debating 133w vs 190w system

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

So with Windows Live Movie Maker I can import .MTS (AVCHD) files into the timeline and edit stuff shot with my Canon HF S100 AVCHD cam: not on a big scale like Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, but suitable for my needs... upon importing the files (MTS) into the timeline the files are trans-coded for easier playback/editing then re-encoded back to the original size or smaller depending on what I opt for. Currently the machine I am on is rig 1 in sig (133w idle draw: total system)

I built Rig2 specifically for doing the same exact thing in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, and actually it's not complete... hasn't been for almost a year... i still need to upgrade to Adobe PP CS5 to take advantage of the GTX 480 and it's hardware acceleration supported by CS5 - it makes the natively imported .MTS files easy to edit.

Right now, I am liking the idea of using Windows Live Movie Maker to do this as I am speculating the learning curve with CS5 will kill my enthusiasm for this light hobby. The argument is whether to use my 133w system which is slower trans-coding and encoding files to work with WLMM or to swap out my platform with the i7 rig2 platform @ ~190w idle draw for faster encoding & trans-coding... If I swap out my 5770 for the GTX 480, I loose the option to see how CS5 will work which I have yet to buy (300$) but on the positive side I'll save ~ 30w idle draw, or I can keep the GTX in and leave CS5 as an option but idle at 190w... If I do any of this, i'll have to do a fresh install on my Vertex 2 which is a big PITA.... I think I'm just really curios to see how the i7 920 encodes and trans-codes files vs the 9650...

What would you do.

EDIT: whats crazy is that my Gamer rig with the 2 5870s, and at 3.4Ghz idles at the same wattage draw as rig 3 (190w)

 

[mfenn]

What I would do is use the machine that uses the least watt-hours per render. To figure this out, measure the power draw of each system while rendering then multiply that amount by the number of hours the render takes. Even though the i7 draws more power, it may end up using less total energy because it can do the job faster.

 

[somethingsketchy]

What I would do is use the machine that uses the least watt-hours per render. To figure this out, measure the power draw of each system while rendering then multiply that amount by the number of hours the render takes. Even though the i7 draws more power, it may end up using less total energy because it can do the job faster.

Agreed with mfeen, which ever does the job the fastest could potentially be the one that uses the least amount of electricity. And if you only turn the i7 rig long enough to perform the render(s) and then turn it off, that'll make this build more attractive to use for renders, despite the higher wattage.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

if they sold patience, i'd buy a bunch!

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

You bring out a very good point mfenn. How much time will I be spending doing this. Overall, i'd say maybe 3 times a month... if I get comfortable with it, maybe more. Maybe less. I guess it depends how much I'll be using my Canon. But now that I know I can import the files into WLMM maybe I'll bring the cam out more to shows ... I'd say the watts used transcoding and encoding won't be that much of a factor. But one sub wattage factor is the idle time as if it were going to be my main rig which is on usually from 4-11pm weekdays and sometime on the weekends. I think the key factor will be the time it takes to do the coding. I'm speculating btw. I haven't had much real hands-on time doing this. It's just the devil on my shoulder telling me - try the i7 out!!!!! and the Angel on the other is saying - take your time.... be cool. :hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm:

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I think I'm going to eventually end up using the AVCHD rig as my main rig... just gonna keep the platform installed in the case with the fans. I swapped out the Enermax Revo 950 for my Seasonic X-650 to gain a little efficiency percentage along the wattage curve. That'll help a lil. Then I think I might swap out all my friggin drives: 8 hdd, and the one SSD... it might not be as pretty as in my Lian Li PC-A20 but ... we'll see

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I just took out my 2 5870 out of my game rig and installed the 480 and I am now getting 144w idle and ~ 256w in UT3. Rig 2 & 3 use to both idle ~ 190w