HELP!! Somebody Configure Me an HD Editing PC!!

[Crimson Sky]

Please post your spec ideas, product links & prices!!!!!

Your help is greatly appreciated.

I may need to assemble a PC for crunching HD video very soon...Here is what I need, and what i don't:



Budget is $1500 max
Raw processing power (Intel please)
Plenty of RAM
Stability! must be ROCK solid, no overclocked stuff.
Lots of external storage (rated for video, Raid 1 for backup)
fast internal HDD(s)
Quiet and cool running'
Good sound cardWhat i don't need:


Monitor
Gaming anything
dual graphix
Thanks guyas and gals!

[Crimson Sky]

bump

[Bucko]

For video cards, would the nVidia Quadro cards be a better choice than the cards aimed towards gaming?


Oh yeah, don't bump threads. -rep

[Airbozo]

Damn, missed this and my config guy just left. I pm'd him the info and he will check first thing in the morning.

TT

[Airbozo]

For video cards, would the nVidia Quadro cards be a better choice than the cards aimed towards gaming?


Oh yeah, don't bump threads. -rep

The quadro that would be capable of the HD part would be over the budget...

(But Crimson, if that is really what you need, let's talk, I have some lying around...) ;)

[Eclecticos]

This article (http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Farchive%2Fc0601%2F2 6c01%2F26c01.asp) may help ya'll figure out whats needed for HD Editing.

~Edit. Well. . now the rest of the dammned article ain't showing up. I'll keep looking.

Here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/16/review_sony_hd_workstation/) is an HD Editing PC.

[.Maleficus.]

E6850 - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115028 - $280
Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131153 (I know you don't need the SLI, but it's a nice board) - $194
OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199 - $205
2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136110 - $210
M-AUDIO 7.1 Surround HD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829121006 - $90

Video from AB ;).

That's all I have time for for now. Those parts total to... ~$990.


Edit: And I imagine someone will say "Why not a quad-core?" but until you have a program that can utilize all 4 cores, you may as well get a dual-core. But ultimately, it's your choice. E6850 has more GHz without OC's, but a quad-core has more... cores.

[Dilphat]

what software are you gonna use? Adobe Premier 2? i heard it's pretty good with hd editing

[Spawn-Inc]

perfect get the new 250GB seagate barracudas 410AS ones, there faster (burst speed wise, not seek time) than RAPTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

link (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=528853) to setting it up with all the info.

[Crimson Sky]

The quadro that would be capable of the HD part would be over the budget...

(But Crimson, if that is really what you need, let's talk, I have some lying around...) ;)


Oh man..I've been lusting after those cards for years...do put one aside ;)

[Crimson Sky]

what software are you gonna use? Adobe Premier 2? i heard it's pretty good with hd editing


I'm getting a Sony HDR-HC7 1080i HDV Camcorder, and upgrading to Sony Vegas Pro 8 for editing. WinXP is the only way to go for this puppy. Vista, Shmistah.

[Eclecticos]

Vista, Shmistah.
Lol. .I like my Vista Mista. . :D

This is what i came up with Here (https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=5001074).
Well I made the wishlist public. I guess that didn't work out :think:

[Crimson Sky]

This is what i came up with Here (https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=5001074).

Thanks!

should only take me about 300 years to figure out your usernam/pass to get to that secure webpage.

[Spawn-Inc]

grab 4 or 8 410AS 250's there single platter so there smaller, and run cooler. plus are almost as good as raptors as i said before.

[Crimson Sky]

wow so far no one has even considered the bullet points I made. I Dont need SLI, and I don't need lots of internal storage.

[xRyokenx]

Here, let me put it in a nutshell.

He needs a kickass CPU, as much RAM as possible, a good sound card, a RAID 1 array. It needs to run good with external stuff, no OCing at all, and he doesn't need any crazy graphical crap.

Do you need anything besides basic graphics? I'll try to whip something up tomorrow, I'm too tired for this stuff right now.

[Luke122]

2 drive Raid capable NAS (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3004746&CatId=2670) but that will eat most of your budget ($850+)

Do that with a 150gb Raptor internal, and you've got the speed AND the big storage.

I'm still looking into USB enclosures, for a multi-drive, RAID 1 capable unit, they dont come cheap. The one I mentioned above does have gigabit LAN though, so that should ease the moving of video back and forth to it.

It would actually be cheaper to have a pair of USB enclosures, both with say a 750gb hdd, and set up a software RAID config so they are mirrored. Bucko's external HDD project would be uber-sexy for something like that. :D

I'd go for 4gb ram for sure, and definitely dual monitors. It's so nice to use one for preview, and the other for timeline/editing... when I was doing web-design, dual monitors was the only way to go. I dont do much video editing now, but I put together a few projects here and there.

I think Slytherock would be the guy to talk to about this, doesnt he do this (video editing) for a living?

[Crimson Sky]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I was thinking of the WD MyBook PRO 1.5TB for transfering data. USB 2.0 and firewire 400/800. i believe it can be mirrored.

[Crimson Sky]

I'd go for 4gb ram for sure, and definitely dual monitors. It's so nice to use one for preview, and the other for timeline/editing... when I was doing web-design, dual monitors was the only way to go. I dont do much video editing now, but I put together a few projects here and there.

I think Slytherock would be the guy to talk to about this, doesnt he do this (video editing) for a living?


I'm an editor actually too ;)

I already have 22" monitors and all the equipment--just looking to make a new box.

[dgrmkrp]

I've seen a workstation used for HD editing.. but I don't have the specs (mobo model) to link..
I'm not sure if it is in the 1500 budget, but the guy who has it uses some weird software that requires at least quad core, lots of ram and is a huge 2 dvd program by itself.. looked like a mac application, but it was in win xp.. still, processing is lighting fast and close to real time.
the system had 2 xeon quad cores, 8GB of FB memory and 2 10k drives in RAID 0 (huge speed increase).. for the video part, it had a normal card, not a quadro. I'm not sure if you would need one for encoding only.. the professional series from nvidia can handle either huge geometry loads or big resolutions.. most cards can display a decent picture on a 22" and I think you only want to use 2 :) .. else, the quadro nvs line for huge arrays of screens would be suited. one card, 4 displays :)

I'm gonna look for the motherboard model cause that is the most important part.. all the rest can be bought either from a retail store or from ebay.. that's the place you can get a cheaper quadro card. half the price if you're lucky. one card I would recommend, as it is cheaper, is the quadro fx 1500.. lots of power and about 500$ retail..

EDIT: I think it was an intel s5000xvnsata.. or s5000pslsata (2x pci 16x).. first is around 500$ where I live, second is 650$. I'm not sure how expensive it would be in the US..

EDIT2: found more specs and looked for parts at newegg.. I adjusted some components to fit in the price range.. I mean, paying 1 grand for one processor would be too out there for this budget..
Here is what I compiled..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813151048R
tyan dual 771, 5000x, acceptable.. 250$ >> tempest s2696

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117121
e5335 2GHzx4 .. 350$
...e5335 2GHZx4 .. 350$ >>8x2GHz

I chose this cpu cause it is cheap. It has some performance in it, but of course the 3GHz model would kick it's ass.. but for this price.. and considering you could have 9 cores..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134327
2x2GB FB-DIMM .. 300$
...2x2GB FB-DIMM .. 300$
...2x2GB FB-DIMM .. 300$
...2x2GB FB-DIMM .. 300$ >> 16GB

I don't think this much RAM would be necessary.. 4Gigs is quite enough.. This would set the operating system requirements to a 64 bit one though..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145166
hitachi 750GB/32MB cache .. 200$

good price, good performance, for storage purposes it is in the sweet spot..

...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011
...WD raptor x 150GB/10krpm .. 200$
......WD raptor x 150GB/10krpm .. 200$ >>RAID0

for more speed, some raptors would be perfect.. but I wouldn't go for one of them unless I would have more cash at disposal.. the 750GB drive has good characteristics too..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009
PC power.. 750W ..200$

will power the system with some headroom and it is cheaper than the 1000W version.. you could probably find something cheaper/better.. but this is eps12 certified..

video? sound? case? dvd-rw? personal choice.. a decent video board has absolutely no way of actually accelerating the work flow and encoding.. or I suck.. and don't know that much.. I've searched for some pro boards, but they go for thousands of dollars and I'm not sure if you need the ability to broadcast live television.. or just edit the content "off-line"..

min:250+350+300+200+200 >> ~1300 for one cpu, 4 gigs of ram, 750 of storage.. and you have 200 bucks to spend on the rest of the stuff.. :)

max:250+700+1200+200+400+200 >> ~3000 ..all out on everything.. could get much higher than this. Adding a new qaudro fx would add 2 or 3 grand to this price and you would need a case to match them..

Hope I helped :)

[Crazy Buddhist]

I'm getting a Sony HDR-HC7 1080i HDV Camcorder, and upgrading to Sony Vegas Pro 8 for editing. WinXP is the only way to go for this puppy. Vista, Shmistah.

Some useful info in this thread at dvinfo.net (http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=101055). Apparantly Vegas is fully compatible with winXP x64 so if that is true using x64 as your OS will max out the processing capabilities of whatever system you finally build.

:)

[Crimson Sky]

Hope I helped :)

Thanks man...

Yes indeed! Exactly the direction I need to go--stable server board, dual procs etc. The most important thing for any vid editing box is stability, raw processing horsepower, and backup. Storage should all be external, for reliability and portability.

CrazyB, you're suggestion of the x64 OS is also something I overlooked--thanks for the suggestion.

[Crazy Buddhist]

Thanks man...

Yes indeed! Exactly the direction I need to go--stable server board, dual procs etc. The most important thing for any vid editing box is stability, raw processing horsepower, and backup. Storage should all be external, for reliability and portability.

CrazyB, you're suggestion of the x64 OS is also something I overlooked--thanks for the suggestion.

YW .. have spoken to my local reseller here .. vegas is 32bit and will run under x64 he says but he doubts a performance improvement over XP SP2. If you have an x64 licence I'd say worth experimenting and seeing. I'll see if my google-fu can discover hard facts or benchmarks somewhere.

[Airbozo]

My data storage guy forwarded me this chart as something to keep in mind;
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4839filmdatarate.jpg


He got a good laugh at this since he just spec'd out a system for a custy doing something similar, but just the storage they bought came in at $15k!

Paul, let me know if you decide to go the server board route and winXP64...

[Luke122]

*/me faints*

670gb/hr for 1080p?! I suppose that IS uncompressed....

[Spawn-Inc]

i didn't see that you wanted external. so still go get the new seagates but just buy bucko's external storage solution (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10396) :).

[dgrmkrp]

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4839filmdatarate.jpg


WOW! awesome numbers.. is this for real? if it is, my dreams of having a kick ass system just went out the drain.. ;)

for real, the system to meet those specs is not a single computer, right? As far as I know, professional work needs thousand of workstations, huge raw power and as I see above, huge amounts of storage.. well, kinda out of the reach of a singe person cost-wise and work-flow wise.. I mean, to generate the amount of data a feature film needs.. lots of professionals spend a lot of time to do it :) I think..

Anyway, I never ever thought of having hundreds of TB of storage.. gotta rep for widening my dream horizon ;)


And no problem, crimson :) Me happy to help. I am kinda assembling and configuring systems, in my spare time.. but not as a job (although sometimes..) just for fun :) You should see "my documents" folder: it's filled with different .txt document with dates, names and computer parts lists :) I must say that some parts are cheaper where I live.. Is newegg considered a cheap store? Or are there other, cheaper ones?

[Airbozo]

Well, this data came from Ciprico, and reflects the professional market and what _most_ system integrators go by for spec'ing out storage solutions. We do have a few customers that purchase storage based on this data. And yes it is for uncompressed data streams. It is not the only benchmark to go by though since it is a couple of years old. There are storage solutions on the market that exceed the data transfer rate, but they are _really_ costly.

That is why my storage guy cringed at the budget. It can be done for cheap, but the cost will shift to the processing power to compress and uncompress the data streams...

I am just learning about this stuff too, so all the info helps. I found out that the dual Opteron, dual quadro system we provide for a digital editing company is just the front-end and that they actually pair the workstation with their proprietary device which is also connected to ~5tb of high speed storage depending on the model.

This company;
http://www.celco.com/

[AJ@PR]

Paul, let me know if you decide to go the server board route and winXP64...

What have you done man!?!?

QUICK! Somebody decide on this! ANY decision!
Quickly, or xenosagarox will make a poll out of it!!!

[Crimson Sky]

At this point I think a server board and x64 system is my best bet for stability--Xeon is what the big boys use...gaming stuff just doesnt cut it, especially since I will be doing a bit of HD graphics and animation for my project.

[dgrmkrp]

For encoding, I don't know.. but if you are gonna use the system for graphics then it would come down to what programs you use when choosing the video adapter.. I was bored and tried doing some HD frames on this system (xp 2GHz) and I rendered a frame in 3ds max, for 1080p, in about 10 minutes.. 6 raytraced lights, a few thousand polys, raytraced materials.. when modeling the scene, at one point though, the video adapter's fan starts accelerating and I'm losing fps :( that's the difference between gaming and pro cards :(

So.. if I may further my helpin.. and from plain curiosity, what software will you use?

[Crimson Sky]

will be using Vegas 8 PRO (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=457) for editing, After Effects (http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/) for graphics, Photoshop and Sound Forge (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=431) primarily.

Here is the camera I'm getting:

Sony HDR-HC7 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039061) for the price you cant get better 1080i ;)

[dgrmkrp]

Nice software. I can see why you kept the PC itself at a tight budget.. the software alone is worth some good money.
I'm no good with cameras but it looks nice. I am wondering how long can it record in 1080i on a minidv though.. I was forced to record some stuff a few times with minidv cameras and they are really nice compared to those old big vhs tape cameras.. but that's off topic..
I can't really think of a good video card, but rather you should pick one with a decent amount of RAM on it.. helps when working with textures.. maybe a fire gl would be better there, not sure. The memory subsystem in the new models is 512bit and efficient.. of course, those cards are pricey.. gaming cards are not really that useful or not-useful in these apps..

The sound forge app >> good sound card, also going in the professional realm. So, I searched for a cheap one and found this one: e-mu 0404 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829110012) it has a fairly good SNR, is cheap and beats other products from that point of view. Also, it is not gamer oriented and made for recording/processing audio. but it is also just stereo.. and not to be used a normal sound card.. interesting cheap product, but your choice..

[Crimson Sky]

mini dv is THE standard for prosumer (HDCAM format tapes being the pro level) HD cameras..those dard drive based ones are basically for gadget junkies who could care less about a HDD crash and losing all their footage.

Yeah that eMU card looks pretty good--lots of inputs. The camera can record the following on a single mini dv tape:



High Definition: 60 minutes; Standard Definition: SP=60 min., LP=90 min.

[Crimson Sky]

THIS deck looks like it might fit the bill as well:

Sony HRVM15U (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Professional-HVRM15U-Record-Playback/dp/B000FTLMSU)

[dgrmkrp]

hmm... interesting. It will be good to know if I decide to buy one of those.. But how come standard and high definition have the same length? I know it is 1080i, not 1080p.. but shouldn't there be a difference. Stupid childish question to myself, no need to answer it.

After reading some reviews, the e-mu card is definitely weird compared to normal ones. Even the old proven audigys with breakout boxes seem normal.. I guess that is the world of pros :)

Good luck on your build.. I think I'm gonna go zZzZzzz.. I'm on the road in the morning and can't afford to fall asleep there ;)

[Boddaker]

FWIW, here's what I'm running:
~Gigabyte P35-DQ8
~Q6600 quad core
~4Gb Corsair CM2X-2048 6400 memory
~QuadroFX1500
~Black Magic Design Decklink HD Extreme capture card
~2x WD 500Gb; 1x WD 150Gb Raptor
~WinXP x64 edition

I work at an ad agency editing both video and audio with the Adobe CS3 production suite. The system is stable as anything, and I can run multiple apps simultaneously, allowing me to jump from Audttion to After Effects to Premiere to Encore without having to close/open programs. It's very nice!

Assuming you won't need the capture card (going in via firewire), You could very easily get everything above for around $1,500, depending on your storage choice.

Hope this gives you something to compare to.

[Crimson Sky]

Dudes, I'm getting a Dell. Best way for me to go without headaches. ;)

[DaveW]

Nooo! Traitor! :p

-Dave

[Crazy Buddhist]

Dudes, I'm getting a Dell. Best way for me to go without headaches. ;)

but so much heartache .....

[calumc]

Dudes, I'm getting a Dell. Best way for me to go without headaches. ;)

This calls for a mutiny of the forums!!! Make him walk the plank!!!

[Crimson Sky]

I think Dells are fine machines, and I know a thing or two about a thing or two. And their high end monitors? Absolutely the best out there, better than Apple monitors.


I can not configure a PC with the same specs as the one I configured at Dell without having to add:

$100 for a case (Dell has always made damn fine cases BTW)
$125 for the OS
$100 for the PSU
$75 for the Logitech keyboard/mouse

savings=$400, now put towards a 1.5TB WD MyBook PRO.


People tend to configure systems and think, WOW!!! I'm saving so much by making it myself...except when they forget the above hardware/software.

[calumc]

But they dont even know how to write the letter 'E' properly!!!!

[dgrmkrp]

You are right.. I never checked that part.. but what about the hardware inside.. I mean, saving money on the case and PSU is nice, but how much do they charge for the same hardware? Is it ok or better than buying it separate? Also, can you deal with the fact their box is sealed (if I'm not mistaken) and you can't mod stuff inside ;) ?

[Crazy Buddhist]

I think Dells are fine machines, and I know a thing or two about a thing or two. And their high end monitors? Absolutely the best out there, better than Apple monitors.



I second that on all counts. And I too know ... etc ... Whenever someone who knows nothing about computers asks my advice I talk them through the available options at Dell first.

Why? Because Dell won't go bust next week and Dell will do the support and not me. I'm not selfish but I don't want to be the "free computer guy" for everyone who knows me either.

My monitor is a Dell btw. It rocks ;)

[Crimson Sky]

You are right.. I never checked that part.. but what about the hardware inside.. I mean, saving money on the case and PSU is nice, but how much do they charge for the same hardware? Is it ok or better than buying it separate? Also, can you deal with the fact their box is sealed (if I'm not mistaken) and you can't mod stuff inside ;) ?


Thier cases are not sealed at all, in fact hey are excellent examples of user-friendly design, robustness and easy access. When I first opened an Optiplex many years ago, I was amazed at the design, compared to the absolute POS tin cans being made for the home builder. They were way, and i mean way ahead of their time in terms of modular, snap in design. I have no doubt that case makers have taken apart and studied Dell cases as carefully as captured aircraft during the cold war.


You're think of the old, hermeticaly sealed Apple cases ;)

[Crazy Buddhist]

Thier cases are not sealed at all, in fact hey are excellent examples of user-friendly design, robustness and easy access. When I first opened an Optiplex many years ago, I was amazed at the design, compared to the absolute POS tin cans being made for the home builder. They were way, and i mean way ahead of their time in terms of modular, snap in design. I have no doubt that case makers have taken apart and studied Dell cases as carefully as captured aircraft during the cold war.


You're think of the old, hermeticaly sealed Apple cases ;)


Seconded again. The snap in cages for HDD's and swing out of the way PSU's in some Dell's make maintenance and upgrades a sweet and easy thing to do. Way ahead of the game.

[dgrmkrp]

Interesting :) Well, live and learn :)

Here (where I live) PCs sold are sealed like in "with a seal" >> not with screws, glue or stuff like that ;), in order to prevent unauthorized entry inside the system and change stuff physically/screw it up. The place where I worked this summer have a dell server and it has a paper piece glued to the side and back, preventing the opening of the box, with writings stating the retailer and what it is.. If the seal is broken, then the customer loses any rights of free service.. That's what I meant :)

But if you say the cases are user friendly, it means you are allowed to do upgrades and stuff yourself, right? Or was their design only intended to be seen by their certified people..?

I have seen some older dell models and I've noticed the swinging stuff.. and the fact that old P2 and P3s had tool-less drives, modular innards and a tough steel. One friend is trying to get an old, unused case he likes from the university. He says it is as heavy as hell and well built.

I've actually never seen an apple computer.. in real life that is :) But the "hermetically sealed" part makes me think of the new models, with the system built in the screen.. and as thick as the screen.

[Crazy Buddhist]

But if you say the cases are user friendly, it means you are allowed to do upgrades and stuff yourself, right? Or was their design only intended to be seen by their certified people..?


WTF? Certified? Call yourself a modder?

Buy it cheap ... from wherever ... but if you know your **** you dont rely on Dell for anything. I'd buy a Dell tomorrow and install a full on watercooling kit just to prove my point but I'm busy. It's my computer and I don't care what labels it's got on. I know more than their engineers and support stuff about anything computer related. open it? HA!

:smoker:

[dgrmkrp]

Hey, don't act so serious ;) I wasn't talking about myself.. or crimson.. or you =))
It's about losing the warranty here.. for a normal buyer :) And normal people buy assembled, working systems and care less of what is inside. The ones who spot a deal and can live with opening it up are kinda rare. It would take some guts to open the engine on your new car without knowing a thing about it, right?

I usually kill the seals in a day or 2 on whatever I buy.. Think about normal RAM modules: they have stickers, it says not to remove them, but how else can you install a heat sink on it? Once you change the heat sinks, thermal paste and use the card board boxes for mocking up stuff.. I'd say you can't return the stuff ;)

The thing is that when someone says he knows stuff about computers to one of those guys, he will try to take revenge on you for looking him down.. Been there.. So, I usually avoid telling them what I'm gonna do tho the stuff I buy and just smile when they give me the 12 or 24 or 36 month free service paper to sign :) I sometimes leave it there, as I'll have no use for it.

What I was asking in the quote is whether normal people had/have access to the insides, or is there something prohibiting opening the box..

After seeing what we do and say/write, you shouldn't be asking if I'm a modder ;) I mean, I'm surrounded by tools.. and my case is everywhere around me. But there isn't any dell retailer where I live and I've never bought a new case, so I don't know .. Just fixed really old ones. And the thing about certifications is that it tells something, not that you are good, but that someone trusts you (that is Dell) and will take responsibility for your work. Doesn't mean you have a Ph.D. in computers.. Just that if you do stuff in a computer, there won't be any bad consequences from Dell...

[Crazy Buddhist]

Hey,

It's all honey (see above edit) :) I know you are a modder. Respect on that front. But no for the normal guys you can open the machine and add in a card - I think if you phone the dell desk they will tell you how to do it if you have the service contract.

In Crimson Sky's position of having a mission critical system I would also consider paying $ to Dell to have a 3 year warranty if the price was right as their 3 year business next day deal replaces the equipment with equivalent or higher spec machine temporarily if yours is not on-site repairable.

British humour guys remember. Even my profile says it - "I can be funny and I can be caustic".

;)

[dgrmkrp]

no problem with British humour :)
Nice thing if the dell guy helps by phone. And the business warranty > cool! I never saw anything like that around.. Usually, the guy who does repairs will kindly loan you a part, but that's rare.. Still, I'm learning about the world day by day :D

[Crimson Sky]

British humour guys remember. Even my profile says it - "I can be funny and I can be caustic".

;)


But that doesn't mean you should be either one. ;)

[Crazy Buddhist]

But that doesn't mean you should be either one. ;)

Indeed sir. It's a choice I make. Like most people I am sometimes not as aware as I could be that I am making a choice. Or that my communication may be misread or not understood as intentioned by others. Point taken.

Learn every day something new, wherever you can. ;) TY

[haha49]

For video cards, would the nVidia Quadro cards be a better choice than the cards aimed towards gaming?


Oh yeah, don't bump threads. -rep

no... its more open for codeing but.. its underpowered for the money.. nivida 260gtx or even a 280gtx or new 295gtx depending on the money you want to spend..

I would get an asus mb and a intel i7 cpu put 6 gigs ddr3 tripple channel ram 2 1tb hardrives and see how that goes if you want more ram upgrade to 12gigs but thats a bit over kill.. with that and a evga 260 gtx it be fast a 280 or 295 even faster.. and you can put more then 1 card in it as well since almost all the mb for the i7 support crossfire and sli (almost)

[BuzzKillington]

Usually, the guy who does repairs will kindly loan you a part, but that's rare..

lol

[Luke122]

RETURN OF THE DEAD! Guys, thread is from 2007.

[knowledgegranted]

E6850 - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115028 - $280
Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131153 (I know you don't need the SLI, but it's a nice board) - $194
OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199 - $205
2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136110 - $210
M-AUDIO 7.1 Surround HD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829121006 - $90

Video from AB ;).

That's all I have time for for now. Those parts total to... ~$990.


Edit: And I imagine someone will say "Why not a quad-core?" but until you have a program that can utilize all 4 cores, you may as well get a dual-core. But ultimately, it's your choice. E6850 has more GHz without OC's, but a quad-core has more... cores.


If hes using any of the Adobe programs, they all are now 4 core compatible.

[Drum Thumper]

Guys, this thread is old. Let it die.

Here, lemme help.