New Windows 8.1 Systems Target High-End 4K Filmmaking Workflows

ProMax has updated its workstation line-up with a high-end system aimed at VFX and finishing that offers 24 cores of processing power.

In its base configuration, the new top-of-the-line ProMax One+ Windows 8.1 Pro workstation is built around two 12-core Intel E5-2697 v2 processors, each running at 2.7 GHz and providing 30 MB of cache, 128 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD. The next step down is a One+ system aimed at editors, which features two eight-core Intel E5-2687W v2 processors running at 3.4 GHz, 64 GB of RAM, and the same 1 TB SSD.

Graphics options for both One+ systems range from a single Nvidia Geforce GTX 780ti card to a dual-Quadro K6000 configuration. On-board storage is expandable with an optional eight-bay SATA RAID with capacity up to 40 TB. Internal LTO-5 and LTO-6 drive modules are also available. Seven PCIe expansion slots are available.

A couple of steps down on the ladder are the ProMax One workstations. The high-end model has a single six-core Intel E5-1660 v2 3.7 Ghz processor with 15 MB of cache, 32 GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD; the entry-level box has a four-core Intel E5-1620 v2 3.7 GHz processor with 10 MB of cache, 16 GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SD. The One models have the same graphics options and PCIe slots as the One+, but on-board RAID is limited to a maximum of six bays (total 30 TB of storage) and LTO modules are not offered.

Both the One and One+ have two USB 3.0 ports, but the One+ offers eight USB 2.0 ports compared to just six on the One. Another difference is that the One+ lacks the FireWire 400 IO that's still standard on the One, trading it for two eSata ports. And, unsurprisingly, the One+ is a little bigger than the One in ever dimension, measuring 0.8 inches wider, more than two inches taller, and 3.5 inches deeper. 

For full tech specs on the systems, see the ProMax website.