card's manufacturer for a list of required startup items). If you are
unsure if an item is essential, leave it selected.
5. Click the Services tab, select Hide All Microsoft Services, and then select Disable All.
6. Reselect FLEXnet Licensing Service, and Adobe LM Service, Click OK, and then restart
Windows.
7. Right-click to close or disable any items in the Notification Area (called the System Tray in
earlier versions of Windows).

Note: To reenable the startup items, perform steps 1-2 and select Normal Startup from the
General tab.

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:

1. Log into the system as an administrator.

2. Quit all applications.
3. Choose Start > Control Panel, and then double-click System.
4. Select Advanced system settings. If you are asked for permission to continue, click continue.
5. In the Performance section, select Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.
6. In the Virtual Memory section, click Change.
 7. Deselect Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
8. 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.
9. Select the Custom size: option
10. 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)
11. In the Maximum Size box, enter a value equal to twice the amount of your computer's
installed RAM.
12. Close the System Properties Window:
* Click Set, and then click OK.
* Click OK System Properties dialog box
* Click OK in the Performance Options dialog box.
* Click OK in the System Properties Window.
13. Click Restart to restart the system

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Document Details
ID: kb405744

* Last updated:2008-11-17
* http://go.adobe.com/kb/ts_kb405744_en-us

Products Affected:

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere

Production Studio

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