Budget Webdesign/Video Capture System with Expandability

[joshuawray17]

Hey folks. I need some pointers since the last system I built for myself was way back in 1992. I am in need of a system that will capture HDV via Firewire and work well running Nero 10. I will also be running Adobe CS4 for web editing. I'm currently accomplishing these tasks on a 6-year-old Dell 700m laptop with a 12.1" screen and Pentium M 2.0 GHz processor, but the integrated Intel video shares memory with the CPU and the poor little laptop tends to drop packets when streaming HDV over the Firewire connection.

So it's time for an upgrade. I do not need the most extreme machine out there, but I do want something that will work well for another 6+ years.

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: Under $2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Webdesign, Sheetmusic Engraving, Video Capture & Editing, PVR.

Parts Not Required: All parts required

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit, Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro, need stability, large display, reliable video capture, small form-factor (if possible), possible PVR

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Given my current system, 2+ year-old Core-2-Duo systems would seem fast. I wish to build a system that will allow me to tinker a bit and make incremental upgrades while future-proofing against immediate obsolescence. I put together a system that is really a bit overboard as follows:

Newegg Combo: 591938
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor (Model:BX80601950)
GIGABYTE LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (Model:GA-X58A-UD3R)
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (Model:CMP6GX3M3A1600C8)
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (Model:WD1002FAEX)
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case (Model:RC-932-KKN1-GP)
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 850W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply (Model:RS850-AMBAJ3-US)
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler (Model:RR-UV8-XBU1-GP)

plus

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMP6GX3M3A1600C8
Plextor PX-M2 Series PX-256M2S 2.5" 256GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)'
HP LA2405wg Black / Silver 24" 5ms Height/Pivot/Swivel adjustable Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 3000:1(1000:1)
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
SONY Black 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 8X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Internal Blu-ray Burner Blu-ray Burner BWU-500S
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface
Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro HDMI Editing Card with PCI Express
NETGEAR WNDA3100-100NAS IEEE 802.11a/b/g, IEEE802.11n Draft USB 2.0 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter
GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
cirago BTA-6210 USB 2.0 Micro Bluetooth Dongle support Bluetooth 2.1

This would cost around $2900, so I am trying to get the price down. I don't need a gaming system (which this one would likely be considered) as I rarely play games anymore.

 

[Illumina]

Your current build seems solid, I'll just make a few notes.

If you're looking for a quality monitor, I can recommend this 23" IPS monitor from NEC. It's reviewed very well, and I own it myself and love it. Since you do video and web design work, an IPS monitor would be ideal.

I don't see a processor in there, so I'll recommend a 6-core AMD processor. Normally I wouldn't recommend anything over 4 cores for gaming, but since you do video work a hexacore processor will be optimal. Intel doesn't have a competing hexacore in that price point atm, so I highly recommend getting an X6 from AMD for your needs (I use one myself).

I also recommend one of these cases since they perform well in both cooling and low noise (and look stylish), though I'm not sure what your priorities are there.

 

[mosox]

Here are some parts but the mobos are not available right now.

ASUS P8P67-M or some other Intel P67 mATX motherboar (all are sold out right now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131708
Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB + CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.617070
ASUS Black 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

 

[joshuawray17]

Your current build seems solid, I'll just make a few notes.

If you're looking for a quality monitor, I can recommend this 23" IPS monitor from NEC. It's reviewed very well, and I own it myself and love it. Since you do video and web design work, an IPS monitor would be ideal.

I don't see a processor in there, so I'll recommend a 6-core AMD processor. Normally I wouldn't recommend anything over 4 cores for gaming, but since you do video work a hexacore processor will be optimal. Intel doesn't have a competing hexacore in that price point atm, so I highly recommend getting an X6 from AMD for your needs (I use one myself).

I also recommend one of these cases since they perform well in both cooling and low noise (and look stylish), though I'm not sure what your priorities are there.

Thank you for the feedback. I updated the info on the OP. If I am able to retain a Firewire port on the front of the case like the Cooler Master or even the:

Corsair Graphite Series 600T Mid-Tower Gaming ATX Case

... that would be preferred.

I didn't realize that the six cores would be a major benefit.

 

[joshuawray17]

Here are some parts but the mobos are not available right now.

ASUS P8P67-M or some other Intel P67 mATX motherboar (all are sold out right now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131708
Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB + CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.617070
ASUS Black 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Yeah. That whole Intel 6 series Cougar Point issue has sidelined that motherboard and processor combo.

 

[Illumina]

Well, the Intel Core i7 performs very well for video editing even though it has 4 cores. It has strengths and weaknesses and compares very well to the x6 from AMD, but the 1090T is $80 cheaper than Intel's Core i7 950. See this comparison from Anandtech for a better idea. The x6 Thuban is one of the best cpus for video work for the value (in some cases it performs over the i7, in some it performs under), so that's why I recommend it.

 

[joshuawray17]

Well, the Intel Core i7 performs very well for video editing even though it has 4 cores. It has strengths and weaknesses and compares very well to the x6 from AMD, but the 1090T is $80 cheaper than Intel's Core i7 950. See this comparison from Anandtech for a better idea. The x6 Thuban is one of the best cpus for video work for the value (in some cases it performs over the i7, in some it performs under), so that's why I recommend it.

Thanks again. I will definitely check into AMD.

 

[improviz]

I'm jumping on the bandwagon here because this thread is so similar to my question.

I need to spec a small shuttle machine to capture HD video via FireWire (will end up being an add-in card most likely). We will be running Adobe OnLocation (latest version) to capture live theater performances. So, the CPU must be able to run OnLocation. BUT, we will NOT be using this machine to edit or otherwise do any heavy-lifting, video-wise. Strictly drag it to the theater, plug in the camera, capture the video, then take it away and transfer the files to an external HDD for later editing.

We'd like a small shuttle-format case, and we can probably get away with a Core i3 or i5. We're planning to do a small SSD for the boot drive, and a 7200 RPM drive with a large cache should be fine for the capture. Possibly 2x1TB in a Raid 0 if one is not speedy enough on its own.

It's for a small non-profit theater group, so we need to save $$. We really don't need a high end graphics card at all, and don't need a monitor at this point.

Any thoughts on spec/parts will be greatly appreciated.