There must be a discussion on the latest PC spec somewhere?

[Phil S]

Having used Videostudio for some years and also other video conversion tools sucessfully using my AMD Barton 3200+ PC since 2003, I have come to the idea that it's time to invest in a new PC, because:

1. I'm sure the new processors i7, i5, dual core, etc are now better/faster than what I have.
2. My drives are getting full and I'm shuffling stuff around to make space
3. I'm on XP and we have to go forward sometime
4. I'm getting a number of seizures, some due to cooling but others undetermined.

What I have looked for and can't seem to find in FAQs or elsewhere here is a 2010 discussion on a good spec for a new PC for video conversion (not a gamer) ie, Processor, Memory, Disks, etc.

I personally believe the processor is the most important followed by decent amount of memory and 2 HD's with good speed and size. It is the processor choice that I struggle with.

Any pointers? Is their an existing post dealing with this which is up to date for 2010?

Thanks

[mitchell65]

Hi Phil
How's the smoke. Long time since i renewed aquiantance with it. I'm a North of the river boy myself. Enough of this nostalgia. There is a long thread here on this subject for good bedtime reading. Good luck;
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... light=spec

[Phil S]

Thanks John

Yes I'm a north river boy also. Stratford where they're changing the face of the earth building for the Olympics. Must visit Cornwall again sometime, about 20 years since I've been there.

Anyway the people on your link seem to agree with me that the processor is most important rather than high end Graphics/sound cards,etc. 2 drives probably important plus decent size memory. Also plenty of USB ports and a firewire. 2 DVD drives useful too.

The i7 seems to be the way to go, which I suspected myself. Probably will go for value and have one of the low cost i7's rather than pay a lot more money for small gain.

What's the best value i7 anyone? Any other tips?

[Accolades]

Hi,

The spec's on my puter seem to get me by...

[sjj1805]

......
3. I'm on XP and we have to go forward sometime......

Until I NEED to alter my operating system I WILL remain on XP.
I have converted several computers that came pre-installed with Vista to either dual boot XP/Vista or simply wiped the hard drive and replaced it with XP. This isn't just nostalgia it is a case of XP does everything I ask of it and runs faster and more compatible with (older) hardware/software than Vista.
OK there's new hardware out there that doesn't work on Vista mostly due to the fact no one made the drivers for XP.

My biggest gripe with Windows 7 is that although it has a built in Virtual PC to run in XP mode, that is only available to the ultimate and business editions. If Microsoft had made XP mode available to the Home Users Editions then I would have considered the change to Windows 7.

The latest thing I have read is that they are soon going to stop manufacturing hard drives that enable you to run XP so I guess the Industry will eventually FORCE us to change to a different operating system.

Hard drive evolution could hit Microsoft XP users

[Phil S]

......
3. I'm on XP and we have to go forward sometime......

Until I NEED to alter my operating system I WILL remain on XP.
I have converted several computers that came pre-installed with Vista to either dual boot XP/Vista or simply wiped the hard drive and replaced it with XP. This isn't just nostalgia it is a case of XP does everything I ask of it and runs faster and more compatible with (older) hardware/software than Vista.
OK there's new hardware out there that doesn't work on Vista mostly due to the fact no one made the drivers for XP.

My biggest gripe with Windows 7 is that although it has a built in Virtual PC to run in XP mode, that is only available to the ultimate and business editions. If Microsoft had made XP mode available to the Home Users Editions then I would have considered the change to Windows 7.

The latest thing I have read is that they are soon going to stop manufacturing hard drives that enable you to run XP so I guess the Industry will eventually FORCE us to change to a different operating system.

Hard drive evolution could hit Microsoft XP users

Well I've done it (see right panel) and I have to say that Windows 7 takes a lot of getting used to after XP but it seems to work OK on nearly everything I've thrown at it, even old software I have that is supposed to be not compatible, does work. Couple of things which I used on XP I have come across on W7 which I have searched and found to be bugs.

1. WMP 12 will not keep a maximised setting and a third party macro is available to keep this.
2. You can't open more than 15 pictures at a time by selecting them in Explorer and right click to open (there is another third party patch).

I'm on W7 now and will try to avoid going back to XP. Must say my video rendering/conversion using all my old video tools (some updated) is now timeless with this i7 proccesor - it whizzes!

[Accolades]

Good Job!!..