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Advice on Budget Video PC

N

neo8585

Junior Member
Hey, I'm trying to put a somewhat inexpensive, preferably under $750, computer together that will be fast enough to handle professional video editing on Avid. This is my first build, and just about everything is up in the air. Does anyone have any suggestions/corrections from what I've chosen?

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Video Editing, general computer use, gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

500-750

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

None really.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

keyboard, monitor, speakers, mouse, windows vista.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

n/a

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

No overclocking

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

n/a

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Within the next few weeks.

Here are my specs so far:

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($187.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68P-DS3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTS 450 1GB Video Card ($101.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7260S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $624.90
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

Thanks!
 
If you have any use for a front plug USB3,there is a new version of the Challenger case with front USB3 forabout $15 more..
For $32 I'd consider the 2500K.
That said, I own two Challenger cases, and have an I5 2400 on Biostar TH67B motherboard, which suits me fine. except I do wonder..
A lower price than $45 for 8 GB is difficult (except for possible rebates), lol, I think I paid $44.99 too
 
infoiltrator said:
For $32 I'd consider overclocking the 2500K.
...
A lower price than $45 for 8 GB is difficult (except for possible rebates or bundles)
Click to expand...
FTFY

Now, lots more questions for the OP. For question 8, just tell us your monitor(s)'s resolution(s). When you say "video editing", do you mean Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 or something else? And finally, do you like mail-in rebates?

Edit: One more: Do you live near a Micro Center?
 
Last edited:
Hey, my current monitor resolution is 1366x768. I'm thinking of possibly using two monitors for this new computer; my current one, and a new one I'll have to buy. But before I can do that I need to buy a new desk that can fit them and that's not something I'll be doing for another couple of months.

I'm going to be using Avid Media Composer primarily. And I don't mind mail-in rebates. Unfortunately I don't live near a Micro Center.

Thanks!
 
OK, let's see...

Processor: OK - not bad, not great. Based on suggested platforms, I suggest you wait for the Bulldozer processor (from AMD) before making a decision. An i7 would benefit you, but might or might not be worth $100 more.
Motherboard: I'm not sure what's best for you at this point. A cheaper option would be this, but it would be hard to put 16GB RAM on it. You may want 16GB RAM for video editing. And, of course, if you go with Bulldozer, you'll want an AM3+ board.
Memory: Just get the cheapest 8 or 16 GB DDR3-1333 you can get, whenever you're ready to buy.
Hard Drive: Good.
Video Card: Looks like Avid uses only OpenGL, not CUDA, at this point. Given that, here's a $100 AR card that's faster than the GTS 450. On the other hand, if you want to spend more and/or think they'll use CUDA someday, here's the next step up.
Case: I don't feel qualified to comment on the case. :$
Power Supply: Mildly overkill. Here is a good, cheap one.
Optical Drive: Good.

Overall, my advice is to wait for Bulldozer.
 
Ken g6 said:
OK, let's see...

Processor: OK - not bad, not great. Based on suggested platforms, I suggest you wait for the Bulldozer processor (from AMD) before making a decision. An i7 would benefit you, but might or might not be worth $100 more.
Click to expand...

What in that link makes you think that Bulldozer would be better? I see all Intel platforms being recommended.

Anyway, OP it looks like Avid takes decent advantage of HT, so here's what I would recommend:
- CPU+mobo combo: i7 2600 + Intel H67. Ignoring the software, you are getting the mobo for $80
- RAM: G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $39 AP
- GPU: Avid isn't CUDA accelerated so just use the IGP
- Case: It is fine if you are down with the looks
- Everything else like Ken said.
 
Ok so I tweaked it, incorporating some suggestions from here. How does this look now:

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Intel DH67BLB3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($100.74 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 620W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7260S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $698.66
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

I'm thinking I'll start ordering parts next week. Thanks once again for all the help. I really appreciate it.
 
i7-2600 IMHO is overkill. i5-2500k is better value. Also I would go with a Z68 Motherboard that you can a) overclock and b) use QuickSync. (search this page for QuickSync. this could be helpful to you but depends on software you use).

with the money saved on CPU I would either buy an ssd or at least a second hard disk. video editing with just 1 hdd is not a good idea. This will be your main bottle neck anyway.
 
mfenn said:
What in that link makes you think that Bulldozer would be better? I see all Intel platforms being recommended.
Click to expand...
I see dual-processor Intel platforms being recommended, with each processor having four hyper-threaded cores! Bulldozer's main advantage is supposed to be the number of cores it has, so I think it's at least worth waiting for some benchmarks.
 
Ken g6 said:
I see dual-processor Intel platforms being recommended, with each processor having four hyper-threaded cores! Bulldozer's main advantage is supposed to be the number of cores it has, so I think it's at least worth waiting for some benchmarks.
Click to expand...

Ohh, but the waiting becomes harder every day. I'm in the same boat, and if BD gets delayed after we've waited this far ... 😡

I can wait another month, as no current game has me interested, but while waiting to build my own rig I have managed to buy a LOT of parts and build 3 more rigs to sell locally in the meantime. Wife is starting to lean on me hard about the daily influx of USPS boxes that keep arriving.
:sneaky:
 
beginner99 said:
i7-2600 IMHO is overkill. i5-2500k is better value. Also I would go with a Z68 Motherboard that you can a) overclock and b) use QuickSync. (search this page for QuickSync. this could be helpful to you but depends on software you use).
Click to expand...

Video editing is one case where the i7 makes a lot of sense over the i5. Hyperthreading really helps out in this case.

Also, I see QuickSync being mentioned a lot, but I don't see how it is entirely relevant to someone who is doing real video editing as opposed to trasncoding videos for Youtube. Everything I've seen suggests that the QuickSync algorithms are not very high quality.

beginner99 said:
with the money saved on CPU I would either buy an ssd or at least a second hard disk. video editing with just 1 hdd is not a good idea. This will be your main bottle neck anyway.
Click to expand...

Very true.

Ken g6 said:
I see dual-processor Intel platforms being recommended, with each processor having four hyper-threaded cores! Bulldozer's main advantage is supposed to be the number of cores it has, so I think it's at least worth waiting for some benchmarks.
Click to expand...

Huh? Sure more cores are better, but not if each core is half as fast, as is the case for AMD right now. Granted, Bulldozer may change the equation (I doubt it because the cores on a module share an FPU), but that doesn't necessarily follow from the linked that you posted.
 
neo8585 said:
Ok so I tweaked it, incorporating some suggestions from here. How does this look now:

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Intel DH67BLB3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($100.74 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 620W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7260S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $698.66
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

I'm thinking I'll start ordering parts next week. Thanks once again for all the help. I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Those parts look fine to me except for the RAM. It runs at 1.65V and you want 1.5V or less for Sandy Bridge. Here's a good Mushkin kit for $43.
 
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