Is core 2 duo enough for converting VHS tapes?

[bluefire]

My mom has been wanting to convert VHS and Mini DV tapes to either DVD's or store them on Hard drives for playback. I decided to build her a new PC for the job. The PC doesn't have to be fancy, the PC I'm thinking of building consist of:

windows 7 home 64bit
Intel BOXDG43GT LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor(I own already)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" HDD(OS,programs)
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit
Grass Valley ADVC-110 and using Premiere Elements 9

Will this handle the task and would a 450 watt PSU be adaqute?

Thank you

[Bobby]

Hi Bluefire.

I think that system would be adequate. But the E8400 is not one of Intel's newer products (i3, i5, i7) and I am not sure you are saving much money by not using the latest.

But it all boils down to rendering performance. On a slow system, rendering an hour's worth of video could take more than an hour, on a fast system it takes less. The system will be fine for editing the video, it is just the rendering (i.e. formatting for DVD) that will take the time.

So, it's time vs. money...

[bluefire]

Hi Bluefire.

I think that system would be adequate. But the E8400 is not one of Intel's newer products (i3, i5, i7) and I am not sure you are saving much money by not using the latest.

But it all boils down to rendering performance. On a slow system, rendering an hour's worth of video could take more than an hour, on a fast system it takes less. The system will be fine for editing the video, it is just the rendering (i.e. formatting for DVD) that will take the time.

So, it's time vs. money...

If I use an i5 processor is it best to use Sandy bridge or the 1st gen I5's?

[Bobby]

The story isn't written yet on Sandy Bridge or its effect on video processing. Do a search here or on the Adobe website and you may find some links that discuss SB performance issues.

But SB motherboards and processors are not yet commonly available and you always pay more for leading edge technology.

[Chuck Engels]

I did most of my VHS conversions on a P4 3.0ghz with Hyperthreading.
VHS is standard definition video so you aren't playing around with any HDV or AVCHD format video that really taxes a system.
If you plan on getting into HDV than that is another story...

[bluefire]

I did most of my VHS conversions on a P4 3.0ghz with Hyperthreading.
VHS is standard definition video so you aren't playing around with any HDV or AVCHD format video that really taxes a system.
If you plan on getting into HDV than that is another story...

No, my mom will be only converting Standard definition footage which would be between 1-3hrs in length. Possibly going with an i5 system would this do:

[*]Intel Core i5-650 Clarkdale 3.2GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop
[*]GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2V LGA 1156 Intel H55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
[*]MSI N240GT-MD1G/D5 GeForce GT 240 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
[*]G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
[*]CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS

[Chuck Engels]

That system is overkill for what your mom wants to do but it will work just fine
Rendering will be fast, so will burning DVDs. Be sure you have at least 2 hard drives of at least 500gb each.
The files add up fast and they are large, 13gb / hour of video not including render files and other stuff.

[bluefire]

That system is overkill for what your mom wants to do but it will work just fine
Rendering will be fast, so will burning DVDs. Be sure you have at least 2 hard drives of at least 500gb each.
The files add up fast and they are large, 13gb / hour of video not including render files and other stuff.

Doing more research I decided that the i5 is a little bit to much. Keeping the original specification i'm going to change the i5 to an i3:
[*]Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz
[*]Corsair CMPSU-450VX (I already own)
[*]SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB(os, programs)
[*]2 WD Black Drive 500GB for the output DV-AVI files and renders.


Thank you Bobby and Chuck for your guys help

[Bobby]

You're welcome Bluefire - see you around!