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Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Talk about computer software/hardware problems, related to digital video or otherwise.

Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Bobby » Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:36 pm

You're welcome Jack!
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Bob » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:08 am

I've spent some time trying to learn about what system to build and have read several of Harm Millaard's posts on the Adobe forum. I don't understand why he has very little good to say about the new Sandy Bridge.


I've read a few of Harm's posts there, but I really don't spend much time on that forum any more and don't follow Harm's posts. I'm only guessing that what Harm is concerned about is that the Sandy Bridge cpus that will be released next week are not the high end cpus intended to replace the i7 socket 1366. They are the lower end Sandy Bridge cpus intended to replace the i3, i5 and lower end i7 socket 1156 cpus and the current i7 950 and 980 cpus will outperform them. So, if you want a high end system and don't want to wait, the high end I7 series is still the best bet. Within that range, he seems to favor the i7 950 and 980 socket 1366 chips. Also, in the posts I saw, he had only seen the lower end 2200 benchmarks and not the 2600. I haven't gone back to that forum recently, so I don't know if that is still the case.

The early reviews of the 2600 seem to be indicating that it is performing better with video than expected, so I wouldn't count it out just yet. The thing you need to keep in mind is that most of the early testing was done with engineering samples. And, it's not just the cpus. The motherboards were in the same position as Sandy Bridge has a new socket and couldn't be tested using existing motherboards. The final production components may perform much differently. The official release date is January 9, so we will soon be seeing tests run with production chips and will have access to more information. Stay tuned...
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby JamesA » Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:26 pm

Part of Harm 's explination
The main problem with the Sandy Bridge chipsets, P67, Q67 and H67, is identical to the P55 chipset: The lack of PCI-e lanes. This prevents one to use a nVidia MPE capable video card AND a raid controller. For high performance both are needed, but is is impossible on these platforms, due to the lack of PCI-e lanes.


It seems like Harm is only interested in the best. Nothing wrong with that. I market my work that way as well.

However, I'm interested in building a new PC to do an above average job of producing HD videos without having to spend cubic $ on a RAID controller and closet full of hard drives. Jack's list at the top of this thread is a big help for what I'm looking to do. Best bang for the buck for using PE-9 with the possibility of upgrading to CS5.

I'm just guessing here, but wouldn't the Sandy Bridge and the matching M-boards support RAID-0 and nVidia MPE capable video card? Similar to the top end systems Jack posted.

I'm going to have to put off building a system for at least 2 months until I can file my taxes thanks to the foot dragging in DC delaying the ability to itemize using Schedule A. Should be time for plenty of real world news concerning Sandy Bridge.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby jackfalbey » Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:59 am

Update:

I haven't forgotten about this topic. There are some bugs and other issues with "Sandy Bridge" and its related components, so I'm waiting until they get it worked out before I recommend upgrading to it. If you can wait a few months to buy or build a new editing PC, that's your best bet. Sandy Bridge will be the way to go, eventually. If you absolutely need a new editing rig today, one of the Intel Core i5 or i7 systems above will do nicely and last for several years to come.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby alaskamovieguy » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:26 am

I'm planning on purchasing a new system soon as my existing one has certainly been a struggle for handling avchd files. Great info here and I've also looked at the video guys recommendations. I don't have the confidence to build a new system myself with all these great componet suggestions so can anyone recommend a builder? What would a service like that cost? Is that something where I should just look into a local outfit that builds systems? Thanks, Bob
Azus Sabertooth X58 1366 MB, 12GB DDR3 1600 RAM, Intel i7 960 CPU, Nividia GTX 470 Graphics, Intel 120GB SSD Primary Drive, 2- 10,000 RPM 300GB Velicoraptors in RAID 0, Seagate 500GB internal, 750W PSU, Win 7 Pro, BDH 20 burner, Canon HF20 HD camera.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby jackfalbey » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:46 am

If you're not comfortable building your own PC from scratch, I'd recommend buying a Dell or HP desktop that you configure on their website. Nothing against your local PC builders, but there are probably some good ones and some not so good ones, and you may not know which is which until after you've spent a lot of money.

Then there's the support issue. If you build your own, you will by default have the skills necessary to fix just about any problem that comes up, but if you're not comfortable messing around inside your computer you're better off with a warranty and service plan from a big company.

Lastly, building a PC from scratch is really pretty easy. You don't have to be a tech wizard. There are straightforward instructions available on the internet that make it as easy as putting "Tab A" into "Slot B". My first build took probably 4 hours to assemble because I was so nervous about messing it up. I could probably put together a PC from individual components now in under 20 minutes. If you can upgrade a hard drive, replace a video card, and install software, you already have the skills needed to build a whole computer. If you do decide buy one already assembled, expect to spend an additional 20-40% over the examples at the beginning of this thread for the same capability.

On the other hand, if you are simply needing faster editing of AVCHD files, you might want to download the free trial of Cineform NeoScene and give it a shot. It converts AVCHD into a codec that is much easier and faster for older PCs to edit.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby alaskamovieguy » Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:26 am

Thanks a bunch Jack. I have installed all the things you mentioned so probably I could build my own as you suggest. I just priced one out at HP for about $2,400.00 Do you see anything there that would be a big mistake?
*Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
- Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-980X six-core Extreme Edition [3.33GHz, 1.5MB L2 + 12MB shared L3 cache]
- 12GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [6 DIMMs]
- 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive (for system)
* 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive (for media )

- Norton Internet Security(TM) 2011 - 2 year
- 3GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 [DVI, HDMI, VGA]
- HP 2010i 20-inch Diagonal HD Ready Widescreen Monitor
- Blu-ray writer & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
- Wireless-N LAN card
- 15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, 1394, audio
- No TV Tuner
- Integrated sound
- HP wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Gerlinde » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:34 am

I'm looking into upgrading my computer hardware. Jack's recommendations are now 2 years old. What would one spend his $$$ on today?

Here is what I want:

Desktop computer with dual monitor setup for more serious video editing.

Notebook computer with a big display also capable of video editing. I love my current one, but it has reached it's life expectancy :crybaby:

Tablet computer for traveling.

I also need a new printer for everyday printing.

:conf:
A) i7-3930K 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), 32GB DDR3-1600, SSD 256GB, 2x1TB+2x2TB Seagate Barracuda (72krpm), Geforce GTX 550 Ti (1GB), Win10 Pro 64-bit
B) Sony Vaio i7-3632QM,12gb DDR3-1333MHz, GeForce® GT 640M LE (2GB), 750GB (7200rpm), Win10 Pro64-bit
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Chuck Engels » Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:55 pm

I might recommend just a laptop with a good docking station, no real need for a desktop anymore.
My Lenovo Thinkpad can do anything my desktop does and the docking station allows me to connect two 24" monitors via DVI. Rather than spending money on two computers get one really good laptop and docking station :)
1. Thinkpad W530 Laptop, Core i7-3820QM Processor 8M Cache 3.70 GHz, 16 GB DDR3, NVIDIA Quadro K1000M 2GB Memory.

2. Cybertron PC - Liquid Cooled AMD FX6300, 6 cores, 3.50ghz - 32GB DDR3 - MSI GeForce GTX 960 Gaming 4G, 4GB Video Ram, 1024 Cuda Cores.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Gerlinde » Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:36 pm

Chuck, thank you for your reply. I'm leaning into that direction. I use my desktop only for Photoshop work, simply because I can't use my Spyder 2 calibrator on my laptop. Datacolor has no software updates for that device.

My husband likes the desktop better than the laptop.

Does your Lenovo have a firewire port? I have a Canon HV30 tape based camera and need one for video transfer.
A) i7-3930K 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), 32GB DDR3-1600, SSD 256GB, 2x1TB+2x2TB Seagate Barracuda (72krpm), Geforce GTX 550 Ti (1GB), Win10 Pro 64-bit
B) Sony Vaio i7-3632QM,12gb DDR3-1333MHz, GeForce® GT 640M LE (2GB), 750GB (7200rpm), Win10 Pro64-bit
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Chuck Engels » Sat Oct 20, 2012 4:27 pm

gpecht wrote:Does your Lenovo have a firewire port? I have a Canon HV30 tape based camera and need one for video transfer.


Yes, I have a HV40 and was happy to find the Firewire port on the Thinkpad :)
Mine is a W520, you can check it out here;
http://astore.amazon.com/chuckengelsco- ... B004UAL9JM

Here is the W530 specs, very impressive
http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/lapto ... ries/w530/
This one has an option of 2 hard drives, one of them SSD.
Mine has 8GB or RAM and runs great, this is a really amazing laptop.

The thing about the docking station is that there isn't any difference between a docked laptop and a desktop anymore.
You connect a mouse, keyboard, speakers, and dual monitors to the docking station. Pop the laptop down on the docking station and turn it on, bingo - desktop !! When you are done you shut it down and disconnect, bingo - Laptop :)
Your husband wouldn't even know the difference, unless you both needed to use the computer at the same time, then separate computers are definitely better ;)

Thinkpad docking station for W520
1. Thinkpad W530 Laptop, Core i7-3820QM Processor 8M Cache 3.70 GHz, 16 GB DDR3, NVIDIA Quadro K1000M 2GB Memory.

2. Cybertron PC - Liquid Cooled AMD FX6300, 6 cores, 3.50ghz - 32GB DDR3 - MSI GeForce GTX 960 Gaming 4G, 4GB Video Ram, 1024 Cuda Cores.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Gerlinde » Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:18 pm

That looks like a nice option. Although, I don't see the firewire port mentioned in the w530 specs. But it has at least a Expansion card slot which could be used with a firewire card.
I wish I could upgrade my current notebook. It has everything I like. I looked at the new Sony Vaios. They have now only a 15.5" or 17.3" option, neither one has a firewire port or Expresscard slot. My current one has both and the size is just perfect too - 16.3". :-({|= :crybaby:
A) i7-3930K 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), 32GB DDR3-1600, SSD 256GB, 2x1TB+2x2TB Seagate Barracuda (72krpm), Geforce GTX 550 Ti (1GB), Win10 Pro 64-bit
B) Sony Vaio i7-3632QM,12gb DDR3-1333MHz, GeForce® GT 640M LE (2GB), 750GB (7200rpm), Win10 Pro64-bit
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Chuck Engels » Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:26 pm

The W530 does have a firewire port, it is on the left side same as on the W520.

Here is a really nice review that shows the Firewire port too
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Len ... 062.0.html
1. Thinkpad W530 Laptop, Core i7-3820QM Processor 8M Cache 3.70 GHz, 16 GB DDR3, NVIDIA Quadro K1000M 2GB Memory.

2. Cybertron PC - Liquid Cooled AMD FX6300, 6 cores, 3.50ghz - 32GB DDR3 - MSI GeForce GTX 960 Gaming 4G, 4GB Video Ram, 1024 Cuda Cores.
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Gerlinde » Sun Oct 21, 2012 1:23 pm

That is good to know, Chuck. Thank you for all the information. My head is already spinning, so many things to consider. I'm not sure what video card to choose - NVIDIA or ATI.

I have a ATI Mobility card in my current notebook. Although ATI is offering updates for my card, I'm not able to install them. The installer always tells me I have to go to Sony for updates. Of curse Sony never offers any for a 4 year old computer. :pull:

I think I will have to go to Best buy or Fry's and look at some computers up close and personal before I decide what to buy. :-k
A) i7-3930K 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), 32GB DDR3-1600, SSD 256GB, 2x1TB+2x2TB Seagate Barracuda (72krpm), Geforce GTX 550 Ti (1GB), Win10 Pro 64-bit
B) Sony Vaio i7-3632QM,12gb DDR3-1333MHz, GeForce® GT 640M LE (2GB), 750GB (7200rpm), Win10 Pro64-bit
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Re: Looking for a new PC? Here's what to expect for the $$$

Postby Cinde » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:06 am

I bought a Sony Handycam HDR-PJ200 and have the bundled PRE/PS 11 ready to install on a new laptop... But which laptop? I can't keep up with technology.

Chuck, I see you have a Lenovo Thinkpad W520. Will the G780 do everything I need? I need to keep the budget under $1,000. What other laptops I should look at?
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