New video editing system, any advice?

stever_16

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Jul 24, 2009
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Hi guys,

I'm looking to build a computer, just general computing, but will also need to handle some video editing (which I have never done before, but its time to get my HDV off those tapes!).

Any comments on the below system. I am particulary after comments on the 2 choices I'm yet to make regarding the mobo and video card.

Thanks!

Steve

- CPU and Motherboard -
Core 2 Q9550
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R *or* ASUS PQ5
2 x 2Gb 800 or better with CAS 5-5-5-15 or better

- Video -
HIS HD4850 1GB GDDR3 *or* a GTS250


- Hard Drives -
74Gb 10000rpm Veloraptor
2 x 1Tb 7200rpm in Raid 1

- Case -
Don't know.
basic case, fans to suit system, quiet
Front I/O panel with 2 x USB, 1 x Firewire, 1 x eSATA, 1 x SD Card Reader
3 x 5.25" (1 for I/O panel, 1 for Burner, 1 spare)
400W (?) with rails to suit hardware

- OS -
Vista Home Premium 64 OEM

edit:

added some more info

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 31/07/09
BUDGET RANGE: $1500 aussie

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: surfing the internet, editing video

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: peripherals

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: new egg is ok for ideas. www.umart.com.au or www.gamedude.com.au is best for Australian pricing and availability

PARTS PREFERENCES: nil

OVERCLOCKING: maybe but only simple stuff for fun

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: no


 
Q9550 is not a very good deal these days. Either board would be fine, but you could get a better price on an AMD X4 955 and board. The X4 955 is only a few dollars less but the AMD boards are much less because they don't need onboard memory controllers.

X4 955 and Q9550 are pretty much dead even in performance.

However, going with the [strike]AMD[/strike](oops) Intel build I would recommend this RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

And this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
Which comes with a high quality PSU.

Neither board you mentioned comes with e-SATA. P5Q-E does:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296

See how this AMD Asus board has e-SATA as well?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381
For far less, and it will do everything you want
 
EDIT: Dint refresh before posting :p
+1 for Proximon...Even I had wanted to suggest the X4 955 AM3 but some OPs would prefer to stick wiht intel...
But if the OP is not too much specific about intel, then the X4 955 is a very good option to consider...

Hi.. you have come up with a good setup...
Many would also recommend an AM3 system instead of this but going with either one would be no problem...

Mobo - for the mobo, get the Gigabyte one...It has better rating and is a solid mobo...

RAM - Dont get anything beyond DDR2 800...Mabye CAS 4 would be good but is not neccessary...
mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 CAS 4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726

SUPER TALENT 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609421

Graphics card - Get the one that is cheaper...both are pretty good but the HD 4850 would be slighly better...
And do you really need 1GB of vRAM??? Do you game ?? and at what resolution...
If you are a gamer, then I would suggest you get the HD4870 for about the same price as the GTS250 1GB...

HDD setup - I would drop the raptor if I were you...
Instead get 2x WD Black 640GB in RAID 0...Would cost about $150 and would easily outperform the raptor and gives you about 640GB of space compared to the 74GB...
Check out the reviews on the WD Black 640GB and you will know...

CASE + PSU -
Get this one...has a high quality 500W PSU and is a very good case with the features that you require...
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

Hope this helps...
 
Good info so far but this gives the Q9550 an advantage:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0299412

I have used this case in 2 of my own systems and a couple of my customers. Its quiet, sleek and has a lot of slots for 120mm fans (1 in top, 1 in rear, 1 in door and 2 in front behind cover).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

The case doesnt come with a power supply but you can find a good deal on what you need:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Thats a lot of power supply and probably more than you need unless you go SLI or Crossfire but at that price and quality level its hard to pass up. Normally 179.99 for 99.99, not bad at all.

You can't go wrong with AMD either. The 940 or 955 is very solid. The only issue I have at this point is the price point in line with the Q9550 from Microcenter. The cheapest I ever saw the AMD chips were 189.99 and I have that one in my media center system because of it. Its a very solid setup.

Go with what fits your budget and from what everyone has suggested so far is great stuff just shop the prices to decide which way to go...
 

stever_16

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Jul 24, 2009
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18,510
@Proximon - I was under the impression that the Q9550 performed better at video editing due to the larger (12mb vs 6mb) L2 cache? I thought that I could use a sata/esata cable and use on of the spare sata connections on the board?

@gkay09 - no real idea on why I needed the 1Gb card, I assumed that it would be helpful with video editing, and for $30 more, why not? I don't game so I don't really need a powerful processor on the GPU. The Raptor was for my boot/OS drive, do you think this is not a good idea, I was of the understanding that it could really help with base system performance.

@ englandr753 I'm in Australia, but thanks for the info!

generally...

I'm not really after blistering performance for gaming or anything other than some occasional/casual video editing.

I probably wont update again for another 2 years, and when I do, its pretty likely I'll be updating the entire system, so the upgrade path is not important to me other than adding some extra ram or something quick and cheap.
 

stever_16

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Jul 24, 2009
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although I do like the idea of a socket which is not end of life, so I could just add a new processer... but in reality, who does that?
 
For your usage, the extra vRAM and the extra graphics power wont benefit much...save money on the graphics card...get the HD 4670...
Actually for the price of a HD4670 512MB, you would get 1GB version of the Powercolor HD4670 at MSY...
And the HD4670 can play most of the current games at medium settings @ low resolutions...
Make sure that you get DDR3 versions of the graphics card..

As for the HDD - I still would suggest 2x WD BLack 640GB in RAID 0 for OS, apps...
It would outperform the Velociraptor by a significant margin...And most of all, you can get 2 of them for the price of a single 74GB velociraptor...
http://www.shopbot.com.au/pp-western-digital-caviar-black-640gb-7200rpm-32mb-serial-ata-ii-price-143122.html

And as for the case and powersupply -
Antec Sonata III with Antec EA500W
http://www.shopbot.com.au/pp-antec-sonata-iii-price-57223.html
 

stever_16

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Jul 24, 2009
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18,510
So I ended up with

Mainboard: GA-790XTA-UD4 with F2 flash
RAM: 4gB DDRIII 1600 9-9-9-9-24 F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
CPU: Phenom II 965 BE
Disks: 4 x WD1000FALS (2 in RAID 0 as boot drive) with 1 x WD1000FALS in external enclosure for backup
Case: Coolermaster RC-690
PSU: Corsair HX650
VGA: Gigabyte HD4670 1G DDRIII
Monitor: Samsung P2270

WD640s are off the market and no longer available.

Bought all from Umart.

Total cost $1641 inc a monitor, which was a last minute decision.

Very happy with it except a RAM issue that I am still resolving.

Thanks for all your help guys.

Thanks,
Steve