Anybody using the Pinnacle DV200 or DV500 setup with Premier 6?

[ncg]

Thinking about picking one of these up and am looking for opinions... thanks!

 

[ScottMac]

Go to the Pinnacle website and check the compatibillity list.

I've never tried the DV200, but the DV500 is VERY particular about the PC hardware. You might want to scan through the Support Forums on the Pinnacle site as well.

I couldn't get either the DV500 or the Pro One to run in either of my two main video machines (SuperMicro Mobos, PIII / Via 266 or Xeons / 860). My experience with their tech support is that it pretty much Sux Deluxe.

I put in the Matrox 2500, and it's been working perfectly for a couple months now.

FWIW


Scott

 

[ncg]

Thanks, Scott... particularly interesting because I was planning on using a SuperMicro duallie. I'll take a look at the Pinnacle forums... and, now, the Matrox one as well!

 

[ScottMac]

Well, Matrox has listing specifically for the P4DC6+ as being compatible. The nice thing is they actually show you what the compatible arrangement is (which cards to which slots), OS, firmware, the works.

They also have a listing for my other SuperMicros board (370DDE) as NOT compatible. They seemed to have a pretty good list, growing regularly.

OTOH, Pinnacle has a compatibility list that's gotta be at least a year or two old, never changes, and the closest thing to a "Hard Recommendation" is that LLoyd (their online / forums representation) seems to be pretty fond of one of the Intel 850 MOBOs and Nvidea Video cards. There are some references that include Athlons/Athlon Mobos, but most are looking kinda old (not sure, I'm not an AMD user).

The difference is night and day. Check out the forums, check out the attitudes. I can't honestly tell you how Martox's tech support is, I've never had to use 'em. Pinnacle just kept re-sending the same auto-bot responses, none of which related to the problems I was having. After the third try at contacing someONE in support, I gave up, yanked the board, and got the RT2500 (and I'm living happily-ever-after...)

I'd recommend the the high-end Pinnacle boards, you betcha, right after I suck down a shovelful of warm worms and call the IRS to tell 'em what a great job they're doing.....right after I roll down the hill in a spiked barrel...

I've had some of the other products (firewire cards, nuthin' fancy) and they worked well.

If someone just HAS to have a DV500 or Pro-One, the oft-posted solution (on the Pinnacle forum) is to build the system around the board, or buy a packaged system.

FWIW

Scott

 

[ncg]

Thanks again, Scott. Seems like the Pinnacle might be the wrong way to go then... Looking into the Matrox and the Canopus now. Actually, starting to like the idea of Final Cut Pro on a Mac...