Computer spec for high def editing

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:36 pm

2Dogs,
Your recommendations for nice for running XP, not sure about Vista.
She needs to keep that restore partition on Vista, it does more than a full restore, it's used to fix problems, replace drivers, re-install the original programs leaving the existing Vista installation in tack. Last resort is to perform a re-install, but even when it does that it moves all the data first to a backup directory so you don't lose data files.
HP has written some nice restore processes using that partition, including running the HP software from within Vista that then accesses that partition.
You also need that partition to make the backup/restore dvd's and an emergency boot dvd.

Do you use Vista? I'm using both XP & Vista, they both have pro's & con's.

Sue Whitham · Post by **Sue Whitham** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:55 pm

I'm more or less decided on the HP Pavilion M9065, after the helpful info from you all - now I've seen another system which has got me thinking! This is the Spec:

Packard Bell IPower 8620 (IPWR8620)
Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600
2.4GHz, 1 GHz FSB, 8MB Cache
Vista Home Premium
500GB Hard Drive
2GB Memory (RAM)
Multi-format Dual Layer DVD Rewriter
2 x 512MB nVidia GeForce 8600 GS

It's been developed for high end gaming, in which I have no interest, but the fact that it has 2 x 512MB graphics cards installed, I wondered if this could be an advantage for High Def video editing, despite having only 2GB RAM.

Your views would be welcome,
Sue W.

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:25 pm

Looks great to me, however I'm still running a single core AMD, and will for a couple of years..

***Side note or if you're a lawyer addressing the judge "Side-Bar please"...***

I was in a computer store the other day, and the owner offered me a deal that was hard to turn down, *but I had to. I can't remember all the specs however it had Dual, Duo-Core Xenon processors, running at 3.0 (I think), 5-HDD bays (2-small HDD provided), Nvidia GeForce 8600, DVD +/- RW/R burner, all for $1,100 US.

* Footnote=Wife was there

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:22 pm

Sue Whitham wrote:It's been developed for high end gaming, in which I have no interest, but the fact that it has 2 x 512MB graphics cards installed, I wondered if this could be an advantage for High Def video editing, despite having only 2GB RAM.

Even high definition editing places no great strain on pc video - so the dual video cards would offer no benefits - unless you needed to run dual monitors. Even then, you could do so with much lower spec video cards.

For playback of h.264 encoded HD video, it can be useful having a card such as an 8600 GT or GS, if you have a slower cpu. It can then make use of hardware acceleration when playing the video with certain software DVD players - but this hardware acceleration cannot be enabled in Video Studio - and the Q6600 has enough oomph to play the video without the benefit of such a card.

So, unless the Packard Bell is being offered at a price comparable to the HP, I wouldn't consider it.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:06 pm

Sue,

Frys.com has an offer on a Gateway pc with a Q6600 for $650 at the moment, which might be worth considering. The site is sketchy on details, though it mentions a 250GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, so you might need to call for the full spec and upgrade options. Ram is currently as low as $15 per GB.

http://www.frys.com/product/5389628

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:21 pm

Sue,
Maybe check into why there are 2 video cards. Most Nvidia cards come with 2 outputs so you can use 2 monitors, that is my standard setup ( 2 monitors).
You may find it's capable for 4 monitors or the 2nd card is cross connected for faster processing.

2Dogs,
I notice that many of the Gateways are lower in cost compared to the competitors. I wonder if they are still using their own proprietary bios.
Years ago Gateway was a well built computer.

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:37 am

As etech suggested leaving the page file size for windows to manage would be good. This is because windows allocates less or more space depending on demands.
I agree however with other tweeks suggested ie., to partition the disc ( too many would eat up needless disk space ) , to format as NTFS.
SATA external drives are good at the moment especially if it is ported through an USB
It is generally better to have more memory than to have "optimum" suggested by Microsoft. Vista's quirks are still unknown

Sue Whitham · Post by **Sue Whitham** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:30 pm

Once again, great advice from you all.

Etech, I also use two monitors in my current set up with nVidia Geforce MX 4000 - when I looked at the back of the HP in the store (with nVidia GeForce 8500 GT), I don't think I saw two outputs, but I'll double check this.

However, whilst I'm in spending mode, I may treat myself to an HD monitor. Some of them are 24", so the Preview window would be a fair size. I'm so used to having one monitor full screen during editing, this may be a retrograde step, but I would be seeing the footage in high Def.

What do you think?

Sue W.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:42 pm

my understanding is the two video cards "crossfired" is a purely gaming advancement.

I would go more the more RAM...

Sue Whitham · Post by **Sue Whitham** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:24 am

I've taken the plunge!
I purchased the HP pavilion M9065, and the store has given me a 14 day trial period to see if it does the job - if not, I can return it. Great customer service!
I'll let you all know how it performs.
Cheers everyone,
Sue W.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:00 pm

How romantic! A new pc for Valentine's day!

( the best Christmas presents I ever bought my wife and daughter were their laptops, used every day, and now hard to imagine being without.)

I have an HP pc myself and in my experience you can't fault their customer service. They have a very straightforward system for notifying you of driver and firmware updates and so on. To my mind the HP case design looks good too, and they usually have a well thought out internal arrangement making it easy to add drives.

Happy new pc!

Post by **Ron P.** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:44 pm

2Dogs wrote: To my mind the HP case design looks good too, and they usually have a well thought out internal arrangement making it easy to add drives.

Not always, unless they finally changed this again. I have an HP box, Pavilion a530n. I had to jury-rig it so that I could add a second HDD. It only had placement for one. For a while I had my second drive strapped to the primary drive with one of those real small bungy-cords. I finally removed the floppy drive, and have the second one inserted there. Even with that, the drive sticks out the front, a "geek-modification".

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:56 pm

Ron,
The newer HP's have a little more room. You can add a second harddisk in a nice removable carriage. I'm running 4 drives, sometimes 5. The 4th is "Strapped" (wire tie straps). The 5th when I use it is connected via a sata cable outside of the case (very attractive).
What HP did on the software side was nice. Comes with Dvd playback software already installed so you can playback mpeg2 in WMP11 right away. There is also a TS stream Mpeg2 decoder to playback high def transport stream mpeg2 containers.

Sue,
After you get the computer setup and have been using Vista for a day, I suggest to read the manuals and make a set of 2 high quality DVD's to restore the system. Along with that I think there is also an emergency recover dvd you can make.
If the main harddisk ever fails you can install another new harddisk, then bootup to the DVD's and re-install Vista & the recovery partition on the new drive. It's a nice feature, I've already used it and it works well on my system.
Good luck with it. If your not familiar with Vista and like the windows XP standard interface you can change this preference under the properties of the taskbar (right click on it and select properties, you'll find it).
Under Control Panel Add/Remove programs is now named "Programs & Features".
Use the HP help features, whatever you type in the help search box will end up displaying a step by step method of "How To", it's pretty good.

Sue Whitham · Post by **Sue Whitham** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:54 pm

I said I'd let you all know how I'm getting on with my new quad core - I decided to go the whole hog and purchased an HDMI 24" widescreen monitor to go with it!
Oh the joys of technology!
I've entered a steep learning curve - new PC (Q6600), new OS (Vista),
new monitor (HD widescreen), new camcorder (JVC HD7), new software (VS11.5plus), new MO and settings (HD & widescreen).
I don't do things by halves!
Interestingly, I found that my old Celeron D will handle HD editing with the right settings! I tried a piece with overlays, titles, narration and music - but to be fair it was just short of 2 minutes long, so it wasn't asking a lot of the system.
On the new quad core, with smart proxy, you can work quickly.
My problems are with settings - when I have filmed in 16.9 ( on the hard disk camcorder or the mini DV), then I set properties to 16.9 in VS11.5plus the picture appears even more squashed on screen.
I'm not yet familiar with the choices under "video options" when in the editing tab - there seem to be lots, but I don't know what they mean.
Any info on 16.9 aspect ratio would be welcome.
Sue W.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:11 pm

Sue, while on the timeline right_click on your source videos and select Properties to view the video/audio props of the video.
Your Project Settings should be set to the same (usually).
Are they 1920x1080 or 1440x1080.
If 1440x1080 then under Project Settings "Use Non-Square Pixels" = ON
If 1920x1080 then under Project Settings "Use Non-Square Pixels" = OFF
Can you post those properties back of the source videos?

You shouldn't need smart proxy files when working with hd-mpeg2 video and performing basic editing (text overlays etc).