Building a computer for hd

John Gerard · May 31st, 2009, 12:06 PM

Hi all,

If you wouldn't mind check B&H Photo & Video for their Turnkey editing system for Premiere Pro CS4. After reading the specs. I am interested on what others think of the specs on this computer. In some ways I think it is a good system but not in other ways. Meaning I would probably add more RAM, this one comes with 3GB upgradable to 24GB. And it has (1) 1 TB hard drive. I heard that you need a lot of hard drives to work with Capturing HD video. It does not say if it includes RAID configuration. So, one question I have is does CS4 not require as much Hardware specs as CS3? In which case I might just upgrade to PP CS4 if CS4 is all around better than CS3.

Thanks,

John Gerard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Sprinkle

I'm looking to build a computer that I can use to edit HD footage in. I'm used to a basic Mac for all of my SD stuff, but this is a big step. What would you suggest that I look into?

Also, I'm used to editing on a mac, but I've been reading that Macs can't burn blu-rays due to DVDSP dropping the ball on that. Will I need to pick up a PC as well just for burning those DVD's? Should I make a complete platform switch? Is that worth it? I've been using FCP since 4.0 was new, and I'm very adjusted to that, but I also know that NLE's are basically the same with different cookies here and there.

I guess one of the things that I really question is what processor speed, how much RAM, and what kind of video card? I don't need a Bugatti, but I know that if I buy a used sub compact, I'll be repairing/replacing it in a year.

**EDIT** This is, of course, mainly to be used for weddings. I won't be making a Star Wars film on this, so I don't need to go that over the top.

Harm Millaard · May 31st, 2009, 12:27 PM

Reread # 60. It may help you.

John Gerard · May 31st, 2009, 01:08 PM

I see that B&H has several different systems. I was originally looking at the one prices at $2899.95US.

John Gerard

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Gerard

Hi all,

If you wouldn't mind check B&H Photo & Video for their Turnkey editing system for Premiere Pro CS4. After reading the specs. I am interested on what others think of the specs on this computer. In some ways I think it is a good system but not in other ways. Meaning I would probably add more RAM, this one comes with 3GB upgradable to 24GB. And it has (1) 1 TB hard drive. I heard that you need a lot of hard drives to work with Capturing HD video. It does not say if it includes RAID configuration. So, one question I have is does CS4 not require as much Hardware specs as CS3? In which case I might just upgrade to PP CS4 if CS4 is all around better than CS3.

Thanks,

John Gerard

John Gerard · May 31st, 2009, 01:38 PM

Hi,

I just wondered with 17 drive what external RAID cabnet you are using? I was curious why they would have only 1 1TB hard drive in the system instead of 2 500GB drives. The only thing I can think of is if this particular system was for doing SD only work. I have gotten by in the past with a Notebook, which included one 5400 RPM drive and a external USB drive as an upgrade when I first started. I am told that one need at least 2 7200RPM drives in RAID 0 to do HDv. This among other drives is my config. and it works well. I have yet to get it to work when I try to capture HD with the Blackmagic Intensity Pro card.

John Gerard

Harm Millaard · May 31st, 2009, 03:25 PM

John,

I'm not clear if the question was directed at me, but the mention of 17 drives made me think so.

17 drives are all internal, 1 Velociraptor and 16 1 TB Samsung drives, plus 2 BR burners. No external drive cages, apart from a single firewire drive. I do have room for 1 extra internal disk and 4 external ones on the raid controller though. Plenty of room to grow...

As to the B&H turnkey system you are talking about, maybe you can give a link, as I have not been able to find it.

Common wisdom is to use 1 disk for OS & programs, 1 disk for pagefile, scratch & renders, 1 disk for media and 1 disk for exports, making it 4 at least. For HDV work a normal 7200 disk is fast enough, but....

the bottleneck comes when you use multiple tracks with clips from the same disk. That is when congestion may rear it's ugly head. Some people choose to distribute their source files over different disks, others choose for raid configurations, like I did.

I suggest you look carefully at your normal workflow, consider what type of source material you usually edit, what number of tracks you normally use, etc. and then calculate what bandwidth you need or like within which budget limits.

If this appears daunting, don't hesitate to ask.

May 31st, 2009, 01:38 PM	#64
John Gerard Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 227	PC Video Editing System Hi, I just wondered with 17 drive what external RAID cabnet you are using? I was curious why they would have only 1 1TB hard drive in the system instead of 2 500GB drives. The only thing I can think of is if this particular system was for doing SD only work. I have gotten by in the past with a Notebook, which included one 5400 RPM drive and a external USB drive as an upgrade when I first started. I am told that one need at least 2 7200RPM drives in RAID 0 to do HDv. This among other drives is my config. and it works well. I have yet to get it to work when I try to capture HD with the Blackmagic Intensity Pro card. John Gerard

May 31st, 2009, 12:27 PM	#62
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	Reread # 60. It may help you.

May 31st, 2009, 03:25 PM	#65
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	John, I'm not clear if the question was directed at me, but the mention of 17 drives made me think so. 17 drives are all internal, 1 Velociraptor and 16 1 TB Samsung drives, plus 2 BR burners. No external drive cages, apart from a single firewire drive. I do have room for 1 extra internal disk and 4 external ones on the raid controller though. Plenty of room to grow... As to the B&H turnkey system you are talking about, maybe you can give a link, as I have not been able to find it. Common wisdom is to use 1 disk for OS & programs, 1 disk for pagefile, scratch & renders, 1 disk for media and 1 disk for exports, making it 4 at least. For HDV work a normal 7200 disk is fast enough, but.... the bottleneck comes when you use multiple tracks with clips from the same disk. That is when congestion may rear it's ugly head. Some people choose to distribute their source files over different disks, others choose for raid configurations, like I did. I suggest you look carefully at your normal workflow, consider what type of source material you usually edit, what number of tracks you normally use, etc. and then calculate what bandwidth you need or like within which budget limits. If this appears daunting, don't hesitate to ask.