Building a high-end video editing PC?

[crashtech]

Here's a preliminary list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1AKxs

Notes:

CS6 does not make good use of HT, so a hexcore or better is useful here.

Adobe won't officially support GeForce cards if you have a problem, but they work, and you get LOTS more compute for the buck, which CS6 will use.

CUDA support in CS6 is very mature, while OpenCL is not, an Nvidia card is a better bet.

A RAID10 array on a dedicated controller would be nice, but doesn't fit the budget. Two 4TBs mirrored on the onboard controller for now, til some decisions are made about how the output files are to be handled.

I took a look at some similarly configured machines, and the price was closer to $4K without monitors. In some cases, this is because Xeons and ECC are forced upon you, when it's not really necessary for this kind of work. Usually the default setup is CPU-heavy and graphics light. I think you can get a lot more computing power for your dollar by going self-built in this instance, because CS6 is designed to make good use of GPU power.

4930K will be out soon, which is probably what should be used. The 3930K is a placeholder.

 

[mfenn]

mfenn - you're judging without knowing what my background is... The only reason I would be down a week, assuming I wasn't on travel.. would be the part needed to be replaced was on back-order.

I am merely looking for recommendations on core components for my new video editing computer. It doesn't matter if it built by a mass production company, a guru from this forum or myself. The component would be the same. Let me decide if I need "customer support". Which I have not used in the last 14 years in the IT business.

Whoa whoa whoa, no need to get aggro. This thread has been (unnecessarily) adversarial thus far, let's take it down a notch. I was not intending to make any sort of moral judgement about you. Let me explain my reasoning more fully:

A week is about the standard RMA time for a component vendor. The purpose of a support contract is not to be able to call a techie (though you get that too), the purpose is to get spares quick (4hr for a premium, NBD standard).

You can of course get replacements faster by buying new or using local spares. Buying new costs you money out of pocket; one or two of which will make the self-built machine cost more than an OEM. Local spares are great, but I didn't want to assume anything about your background.

 

[mfenn]

Here's a preliminary list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1AKxs

Notes:

CS6 does not make good use of HT, so a hexcore or better is useful here.

Adobe won't officially support GeForce cards if you have a problem, but they work, and you get LOTS more compute for the buck, which CS6 will use.

CUDA support in CS6 is very mature, while OpenCL is not, an Nvidia card is a better bet.

A RAID10 array on a dedicated controller would be nice, but doesn't fit the budget. Two 4TBs mirrored on the onboard controller for now, til some decisions are made about how the output files are to be handled.

I took a look at some similarly configured machines, and the price was closer to $4K without monitors. In some cases, this is because Xeons and ECC are forced upon you, when it's not really necessary for this kind of work. Usually the default setup is CPU-heavy and graphics light. I think you can get a lot more computing power for your dollar by going self-built in this instance, because CS6 is designed to make good use of GPU power.

4930K will be out soon, which is probably what should be used. The 3930K is a placeholder.

If you are going to build it yourself, then you should build smart to maximize your price advantage over the OEMs. Paying over $100 for an 8GB non-ECC DIMM is not something I consider building smart because it doesn't provide a corresponding benefit over a $50 8GB DIMM.

I also disagree with the assessment that CS6 makes good use of powerful GPUs. You do get some benefits, but there are extremely diminishing returns beyond a GTX 650 or so. T_Yamamoto has posed a good question about how important the gaming aspect, which does benefit from a powerful GPU, is to the OP.

 

[crashtech]

... Paying over $100 for an 8GB non-ECC DIMM is not something I consider building smart because it doesn't provide a corresponding benefit over a $50 8GB DIMM....

Finding new DIMMs from the QVL can be a challenge. I didn't want to stray away from the QVL to save money in this kind of build. More research might turn up an available part number, but I will admit I didn't want to give that much of my time away.

I also disagree with the assessment that CS6 makes good use of powerful GPUs. You do get some benefits, but there are extremely diminishing returns beyond a GTX 650 or so...

That's interesting. I'd seen some different info, but it might be wrong. Certainly the low-end Quadro that comes default in many workstations would not be appropriate, though.

...T_Yamamoto has posed a good question about how important the gaming aspect, which does benefit from a powerful GPU, is to the OP.

I didn't realize he asked that question too.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Here is my go.

I went with the 3820, since I don't think a 3930k will make a HUGE difference
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1B6cB
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3820 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 CPU Cooler ($82.01 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P9X79 LE ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($224.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($159.19 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.31 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.31 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital VelociRaptor 250GB 3.5" 10000RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PNY Quadro 4000 2GB Video Card ($711.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) ($129.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Dell U2312HM 23.0" Monitor ($205.42 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Dell U2312HM 23.0" Monitor ($205.42 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Dell U2312HM 23.0" Monitor ($205.42 @ Amazon)
Total: $3071.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-07 17:31 EDT-0400)

Raid 0 the SSD and HDDs. Raptor is for scratch.

Quadros 4000. 3 of the monitors you chose earlier.

 

[BSLugnut]

@BSLugnut, how much storage space do you require for your output files?

Edit: Also, how important is the gaming aspect of the build? Adobe only supports Quadros with CS6, afaik.

Gaming is not important at all, it just provides some sanity at times (less than once a month)

 

[BSLugnut]

Whoa whoa whoa, no need to get aggro. This thread has been (unnecessarily) adversarial thus far, let's take it down a notch. I was not intending to make any sort of moral judgement about you. Let me explain my reasoning more fully:

A week is about the standard RMA time for a component vendor. The purpose of a support contract is not to be able to call a techie (though you get that too), the purpose is to get spares quick (4hr for a premium, NBD standard).

You can of course get replacements faster by buying new or using local spares. Buying new costs you money out of pocket; one or two of which will make the self-built machine cost more than an OEM. Local spares are great, but I didn't want to assume anything about your background.

Didn't mean to come off as adversarial at all and I am sorry, as it was perceived as such. I was only defending my "limited" capabilities!

Thank you for your input on the replacement parts clarifcation!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

OP, have you looked at my recommended setup yet?

 

[crashtech]

We should find out if the OP is willing to use a non-approved GPU. Switching the Quadro for the GTX and the quad for the hexcore would improve performance overall. CS6 can use the cores.

 

[BSLugnut]

T_Yamamoto - Thank you for your recommendations!
In your experience, is 256GB suffice for Win 8.1 or should I go 512GB?
Why did you change from 1 SSD to 2 SSDs?
Curious why you chose the Noctua cooling over a liquid cooled solution?
Nice lists, as with the removal of monitors and OS, as I already have those, it drops the pricing to around $2324. (sorry, for the confusion, as I wanted it to support 2-3 monitors)

crashtech - Thank you for your input as well!
So in your opinion I should go with the Intel Core i7-3930K over the i7-4770, due to the hexacore use? But, being that I am in not is dire need of this new machine today, maybe I can hold off until later in the month for the 4930k.
In your experience, is 240GB suffice for Win 8.1 or should I go 512GB?
Curious why you chose the that specific liquid cooled solution?
Nice list, as with the removal of monitors and OS, as I already have those, it drops the pricing to around $2700. (sorry, for the confusion, as I wanted it to support 2-3 monitors)

Thanks for the input!

 

[lehtv]

The size of the SSD is a non-issue. You could fit Windows 8 with the main programs on a 40GB SSD if you wanted to.

 

[mfenn]

I'd say to definitely wait for the 4930K, they'll most likely be announced on Tuesday to coincide with the launch of the new Mac Pro.

Anyway, I think that T_Yamamoto's list is a good starting point. I'd make the following changes:
- GPU to the newer K4000 $760
- Drop the Velociraptor (not sure why that is there at all)
- Change the Sandisk SSDs to the super-consistent Extreme II 240GB for $240. Use one for OS, apps, and other general stuff and the other for your Photoshop scratch area.
- Change CPU to the 4930K when available.

 

[BSLugnut]

mfenn - Thanks for the sanity check!

Curious why you would recommend the K4000 over say the GeForce GTX 670 2GB?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

mfenn - Thanks for the sanity check!

Curious why you would recommend the K4000 over say the GeForce GTX 670 2GB?

Because its a workstation card and will help with editing.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I'd say to definitely wait for the 4930K, they'll most likely be announced on Tuesday to coincide with the launch of the new Mac Pro.

Anyway, I think that T_Yamamoto's list is a good starting point. I'd make the following changes:
- GPU to the newer K4000 $760
- Drop the Velociraptor (not sure why that is there at all)
- Change the Sandisk SSDs to the super-consistent Extreme II 240GB for $240. Use one for OS, apps, and other general stuff and the other for your Photoshop scratch area.
- Change CPU to the 4930K when available.

I had two SSDs for RAID and the Velocirsaptor was for scratch.

 

[BSLugnut]

T_Yamamoto I asked about the GPU as in the link that mfenn provided the GTX cards "appeared" to perform better than the others.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

T_Yamamoto I asked about the GPU as in the link that mfenn provided the GTX cards "appeared" to perform better than the others.

You mean his link for the k4000?

 

[BSLugnut]

Sorry, yes the link

 

[mfenn]

mfenn - Thanks for the sanity check!

Curious why you would recommend the K4000 over say the GeForce GTX 670 2GB?

T_Yamamoto I asked about the GPU as in the link that mfenn provided the GTX cards "appeared" to perform better than the others.

The Quadro 4000 card in my link was the older Quadro 4000, not the K4000. The K4000 and GTX 670 are actually the same overall architecture. In terms of raw performance, the K4000 is equivlent to the GTX 650 Ti (i.e between the GTX 650 and GTX 660 in the charts that I posted).

The difference is that the Quadro has a different driver set which is more optimized for professional apps whereas the GTX 670 has more raw power. The Quadro will work out of the box in the Adobe suite without the need for "hacking" (admittedly, just changing a text file) and is supported.

The Quadro drivers are important, but they don't matter as much for Adobe products as they do for 3D modeling like Maya, Solidworks, or any Autodesk product. I could see going either way on the build, but personally I would stick to the Quadro.

 

[BSLugnut]

mfenn - Thank you very much for your detailed explanation!