Computer Build - Dartfish Pro Video Analysis

[kh4130]

I am making a computer for a bike shop I work at. This computer will have 2 cameras hooked up to it via 1394 and it will use the Dartfish Pro software to track a person riding a stationary bike. The video files are not too large. It just records the person riding and overlays can be put on the videos to track movement.

They do not mind going a little overboard on this computer since it is a money maker for them. This machine does not have to be a high-end video processing machine but they would like some flexibility. They want something that just works without overclocking or fuss. This computer is really going to only be used for Dartfish.

I am trying to keep the video card cheapish because I don't believe it is used much for the application (see Dartfish requirements below). I almost believe I possibly went a little overboard with the graphics card in the build. I went with an i7 b/c I hear that more cores help with video processing. I feel that they didn't need a 2nd HDD b/c video is not large and is backed up to a server.


--Their basic rundown of current build they are replacing. It works but its showing it's age.--
IMB 7099-b8u
Processor: Pentium Dual Core e5500 2.8 GHz
Memory: 4GB
Graphics: ATI Radeon 4350


--System requirements according to Dartfish--
Processor: Quad Core 3 GHz Intel Ivy/Sandy Bridge or greater
Memory: >= 8GB RAM
Graphics: Intel HD3000, HD4000, NVIDIA or ATI dedicate graphic card
HDD : >= 256GB SDD + >= 500 GB SSD

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($251.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 640 2GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.07 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.93 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: NZXT Air Flow Series 83.6 CFM 140mm Fan ($13.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case Fan: NZXT FZ-120mm LED 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($11.93 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: NZXT FZ-120mm LED 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($11.93 @ Amazon)
Other: SEDNA - PCI EXpress 4 Ports 1394A ( Firewire ) Adapter card ( VIA ) ($23.99)
Total: $1164.76
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-03 09:44 EDT-0400)

 

[Ken g6]

If you're not overclocking, get a non-overclocking processor and mobo. A discrete GPU wouldn't do anything the onboard GPU can't do. Without overclocking and without a discrete GPU, you don't need extra fans, an aftermarket CPU cooler, or such a powerful PSU. And ultra-fast RAM helps almost nothing, though I can't deny that is a good price for such RAM. You could even select a micro-ATX mini-tower at this point if you prefer, though I didn't bother.

My results:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4771 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($55.04 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($244.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($47.07 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Rosewill PCIE FireWire 1394a Card 2+1 Ports Model RC-504 ($19.99)
Total: $864.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-03 15:22 EDT-0400)

Edit: Oh, and with a smaller mobo, probably a smaller PSU, and probably a smaller optical drive, this could all fit in a pretty tiny miniITX case if you prefer.

 

[mfenn]

If they rely on this system to generate revenue, then you probably want to go with a workstation from a Tier1 OEM like Dell, HP, or Lenovo. An HP Z230 with an E3-1245 V3, 16GB of ECC memory, 256GB SATA SSD, Firewire card, and a 3-year NBD onsite warranty will run you about $2k, perhaps less if you call and ask for a discount.

 

[kh4130]

They are going to get a quote through a vendor and I am doing this so they can compare. I think they can get a way better deal with me building the computer. They will compare in the next week and decide what way they want to go. The IBM they have been using is way under spaced.

The extra fans were in the build b/c they want me to pull blue fans and put orange fans in b/c that is their company color.

I ended up picking the higher end memory b/c it was such a good deal.

As for mobo should I just avoid Z78 b/c I am not over clocking?

You seem to be confirming that I do not even need a graphics card with the intended usage. Thanks for doing this build for me I will defantely look at using this.

 

[Ketchup]

If the system requirements are 8 GB, I would be tempted to go ahead and spring for 16.

 

[kh4130]

I was thinking about 16GB or RAM but I was thinking it wasn't as important. However, with cutting out video card the money savings will be there.

 

[DominionSeraph]

You can get a Precision T1700 from Dell Outlet for ~$900 with an i7 4770 and 8GB. That comes with a 3 year NBD warranty.
Add a 250GB SSD and you're set.


online photo sharing

As mfenn said, this isn't something you want to piece together yourself. You don't want to be dealing with RMA's and having your choices questioned if things start to break, and if this is a money maker you want uptime, which means NBD warranty.

Oh, and I wouldn't go the EVO for a SSD on the assumption that this thing might be seeing terabytes of writes. I'd step up to an Intel 730 just to be on the safe side.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IF4NGEU/?tag=pcpapi-20

This comes to within $6 of your build with a warranty and a better SSD.

 

[mfenn]

You can get a Precision T1700 from Dell Outlet for ~$900 with an i7 4770 and 8GB. That comes with a 3 year NBD warranty.
Add a 250GB SSD and you're set.


online photo sharing

As mfenn said, this isn't something you want to piece together yourself. You don't want to be dealing with RMA's and having your choices questioned if things start to break, and if this is a money maker you want uptime, which means NBD warranty.

Oh, and I wouldn't go the EVO for a SSD on the assumption that this thing might be seeing terabytes of writes. I'd step up to an Intel 730 just to be on the safe side.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IF4NGEU/?tag=pcpapi-20

This comes to within $6 of your build with a warranty and a better SSD.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Nice find! Dell outlet is nice because all of the business-class machines (Optiplex, Precision, PowerEdge) have the same warranties as their new counterparts.

 

[kh4130]

DominionSeraph - I really like that Dell build. Might have to see about getting Win8 for it. They want to move everything to Win8.

I think the Intel drive might be overkill. When I checked out the existing computer I was surprised to thee that all the video files from the last year and a half were under 35GB. The video clips they take are not very long and they are compressed well. I am sending a modified version of Ken g6's build along with the Dell T1700. I told him that the T1700 with a SSD might fit their needs better since it has a warranty and it will be simpler.

Thanks for you help guys!

 

[DominionSeraph]

^^ My concern is if this thing is acting as a TiVo, continually writing just to display. That would put write cycles on the flash. It may be overkill, but in the end you're looking at only $80 for a SSD with a better warranty and power protection.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7803/intel-ssd-730-480gb-review

Continuing with the enterprise features, there is full power-loss protection similar to what's in the S3500/S3700. I'm surprised that we've seen so few client SSDs with power-loss protection. Given the recent studies of power-loss bricking SSDs, power-loss protection should make a good feature at least in the high-end SSDs.

It looks like their upgrade cycle is quite lengthy (~6 years), so I'd say it's worth it to put a real workstation drive in there instead of trying to save a few dollars on a cheap consumer one.