|
|||||||||
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
![]() |
#1 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 29
|
NLE/HDV: Convert semi-new PC or buy new laptop?
Hi, I have a hardware dilemma resulting partially from a change in my
requirements over the past year. I am wondering if it's feasible to upgrade/gut an old PC I built Feb 2005 and use it for video production, or whether it's better to use a new highend laptop for videoproduction/NLE? Feel free to throw out warnings and gotchas. I built one PC February 2005 primarily for the purpose of building a web server. Good 64 bit AMD processor, good memory, average video card, no sound card, adequate hard drive space. But over the past year my priorities changed. It no longer is a requirement for me to use this machine as a webserver. I could use it as a video production desktop, but need advice about what parts need to be upgraded. My initial thought was to keep the old server PC as a test box (albeit a fairly expensive one!) and then buy a high end laptop for Windows video production. I actually plan to use the laptop for independent contracting and make a lot of use out of it as well. BUYING A LAPTOP IS A REQUIREMENT, although I can go for either a highend dual-use laptop or go for a moderately priced laptop for nonvideo contract work. But then a knowledgeable friend said, "use a laptop for making videos--are you out of your gourd??" We talked about it for a while. I was willing to spend a premium ($2000+) for a high quality laptop, but he mentioned things that did not occcur to me: the overheating problem with sustained processing to acquire/process your video, LCD's going bad, higher incidence of maintenance problems for laptops, risk in depending too much on a single laptop (with my webserver staying relatively unused!). Then I had a brainstorm: gut the server PC and upgrade as needed for video production. And buy a moderately priced laptop for $1200 or so (instead of $2000 as I had originally planned). I haven't mentioned my video plans/requirements: I'll be importing miniDV and using Vegas as my NLE. I haven't decided on what camera (and this could potentially be a huge factor). Either I use the $1200 Panasonic 3CCD GS-400. Or use the 1 CCD $1700 Sony HD-HC1 camera (with the capability to make SD or HDV output). I initially dropped the Sony out of the picture until a poster pointed out that I didn't NEED to set the HC1's output as HDV (if my desktop/monitor isn't ready for example). I could simply use the much less strenous SD acquisition (with the option to go to my miniDV/HDV source later on when I found a monitor to view it with). Even at SD, the Sony camera has been said to deliver superior picture quality, 16x9 and superior low lighting. I should mention I don't have an HDTV or a monitor capable of viewing HD/HDV output, and don't plan to for about a year. So 2 decisions which might be dependent: 1)is it more practical to gut/upgrade my relatively new desktop or try to do my NLE on a high end laptop? (Would there be any advantage to having a portable laptop for NLE and serving as a second monitor for previewing?) 2)would my decision to go for the HD-HC1 have a great impact on what my desktop should be like? (or are my specs good enough?). Assume that I'll mainly be acquiring SD from my HD-HC1, although I'd certainly like to try HDV out. 3)if I gut/upgrade my current desktop, what components would be most important to upgrade (keep in mind I'll be using USB2 hard drives for data). My guess is that as long as the upgrading/switching costs for my desktop would total no more than $600-700, it will still be worthwhile. So I keep my mobo, tower, dvd writer, harddrives, I have a 21 inch monitor, not HD ready, but hopefully I could switch this in a year or two if I go 100% HD/HDV). I need to replace/add: upgrade my processor? upgrade my RAM from 1 gig to 2 gig. (That would mean that I would have 512mb, 512mb and then a 1 gig stick. Is that awful? upgrade my videocard (a must) upgrade my soundcard My specs for my current (unused) server which I am thinking of converting to a video dekstop? The other option of course is to try to sell the web server ($500?), buy a moderately priced laptop AND a high end desktop for video production. I would appreciate your input Robert Nagle Houston, Texas http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/ AMD Athlon 64 3500+ CPU-ADA3500AWBOX 1 286.00 2.2GHz Microprocessor, Socket 939, L2 512K, ADA3500AWBOX. Retail Box Asus A8V Deluxe Socket MB-A8V-Deluxe 1 132.00 939 ATX Motherboard, AGP8x, 1394 & USB2.0, 8ch Audio & GB LAN, S / PDIF-out OCZ 1GB (512MB X 2) DIM-OCZ4001024PDC-K 1 183.99 OCZ4001024PDC-K DDR PC3200 400MHz Premier Dual Channel Xion Mid-Tower ATX Case CS-Xion 1 69.99 *Choose Color = Blue w/ Side Window, LED Lights & 450W PS, Color: Blue, Silver, Black Zalman CPU Cooler, COOL-CNPS7700-CU 1 42.99 CNPS7700-Cu, Pure Copper, Support Socket Intel Pentium4 775/ 478, AMD 754/ 939/ 940. Retail box Asus V9520Magic/T/128 VD-V9520Magic-T128 1 65.99 Video Card, GeForce FX5200, 128MB DDR, AGP8X, TV-Out, Retail box. Western Digital Caviar SE HD-WD1600JD 2 102.00 Serial ATA 160GB Hard Drives (WD1600JD), 8MB, 7,200RPM, OEM (Shipped) UPS Tracking Number: 1Z13643W0361718196 Plextor SATA PX-712SA DVD DVR-PX-712SA 1 114.99 Dual Burner, 8MB Buffers, OEM |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| ||||||
|
|