Editing PC Upgrade advice

andybrownjs04 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2007, 09:27 PM

Right i already have a resonably good editing computer but i'm planning an upgrade.

At the moment i use the Adobe Production Premium package but i'm going to get CS3 suite when it's released. However i was considering switching to Avid Xpress Pro, worth it?

Although at the moment all i edit is Mini DV SD footage, i want to have an HDV ready system so when i upgrade my camera, i am ready straight away.

I'm curious about HD capture cards, or different qualities of capture cards?
Also i'm curious about a Core 2 Quad core Extreme, or a Xeon Quad core, which would you suggest?

What would be the best things to buy for my HD edit system (e.g. screens, capture card, graphics card, processor).

Thanks

Mark W · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 10:34 AM

Not sure about avid express over premier but avid is not used by many here - expensive and heavy on system resources and may not offer anything extra to most people in most situations.

Capture cards - no need to worry, you only need a firewire card, any f wire card.

As for processors, both would be great but I suspect a xeon may be a bit (little bit) faster than a core 2.

Stabilty is very important for an editing system so anything 'overclocky' should be avoided.

Spec a few disc drives and keep the system on one and video on another. If you have the cash maybe considor a safe raid array - the thought of losing my 4 years of work gives me the chills, I dont have raid but back up to removable drives.

G cards arent really that imposrtant, just get a mid range card that is up to date.

Screens - 2 is a great advantage, or 3, or 4....

Mark W · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 10:39 AM

Not sure about avid express over premier but avid is not used by many here - expensive and heavy on system resources and may not offer anything extra to most people in most situations.

Capture cards - no need to worry, you only need a firewire card, any f wire card.

As for processors, both would be great but I suspect a xeon may be a bit (little bit) faster than a core 2.

Stabilty is very important for an editing system so anything 'overclocky' should be avoided.

Spec a few disc drives and keep the system on one and video on another. If you have the cash maybe considor a safe raid array - the thought of losing my 4 years of work gives me the chills, I dont have raid but back up to removable drives.

G cards arent really that imposrtant, just get a mid range card that is up to date.

Screens - 2 is a great advantage, or 3, or 4....

Oh yea, if you have the cash, what about that new mac with 8 cores? I am an XP / PC person but that mac would rule for editing, running XP / vegas for me it would rule.

andybrownjs04 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Mark W

Not sure about avid express over premier but avid is not used by many here - expensive and heavy on system resources and may not offer anything extra to most people in most situations.

Capture cards - no need to worry, you only need a firewire card, any f wire card.

As for processors, both would be great but I suspect a xeon may be a bit (little bit) faster than a core 2.

Stabilty is very important for an editing system so anything 'overclocky' should be avoided.

Spec a few disc drives and keep the system on one and video on another. If you have the cash maybe considor a safe raid array - the thought of losing my 4 years of work gives me the chills, I dont have raid but back up to removable drives.

G cards arent really that imposrtant, just get a mid range card that is up to date.

Screens - 2 is a great advantage, or 3, or 4....

Oh yea, if you have the cash, what about that new mac with 8 cores? I am an XP / PC person but that mac would rule for editing, running XP / vegas for me it would rule.

I'm starting to favour the Xeon now, but i got the crazy idea from somewhere that if you have a Xeon Quad, you need to buy 4 of them. Is this true?

Can you get HD screens? and is it possible to have two screens for the PC and a third screen for full screen Premiere Pro playback.

What is a safe raid?