MacPro 5,1 Video options for pro tools 2019

[samplaire]

Hi,
I’m in the process of building a rig for pro tools post work. I started to wonder if I really need any Video adapter like Blackmagic Intensity Pro? Do I? The MacPro has a stock 5770 card enabling me to use 3 monitors. What if I treat one monitor as the Video output instead of the mentioned intensity pro (ie a TV connected via minidisplayport to hdmi cable)? Is there any con as now you can have the view set to fullscreen? Are there any disadvantages, traps I can encounter?

The setup is not the one from the bottom. The setup is MacPro 5,1, 12 core, 64GB, 10.13.6, RME fireface 802, Radeon 5770, pro tools Ultimate 2019.10

[henningaround]

You have to use special adapters for the two Mini Display Ports of this graphics card to use 3 monitors. Apple sold them for 99€ each. They have extra power supply via a USB cable. I guess there are third party adapters which are cheaper. But if you use a normal MiniDisplay Port to let's say DVI adpater you can only use two monitors.

[fresler]

Far easier to upgrade your graphic card.
I'm running a 3 monitors setup straight from a Radeon 580 Pulse. Before that I was running the same monitors on a R9 280x... These are all cards you can find, on the cheap, on ebay and install in your Mac Pro.
BTW I also have a Black Magic Design Intensity Pro 4k in my Mac, but never feel the need to use it as an additional out.

[samplaire]

Thanks for your answers! They both give a new light to my thoughts!

[Farhoof]

You can use the Radeon, but save yourself the hassle and get a $100 Blackmagic pci mini monitor. It will always give you a fullscreen video output via SDI or HDMI at the proper video framerate with better sync than manually dragging the video window to the 3rd output, stuck at 60Hz and a less steady sync. It's even cheaper than the Apple adapters.

[samplaire]

Thanks for your input! The thing is that if you set ‚fullscreen’ once (for the Video on your chosen monitor) it stays fullscreen each time you open pro tools and a session containing a movie. It is since pt12 or so. Both in normal and Ultimate. So there is no hassle with resizing the picture you have. It’s always fullscreen. And if you accidently mova a plugin window or pt itself window (edit/mix) to the movie monitor - the movie is still on top. So technically the monitor you chhose once as a place for your Video window stays its fixed home ;-)

[reichman]

Are there any disadvantages, traps I can encounter?

I'm with farhoof on this one. The sync, frame-rate and color are all better on a dedicated AJA or Blackmagic output.

[tom_lowe]

Originally Posted by reichman

I'm with farhoof on this one. The sync, frame-rate and color are all better on a dedicated AJA or Blackmagic output.

+1 don't do desktop video, end of.

[samplaire]

Thanks! I'll consider this, yet

[SDDP]

I have both the RX 580 and a BM intensity pro. Am I correct using the BM HDMI to a Tv there will always be an offset? (usually 22 quarter frames) where as if I use one of the HDMI out of the RX 580 the video offset should always be set to 0?