Xeon 5420 vs core i7 920/940

Hi,

I am updating my intel q6600 system and not sure whether to go for a dual quad-core Xeon system or a single core i7. I need faster render times and something that can keep up with my editing speed w/o compensating system stability!

My editing is generally a few layers of XDCAM/standard DV video, and consists of simple fades, cuts, speed/colour corrections, 2d text overlays and noise reduction/gain/eq/limiter audio enhancements.

Specs:

1x core i7 (- 920 (2.66ghz) / 940 (2.93ghz)) on an asus p6t x58 mb, 9600gt 1gb, 1600mhz 9-9-9-24 6g ram, velociraptor boot drive, 2x (2x1tb raid0), vista64, ~700w psu, thermaltake armor case, etc....

OR

2x xeon 5420 (2.5ghz) on intel 5000p mb, ECC 667mhz 8g, (rest as per above.)

Xeons are the more expensive option, but will they be quicker and/or more stable than a stock i7 -920 or 940 for CS4 editing?

http://www.nvidia.com/object/builtforadobepros.html

I should (assuming you've not already) get an NVidia 8 series or newer and accelerate that way. It'll be much cheaper.

The CUDA is definitely amazing, but looking at Australian prices the CUDA sells @ $3.5k!, whilst a complete dual 2.5ghz xeon sytem with 8g ram is around 4k and i7 -920/940 around 3-3.5k. Not sure I can justify buying the gc over a complete new system in light of these prices...

I have a dual xeon system. It has the asus DSEB-DG board (1600fsb) , modded dual xeon 5410 running at 2.8 with tape mod, 16 GB of fbdimm.
These days 4x4gb sticks are about 450 on fleabay.

this board also has crossfire compatible dual 16x PCIE slots
very responsive, even with multiple VMs running.
fast for multithreaded video encoding

I just build a new system for myself using a Xeon W3520 specifically so that I could use ECC memory. The W3520 is the workstation variant of the Core i7 920 and is essentially identical except that it supports ECC memory. Total price of the system, including 12GB of Kingston ValueRAM DDR3 1333 ECC memory and an Asus P6T6 WS Revolution motherboard was only about 10% more than an equivalent non-ECC Core i7 version using a P6T Deluxe V2 motherboard.

I consider that a small price to pay to plug the only gap in most systems in which error checking is not done.

I have 2 5420's that i'm about to build a system w\ as soon as i find the time... Got the cpu's for $180 on ebay for the pair ^^ thought it was a steal since they're 3.4ghz... the e8600 is around $150 and it's 3.2.