Global Performance Cache - Seeking Opinions

Question

Hi Guys -
I am still debating whether to buy CS6. None of the new features interest me nearly as much as the GPC; my decision to upgrade depends a lot on what you guys say about it.
I've used AfterFX long enough to know (since AE7 Pro) that the speed of a RAM preview depends on many factors. Nevertheless I hope that won't preclude you from giving me a general sense of the GPC's effectiveness.
Is the GPC so good that it's worth upgrading for that feature alone? Is it an obvious improvement compared to previous versions, one you appreciate all the time? Or is the benefit minimal, a small step in the right direction but not something that should weigh heavily in my decision to upgrade?
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts, I appreciate it.

Answer 1

I agree with Todd that CS6 isn't as "wonky" as it was at first. I also agree that I can't stand to go back because everything is faster.
This paragraph of yours is very revealing:
For me very often it's just the opposite. I'm asked to make a title sequence, a dvd menu, a wedding video "more interesting please." We talk, I learn what I can, make some sketches, take notes... then I sit down with AfterFX (and Encore, Prem Pro etc.). I tend to use the same effects over and over because I don't want to (or have time to) wait for unpredictable outcomes, and changing even the simplest command, wiggle(3,4) to wiggle(3,5) means the whole comp has to re-render in RAM. It's aggravating.
This is exactly what I mean when I talk about doing motion studies at 1/4 or 1/2 rez. Make your motion experiments on simple layers without effects. I tend to use a lot of pencil sketches shot with my phone, simple shape layers, and text layers all with nothing but motion to figure out what the scene is going to look like.  I'll even often send two, three, or even 10 different motion studies to a client via private Vimeo renders to decide how to proceed with the project. It's the same technique that cell animators and 3D artists use today. Pencil tests traditionally refer to cell animation but I use the term to describe any motion test from any app that does not have the finishing touches applied. Make a low rez 'pencil test' version of the animation to make sure things work before you paint, texture, and clean up the rest for final proof. The GMC in CS6 makes this kind of experimenting extremely fast. It also helps when you are doing the very last stages of your color and effects work on a frame. Both of these comprise less than 30% of my time working on a project and that's why I spend most of my 'creative time' with the caches turned off because they still hold on to an occasional frame or rendered in the background effect that I don't want to see.
You have a distinct disadvantage working with folks that are not in the production business because they are not usually comfortable with 'pencil tests' but there's nothing that says you can't use them to speed up your workflow. Just keep the ones that you like as separate comps, pick your favorite, finish it up and sent the client a nice completed proof. If they don't like it then you've got 2 or 3 or 10 other pencil sketch versions already done tyat you can quickly apply effects to and clean up for final approval.
Wouldn't you rather spend 2 hours on a DVD title checking the timing and motion with 10 versions and 1 hour adjusting the color, effects, and final look than 2 days fiddling around with 3 versions checking every frame at full rez. I'm just trying to give you a few pointers that will let you have some time in your life to do something other than sit in front of your screen and wait for full rez, full effect previews of your work.