I've got what I consider to be a pretty powerful computer, however, it is taking me 45 minutes to render out 3 minutes of video.

Rendering to MainConcept 1440 HD.

Is this normal?

I'm using version 8.0c and converting an AVI file.

Forgot to add. Lots of filters added.

Thanks...Alan

I've got what I consider to be a pretty powerful computer, however, it is taking me 45 minutes to render out 3 minutes of video.

Define "powerful" (CPU, OS, RAM, # and size of hard drives).

Rendering to MainConcept 1440 HD.

mp4, Blu-ray, ???

Is this normal?

It very well could be.

I'm using version 8.0c and converting an AVI file.

AVI is just a wrapper for a wide range of things.
Is this an SD or an HD file?
Is it DV-AVI, M-JPEG, Divx, Xvid, ???

Forgot to add. Lots of filters added.

Ding, ding, ding!!
Filters will increase your render times, some (a lot) more than others.
You have "lots of filters" so this sounds normal to me.

Computer:

Quad Core Xeon 3.2GHz, 12 GB Ram, 1T 7200 RPM video drive 60% full, Win 7-64.

Added Levels, Neat Video, Saturation and Sharpening.

Currently trying a different render.

SD AVI to MainConcept SD.

1:44 minutes is estimated to take 8 hours.

Before you render anything, dump your cache files. Clean out all your temporary files on your C drive and any external drives that you have been working with. Make sure your disconnected from the Internet, and that your virus software, or other software programs are not running in the background.

"Neat Video" ...we have a winner; try turning it off, then see how long the render-time is.

Your processor is no longer considered pretty powerful, though in it's prime it was. I agree that Neat video is likely a bog factor also, but if this is a regular thing for you, you might want to upgrade. Your motherboard may very well accept an i7 processor.

I do not do this for a living.

Will have to settle with what I have.

"Only" 45 minutes! Count yourself lucky :P I've had 3 minutes clips go over 1H30Min. Neat Video is your guy.

Neat Video Really takes that long to render? Wow, didn't realize that.

What about on a modern system, say a i5 or i7? And does the Sandy Bridge help with anything?

It is certainly slow, but Neat Video truly transforms Hi8 footage.

Computer:
...
Added ... Neat Video, ....,
...

I very occasionally use Neat Video also. Very, very occasionally, Things have to be pretty bad and for exactly the reason you are discovering. Neat Video is a pretty powerful tool, but speedy it is not.

I do know they have a new version that leverages the power of Nvidia CUDA capable cards. You might want to look into that.

True all good things take time, it's worth the wait but I do wish renders could be a bit faster myself.