New Computer - would like input

[LittleSpig04]

OK so I've been wanting to edit in HD for a while now but did not want to spend $4000 for a new system through New Tek. I just bought a desktop through Dell with the Specs needed to run VT5 and SpeedEdit given to me by New Tek Technical Service.

Can someone tell me if I made the right decision in this purchase? I have 48 hours to cancel if I need more specs in this computer.

Thanks!


Your system is a : Desktop - Studio XPS 8100
Which Includes :
Hard Drive - 1TB Data Security RAID 1 (2 x 1TB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs)
Memory - 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 4 DIMMs
Processor - Intel® Core™ i5-650 processor(4MB Cache, 3.20GHz)
Optical Drive - Blu-ray Disc (BD) Burner (Writes to DVD/CD/BD)
Monitor - 24.0" Dell ST2410 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable
Security Software - McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months

[LittleSpig04]

Here's a little more information.

1 224-7465 Studio XPS 8100
1 317-3059 Studio XPS 8100, Intel Core i5-650 processor(4MB Cache, 3.20GHz)
1 317-2886 4GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
1 330-3828 Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard, US
1 320-1075 24.0" Dell ST2410 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable (supplied), 24.0" viewable image size
1 320-8901 AMD Radeon 5450 (1GB)
1 342-0175 Serial ATA II RAID 1 With Dual 1TB Hard Drives
1 330-6470 Dell Resource DVD with Application Backup
1 420-6576 DELL WELCOME,Software Dimension/Inspiron
1 420-8873 Dell Dock Consumer
1 420-6436 PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 421-0323 Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 330-6097 You have chosen a Windows 7 System
1 421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1 421-1603 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
1 421-0530 Dell Support Center 2.0 64bit
1 420-7938 Dell Connect 2.1
1 420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp 2.0 Basic
1 330-3826 Dell Studio USB Optical Mouse
1 410-1867 ADOBE READER 9.0 MULTI- LANGUAGE
1 421-1414 Cyberlink Power DVD 8.3 Blu-Ray Disk Playback
1 420-8151 Roxio Creator 10 Premiere Blu-Ray, Factory Installed
1 313-9991 Blu-Ray, DVD+R/RW, CD-RW Drive
1 421-9898 THX TruStudio PC
1 313-6138 No Speaker Requested
1 410-2152 McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware firewall, 15-months
1 420-8103 Microsoft Works 9.0, English
1 950-7447 4 Year Limited Warranty
1 905-9738 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year(s)
1 905-9737 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
1 905-9543 Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Weekends, 24x7 Technical Support, 3 Year Extended
1 907-7730 Third Party At HomeService with Nights and Weekends, 24x7 Technical Support,Initial Year
1 412-0360 Soft Contracts - Banctec
1 902-2473 Dell Limited Hardware Warranty 7X24 Technical Support, 3 Year Extended
1 960-8700 Dell Limited Hardware Warranty 7X24 Technical Support, Initial Year
1 988-7707 2GB DATASAFE ONLINE 1.1 FOR SDO/DIM/INS/XPS
1 420-9518 DATASAFE ONLINE 1.1 2GB
1 988-0099 To activate your online backupaccount, go to Start, Programs, DataSafe Online
1 330-0172 S and P Drop-in-Box Marcom forDHS Desktops

[Shabazzy]

For editing with SE in HD your system is a good enough spec. I'd probably have chosen a system with a core i7 (maybe 920 or higher) processor. But I'd say it's ok.

I would advise a ram upgrade though. Maybe upgrade to 12Gig at some point and finally, without a shadow of a doubt, make sure you invest in a dual monitor setup.

Shabazzy

[millsron]

I am in the market for a new system as well and have a couple of comments.

1. Using the 1 gig dimms may present a future expansion problem. It appears that the motherboard is a 1156 chip board. All of the ones I've seen have either 4 or 2 slots. With 4 1 gig dimms you have fully populated your ram slots. The only way to expand would be to throw away these and go with 2 gig dimms. I would have used 2 x 2gig dimms. It gives the same 4 gig up front but allows you to double your ram with no throw aways.
2. The 1156 motherboard allows i3/i5/i7 processors. I would have went for either the i7/860 of i7/920. Both cost about $280 but perform about the same. You pick up 2 additional cores+hyperthreading...a big increase in perfromance. The basic difference is the 860 runs at 2.8 ghz and the 920 at 2.67. Both should perform about the same.

Hopee this helps

Ron

[Shabazzy]

At the risk of turning this thread into a pc builders thread, I'd say, if you were in the market for a new machine, one thing to be aware of when buy from OEMs like Dell, HP, Compaq etc, is the motherboards are always non "off the shelf" products. Which means it's always more difficult to find information about "their" boards, should you want to do some "tweaking" to it. The support just isn't as readily available.

I have always found that being able to build your own machine to your specification has always proven to be a better option. You get more control over your system, which providers more options for expansion, etc.

It's more inconvenient but the long term benefits are always better and cost effective.

Shabazzy

[pquinn]

At the risk of turning this thread into a pc builders thread, I'd say, if you were in the market for a new machine, one thing to be aware of when buy from OEMs like Dell, HP, Compaq etc, is the motherboards are always non "off the shelf" products. Which means it's always more difficult to find information about "their" boards, should you want to do some "tweaking" to it. The support just isn't as readily available.

I have always found that being able to build your own machine to your specification has always proven to be a better option. You get more control over your system, which providers more options for expansion, etc.

It's more inconvenient but the long term benefits are always better and cost effective.

Shabazzy

I have to agree, get away from dell and goto a local store tell them your requirements. More upgrade possiblities, more access to information on your components, and yes start with the 4gig 2x2gb leaves room for when you want to up grade to 16gigs when the 4x4gb comes down in price.

And of course 2 monitors at least 20" wide screen. Makes all the difference in the world.

[zzzyxxx]

Without knowing your full intent, at this point I would also invest in 3D capabilities.

3D blu-ray player/writer (s) are now available
and
3D graphic cards are also available
and
3D monitors and projectors are available.

ignore at your own risk.

[Shabazzy]

Without knowing your full intent, at this point I would also invest in 3D capabilities.

3D blu-ray player/writer (s) are now available
and
3D graphic cards are also available
and
3D monitors and projectors are available.

ignore at your own risk.

I have to admit that I'm a little lost on the appeal of 3D capable graphics cards in a video editing or 3d animation environment. As I'm not sure how the technology can be of any benefit to the creation process.

As I understand it, they are only of real use when it comes to real-time playback of 3D computations and graphics algorithm processing and since most creative's software packages utilise the computer's central processor, I can't really see how investing in a 3D graphics card would be a useful thing.

Enlightenment please?

Shabazzy

[Rich Deustachio]

OK so I've been wanting to edit in HD for a while now but did not want to spend $4000 for a new system through New Tek. I just bought a desktop through Dell with the Specs needed to run VT5 and SpeedEdit given to me by New Tek Technical Service.

Can someone tell me if I made the right decision in this purchase? I have 48 hours to cancel if I need more specs in this computer.

Thanks!


Your system is a : Desktop - Studio XPS 8100
Which Includes :
Hard Drive - 1TB Data Security RAID 1 (2 x 1TB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs)
Memory - 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 4 DIMMs
Processor - Intel® Core™ i5-650 processor(4MB Cache, 3.20GHz)
Optical Drive - Blu-ray Disc (BD) Burner (Writes to DVD/CD/BD)
Monitor - 24.0" Dell ST2410 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable
Security Software - McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months

With triple channel memory it is crucial (pun intended) that you use 3 identical sticks of RAM at a time. Using pairs of memory will cause a performance hit. If you motherboard has 4 RAM slots, adding the 4th stick of RAM will also cause a performance hit. With i7 processors you want to go with 3/6/12/24 GB of RAM. (from videoguys blog)