Avid Pro Tools, like most DAW and recording software, is most directly affected by the processor (CPU) and system memory (RAM) along with the storage system (drives). The video card plays no direct performance role, but is important for providing multiple monitor connections and above all needs to be quiet. We have more detailed advice below which is tailored to Pro Tools, but also applies to similar applications like Adobe Audition.
If you are looking to buy a workstation, our expert consulting team is also available to help via phone or email. Please also keep in mind the number and type of peripherals (speakers, headphones, audio interfaces, external storage, etc) that you use. Most of our systems provide a lot of USB Type A ports, along with some USB Type C. If you need Thunderbolt, please make sure to let your consultant know so that we can ensure you get a system with that capability.
What is the best CPU for Pro Tools?
Intel’s Core i7 and i9 processors are among the best choices for Pro Tools, as they provide a blend of high clock speeds along with a moderate number of cores. Going up to chips with more cores, like Intel Xeon or AMD Threadripper PRO, leads to a loss in clock speed and single-threaded performance – which can negatively impact performance in Pro Tools. There may be extreme circumstances in which that makes sense, especially for workloads that require very high amounts of system memory (beyond 192GB), but that is outside the scope of what most users do with Pro Tools.
These recommended systems for Pro Tools let you work freely, so you can record and edit smoothly without worrying about performance bottlenecks or distracting fan noise.
