My new P.C. need advice??? Boxx
 

Boxx Systems configurated this for running PP 2.0 with no Matrox card just stright Firewire

Configuration
Dual Opteron Model 280 (Dual Core)
2GB DDR400 ECC (4 DIMMS)
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400 128MB DDR
80GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA 8MB Cache Drive
750GB RAIDCORE Serial ATA RAID 5 Array (4 drives)
16x Dual Layer DVD±RW Writer (with Nero software)
Windows XP Professional Edition SP2
Black 104 key keyboard
Logitech MX310 corded optical mouse


Model Specifications
AMD Dual Core Opteron Processors
NVIDIA Nforce Professional 2200
NVIDIA Nforce Professional 2050
AMD 8131 PCI−X Tunnel
Dual Channel DDR−400 Reg ECC
. . (8 DIMMS) up to 16GB
(4) Serial ATA 3Gb/s ports
. . (RAID 0, 1, or 0+1)
(1) Parallel ATA IDE interface
. . (2 devices)
(2) Nvidia MAC Gigabit Ethernet ports
Enhanced AC'97 Audio
. . Front panel mic + audio out
(6) USB 2.0 ports:
. . (2) Front, (4) Rear
(2) IEEE 1394a Ports:
. . (1) Front, (1) Rear
(1) Serial port
Floppy drive
600W Power Supply
4U: 7"w x 17"h x 18"d

Anything you guys can think of to tell them... It's cost is about $5,000, I realize I could build one cheeper but I'm not into that and plus it's not my money...

I would add either a M-Audio (I do not know their line) or Creative Labs Audigy 2/4 card. The extra audio processor will reduce the tendency for Out of Sync captures that seems to happen with motherboard based chipsets. It may be OK with PP 2, but save it as a possible upgrade if you experience OOS issues with capture.

Consider another hard drive for in the case like a SATA 200-400GB drive for 'junk' or scratch space (such as render or temp for proofs).

Yeah I Have like 2 external 250's for junk and back up... I'm excited about what I've been reading about Boxx, seems the only bad stuff I've read about are little things like usb ports going bad, and other shit like that. I'm coming of a really bad experience with Dell, I bought a "lemon" Precision 650 work station... I like Dell, just bad luck that's all.

I'm shopping for a similar config from Boxx... I just need final clearance that our budget has gone through.

I'll second the vote on a M-Audio Saffire. I don't have one, but my research has indicated this is a great audio card for professionals.

I'd push for the Quadro NVidia FX3400 line, since the FX1400 won't justify the cost/performance compared to a cheaper Geforce 7800. But what is your monitor setup?

I do 3D, Premiere and After Effects so 4Gigs RAM makes me happy. But it's your budget.

For DV via Matrox (x100 I assume) you're pretty solid. Although I have to admit, if I was just doing DV today, I'd go with Decklink over Matrox. Real-time page curls are nice, but I'd like an uncompressed 4:2:2 capture more. However, if I could afford the Axio...

Let us know what you get.

I asked they specialist at Boxx about getting 4 gigs of ram but he recommended staying with what he listed... for performance issues, I didn't quite understand but I figured he knew his stuff, money was no object... as for capture card, we decided not to go with one... I've never had problems in the past without one and when I did use them I always had problems.

Boxx said not to get 4 gigs of RAM? Wow, I need to investigate that reasoning. And I'll agree there is a lot you can do with just a NLE and firewire. Just keep in mind you won't be able to capture any analog media (like VCR), and any TV display would probably mean a "DVI to Something cable" from your video card.

My only other advice would be consider getting an external raid storage device. I like having a small raid-0 internal, but also a large external device like G-Raid or Huge systems that I can turn on and off. These are a little more expensive, but it helps keep my computer cool and it's quieter. But budget dictates all.

About the T.V. display, I don't know, but the system I've been using, my capture device "Mini dv Deck" is hooked up to just the Firewire on the motherboard, and I hook a sVideo from the deck into the back of my JVC monitor and the Display is in sync with the Desk top monitors. Hopefully this new system will work fine... As for Analog capture I do it the hard way, I hook up a VCR to my Mini Dv deck and record on DV, then capture from the tape. I hardly ever have a need to do that though... Lol