Can my laptop handle editing? at DVinfo.net

Tan Ngo · May 21st, 2010, 04:47 PM

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and I'm looking for help because well, I'm not very tech-savvy. I was wondering if my computer would be able to handle post production work with my t2i video clips? Here are the specs:

George Angeludis · May 21st, 2010, 05:05 PM

The CPU isn't very fast but it is a Core 2 Duo. I have at the laptop the same specs almost as yours. T8100 with 3G of Ram an W7 64. It handles fine the files within Avid Media Composer. Of course there is no comparison with my desktop and the Q6600@3G and 8 G of RAM. But I think you can work. Which is your VGA?

Tan Ngo · May 21st, 2010, 07:11 PM

Thank you for your reply. Would this be the info you're looking for?

Michael Wisniewski · May 21st, 2010, 07:29 PM

I bet your laptop will work BUT you should:

1. Use a 7200rpm hard drive. You can probably upgrade this.
2. Transcode your footage to an intermediate format or a low-res proxy file. AVID & Edius have their own intermediate formats, for Vegas & Adobe CS5 look into NeoScene.
3. See if it's possible to attach an eSata external drive or at the very least a Firewire external drive.

- the only thing that may be a problem is what looks like the built-in Intel graphics chipset/card, that can cause problems on some systems, but testing on your part will confirm that.

note: about 4 years ago, I was running Vegas on an old Pentium 4 system, 2GB RAM and fast hard drives. It edited HDV/Cineform files nicely, not perfectly, but it worked for basic editing and f/x. I still use that system for capturing and backing up video files. Your laptop beats that old system in many ways, with the exception of the fast hard drive and separate graphics card.

George Angeludis · May 21st, 2010, 07:42 PM

This is not so good as the onboard VGA's do not go well with Avid.
I always use an e-SATA when working seriously with the laptop.
Before 3 years I bought it for my wife, I look specifically to have an e-SATA port.
But for short works I can work fine on my laptop's disk.
You don't need any intermidate or proxy with MC 4.0.5.5.
I can work fine with @DNxHD 120 codec at green/yellow resolution.
But if you are not familiar anything will work fine for simple projects.

Michael Wisniewski · May 21st, 2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Angeludis

You don't need any intermidate or proxy with MC 4.0.5.5.
I can work fine with @DNxHD 120 codec at green/yellow resolution.

Or to put it more clearly, DNxHD is the intermediate file format included with Avid Media Composer, which is recommended should you use AVID. DNxHD also freely available for use in other NLEs.

George Angeludis · May 22nd, 2010, 07:25 AM

However (again) you can't play files with DNxHD codec to a computer that do not have Avid codecs.
If you need universal compatibility you can export to JPEG codec or others or (and) using Sorenson
or other to make the file a 720p.mp4 or something.

May 21st, 2010, 04:47 PM	#1
Tan Ngo New Boot Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 10	Can my laptop handle editing? Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and I'm looking for help because well, I'm not very tech-savvy. I was wondering if my computer would be able to handle post production work with my t2i video clips? Here are the specs:

May 21st, 2010, 05:05 PM	#2
George Angeludis Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Thessaloniki, Greece. Posts: 179	The CPU isn't very fast but it is a Core 2 Duo. I have at the laptop the same specs almost as yours. T8100 with 3G of Ram an W7 64. It handles fine the files within Avid Media Composer. Of course there is no comparison with my desktop and the Q6600@3G and 8 G of RAM. But I think you can work. Which is your VGA? __________________ My Films My Works FB

May 21st, 2010, 07:42 PM	#5
George Angeludis Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Thessaloniki, Greece. Posts: 179	This is not so good as the onboard VGA's do not go well with Avid. I always use an e-SATA when working seriously with the laptop. Before 3 years I bought it for my wife, I look specifically to have an e-SATA port. But for short works I can work fine on my laptop's disk. You don't need any intermidate or proxy with MC 4.0.5.5. I can work fine with @DNxHD 120 codec at green/yellow resolution. But if you are not familiar anything will work fine for simple projects. __________________ My Films My Works FB

May 22nd, 2010, 07:25 AM	#7
George Angeludis Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Thessaloniki, Greece. Posts: 179	However (again) you can't play files with DNxHD codec to a computer that do not have Avid codecs. If you need universal compatibility you can export to JPEG codec or others or (and) using Sorenson or other to make the file a 720p.mp4 or something. __________________ My Films My Works FB

May 21st, 2010, 07:11 PM	#3
Tan Ngo New Boot Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 10	Thank you for your reply. Would this be the info you're looking for?

May 21st, 2010, 07:29 PM	#4
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	I bet your laptop will work BUT you should: 1. Use a 7200rpm hard drive. You can probably upgrade this. 2. Transcode your footage to an intermediate format or a low-res proxy file. AVID & Edius have their own intermediate formats, for Vegas & Adobe CS5 look into NeoScene. 3. See if it's possible to attach an eSata external drive or at the very least a Firewire external drive. - the only thing that may be a problem is what looks like the built-in Intel graphics chipset/card, that can cause problems on some systems, but testing on your part will confirm that. note: about 4 years ago, I was running Vegas on an old Pentium 4 system, 2GB RAM and fast hard drives. It edited HDV/Cineform files nicely, not perfectly, but it worked for basic editing and f/x. I still use that system for capturing and backing up video files. Your laptop beats that old system in many ways, with the exception of the fast hard drive and separate graphics card.