What makes 3XS Video Workstations Special?
Our in-house team of experts, 3XS Systems, has been building workstations for more than 20 years. We know which components are the fastest and most reliable, and how to fine-tune and combine them for the best application performance. Here’s what you need to know.
NVIDIA Certified
Scan is an NVIDIA Elite Partner, awarded for our GPU-accelerated systems expertise.
Trusted By You
3XS workstations are rated 4.8 on Trustpilot with hundreds of reviews every year.
3 Years Warranty
3XS Systems include a three-year warranty offering complete peace of mind.
7 Days Support
Our experienced technical support engineers are available seven days a week.
Chosen By Professionals
Our workstations are used by a host of leading organisations.
Workstation Applications
Before examining each of the hardware, software, networking and infrastructure options in detail, it’s important to think about the types of applications your workstation(s) will run. This is critical, as applications have widely different configuration requirements. Below you’ll find specific configurations for popular applications.
Alternatively, carry on reading this guide for high-level guidance on workstations that will be used for a mixture of applications, or if you’re not sure what applications you’ll be running.
GPU Accelerators
The graphics card, comprising a GPU and VRAM, is the most important component in a video workstation as it the main driver for rapid capture and rendering of high resolution video. We recommend NVIDIA GeForce RTX consumer-grade GPUs as they deliver maximum bang-per-buck for most workloads and NVIDIA RTX PRO professional-grade GPUs for specialised applications such as virtual production.
| Feature | RTX PRO 6000 | RTX 5090 | RTX 5080 | RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5070 | RTX 5060 Ti | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | |||||||
| Price | |||||||
| Optimum Resolution | 8K/6K | 8K/6K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 1080p | 1080p |
| Grade | Professional | Consumer | Consumer | Consumer | Consumer | Consumer | Consumer |
| GPU Architecture | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell |
| CUDA Cores | 24,064 | 21,760 | 10,752 | 8,960 | 6,144 | 4,608 | 3,840 |
| Tensor Cores | 752 5th Gen |
680 5th Gen |
336 5th Gen |
280 5th Gen |
192 5th Gen |
144 5th Gen |
120 5th Gen |
| RT Cores | 188 4th Gen |
170 4th Gen |
84 4th Gen |
70 4th Gen |
48 4th Gen |
36 4th Gen |
30 4th Gen |
| Memory | 96GB GDDR7 |
32GB GDDR7 |
16GB GDDR7 |
16GB GDDR7 |
12GB GDDR7 |
8/16GB GDDR7 |
8GB GDDR7 |
3XS Systems video workstations can be configured with up to six GPUs. For further information on the full range of NVIDIA GPUs and their specifications, please read our NVIDIA GEFORCE GPU BUYERS GUIDE and NVIDIA WORKSTATION GPU BUYERS GUIDE
Host Processor
The processor or CPU is the second most important component in a video workstation as it plays a key role alongside the graphics card in determining overall system performance in content creation applications. Most video workstations are equipped with either AMD Ryzen or Intel Core Ultra processors, and for the ultimate in performance we also offer Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Xeon-W configurations. Consideration should be given to the number of cores, memory capabilities and expandability in the form of PCIe lanes as this determines how many GPUs, SSDs and network cards can be used in the system.
The tabs below give more detail on the two main brands of processor, Intel and AMD, and the different models each brand makes.
Intel CPUs
We recommend Intel Xeon-W and Core Ultra CPUs in our workstations, each suitable for a variety of different workloads, as shown in the table below.
| WORKLOAD | XEON-W | CORE ULTRA 9 | CORE ULTRA 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VFX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| COLOUR GRADING | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VIDEO EDITING | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VIRTUAL PRODUCTION | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| RENDERING | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| VR | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
For more information on CPU specifications read our INTEL DESKTOP CPU BUYERS GUIDE.
Memory
While having sufficient memory on the graphics card is important, application performance will be crippled without adequate system memory or RAM. We use Corsair Vengeance system memory in our 3XS workstations, chosen for its high performance and reliability.
You should choose the quantity of system memory depending on your graphics card, as summarised in the table below. If you are working with particularly large models and datasets it may be advisable to buy a system with more memory.
| Spec |
RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell |
RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell MAX-Q |
RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell |
RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell |
RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell |
RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF |
RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell |
RTX A1000 | RTX A400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. System Memory | 128GB | 128GB | 96GB | 96GB | 64GB | 32GB | 32GB | 16GB | 16GB |
You can learn more about RAM by reading our Memory Buyers Guide.
Storage
Choosing the right combination of speed, type and configuration of your storage is an extremely important factor that affects performance of your workflows. The total amount of storage will depend on your specific circumstances - that is what type of content that you work with, resolution of the files, frame rates, compression type and codec type. Modern professional cinema cameras capture video with very little compression applied. Less compression means larger files to manage throughout the workflow.
To help you size the drives in your workstation the table below shows how much storage some of the most popular video codecs use.
| Codec | Resolution | Frame Rate | Compression | MBps | Size of 10 Min Footage (GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmagic RAW | 4K | 24fps | 8:1 | 107 | 64 |
| 3:1 | 280 | 168 | |||
| 50fps | 8:1 | 223 | 134 | ||
| 3:1 | 590 | 354 | |||
| 8K | 24fps | 8:1 | 161 | 97 | |
| 3:1 | 430 | 258 | |||
| 50fps | 8:1 | 335 | 201 | ||
| 3:1 | 890 | 534 | |||
| ProRes | 4K | 24fps | 422 | 63 | 38 |
| 4444 | 141 | 85 | |||
| 50fps | 422 | 131 | 79 | ||
| 4444 | 295 | 177 | |||
| 8K | 24fps | 422 | 251 | 151 | |
| 4444 | 566 | 339 | |||
| 50fps | 422 | 524 | 315 | ||
| 4444 | 1180 | 708 |
We recommend multiple drives if budget permits, one SSD for the OS and applications plus additional SSDs for your current project and to act as a media cache. It's also important to have sufficient storage to backup old projects, either HDDs in the workstation itself or an external.
For guidance on storage options read our SSD BUYERS GUIDE, HDD BUYERS GUIDE, NAS BUYERS GUIDE and EXTERNAL STORAGE BUYERS GUIDE.
Video I/O
Video I/O (Input/Output) cards aid importing and exporting video. These devices are common across every post production workflow and are what allow you to confidently monitor the timeline as you edit and grade. Connecting an I/O device to a calibrated colour critical monitor gives you the assurance that what you are seeing is the most accurate representation of your project.
If you are serious about colour grading, DIT work, Virtual Production or any other work that requires working with uncompressed video in real time then you should look at our range of professional CAPTURE PLAYBACK CARDS.
Additional Features
3XS video workstations can be configured with a range of power, connectivity and OS options.
Power Supply
Our video workstations are supplied as standard with high-quality 80PLUS Gold power supplies, ensuring a reliable and efficient power source for the system.
Connectivity
Our workstations are equipped with best-in-class connectivity, including ultra-fast USB-C ports, high-speed network ports and plenty of DisplayPort outputs for connecting multiple monitors.
Operating System
Our systems are preinstalled with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro. The Pro version supports larger memory configurations and offers many advanced security features.
Accessories
Our 3XS video workstations can be complemented by a range of accessories to suit every workflow.
Monitor
Upgrade your visual experience with either our standard Monitor Buyers Guide. or Professional Monitor Buyers Guide which covers colour critical monitors.
Keyboard
The keyboard has a massive impact on your experience.
Learn more by reading our Keyboards Buyers Guide.
Mouse
Mice are available in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and weights with extra features such as adjustable DPI rate, poll rate and more.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Mouse Buyers Guide.
Graphics Controllers
Content creation applications may be easier to control with the use of dedicated graphics mice and tablets alongside the integrated keyboard and touchpad. These offer much greater control and flexibility with 3D and spatial workloads.
Learn more by reading our Graphics Controllers Buyers Guide.
Speakers
Whether you're gaming, listening to music or watching videos, PC speakers are a great addition to your setup. Dedicated PC speakers provide far superior sound quality than the tiny speakers integrated into monitors.
Browse our range of PC Speakers.
Chair
The designers of these chairs have thought about how users sit, how they move, and what they need most from their chair.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Chair Buyers Guide.
Desk
Desks are purpose designed for PCs, having useful features such as flexible monitor arms, so you can position your screen(s) at the perfect height and angle.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Desk Buyers Guide.
Headset
A headset is essential for listening to music, films and online communication.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Headset Buyers Guide.
Ready to Buy?
Click the links below to view the range of 3XS Systems video workstations.
If you still have questions on how to select the perfect system, don't hesitate to contact one of our friendly advisors on 01204 474747 or at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about video workstations, specifications, customisation, gaming, pricing and rental options.
A video workstation is a high performance desktop computer optimised for demanding professional video production workloads such as VFX, colour grading, video editing, virtual production, Media & Entertainment, rendering and VR.
This is largely down to semantics, although typically a workstation is a computer optimised for graphically-demanding applications, whereas a PC is a more general purpose computer.
Professional video applications and gaming are graphically-demanding, so both types of system have a lot in common. However, producing video is more I/O intensive than gaming. Therefore, video workstations typically have more RAM and storage than gaming PCs.
In addition, video workstations are designed for commercial rather than casual use, so feature more reliable components and drivers.
We recommend looking at what mix of applications you're going to use as different software have varying hardware requirements. See the Workstation Applications section of this page for detailed guidance for the most popular professional video applications.
Yes, alongside our extensive range of pre-configured video workstations, you can use our online configurator to customise every aspect of your workstation. For bespoke, one-off custom builds visit the 3XS Custom Shop.
We recommend a minimum of 32GB of RAM for a graphics workstation; but you should choose the quantity of RAM depending on your GPU and application(s), read the Memory section of this guide for more information.
A mid-range video workstation with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or higher graphics card, a processor with at least 8 cores and a minimum of 32GB of system memory will be good for video editing and graphics applications. However, we also produce dedicated graphics workstations which may be more suitable.
Video workstations are much more powerful than typical office PCs, so can be used for work type applications.
Yes, most video workstations feature NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards which are also designed for gaming.
A video workstation equipped with a suitable graphics card, processor and other components will start around £1,400, or as little as £40 per month if paying in instalments. Beware of workstations significantly cheaper than this, they are likely built using previous-generation or underpowered components that will struggle to render graphics at a smooth frame rate.
3XS video workstations are available to rent on a monthly basis in Scan Cloud. You never have to worry about system failures and returns. Hosting in the Scan Cloud covers all failures and in the event of a system failure, provide you with a backup system to restore your applications and files to. For further information look out for the CLOUD READY section on 3XS video workstation product pages.