Ok, so I'm going to buy a new computer to edit my stuff (premiere pro CS3) and I have started doing some research. This week I saw a lot of Quad Xeon machines around 500€ to 700€ (which is not expensive for a quad). So I had my mind set on a Quad Xeon when All of the sudden I have started reading about the Quad Opteron (which I'm not even sure it's out or not). Does any one have any advice?

There's actually quite a bargain I have my eyes on that I would like your opinion.

528,99 €
REDDIS Q6600Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 4x2.4 Ghz - RAM 1024Mb - HD 320Gb S-ATA - DVD+-RW DL LightScribe

The website doesn't say much more than this. What I would do is additionally put 4mb ram.

Any thoughts or advice in what I should be looking for to end up with a nice steady editing machine would be appreciated.

cheers,

Rafa

This link will give you info on the Quad Xeon vs Opteron:
http://www.swsoft.com/r/summit/2007/Barcelona_presentation.pdf
Summary: Xeon is currently better, and will be for a while.

The system you specify is unrelated to that issue though. You are correct, more Ram to priority. Step 2, more disks, preferably in a Raid. other than that, it should be a reasonable HDV, DVCProHD type system.

Thanks. The article really helped. I will wait until intel penryn is out and check out the prices...probably it will be a bit outrageous in the beginning.

Yes, but the availability of new products should lower the prices of the older existing products. I plan to buy a system in December for that reason.

Also very true.
It's amazing how fast things are moving. I have bought my amd dual +3800 with 2gb ram and 2 350gb hd for almost 800€ like 2 years ago or less. Today I can find the same machine for 200€ and a quad for 528,99 €. That just blows me away...in a very good way! I just wish the videocamera business was like this too.