[Bubba]

I read the build 3 thread where you stated that a video editing build would be the only one you would suggest an i7 chip for but other than that........ What kind of GPU? You confused me on that one. Also, given my experience with this POS Pinnacle editing software I'm gonna need about 100TB's of HDD. Ok, I'll settle for 2TB............ Also how about a PSU? With an I7 of course we will need tri-channel ram. Any suggestions there? Also, since we are rendering in HD, or Bluray, will 9 or 12 GB's be worth it?

Anyways, this is for a church so could you suggest maybe a lower end build as well as a higher end build? The software calls for AT LEAST a quad core running at 2.66 (like my q9450 lol).

It won't be until June or July that we do this, but I need some ideas so we can price it out and get the budget approved. When the time comes, I'll just bump this thread back up and make sure everything is up to date rather than start a new thread.

Oh, and any clues when Win7 will be released? I'd rather use that since I see Vista as kind of the Win2000, (millinium?), more or less a red headed step child that will be abandoned and unsupported as soon as Win7 comes out.

Thanks.

EDIT: When I was looking at 1+ TB HDD's a little earlier, I noticed that 2 TB HDD's cost more than 2X's what a 1 TB HDD did, making it more cost efficient to get 2- 1TB rather than 1-2TB. Is there a reason NOT to do that?

[Carbon]

Editing is GPU accelerated (for example, skipping around in the timeline to select parts of video to clip). Rendering is what's solely determined by the CPU. I just casually refer to them both as 'editing' but I figure I'd make that distinction.

There's a couple ways you could go about this depending on your definition of "lower end" and "higher end".

The "lower end" option would be going with a Phenom II X4 build which would save you a decent amount of money. I'd go with a Phenom II X4 955 paired with a MA-790XT-UD4P for the core stuff. You won't need full Crossfire support, so there's no sense paying another $40 for a extra PCI-E lane like on the 790FX. Memory choice is going to vary a lot in a couple months, any DDR3-1333 should be fine. I would spring for 6GB: should be more than enough.

The other option is an i7 build. This isn't in 'crazy useless' price/performance land but you're getting less for your dollar - if you want speed this is a fine pick but if budget is more of a concern it's probably not worth it. That would be something like a i7 920 paired with a X58-UD3R. This will run you probably around $150 more than the Phenom II build: not a huge deal but that's a lot for me considering how much it can buy you elsewhere. Same deal applies with the RAM.

In general this is not going to pull a lot of current. To make it easier you might as well go with a 520HX for the PSU. For hard drives you do not want to get those massive ones that cost a ton, it's better to have them spread out in case of failure anyway. What I would do is go for two 1TB WD Blacks, then a SSD to install the OS & editing software, and place some of the footage you're using the most on it. It's not necessary, but it might be a good boost to productivity: 30GB should be enough but other options are there. Then you could throw basically any GPU in there: might as well do a 4770 or 4850, or whatever's the best midrange when you buy. It would also help if this had HDMI, I suppose.

Let me know which build looks better for you and I'll do the normal giant list of all parts thing.

W7 should be released sometime late this year. If you want you can just install the W7 Release Candidate now which lasts for a year and should be officially up for download on the 5th (you can get it now though if you want through other channels).

[Bubba]

My biggest problem with Pinnacle (the editing software I'm stuck with now since I bought and opened it lol) is that it HAS to be installed on the local (C:) drive. I tried to install it on my new empty 300GB drive and it wouldn't go. I even called technical non support. It's really a poorly written program, but I just don't have the $500-$2400 to get one of the good one right now. Besides, it came with 2 licenses so I can legally install it on the church computer. ANyways, it is a HUGE disc hog. I just checked and with only about 5 sermons (roughly 30-45 minutes) and one 38 minute DVD on a local shelter, i only have 98 GB's left on my "new" drive. Guess I need an SSD for myself as well.

Anyways, thanks. My buddy (the preacher) found out yesterday that his MIL is dead or dying so he split for Idaho. I'll present the options to him when he returns and take this back up then.

Oh one last thing. If we go the phenom route, it really wouldn't hurt THIS computer to take 4 GB's of RAM, and the redundant 9800GX2 out and pop them in the new computer would it? It's 1333 DDR3 and I see that board is dual channel.

Holy cow, I just found this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231190
4GB's ddr3 1333 Ram for 59.99. Is G-skill any good? That is a fraction of what I paid a year ago for my Patriot.

EDIT: Actually this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231200
would be better wouldn't it? Same price only better timing numbers 7-7-7-18 as opposed to 9-9-9-24.

[Carbon]

What you have may be too high voltage, I know existing DDR3 often doesn't work with X58, dunno about the Phenom II build. I'd check to make sure. But yeah, if it works and you're not going to miss the extra RAM and the 9800GX2, might as well pop those in and save the money.

[Bubba]

Well besides the voltage, what I have is dual channel. Aren't the new I7 MoBo's using tri channel RAM? If we go the i7 route, I'll still be able to use my redundant GPU, but the RAM will be useless unless I'm not understanding the technology correctly.

[Carbon]

Right.