Building a HD Video Editor/Photo

[David_T]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. Web browsing, MS Office, HD Video Editing/Rendering (Sony Vegas), Photo editing (PSP), DVD burning, HD Video playback when editing video from HD camera. No gaming. (That is the next build)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread $750

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. U.S.A.

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. Generally have used intel CPU. But, open to AMD if the quality/reliability/value is same/better.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. 2 Monitors - Samsung 226BW 2 HD - Hitachi 1TB Sata 3.0Gb/s 3.0 7200 32MB Buffer

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads. I have read several. Most threads seem to be for gamers. I am not clear on CPU/MB direction (AMD, i5, or i7). The Sony Vegas software kills my current machine when rendering, playing back HD video, and burning.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. default
8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with. 1680x1050 (2 Monitors)

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? now

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned. You guys have nothing on my mother-in-law... :biggrin:

 

[Sp12]

Will there be ANY gaming at all on this build? If so:

1055t 200$
Asrock 870 extreme 3 90$
2*G.skill ripjaws 4gb eco series 196$
XFX black edition 850 watt 105$ (tough call, you don't need the wattage, but this unit is premium quality and normally 160$. It's high wattage, so you're efficiency won't be as high, but it's silver so I'm not expecting it to be a huge issue)
Litescribe sata OD 20$
5770 135$
Haf 922 90$

745 AR?

If you're not gaming, the 880g version of that Asrock, no 5770, and a smaller PSU would be fine.

 

[heyheybooboo]

AMD Phenom x6 1055T / Asus M4A785TD-V EVO: $265

or if you want the latest ...

Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3: $303

Bottom Line: We are still waiting for USB3/SATA 6Gb/s product to hit the shelves --- when it become mainstream you may simply add a controller card to the 785TD if you wish to save the $38 up front.

The IGP on either mobo will push 2 monitors BUT they must be configged as 1 HDMI/DVI / 1 d-sub.

So ... I'm not going to include a vid card to save money (if you are so inclined you may add a vid card later ... ).

For OS/Apps --- Kingston 64GB SSD: $125 (before $25 rebate)

For capture/scratch --- Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB: $60

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333: $90

Sony Optical: $19

Corsair 430w: $50 (before $10 rebate)

CM Mid Tower Computer Case: $50

$659 - $35 = $624 before the obligatory operating system


Use your current 1TB HDD for output/storage OR (going old school -- don't know how much it really matters with todays HDDs) you could partition the first 250gb of each 1tb drive.

Use one 250gb partition for capture and the second 250gb partition for output ---- you could then store/backup yer stuff on the 750gb partitions.




--

 

[mfenn]

AMD Phenom x6 1055T / Asus M4A785TD-V EVO: $265

or if you want the latest ...

Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3: $303

Bottom Line: We are still waiting for USB3/SATA 6Gb/s product to hit the shelves --- when it become mainstream you may simply add a controller card to the 785TD if you wish to save the $38 up front.

The IGP on either mobo will push 2 monitors BUT they must be configged as 1 HDMI/DVI / 1 d-sub.

So ... I'm not going to include a vid card to save money (if you are so inclined you may add a vid card later ... ).

For OS/Apps --- Kingston 64GB SSD: $125 (before $25 rebate)

For capture/scratch --- Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB: $60

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333: $90

Sony Optical: $19

Corsair 430w: $50 (before $10 rebate)

CM Mid Tower Computer Case: $50

$659 - $35 = $624 before the obligatory operating system


Use your current 1TB HDD for output/storage OR (going old school -- don't know how much it really matters with todays HDDs) you could partition the first 250gb of each 1tb drive.

Use one 250gb partition for capture and the second 250gb partition for output ---- you could then store/backup yer stuff on the 750gb partitions.

--

I like this build (sorry Sp12, but that 850W PSU just makes no sense). I would probably go ahead and get the cheapest video card that I could find that has dual-DVI though, as it can be frustrating to have one monitor on DVI and the other on VGA. In my experience, the VGA monitor will look ever-so-slightly fuzzy, which drives me crazy. You can get a 5450 for $25 AR and an HDMI-DVI cable.

 

[Sp12]

I agree, I was just thinking that since he mentioned a 'next build' focused on gaming it would be nice to have a 5770 or for lan.

If that's not an interest, I definitely agree -- smaller PSU, no 5770, and an integrated GPU.

Though IMO 8GB is worth it for HD video editing.

 

[Davidh373]

Processor:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-808-_-Product

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-651-_-Product

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-092-_-Product

G-Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150398

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-015-_-Product

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20elite%20335

Total: $751.48

The next thing I would recommend would be getting an SSD down the road to get better performance but for now I wouldn't worry too much about using that drive if you can partition it.

EDIT: I would NEVER use onboard video for HD Video Editing. It will probably be as bad as your old system previewing your edits. Get a serious card (sorry mfenn, but this isn't Photoshop only...)

EDIT 2: Just use this for gaming too. Might as well as far as I can figure.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Though IMO 8GB is worth it for HD video editing.

Absolutely strongly strongly agree. The more the better.

If you can stretch the budget enough to get 8GB (or even more) it's absolutely worth it for HD video editing (and even Photoshop to some extent, especially if you work with lots of larger [~12 megapixel+] files).

 

[Davidh373]

Absolutely strongly strongly agree. The more the better.

If you can stretch the budget enough to get 8GB (or even more) it's absolutely worth it for HD video editing (and even Photoshop to some extent, especially if you work with lots of larger [~12 megapixel+] files).

I think you should get a nice video card over 8GB, but 8GB would be preferred.

 

[mfenn]

Processor:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-808-_-Product

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-651-_-Product

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-092-_-Product

G-Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150398

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-015-_-Product

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20elite%20335

Total: $751.48

The next thing I would recommend would be getting an SSD down the road to get better performance but for now I wouldn't worry too much about using that drive if you can partition it.

EDIT: I would NEVER use onboard video for HD Video Editing. It will probably be as bad as your old system previewing your edits. Get a serious card (sorry mfenn, but this isn't Photoshop only...)

EDIT 2: Just use this for gaming too. Might as well as far as I can figure.

Why not try it out before wasting a bunch of money on a GPU? I can assure you that it won't be "as bad as his old system" or even anywhere close.

At any rate, a GTX 260 is a bad suggestion at $185. A 5770 is an equivalent gaming card for cheaper and a GTX 460 is a much better card for only a few bucks more.

 

[Davidh373]

Why not try it out before wasting a bunch of money on a GPU? I can assure you that it won't be "as bad as his old system" or even anywhere close.

At any rate, a GTX 260 is a bad suggestion at $185. A 5770 is an equivalent gaming card for cheaper and a GTX 460 is a much better card for only a few bucks more.

Fair Enough, I admit I didn't look at any benchmarks before I through that card in there. I do know that previews work off the Graphics card and the RAM (More the G-Card). I just figured putting the budget he has now into a system that has all the features instead of him waiting on the graphics card to find out it still has choppy preview performance. I know that I absolutely HATE waiting 30 min.+ for a preview render just to figure out something is off and have to wait another period for it to fix the section I repaired.

 

[mfenn]

Fair Enough, I admit I didn't look at any benchmarks before I through that card in there. I do know that previews work off the Graphics card and the RAM (More the G-Card). I just figured putting the budget he has now into a system that has all the features instead of him waiting on the graphics card to find out it still has choppy preview performance. I know that I absolutely HATE waiting 30 min.+ for a preview render just to figure out something is off and have to wait another period for it to fix the section I repaired.

Wait, I thought we were talking about HD video editing and not 3D rendering?

If you're going to be doing 3d modeling and such, then yes a graphics card will help immensely.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Wait, I thought we were talking about HD video editing and not 3D rendering?

If you're going to be doing 3d modeling and such, then yes a graphics card will help immensely.

The issue of the OP (I'm guessing) is the dreaded Vegas AVCHD preview lag, and from my experience has nothing to do with the IGP/video card/graphics subsystem itself.

When you import AVC into Vegas for editing it is dang near impossible to toggle between frames, even single frames, without lag. I think there is a patch for Vegas Pro 9 ('c') which is supposed to help correct the lag.

One suggested workaround is to 'pre-render' a new track --- that's where all this talk comes from --- to improve the lag.

The project settings don't seem to matter, nor do the 'preview settings' (though the *Draft: Half* preview seems to help me a bit). It doesn't seem to matter if the import is 20mb or 120mb ... the lag remains.

I don't have an HD cam but I do use Handbrake to convert OTA *TP* streams to mp4 to import into Vegas for editing. So ... I won't go so far as to call it a serious 'bug' but if someone has a workaround beyond the 'pre-render' I'd like to hear it.

My best suggestion to the OP to minimize or avoid the preview lag: The output from your HD cam to be imported into Vegas should match exactly with the project settings in the software, i.e., ...

There are a half-dozen or so 'HDV' templates for mp4 avc/h.264 in Vegas. The output from the HD cam will most likely include options such as 1920x1080/60i, 1440x1080/50i, 1280x720/30p, etc. Experiment with every output option on the cam to determine which works best with the software templates and be certain that the resolution, bit rates, frame rates, pixel aspect ratio, etc., match up.


As far as the IGP/vid card thing it really doesn't matter. The 'sideport' IGP memory on the Asus M4A785TD-V EVO in no way constrains the overall system performance in video editing (I know ... I've got one ) running 2 monitors.

The OP can try it and upgrade if it is a problem for him. You have an interesting point on the "D-sub" image quality. I have noticed a bit on my 785TD but my d-sub second is a 17-inch panel that's really, really old. I don't think it even has a native resolution - LOL

Also - running the OS, Vegas, Capture/scratch and output on a single HDD with multiple partitions is a recipe for I/O Hell and Fail. The system will slow to a crawl. Multiple drives will add much more performance (even much better than going from 4gb to 8gb). You aren't really memory constrained to the extent it seriously hampers performance and holds back the system.

Back to the OP -- don't be mislead by 'bigger and higher' is better. 'Spec Creep' can be for the birds. If you can do 720 progressive (in my mind, anyway) it is much better than a higher resolution that is interlaced. Just be certain to 'sync-up' the cam output to the software template.




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[mfenn]

^^ Great info!

 

[David_T]

Thanks guys! booboo, you hit the nail on the head. I did upgrade to HD Platinum 10 and that is better, however, it is still painful.

 

[David_T]

Followup Question - I went with the 1055T and Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3. I also got a corsair force 60gb SSD for the OS/Vegas App.

Question - I have seen much concern over AMD chipset drivers and AHCI speeds. Some forums say to use microsoft drivers and some say to use AMD's. This motherboard has AMD 880G and SB850 chipsets. So, I am not even sure if it has the issue others are talking about sine the Southbridge chipset is used.

So, I am looking for advice on a new install. Do I just install Windows and leave the motherboard driver CD alone. Or do I install Windows and use the motherboard driver CD for all drivers except AHCI. Or do I install windows and then install the mother board driver CD and not worry about it.

 

[mfenn]

With Windows 7, my opinion is that the Microsoft drivers are good for everything except the GPU.