Need help putting system together for SpeedEdit 2.0

[travisr]

I am trying to put together a reliable system. I need help with recommendations for specific hardware.

The system is being used entirely for digitizing and editing. We will also convert to mpg (probably using tmpg) and DVD authoring. The system will be exclusive in these regards. We're not using the system for internet, animation creation, music composition, etc.

I want to make sure I am using stuff that will get the job done, and not have conflicts with SpeedEdit 2.0 or the VT5 card I plan to use with it. I would like recommendations for:

Motherboard / processor (I'm told a quad processor is the way to go).

OS. System 7? XP? What's best for this environment?

Video Card? I'll probably use a dual monitor set up, and HDMI connections would be cool.

RAM. How much should I use, for general memory, and on the video card?

Monitors. Two monitors capable of HD, and large enough to not have to squint from the other side of the room to view.

Hard Drives. This is important. I want to make sure that what I get is fast, reliable, and has sufficient space to handle large projects.


I'm told that some add-on boards have different voltage usage, which may cause problems with NewTek stuff. Any additional details would be helpful.

I'm told that USB 3 would be ideal for connecting to external hard drives in order to play back archived footage and edits in real time. Any thoughts here would also be appreciated.

Of course, I'd like to put all this together for under $1700. I've talked to people who believe that this is possible.


This is being used in a desktop environment, not a laptop. I appreciate any input you can share. Thanks a lot.

[Shabazzy]

Although I've stated this before, I'll risk boring everyone by repeating myself.

The main thing to consider when putting together this type of setup, is speed.

And the thing that will slow down your system will be SpeedEdit.

Why?

Because the future of computer technology is 64bit processing. Most (if not all) computers these days have 64bit processor technology, which means they have the POTENTIAL to achieve extremely fast computational performance.

However, even if you build/buy a top spec, 64bit enabled system, with all that juicy goodness ready to be exploited, SpeedEdit will let the team down because it's written for a 32bit computer platform. This means it will never be able to take advantage of the 64bit system you invested in, and will always slow your computer down.

Capturing footage, transcoding, rendering, multi-layer effects, etc, in fact any processor intensive task will not perform any better on a 64bit system than it would on a 32bit system.

If you really wanted to save some money as well as achieve your goal, I would opt for a three to four year old second-hand 32bit system and concentrate on getting the fastest memory and increasing it to the max you can afford. Buy the fastest hard drives you can and get the fastest 32bit mobo and processor combo that compliment each other.

Realistically, I wouldn't spend any more than $600 American (and that's being generous). This will save you a hell of a lot of money and really let SE fly, since that's the type of computer it's written for.

Until NewTek decide to release a 64bit version of SE (and God alone knows when that will occur), it really wouldn't make any sense to spend more than you have to on a 64bit computer given the specialised tasks you have in mind. SE won't take advantage of it and will more than likely make your system slower than a 32bit one. It would be a real financial mistake.

Shabazzy

[Novaman350]

Since you're going with SE2.0/VT-5 Try looking @ Supermicro x8da6,x8da3,x8dai, and single cpu board::x8sax.Also Tyan (S7025)#s7025wagm2nr.
Gigabyte: GAX58A-UD5.EVGA board: pn#141BL-E760-A1. Now if only SE 2.0
and no vt-5 I'd look @ EVGA Classified SR-2 mobo! Harddrives sas II 2.5 size for video raid, sata 6gb,and usb3(superspeed).Asus P6x58D also for SpeedEdit 2.0 get the most for your $ while you can for the best performance! INTEL
5600/5500 CPU'S!

[SBowie]

I'm told that some add-on boards have different voltage usage, which may cause problems with NewTek stuff. Any additional details would be helpful.There was a point in time where some motherboards started reducing the voltage supplied to PCI slots (which may be a concern if you intend to install a VT card, and possibly some other older cards as well). The picture is a bit murky, Paul might be able to clarify, or Tech Support doubtless could:

Here's are couple of posts on the topic, but I'm sure there are others:

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?p=879555&highlight=volt#post879555

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?p=545477&highlight=volt#post545477

(Paul remarks that both VT card variants can support either standard, but I'm under the impression that in some cases at least, this may require a retrofit of some sort.)

[Rich Deustachio]

Here is my new system which was made for the exact same applications you want to use. SE2.0 and VT5 in the same box. I only use it for editing and DVD creation not for live switching.

My system was quite a bit more than your budget amount but you can pick and choose from what I used.

Coolmaster HAF 932 case

Asus P6X58D Premium Motherboard

i7 960 CPU

Thermalright Heatsink

Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 memory 6gb

BFG GTX 285 1gb Nvidia video card

WD Velociraptor 10,0000 rpm 300gig for main drive

Raid 0 (4) WD Velociraptor 10,000 rpm 150gig for capturing

Coolmaster Silentpro 1000w power supply

Windows 7 Pro 64bit

LG Blueray burner

All in one card reader

Logitech Z523 2.1 speakers

Parts for my system were around $3000 and I assembled the system myself.

So far it works great even with 1080 HD clips.

[travisr]

Thanks for the info. What about monitors? What kind do you use, and how many do you have?

[Rich Deustachio]

I am still using my old Viewsonic P225 CTR monitors as long as they are still working. I have two,

[travisr]

I'd still appreciate any other system recommendations others might have. I hope to put this stuff together in the next day or so. Thanks!

[SBowie]

I've got Samsung, Acer and ASUS LCDs. The two Samsungs are 24", and very nice indeed, and I use them on my primary system. The other two are shared (kvm) between my TC Studio and TCXD300.

I didn't want to have two more 24's (they take up a fair bit of space), so was happy when they started producing 22" screens that do a full 1920x1080. I've been told that the ACERs aren't as good quality, and I didn't even know ASUS made monitors until recently, but they are both quite acceptable, and at well under $200 ea., as far as I'm concerned they've fallen into the price range where I consider them 'disposable' if I have any trouble with them - which I haven't, mind you. Both continue to perform just fine after about 4 months.

[DiscreetFX]

SpeedEDIT 2.x runs nice on a iMac 27 inch i7 in Windows mode via Bootcamp.