upgrades/build, need input

[angrylemming]

Looking to build a system for video editing/some 3d stuff.

No gaming at all.

Case: Super Lanboy (already own)
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
PSU: OCZ Modstream 450 (already own)
MB: Asus A8N-SLI
Ram - Corsair XMS 4x1GB Sticks
Video Card - some cheap thing off newegg
HDs - Raptor (already own) 160 seagate (already own), 2x250GB seagate in RAID1 (need redundancy)

About $1080 bucks, with a 50 dollar MIR for the ram.

I'm getting ready to order, looking for a general OK, nothing wrong with the mobo or anything that I've missed...

 

[angrylemming]

bump?

 

[VanTheMan]

It looks good to me, though I wouldn't go too terribly cheap on the video card if you're going to be doing 3D stuff. You definitely want dual monitor support for video editing. You probably know that editing on a single monitor is not fun.

Can I ask why you're getting the A8N-SLI, though? Is it for the firewire? I'm building my current system on the A8N-SLI Deluxe, but I'm going to be doing plenty of gaming and eventually upgrading to an SLI setup as well as video editing.

Don't rush yourself because parts will only get cheaper. 🙂

 

[pkme2]

I'd upgrade the CPU to 4400+ (or 4800+, my next upgrade for my rig) Faster CPU, Faster rendering.
2MB RAM is AOK, that all I use for my editing. Spend the savings for your CPU.
I use Matrox Parhelia 256MB/3 lcds, but a 24" later (to replace 2) would be my dream.

I recommend that you checkout our rigs to see what's common in your favor. Good way to get started.
This way you get to see what really works and not Dreamworks

 

[DerwenArtos12]

the extra cache on a 4400+ would be mildly noticable. a 6200 or 7300 would be fine for any mild rendering you may want to do, 4gb ram is probably overkill but, in building rigs for other video editing guys they have told be the difference really is noticable so, I say go for it.

 

[pkme2]

As told to me that the video card has nothing to do with rendering, its the CPU that handles rendering speed. So do yourself a favor and get the 4400+ and enjoy your video editing.

 

[SparkyJJO]

get a vid card that can support dual monitors
don't get a SLI mobo if you don't need powerful video, it would be a waste of money.
for video editing you may need more HD space later, so keep that in mind. You might not to start off with but just be aware of that.

 

[Bobthelost]

I'd stick with the CPU and the rest of the parts, most programs don't use the extra cache of the 4400X2 so it's a waste of money, i'm not sure why you're going for XMS RAM, i thought that was overclocking RAM (and any way you look at it poor value for money)?

If i were you i'd think about RAID0 for the HDs and have a third HD to back up the work daily, (automatically set to do so). RAID0 should speed up things nicely. While RAID1 will probably slow things down a touch. Advantage of RAID0 + daily backup = faster, disadvantage = you can lose a day's work.

 

[VanTheMan]

I hear that the Parhelia is a good card for video editing, but I have no experience with it. If you're thinking about doing 3D stuff, then get a decent card unless you want to work with low FPS. I think Derwen was talking about 3D rendering instead of video rendering. The processor does do the actual rendering, but the video card still has to output the images to the screen and if you have a POS card you're going to have low FPS and crappy looking 3D images while you're trying to make them.

I agree with pkme2 on the 4400+. Even though the 4200 and 4400 both clocked at 2200MHz, the 4400 has 1MB x 2 cache vs the 4200's 512 x 2. If you can afford the difference, go for it because you'll get some time shaved off rendering. If you only work with small videos or something and rendering time isn't a big deal to you, then get the 4200+ to save your wallet a little bit.