I'm saving up to build/buy a new NLE (using Avid XPress DV 3) and I was wondering if there's a difference in running dual processors at, say, 1ghz a piece, or a single processor at 2ghz. And if there is a difference, obviously which is the more benificial?

Thanks in advance,

-Shawn

If you go with a dual processor system, have it build and TESTED
by a company that knows how to build such a system for NLE
use. Not every piece of software (or hardware board for that
matter) likes a dual CPU. If you want to play safe go with a
single fast CPU. I don't think you could want more if you have
a 2 GHZ processor, at least 512 mb ram and 100+ GB of space
on your harddisks. Perhaps even add an hardware firewire/
analog board and your all set to go....

I think harddisk space is the most important thing, should be
at least 60 GB.

I know that avid supports dual processors, and I'd definitely check for hardware compatibility, I was just wondering if there's really a difference? I'll be fine on disk space, I'll be using three 120GB ultra ata 7200 rpm drives on a RAID. And I'll be stuffing the thing full of RAM, too. (4 @ 516mb per).

But I am leaning toward a single processor P4.

Any thoughts on Pentium vs. Athalon?

-Shawn

I doubt you will notice much speed difference. Especially in
relative low cpu usuge like NLE. Now if you were doing intensive
3D animation, then it would be different. Personally I prefer
AMD.. but that is just a personal thing. If you want garantuees
go with the Intel processors. AMD sometimes has some problems.

Thanks a lot for the input, Rob.

-Shawn