Not for gaming...

[dash1]

I will need your help in choosing a system for Video editing
and general home use, all under $2000 including 24' screen.

I am not a pro but like nice quality. I may hop to the 64bit OS
when it will be more popular [on windows 7 ?].
I dont think I'll need any OC or 2 graphics card
[Do they have any benefits for me???]

What do you recommend for each part of the system ?

 

[dash1]

Well ? please

 

[Newf]

This will run just over $2000 because I threw in a rather expensive S-PVA monitor. You can get 24" TN based monitors for
less than ½ that cost, but you wanted nice stuff. Don't throw out the mouse just because it's marketed to gamers, it's truly excellent.

Dell 24" S-PVA 2408WFP monitor $689+ship 1/17/09
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Monitors/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-6272

Intel i7 920 2.66GHz LGA1366 130W $295+0 1/15/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 X58 ATX $200-15+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

G.SKILL 6GB(3x2GB) DDR3-1333 CL9 1.5v $145+0 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

MSI R4350 512MB HDCP Low Profile $39-10+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127390

COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP $50+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V/EPS12V $100-30+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

C: WD Black WD6401AALS 640GB 32MB $80+0 1/15/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

D: WD Black WD6401AALS 640GB 32MB $80+0 1/15/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

E: LITE-ON Black 6X BD-ROM liteScrbe SATA iHES206-08 Retail $110+0 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106277

F: LITE-ON Black SATA 4X BD Burner DH-4B1S-08 Retail $230+0 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827248014

A: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy $8+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103203

Targus AKB14USZ Black 104 Keys PS/2 $17+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823173015

Logitech G5 USB Laser 2000-dpi Mouse $50+0 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076

Vista 64bit is ok. Unless you load Ubuntu Linux for free you have to buy some OS.
Notice that not only do you not need 2 graphics cards, but you don't even need 1 expensive one.
Without gaming, videocard requirements are not expensive. This one is HDCP compliant, fanless and will work just fine.
Just my 2¢.

 

[antiacid]

alternatively, you can get a velociraptor 300gig and a 300$ 24inch monitor instead.

 

[Newf]

alternatively, you can get a velociraptor 300gig and a 300$ 24inch monitor instead.

So, for what purpose?

 

[antiacid]

loading big pictures and filters faster in photoshop

 

[Newf]

loading big pictures and filters faster in photoshop

Brilliant! Give up outstanding video quality in exchange for barely if any discernible improvement in load times. This is not a gaming system.

 

[antiacid]

Brilliant! Give up outstanding video quality in exchange for barely if any discernible improvement in load times. This is not a gaming system.

1- To the untrained eye, it mostly won't be that different (as in, you won't "miss" it but you might see a difference by comparing the screens side by side). You definitely will miss the 300$+ difference in your pockets though.

2- I'm listing options. In my line of work, more options are always welcomed.

3- If you really had extra money to throw around (and I believe a 2000$ budget falls in that category), you'd be better served to get a multicard reader instead of a floppy (if you do picture editing as well, it becomes handy), a better video card like a 4670 and a 32gig ssd for programs/OS + 1tb drive(s) for storage. Raid0 for production systems is scary without a decent backup solution and raid1 doesn't do anything but protect against a possible single drive failure.

4- If you get a nice computer, chances are down the road you might want to explore gaming. It'd be silly to deny yourself that opportunity by taking an underpowered video card. What you set out to do often isn't what you end up doing

 

[Newf]

1. The difference will be obvious, or no one would spend 2x the $$$ for the same size screen.
2. Options such as 1TB or 1.5TB drives are worth considering. Not smaller drives to handle these "big pictures".
3. A $15 multicard reader is a reasonable add-on (after you get the system up and running). No raid was implied or suggested for this sytem.
4. Deals on good gaming cards just get better as time goes on. Down the road may mean a purchase of the new 40nm RV740 based card if gaming becomes desirable. Throwing away a $30 video card won't be very painful.

 

[nerdnic]

Sorry Newf, but I really don't think you're on the right page. I can't see how 'people buy it, so it must be better' as an actual argument. Dell's monitors are not worth their price, especially the 700 dollar 24 inch screen. I'm not saying they are 'bad', just not worth the price. A nice Samsung will work just fine, and for about half the cost.

Faster hard drives in gaming doesn't really mean much. Your level may load faster, but it doesn't increase fps like you'd hope. In the case of opening large files, it will help. Sadly, 300gb is not a huge amount, and it may be smaller than what is needed for this application.

 

[Shadow703793]

This might be of some help choosing LCD:
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3480

Imo, no point in getting a VelociRaptor unless OP is working with VERY large RAW images. A RAID set up should do the job.

 

[Newf]

Sorry Newf, but I really don't think you're on the right page. I can't see how 'people buy it, so it must be better' as an actual argument. Dell's monitors are not worth their price, especially the 700 dollar 24 inch screen. I'm not saying they are 'bad', just not worth the price. A nice Samsung will work just fine, and for about half the cost.

OK, you want a Samsung S-PVA monitor? Try this:
SAMSUNG 245T-BLACK Black 24" $660+ship 1/17/09
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001246
I don't think it's as good a monitor as the Dell, but that's just my opinion.
Are you really trying to say that a Samsung TN technology monitor for $300 or so is the same? Sure, they both work. I can easily tell the difference though.

Faster hard drives in gaming doesn't really mean much. Your level may load faster, but it doesn't increase fps like you'd hope. In the case of opening large files, it will help. Sadly, 300gb is not a huge amount, and it may be smaller than what is needed for this application.

I agree. That's why I tried to pick out big fast drives within a reasonable budget. One could easily argue that 1TB drives for a few more dollars are "almost" as fast and recommend them. Velociraptors are good, fast, noisy drives that gamers love. The speed benefit does not offset its downsides for this application.

 

[dash1]

Thanks, I think the Samsung 240T will fit my need and its colors looks fine.

Still, Please let me know:

* Don't I need an ESATA on my MOBO ?
*Which is a good step up graphic card[Nvidia base] for the 24"screen
and little picture editing too?
*HD: If I don't need the RAID for speed, Then I can use one drive for
system and programs{500?] and one for editing files [640Gb ?]
*Do I need a Blu-ray? Both ??? Cant one be just for DVD ?

 

[Newf]

Thanks, I think the Samsung 240T will fit my need and its colors looks fine.

Still, Please let me know:

* Don't I need an ESATA on my MOBO ?
*Which is a good step up graphic card[Nvidia base] for the 24"screen
and little picture editing too?
*HD: If I don't need the RAID for speed, Then I can use one drive for
system and programs{500?] and one for editing files [640Gb ?]
*Do I need a Blu-ray? Both ??? Cant one be just for DVD ?

1) I don't know why but you could either buy an E-SATA header or upgrade to an Asus P6T which has one in the box for $50 more.
2) Unless you are going to be playing games no better card is needed for any other reason.
3) I listed the drives as C: and D: so you would not think of them as being part of a raid setup. I picked the 640GB drives because they are MUCH faster than any 500s.
I would put the OS on C: and the swap file, most programs and all data on D:.
4) If you want only 1 blue ray drive, substitute a Samsung SH-S223F ($26+0) for the reader I listed.

 

[Shadow703793]

^ I you got more than 4GB on Vista you probably can disable the Pagefile.

 

[aford10]

Go with Newf, the WD 640's are more cost effective. They may not be as fast as the velociraptor, but you probably won't notice.

If you just really want to burn some cash, get 4 velociraptors. Use 3 of them in a RAID 5 setup. That will allow speed and security. then use the 4th as a storage drive. Crazy expensive tho....

I've done some video editing myself, probably not as much as you will be doing, but i've never used a blue ray drive. Unless you are burning blue ray movies, you can save yourself some $$ and go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

 

[mdma35]

to buy LCD for video and image editing.... o_0

Only CRT monitor can provide you best quality when it comes to image and video editing i mean if you a real pro

 

[Shadow703793]

^True, hence why many still stick to CRT.

 

[antiacid]

Akshually, many still cling to their CRT's because they have sentimental value, they paid big bucks for it years ago or don't really need to upgrade something that just works fine.

As for the TN vs SPVA, that's a debate left for the end user to gauge. Seriously, the panels are all of such a high quality nowadays (on average) that it really won't make that much of a difference to your average photo editor. If you make a living taking pictures and editing them, chances are you'd rather spend 300$ on a lens upgrade than on a screen upgrade to get 5% more color gamut.

Output devices such as speakers and monitors are always going to be hotly debated by people sitting on both sides of the fence. I personally am not an audiophile (though I enjoy nice music) and I am also not the video equivalent of an audiophile. Would I get better image quality on a spva panel? Probably. Do I care to spend 300$ for such a minute difference? No. It doesn't make me or you any less right or wrong though.

Anyway, if you consider a SPVA screen, you MUST go to a store and ask to compare a couple of screens. Not doing so would be dumb, plain and simple.

 

[dash1]

OK , I see your point re the screen.

I am not shure re. the graphics card:
with 24-26" and the indicated use, dont I need
a better card and dont I need 1G mem. ? any
thoghts on which models?

I will start with XP but hope to upgrade to Win7
later, any thoughts on the 64 version ?

 

[Newf]

OK , I see your point re the screen.

I am not shure re. the graphics card:
with 24-26" and the indicated use, dont I need
a better card and dont I need 1G mem. ? any
thoghts on which models?

I will start with XP but hope to upgrade to Win7
later, any thoughts on the 64 version ?

MSI 4350 has a max resolution of 2560x1600.
This is due to its 512 MB of ram.
You really don't need any more, which would be a GAMING 3D videocard.
Really!
XP has evolved into a really good OS.
XP64 has had driver and compatibility problems that have NEVER been fixed.
Oddly enough, Vista 64 is much better and I would recommend it IF you don't have older programs you need to run.
I expect Win 7 64 bit will be robust, but wait and see which one to get.

 

[Shadow703793]

If OP is willing he could try Win 7 x64 before installing Vista/XP. (Yes, XP x64 has driver issues, esp. with printers and the likes of that, I have yet to run in to a recent motherboard/GPU with out XP x64 drives; XP x64 is mostly aimed at CAD users who need large amounts of RAM and their software don't work well with Vista)

 

[dash1]

If I am not mistaken , for video editing you set all programs and
OS on one drive and the other one is for data only.
I will put the Magix 15 for basic edits and later upgrade
to Adobe CS3. Any comments on the Hardwere list at the start ?

Did anybody tried the 64 version of WIN7 ???

 

[Shadow703793]

Yes, me. If you want any specific software tested post here or PM me.

 

[dash1]

Yes, me. If you want any specific software tested post here or PM me.

I asume you refer to the WIN7 - 64. Tell us about it.

Also, if you know how does it work with CS3 and Magix maybe.
any ideas re if it should change any of the hardwere list ?