video editing build

[elevenseventy]

1. video editing and audio mixing.

2. about $1000.

3. USA

4. i have an unscientific feeling that intel is more reliable and compatible than amd since i had issues with an amd build 6 years ago. but, i'm sure i could be convinced of the error in this.

5. 2 wd 1tb black hard drives and an m audio delta 44 (legacy pci) are the only things i will almost definitely use again--unless someone has a better idea for recording multiple tracks to computer.

here are some parts in my current computer that i could use again, but don't mind replacing:
-seasonc ss500ht psu.
-antec lanboy aluminum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129145) is pretty beat up/bent up and things don't really latch so well anymore, but if it saves me money that can be better spend elsewhere, i'd use it again (i can't believe how much good cases cost).
-wd raptor 740. 4 years old but still going strong.

6. i haven't built a computer for about 5 years, so i've been reading to catch myself up on everything.

7. i don't plan on overclocking.

8. sometimes, when i can't sleep, i play no one lives forever 2...or the original empire earth. other soporific game suggestions welcome.

9. in the next month or so. some friends and i will be shooting some video in that time that i'd like to have a better computer to edit on by march.


here's a little background. i'm currently on a p4 2.8ghz system i built in 2006 for about the same purposes. it's served me well but i had some ram go bad, replaced it, and the new ram is now acting up, so i wonder about the mb.

i'll splurge if i think it will really affect quality (such as with a camera). that's why i came here--i'm not sure how much difference certain things will make--the p4 doesn't encode at light speed, but i can set it to go and get some dinner. so, here are some specific questions:

cpu: i've read the 6 core amd may be better for video editing, but that suggestion may predate the sandy bridge processors. if i go with sb, does anyone think i'll get much of a boost out of the i7 over the i5? or does anyone vote for the amd?

hds: i bought that wd raptor to speed things up 4 years ago, and i felt like i noticed the difference. i'm thinking about an SSD, but i'm not sure if the performance would be that much better than the big drives of today for my purposes.

ram: my sense if 4 gigs of g.skill ddr 3 1600 will be fine. it seems like the slowest timing, 9-9-9-24 is fine, but it's not that much more to bump it up (down) if it would add any performance.

gpu and mb: here's one of my big questions. would it be cost effective to save the money on a graphics card and use the on-board video with an h67 mb? i would like to use two monitors, so maybe on-board won't work for this setup.

again, i should try to stick around $1000 budget wise, so i'd like to spend the money where it counts. if i can save on the case, or no gpu, and use the money more effectively elsewhere, i'll do it and buy those things later. that said, i would prefer a quiet machine, and any case recommendations are welcome. thanks!

 

[Vette73]

What software? Also do you live near a Microcenter?

Depending on the software you might do better with a 6core AMD chip or a 2600 Intel sandy bridge.

AMD is fine, I have both intel and AMD.

For intel the P67 chipset board for AMD a 870 or 890 board.

Ram; again depending on the software 8gig may be better depending on size of video you are editing. You can get 8gig (2 X 4) for less than $99 now.

I would get a seperate video card due to not sharing ram and AGAIN depending on software may work better. Even a GT240 (DDR5) can be had for $50 AR or a GTS450 for less than $99 AR

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Quick Sync?

 

[Vette73]

Here is a good base for less than $499 shipped...

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=22044768

That has the board, 6core CPU, 8gig ram, and a good but cheap and basic video card.

You can reuse the power supply, Case, and harddrives. Get a cheap DVD burner ($20 ish) and there ya go.

 

[Modelworks]

If you want to do editing and not have to wait for effects and changes to render you need to get an Nvidia based card , a GTX 470/480 would be ideal. Video applications like after effects will use the gpu to accelerate functions and allow you to do effects in real time that before would have to be rendered in test renders using the cpu.

 

[mfenn]

I'd go Sandy Bridge. It's pretty much the fastest thing out there right now and reasonably priced to boot! $1K is plenty for this build.

i5 2500 + Intel BOXDH67CL combo $295 - supports dual monitors according to Intel
G.Skill DDR3 1333 4GB $40
OCZ Vertex 2 90GB $185
Samsung DVD Burner $18
Seasonic S12II 430W $61
Antec Three Hundred $50 AR
Total: $649 AR

Add $100 for Windows 7 and you are good to go! Additionally, you can add an Nvidia card if your software can take advantage of it.

 

[elevenseventy]

Adobe Premiere

I'm about an hour and a half from a Microcenter.

i7 not worth $100 more? It sounds like sandy bridge is the way to go.

Can I use that psu again?

Since 8 gigs of ram isn't much more, I might as well go for that. I thought I read once that 4gb sticks were going bad more often than 2gb?

What do people think about SSD?

I'm still a little unsure about the gpu. It sounds like using on-board would affect the performance of the rest of the system too much, though that mb is surprising cheap. I don't mind spending some on a gpu, I just haven't researched them at all. Those GTX 470/480 look a little pricey, though real time effects would be amazing. Does anyone have any experience with video cards and Premiere?

If the on-board isn't worth fooling with, should I go for a p67 board?

Also...just curious, if not using on-board video, do those parts of the 2500k get utilized for a different task, or just sit there? If they just sit there, why not make all motherboards support on-board video just case your gpu dies?

Thanks everyone

 

[Vette73]

^

The 2500 and 2600 only have 2 major diff, that is ther i7 has 2mb more cache and HT. If AP can use HT then it may help and the 2600 would be best. If it can't use HT then I would go 2500.

PSU should be fine.

A good middle level video card is the GTS450. You can get that now for $89 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125342

Never heard of 4gig slabs wearing out faster than 2gb slabs. So get the 8gig (2 x 4)

Yea if you get a SB CPU get a P67. I prefer gigabyte but find one that has the features you need and compare to others.

The onboard GPU shuts off on the P67. Mnay have already brought that up but it is what it is.

 

[beginner99]

As far as i've read your doing this for fun so time is not that critical and hence you dont need the best or fastest stuff.

The main issue IMHO is wether to use discrete graphics or not. With sandybridge integrated graphics you get much faster video de- and encoding (QuickSync) if the application you use supports this. This can only be used on h67 mainboard and only if you use the integrated graphics.

A discrete GPU will in most cases perform better in games (eg. 3D) and can be used as pointed out already for accelerating certain effects / transistions you add to your video. However this also requires an application that supports this (usually they are not the cheapest ones) plus it costs you the money of the discrete graphics card.

So it mainly depends on what type of software you use / planing to use and what feastures it supports.

What I would do for sure is have a raid 0 array for movie files / project files and a separate disk with your os and applications on it.
Probably any modern 7200 rpm HDD is faster than your old raptor and would be a cheap investment. If oyu have the money to spare, ssd's are worth it IMHO. But I'm an very impatient guy and hate when PCs stutter for "no reason" and take 5 min to be usable when booting.

 

[mfenn]

^

The 2500 and 2600 only have 2 major diff, that is ther i7 has 2mb more cache and HT. If AP can use HT then it may help and the 2600 would be best. If it can't use HT then I would go 2500.

PSU should be fine.

A good middle level video card is the GTS450. You can get that now for $89 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125342

Never heard of 4gig slabs wearing out faster than 2gb slabs. So get the 8gig (2 x 4)

Yea if you get a SB CPU get a P67. I prefer gigabyte but find one that has the features you need and compare to others.

The onboard GPU shuts off on the P67. Mnay have already brought that up but it is what it is.

:thumbsup:

 

[Davidh373]

^

The 2500 and 2600 only have 2 major diff, that is ther i7 has 2mb more cache and HT. If AP can use HT then it may help and the 2600 would be best. If it can't use HT then I would go 2500.

PSU should be fine.

A good middle level video card is the GTS450. You can get that now for $89 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125342

Never heard of 4gig slabs wearing out faster than 2gb slabs. So get the 8gig (2 x 4)

Yea if you get a SB CPU get a P67. I prefer gigabyte but find one that has the features you need and compare to others.

The onboard GPU shuts off on the P67. Mnay have already brought that up but it is what it is.

]

+1.

 

[elevenseventy]

Alright. Thanks everyone. This is going to be even cheaper than I thought, which is great. I'll probably give the SSD a shot. And it appears that Premiere does utilize hyper threading so I'm leaning towards i7.

I don't mind if the SB doesn't use the graphics portion of the die for anything else, just curious. I was thinking it might be nice to have the H67 just in case I need onboard in an emergency, but I'll just keep a pci card around for that.

 

[Davidh373]

Alright. Thanks everyone. This is going to be even cheaper than I thought, which is great. I'll probably give the SSD a shot. And it appears that Premiere does utilize hyper threading so I'm leaning towards i7.

It does. I would get the i7 as well.

I don't mind if the SB doesn't use the graphics portion of the die for anything else, just curious. I was thinking it might be nice to have the H67 just in case I need onboard in an emergency, but I'll just keep a pci card around for that.

I'd get the $60-$70 GT 430 as your backup. That way, you still have Mercury Playback if that emergency ever arises. That is of course if you don't already have an old PCI-E card... I don't think $60 is worth ONLY getting Mercury Playback out of it.