thoughts on this video-editing rig

[bakaris]

Hi,

my buddy wants a rig for video editing. not for professional use, but he'll still get get use out of it. his budget is $1500 canadian. this is my recommendation, any thoughts? all prices are canadian from www.ncix.com.

ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 $115.35
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor $379.99
OCZ Performance PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 $226.98
Pioneer DVR-110D Black DVD-RW 16X6X16 $47.99
Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case $109.99
2 x Samsung Spinpoint P Series 250GB (striped, for editing) $227.98
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 80GB (system drive) $73.53
M-AUDIO REVOLUTION 5.1 PCI SOUND CARD 24BIT/96KHZ $91.63
BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC PCI-E 128MB $149.99
Sapphire Theatrix Theatre 550 $101.15
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE $9.75

total: $1534.33

 

[potato28]

Looks good!

 

[Some1ne]

Generally looks good, although why the fast editing drive paired with the slow system drive? They might as well both be fast.

If he ends up gaming on it, he might not be happy with that sound card. Typically non-Creative cards tend to have various compatibility issues with games, and lack of support for features like the newer EAX revisions.

You don't really gain anything by getting a factory overclocked graphics card. You might be able to save a bit of cash and get a regular 6600 GT, and then just overclock it yourself if need be.

 

[bakaris]

a few changes, closer to budget:

ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 $115.35
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor $379.99
OCZ Performance PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 $226.98
Pioneer DVR-110D Black DVD-RW 16X6X16 $47.99
Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case $109.99
2 x Samsung Spinpoint P Series 250GB (striped, for editing) $227.98
Samsung Spinpoint P SERIES 80GB SATA2 7200RPM 8MB $63.99
CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY 2 ZS 7.1 1394 24BIT OEM $76.53
Sapphire Theatrix Theatre 550 $101.15
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE $9.75
eVGA E-GEFORCE 6600GT 128M DDR3 PCI-E $140.98
total: $1500.68

 

[Akhen]

I would also get a second optical drive, you can make it as simple as a dvd-rom or combo dvd-rom/cdrw
When editing its nice to have a second spare drive since the dvd burner is alwyas being used
to author and burn your content.
well thats at least what I do

 

[Kenazo]

What kind of video editing will he be doing? Like intense full length movies, or will he be taking some clips throwing them together to make presentations, or what? I do quite a few 10-20 minute video presentations and based on that experience, Drop the Audigy, drop the theatrix card. Unless he's capturing old analog video, there's no point. Any video camera worth its snot uses Firewire anyway.

I'd also consider switching from the dual-core 3800 to the A64-4000. Unless the software he's using is optomized for the dual-core, you'd see a greater increase in performance by going w/ the faster single core chip (2.4ghz compared to 2ghz).

That said, the computer you have laid out is sweet, I'd be excited to use it just as you have listed.

I use
A64-3000
2xOCZ 1GB (same kit as you have listed)
2x200GB Seagate SATA hdd's
Gigabyte 6600GT w/ VIVO
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D (onboard sound all the way!)

I have no complaints.

 

[Viditor]

Excellent choice..it would work as a very good midline professional rig for editing.

 

[bakaris]

he's not going to be making intense full length movies. not now at least. probably average around 20-30min. he's looking for a thoroughly adequate amateur system. wants the capability to submit projects for professional consideration.
we need the theatrix card for analogue capture. have tons of old hi8 tapes that need to be transcoded.

i've heard bad things about onboard audio for an editing rig. though i suppose we can forget it for now and then get a card later on if there's problems.

the a64 4000+ is listed at $438.41 at ncix. that'll put it too far over budget.
thanks for the recommendations.

 

[Meuge]

Originally posted by: bakaris
a few changes, closer to budget:

ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 $115.35
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor $379.99
OCZ Performance PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 $226.98
Pioneer DVR-110D Black DVD-RW 16X6X16 $47.99
Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case $109.99
2 x Samsung Spinpoint P Series 250GB (striped, for editing) $227.98
Samsung Spinpoint P SERIES 80GB SATA2 7200RPM 8MB $63.99
CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY 2 ZS 7.1 1394 24BIT OEM $76.53
Sapphire Theatrix Theatre 550 $101.15
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE $9.75
eVGA E-GEFORCE 6600GT 128M DDR3 PCI-E $140.98
total: $1500.68

Drop the Pioneer, get the NEC 3540 or whichever is newer - $10 less.
Don't even think about getting a Creative card unless you absolutely MUST have EAX. They positively blow. If you want to save money, and get good audio quality with low latency, get the Chaintech AV-710 - only $25

 

[bakaris]

i had an m-audio card before, then someone suggested a creative card. but i do like the sound of the chaintech. thanks.
the NEC is more expensive than the pioneer at ncix. though i can get an lg for cheaper. so i switched that in.
also added a keyboard/mouse.

new list:
ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 $115.35
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor $379.99
OCZ Performance PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 $226.98
LG GSA-4167B 16X DVD+-RW 16X Dual Layer Writer $43.99
Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case $109.99
2 x Samsung Spinpoint P Series 250GB (striped, for editing) $227.98
Samsung Spinpoint P SERIES 80GB SATA2 7200RPM 8MB $63.99
Chaintech AV-710 $30.16
Sapphire Theatrix Theatre 550 $101.15
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE $9.75
eVGA E-GEFORCE 6600GT 128M DDR3 PCI-E $140.98
Logitech Deluxe Desktop Optical Black Internet Keyboard & Optical Mouse PS/2 $9.99
total: $1460.30

 

[Kenazo]

Are you a PP @ NCIX?

 

[bakaris]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
Are you a PP @ NCIX?

no, but i'm thinking i should sign up. i'll save more than what the premier partner costs just on savings in parts costs and shipping of the order.

 

[Some1ne]

i've heard bad things about onboard audio for an editing rig. though i suppose we can forget it for now and then get a card later on if there's problems.

Just to clarify the audio thing a bit...for gaming, creative wins (as much as people like to pan their cards). If editing/content creation is the primary intent, then your original m-audio card is actually a fairly good choice. I've never heard anything about the chaintech sound card, though as a general rule I tend not to trust products from relatively small companies that branch out into lots of different areas (i.e. chaintech makes mainboards, graphics cards, and now audio cards apparently, and who knows what else, but they're not really a widely recognized or praised brand in any of those areas).

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: bakaris

Originally posted by: Kenazo
Are you a PP @ NCIX?

no, but i'm thinking i should sign up. i'll save more than what the premier partner costs just on savings in parts costs and shipping of the order.

I can price it out for you...

Just curious, but how did u find that Asus board for that price? I'm seeing $124ish Oh, and if all those things are on the specials, you're better off not going for PP. It's only useful if you don't want to be bound by the weekly specials.

Actually, lots of the prices you have listed are lower than PP price. Are you sure those weren't limited time specials or something? B/c I can't find those prices.

 

[Kenazo]

Premier pricing:


ASUS A8N-E MOTHERBOARD ATX S939 NFORCE4 ULTRA DDR PCI-E16 PCI-E4 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA RAID GBLAN SOUND
In Stock 14268 $124.20 $124.20


AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2Ghz 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box
In Stock 15708 $392.58 $392.58


OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5 184PIN Pin Dual Channel Memory Kit /W Ramsink
In Stock 14504 $299.34 $299.34


LG GSA-4167B 16X DVD+-RW 16X Dual Layer Writer IDE 2MB Black OEM W/ SW Burner
In Stock 16202 $47.36 $47.36


Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case 3X5.25 2X3.5 4X3.5IN 450W Air Duct 120MM Fan
In Stock 15422 $117.92 $117.92


Samsung Spinpoint P Series 250GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB 8.9MS FDB Hard Drive 3 Year MFR Warranty
In Stock 15852 $119.31 $238.62


Samsung Spinpoint P Series 80GB SATA2 7200RPM 8MB 8.9MS FDB RoHS NCQ Hard Drive 3 Year MFR Warranty
In Stock 15698 $65.26 $65.26


Sapphire Theatrix Theatre 550 Pro PCI TV Tuner Card With Remote
In Stock 13864 $89.46 $89.46


SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5IN FLOPPY DRIVE
In Stock 9047 $6.84 $6.84


EVGA E-GEFORCE 6600GT 128M DDR3 PCI-E VGA DVI HD Out Video Card
In Stock 13354 $158.44 $158.44


Logitech Deluxe Desktop Optical Black Internet Keyboard & Optical Mouse PS/2 OEM (Single Pack)
In Stock 17058 $14.27 $14.27


Oh, and I notice there's no Windows in here... XP home is $99.14, XP Pro is $167.44, Media Center is $137.31 and XP Pro64 $156.95

 

[bakaris]

they're the boxing week prices. the asus board is an open box price. my buddy apparently has all software needed. thanks for the pp prices.