Better Performance

[netpcdoc]

Hi guys,
I am building a new PC for video editing. No gaming....alright maybe I will throw on GTA4 when it comes out just to kill time.

I already own a Visiontek HD3650 OC edition, which is doing ok for video editing, but I want to do a minor upgrade. Here are my 2 choices, and both would cost about the same. Which do you think would perform better.

1) A new 790GX or FX MB and try to find another VT HD3650OC and crossfire them.

2) Get a 790GX and 2 new HD3400 series video cards and run them in 3-way hybrid crossfire.

What do you guys think would perform better overall for graphics, the standard crossfire with the 3650's or the 3-way hybrid crossfire with the 3400's

 

[angry_ducky]

Get a Radeon HD4850; GTA4 system requirements will be high, and you'll be disappointed with the performance of those low-end cards.

 

[netpcdoc]

I just purchased the 3650 3 months ago, I wasn't looking to throw away a $120 card. I appreciate the suggestion though. Remember the main purpose of this PC is video editing, which I have no problems with the 3650, I just was looking for a minor boost, since I am buying a new MB/CPU, and was leaning towards the 790GX chipset boards.

 

[aevm]

If you're serious about Crossfire there are two things you should know:

790FX is better than 790GX at it (it runs both cards at full speed i.e. x16, while 790GX does it at x8)

Crossfire makes sense with gaming cards (HD 4850 or HD 4870 these days) but not with office-style cards (HD 3450, HD 3650). A single HD 4850 will beat HD 3650 Crossfire for example.

 

[orangegator]

Video editing will benefit from a quad core cpu. The graphics card will not help. The hd3650 is plenty for non-gaming use. And unless you are going to sli or crossfire a very high end card, it's not worth it. A good high end single card is almost always cheaper and performs better than sli or crossfire of low end cards.

 

[megamanx00]

Whoa, you paid $120 for it 3 months ago? Yeah, a 3850 would have been a better buy at that price. I'm pretty sure you can't run the 3400 series cards in any kind of 3 way crossfire, you can only hybrid crossfire a 3400 series card with the onboard graphics, or crossfire it with another 3400 series card. In both cases your single 3650 OC is still faster. If you wanted an overclocked card to crossfire with take a look at this one

MSI R3650-T2D512-OC/D2 Radeon HD 3650 512MB 61.99 + 6.99 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127375

But really I would say save money and just get a regular 3650

HIS Hightech H365F512NP Radeon HD 3650 512MB 54.99 + 6.99 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161221

Before you buy that overclocked card, or anything more expensive, consider that this Radeon 3850 is more powerful than two 3650s in crossfire

POWERCOLOR AX3850 512MD3 Radeon HD 3850 512MB $74.99 + 8.25 ship - $20 mail in which totals $58.24 after the mail in rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131096

Of course it's your money. Do what you want with it.

 

[netpcdoc]

Thank you.
I thought that when I picked up my 9650, that it was supposed to be a fairly decent card, I didn't realize how far behind the times it is.

Here is my current MB
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/DQ965GF/DQ965GF-overview.htm
It is running a C2D 2180 with 4GB DDR 667, and 4 750 GB's Raid 5

I originally purchased this board to run Windows 2k3 server, but it actually comes up during install that it is not supported, so I tried sles (SuSe Enterprise Server, and NetWare) all same results. So I wound up making it a desktop pc, but this also has allienated me from buying future Intel products, since this was marketed as a Server board, and it is the Intel board that tells you, that you cannot install a "server" operating system on it. If you don't believe me look around on Intels site....Well sorry about the rant.

Do you think I am better off getting a new (more future proof) MB, I do like AMD's newer chipsets, or just getting a Q6600 or Xeon X3220.
So do I change over to an AMD Phenom 9950 system, or just upgrade my CPU and possibly my current video card? I don't want to spend $500 on just a CPU and video upgrade if in a year I will want to upgrade again which will require a new build from scratch.

PSS I am also building a new sles system out of a 9350e system. I like the ideal of the low power sonsumption CPU for a server, but still having the multi-threading for running VM's

 

[netpcdoc]

Whoa, you paid $120 for it 3 months ago? Yeah, a 3850 would have been a better buy at that price.

I got it at Best Buy and they had the 3850 for $199 at that time again the "OC" version

 

[eklipz330]

thats why you do buy comp parts at bestbuy.

well if you grabbed that 4850 at $150 a few months back, i guess that wouldn't be too bad... but still

 

[marvelous211]

For video editing get the best processor you can afford and overclock it.

I would advise you get a intel chipset. Stay away from AMD and Nvidia chipset if possible.

As for video I think you should be fine with 4670 for light gaming has all the video features of the bigger brothers.