Advice on HD editing system & Avid

tunnelprod · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:41 PM

Hi to all,

Would you be so kind to share your comments on this HD editing system configuration, this is so far what I would like to buy in order to edit HD video (for documentary films) using Avid Xpress Pro software:
INTEL QUAD 6600 2.4 GHZ SK775 1066 MHZ 8MB QUAD CORE
Intel Core2 Asus P5WDH Deluxe/Wifi-Ap SK775
Kit 4 GB (2x2 GB) DDR2 800 Corsair Dual Channel CL5
SVGA 512 XFX 8600GT PCX DDR2 M540
3 x 500 GB SATA2 Seagate 7200 16MB HDD (probably two on RAID 0).
Matrox RT.X2.
Software: Avid Xpress Pro 5.75
Should I need a Nvidia card instead of ATI? (I'm not sure about this).
I think that for monitoring audio any decent Creative SoundBlaster will do.

Thanks a lot in advance,

Juan

Mark W · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 11:45 AM

Personally I wouldnt raid 0 the drives - raid 0 depends on both drives working, hence you are doubling your chance of ctastrophic loss of data.

The hdv data rate ( I assume by HD you mean hdv?) is less than 3Mbit per sec - most drives b mark at around 50 so raid 0 is not likely to speed much up.

Since you appear to be minted considor a fast raptor for the system drive and a raid 5 array for speed and safety for the media. E sata raid 5 boxes are out there too.

I believe m boards are available with raid controllers (dont use a software soloution).

I would trade speed of processor / ram / matrox for more secure storage any day. My next system is likely to be planned around secure storage rather than raw horsepower at all costs.

tunnelprod · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 05:45 PM

Thanks for your comments.

I would take note on using RAID 5 instead of RAID 0, I wonder why many people are recommending RAID 0 for media, misinformation maybe?

Great advice on using a Raptor hard drive, I've been reading its specifications and it certainly rules!
Thanks again!!

Mark W · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 09:21 PM

Straying from my comfort zone a bit, but maybe people still reccomend insane raid arrays cos of history.

A few years back when computers were something for men and when compressed video was a dream you could only edit video on scsi drives on specially configured computers - maybe thats why.

And anyway raid 5 reads nearly as fast as a 4 times striped array - speed and safety innit !

tunnelprod · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 10:24 PM

Thanks Mark W for all your insights, they prove to be practical and based on experience!

I will have them in mind when configuring RAID for my new HDDs.

Best regards,

Juan

Mark W · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 10:46 AM

Good luck - sounds like a nice edit pc.