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I am planning to purchase a new PC just for VS X2 Pro. I know there has been a lot of discussion on what system is satisfactory for AVCHD editing but I have found one and before I purchase it I would like your opinions.
Thanks.

1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / 2.4 GHz ( Quad-Core )
Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Intel Virtualization Technology
8 MB L2 Cache
Cache Per Processor: 8 MB ( 2 x 4MB (4MB per core pair)
2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - non-ECC - 667 MHz - PC2-5300
1 x 320 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300
PCI Express x16 - ATI Radeon HD 2400XT - 256 MB
Microsoft Windows Vista Business

I am not sure about the Vista, as I have read that it's not good for video editing. Price is $ 1200.00 AUD.

Thanks
Tony

Please see my System button, I have the same CPU and graphics, You don't indicate which motherboard comes with the, and that would be useful to know but probably wouldn't make a great difference in its overall capacity. I would also opt for at least one more gig of RAM, and preferably 2 Gb. Vista is fine for editing, though the choice of Vista Business seems a bit strange... However, again that should not affect editing...

I can handle the earlier forms of AVCHD OK. The problem, however, is that more recent AVCHD cameras are using codecs and specifications that Video Studio seems to have difficulty with. So just having a good computer will not necessarily mean that you will be able to edit AVCHD -- that will depend on which camera you use.

Thanks Ken,

The camera is a Sony Handycam HDR SR7 60 Gigs HDD. AVCHD
PC is sold by Harris Technologies in Australia. Here is the link to the
description pages.
http://www.ht.com.au/N/Computers-Deskto ... detail.hts

Tony

The SD7 I am pretty sure is OK -- it is one of the 'original' range of AVCHD cameras. It uses the 'standard' or original AVCHD format with I think a maximum bitrate of 18 Mbps, rather than the new 24 Mbps (which VS has difficulty with...) So that should be OK with your Quad.

I have looked at the Harris site, and curiously enough, even in its detailed specifications, it still does not specify what the motherboard is!! Very strange. I notice also that it does not have a Firewire port, though that is irrelevant to AVCHD cameras anyway, which transfer via USB. The hard disk also seems very much on the small side, at 320 GB, given that the price of much larger hard disks is dirt cheap these days, with 500 GB models around A$100. But then again, you could always insert more yourself at some stage, or add external hard disks.

I would investigate if one of the "home" varieties of Vista is better than a "business" one.

Thanks,
Ken here is a link to the mother board information.
Tony

http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/prodbri ... _brief.pdf

tony62 wrote:........

I am not sure about the Vista, as I have read that it's not good for video editing. Price is $ 1200.00 AUD.

Thanks
Tony

Good news

XP Drivers!!!

Vista is problematic. I had it un-installed. Installed XP 64 bit .
You get the benefit of 64 bit and still retain the robustness of a XP.
Tony
Dont risk Vista and spoil fun of owning a brand new PC

Hi, I finally made this purchase yesterday.

Processor
TypeIntel Core 2 Quad Q9300 / 2.5 GHzMulti-Core TechnologyQuad-Core64-bit ComputingYesInstalled Qty1Max Supported Qty1
Cache Memory
TypeL2 CacheInstalled Size6 MBCache Per Processor6 MB
Mainboard
Intel Q33 Express
Chipset TypeIntel Q33 ExpressData Bus Speed1333 MHz
RAM
Installed Size2 GB / 8 GB (max)TechnologyDDR2 SDRAM - non-ECCMemory Speed800 MHzMemory Specification CompliancePC2-6400Form FactorDIMM 240-pin
Storage Controller
Type1 x Serial ATA - integratedController Interface TypeSerial ATA-300
Storage
Hard Drive1 x 250 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm

Optical Storage
TypeDVD¡ÓRW (¡ÓR DL) - Serial ATARead Speed48x (CD) / 16x (DVD¡ÓR) / 8x (DVD¡ÓR DL)Write Speed48x (CD) / 16x (DVD¡ÓR) / 4x (DVD-R DL) / 8x (DVD+R DL)CD / DVD Rewrite Speed32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)
OS ProvidedMicrosoft Windows Vista Business / XP Professional downgrade

When I turned it on Windows XP Pro was installed. The vista disk was in the package.
Question: I have read that I should partition the HD and keep the Video stuff seperate. How do I do this. I also have an external HD 500 Mb.
Thanks for you help.
Tony

To partition the HDD, you will need a program like Partition Magic or Paragon Hard Disk Manager. Since you live in Australia, do you by any change subscribe to the PC User magazine? The latest edition has a cover DVD which, among many other things, contains Paragon version 8.5. It will do the job -- though if you have never partitioned a hard disk before, then it might seem a daunting task. Read all the warning messages carefully.

If you don't get PC User, then do a google search for the Paragon site. I think you can download a trial version.

tony62 if your system was supplied witha Xp "downgrade" like Dell do i would use a program like jellybean keyfinder to get the XP Pro serial number and print it off, if something happens to your system
and you need to reinstall XP you won't be able to without the key.

Regarding partitioning if you can't get the software that Ken suggested you could reinstall windows xp and set up the partitions that way, it'll format the drive so you'll have to reinstall the drivers, software etc that came with the machine again, but seeing as it's a new machine this is probably the time to do it. Although you'd need to borrow an XP Pro OEM cd if you weren't supplied one.
or another option is to buy a second hard drive and install it.

Partition magic would be easier for a novice who is not familiar with partitioning procedure on a new PC.

You have XP pre-installed but you have a Vista Disc.
Here is something you can do that will not alter your machine one bit so you can play around with it and not spoil your factory installed XP installation.

1. Download this FREE software Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1

2. Now "Install" Vista into Virtual PC and you can play around with it to your hearts content just as if it was installed on a separate computer.

Here is a handy "How To" including an online video
Virtual PC Step by Step

If you decide to install Vista as a dual boot system then you don't need third party partitioning software such as partition magic - your Vista Installation disc will do it all for you.
How to resize a partition in Windows Vista

Just for completeness
The Microsoft site lists the following supported HOST operating systems:
Windows Server 2003 x64 editions; Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86); Windows Vista 64-bit Editions Service Pack 1; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Service Pack 3

Vista Home Premium is missing from that list However..... it WILL work on Vista Home Premium. You just get a niggly nag screen that says "This isn't a supported operating system" - ignore it and continue. It works - I tried it.

tony62 wrote:Hi, I finally made this purchase yesterday.

Processor
TypeIntel Core 2 Quad Q9300 / 2.5 GHzMulti-Core TechnologyQuad-Core64-bit ComputingYesInstalled Qty1Max Supported Qty1
Cache Memory
TypeL2 CacheInstalled Size6 MBCache Per Processor6 MB
Mainboard
Intel Q33 Express
Chipset TypeIntel Q33 ExpressData Bus Speed1333 MHz
RAM
Installed Size2 GB / 8 GB (max)TechnologyDDR2 SDRAM - non-ECCMemory Speed800 MHzMemory Specification CompliancePC2-6400Form FactorDIMM 240-pin
Storage Controller
Type1 x Serial ATA - integratedController Interface TypeSerial ATA-300
Storage
Hard Drive1 x 250 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm

Optical Storage
TypeDVD¡ÓRW (¡ÓR DL) - Serial ATARead Speed48x (CD) / 16x (DVD¡ÓR) / 8x (DVD¡ÓR DL)Write Speed48x (CD) / 16x (DVD¡ÓR) / 4x (DVD-R DL) / 8x (DVD+R DL)CD / DVD Rewrite Speed32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)
OS ProvidedMicrosoft Windows Vista Business / XP Professional downgrade

When I turned it on Windows XP Pro was installed. The vista disk was in the package.
Question: I have read that I should partition the HD and keep the Video stuff seperate. How do I do this. I also have an external HD 500 Mb.
Thanks for you help.
Tony

That sounds like a better machine than the first- CPU especially.

One note re AVCHD: if you get/have a graphics card that supports HW acceleration for H.264 playback, it goes MUCH faster/smoother- eg ATI 2600XT, or GeForce 8600GT etc...
with PowerDVD (BD-accelerated version- check for PureVideo support), I can play back AVCHD format video with NEAR ZERO CPU USAGE, despite the heavy compression, and the quality/smoothness is excellent.
It's amazing. WinDVD has a similar supported version I believe as well but I happened to have PowerDVD.

re the partitioning:
it's more about additional harddisk, not the partititon. eg, while one disk is busy seeking/working looking for various small data files, the video drive is free to seek at full speed for video files.
Harddisks are so fast now that it's less of an issue, but it does help.
I really like the WD "green" drives, at near $100-150 USD per 1TB drive, and staying very cool/low power, it's very hard to beat. They aren't as fast as full regular drives, but with video nowadays more time is spent rendering/CPU than the harddisk being the bottleneck.

Also, I like PartitionMagic very much, but be aware it's stagnated after Norton bought it , and it does NOT work under Vista. sigh.

Re: Partition Magic
If a hard drive contains a Vista operating system you will no longer be able to use partition magic. If you have an XP or other earlier Microsoft Operating System then you need to use Partition Magic to create you partitions BEFORE you attempt a Vista installation.

Vista does in fact have is own partitioning manager. You can access it from a Vista Set Up disc by booting your computer from the set up disc

Alternatively from within the Vista operating system