BleepingComputer.com: Desktop HD Video Editing

I need advice on a new desktop computer for editing HD video (AVCHD format). Just purchased Sony HDR-XR500v HD video camcorder and my 5 year old desktop just cant keep up. Should have considered this before my purchase but now I have an excuse to upgrade my old computer. Noob here but I know must have:

Quad Core Processor
4 gb Mem
HD Video card ?
Blue Ray Disc/DVD burner

Would appreciate any links or suggestions where to buy. Thanx in advance.

Well...I'm biased towards Hauppauge capture cards these days.

Worth a look: http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore...?product=hd_pvr

What I would get (if I cared about HD): http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore...product=hvr2250 AND http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr2250.html

The other important consideration that you've ignored...is the software that you intend to use (which is why I threw in that PVR).

If you truly are going to edit video, you need a decent program...there are plenty and you probably already have one, just thought I'd mention it.

As for needing a quad-core, I'm still not sold on that. I'd take a look at what the software specifies, then adjust upward. I'd also check a forum or two where users of that software hang out.

I'd also take a look at some comparisons of CPUs rendering HD...the differences might not be as noticeable as you might believe.

Louis

For editing video you mainly just want a massive graphics card. Those do most of the processing.

In terms of desktop graphics, you're gonna want in ATI cards, a 4850 or higher. With a Nvidia, a 9800GT or higher end card would work well. Those are the newest and best priced cards, but a Nvidia geforce 260 might work- but I'm not too informed about the newer numbers in the Nvidia line, and I find them to be confusing since they're so different.

Quad core isn't required, but if you're going to beef up the GPU, you might as well get a quad core- I like my Q6600 quad core processor and its worked excellent for me.

For memory, I highly recommend getting DDR3, especially in a desktop, since it should be down to a reasonable price now(Been a year and a half since I built mine, and I settled on DDR2 800).

Blu-ray? Not necessary, but if you have a 1080i or 1080p TV, you might want to look into it. If you don't have a fancy TV, its probably not going to matter.

Hard drive should just be 500GB or larger. Preferably larger, since HD videos take up a lot of space.

<<For editing video you mainly just want a massive graphics card. Those do most of the processing.>>

I don't think so. Video-editing/rendering is a RAM-intensive, CPU-intensive operation.

I use the onboard graphics function when I edit video captured with my Hauppauge PCI card.

Basic data/information at http://www.bestpricecomputers.ltd.uk/ent/v...editing_FAQ.htm

Louis

I'm quite sure that video editing programs use the Graphics card to a extremely large extent. They're extremely powerful for rendering and performing intensive calculations- and thats why its used for graphics on games, and videos. Especially HD videos. Do you realize Adobe just started supporting using graphics cards for Photoshop so you can see a image how it would be if it were rendered at all levels that you zoom in or out of. I'm sure graphics cards are used at that level in video editing. Nvidia has been working CUDA into everything of theirs, which if the program supports CUDA. It seems like the Hauppage card acts in stead of a typical graphics card. If you plan to get something like a hauppage card, then its probably not near as crucial.

Ok fellas, I have narrowed it down to this model http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16883229115. This looks like a good deal for the money since I still need a monitor and trying to keep it under $1k. Any thoughts or advice before I pull the trigger.

That looks pretty good to me. Now just find a nice monitor around 200$ and you'd be good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824009145

that, or one of these would be idea for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....1920%20x%201080