I am curious if this configuration would be acceptable for working with Vegas on HD footage from my JVC GYHD100:
Pavilion Desktop / AMD Phenom™ II Six-Core Processor / 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive
1TB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
For fast read/write times.
ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics
Feature up to 1GB DDR3 dedicated video memory for lush images with stunning detail. HDMI and DVI outputs for flexible connectivity options.
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
8GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM
For multitasking power, expandable to 16GB.
Blu-ray Disc-enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Features full read support for next-generation Blu-ray Disc (BD-ROM). Double-layer support using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media.
3MB L2 + 6MB L3 cache memory
For efficient system processing.
My current computer keeps freezing when I am editting. Very frustrating.

It might be work, but as an editor, don't skimp. If you can afford it, look at the one below.

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-590t series | HP Official Store (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Category&v1=High+performance&series_name=HPE590t_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/desktops/High_performance/HPE590t_series)

agree with Jeff,
this work we do is just a royal P.I.T.A if your gear is under-spec.
Buy the absolute best you can afford to avoid the ..."Wow, i thought it would run better than that".
I made one on that site too, lol
I reckon its pretty good value :)

I am trying to keep this under 1200.00. Here is a model I can afford. I really wish that if I put a computer chip under my pillow the computer fairy would leave me what I need.

HP - Pavilion Elite Desktop / AMD Phenom™ II Processor / 8GB Memory / 2TB Hard Drive
Model: hpe-570f

Thanks guys I really appreciate the input.

I am trying to keep this under 1200.00. Here is a model I can afford. I really wish that if I put a computer chip under my pillow the computer fairy would leave me what I need.

HP - Pavilion Elite Desktop / AMD Phenom™ II Processor / 8GB Memory / 2TB Hard Drive
Model: hpe-570f

Thanks guys I really appreciate the input.

Here is the problem:

The AMD processors are relatively weak when it comes to Vegas performance compared to even some of the old, now-obsolete Intel Core 2 processors. This is because the AMD processors lack support for SSE 4.x, which is required for most of the "prosumer" NLEs. In fact, in Premiere Pro (which I am using as an example), the six-core AMD processors, even when heavily overclocked, barely keeps pace with the slowest of the stock-speed Intel i7-920 systems. Unfortunately, HP does not allow any overclocking at all whatsoever on any of its systems - and then, the cases that its systems are housed in are very cramped on the inside, leaving barely enough room for even two hard drives and contributing to the system overheating due to very poor air circulation.

If you already know what you are getting then go ahead and buy it.

Before going for a pavilion, please read The Hewlett-Packard Nightmare (http://hp.adamsatoms.com).

Which AMD Phenom II six core processor are you getting? They have an entire family of them and some are more powerful than others. My new computer has the 1090t and 12 gigs of RAM. It renders much faster than my old dual core processcor did with Vegas Pro.

We are having some issues with the new computer and Vegas Pro 10 but I don't believe it has anything to do with processing power. Vegas 10 running 64 bits on my new computer seems to lock up and have more issues than Vegas 10 32 bit on my old computer did.

I do not already know what computer I am going to get I am trying to find what I can afford and yet will get the job done. It is hard to try and do what I love and have to work full time to support it and then to add to my chaos I have a 14 year old son home every other week. I have taught myself and learned by trial and error (not much fun), being knowledgable on computers is not my strong point and I am not trying to argue I am trying to find the one that will do the job without going over my weak budget. I have had one of my shorts in film festivals and am filming my first full length film that I have written, am directing and because of time issues also have to act in and I get to do the editting as well. I am also working on a documentary on mental illness, difficult interviews for sure. So far between dumb luck, tenacity, new technology and sites like this I have managed to get this far. I find the access to all of the knowledge on here invaluable and I aplologize if my inexperience annoys some of you. It is indeed frustrating and at times I get very discouraged so thank you to all of you who share your knowledge and are patient with me.

Hey Suzanne,
What you have managed to achieve in the limited time available to you is a massive accomplishment in itself, you should be proud of yourself.
The banter on these forums is sometimes quite fast and certainly not to be taken to heart.

re your new PC,
Of course you must work to your budget, maybe just think of a few must haves,
Intel i7- fastest you can afford.
at least 6gb Ram
at least 2x 7200rpm drives (or even better an SSD system drive, once you have one you wont go back).
Graphics card in Vegas just doesnt make a big difference, whatever you get will be fine.

My laptop isnt even spec'd that good, and I can do jobs on that quite happily for weeks at a time. Its all relative.
An awesome PC is no fun if you cant afford the pizza while pulling an all-nighter editing your latest masterpiece :)
Good luck

Suzanne, Like you I have to compromise between the ideal and what I can afford. I edited HDV video just fine on my AMD dual core processor with 8 gigs of RAM before I got my new computer with the AMD 1090t six core processor.

Both edited HDV just fine but the six core 1090t processor renders much, much faster. Plus my new computer having 64 bit Windows 7 home premium lets me run the 64 bit versioin of Vegas and does away with the 2 gig file size limit.

I think the six core AMD will work just fine for you. It will be better if the processor is at least the 10775t if not the 1090t. Don't know if the 1045t will be any improvement over a fast Intel quad processor.

Graphics card in Vegas just doesnt make a big difference, whatever you get will be fine.

Not entirely true. Vegas 10 now uses CUDA which is supported by nVidia but not ATI. CUDA us used to speed up rendering of the Sony AVC format. Maybe not a big deal, but hopefully they will in the future support CUDA for preview also.

yeah I know, right after I posted I thought someone would jump on me for saying that.
At present though, IMO, I couldnt justify spending more money on a card in a budget system that could be better used on a faster CPU.
For the benefit of this thread we can all prob agree that the user experience ATM in Vegas isnt enhanced that much by faster graphics /CUDA.
If we were talking Premiere Pro it would be entirely different.

iBUYPOWER Computer :: Special-A (http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Special-A)

the only option i would add is double the memory, so you're under $1200 shipped.

I know people that are very happy with their orders from this company.

At present though, IMO, I couldnt justify spending more money on a card in a budget system that could be better used on a faster CPU.
For the benefit of this thread we can all prob agree that the user experience ATM in Vegas isnt enhanced that much by faster graphics /CUDA.

You do not have to spend much money to get CUDA.

As for Vegas not being enhanced enough, maybe not, but in third party plug-ins it can make considerable difference.

... IMO, I couldnt justify spending more money on a card in a budget system that could be better used on a faster CPU...

I could not agree with you more, Gerald. If you have to choose between processor and ram or high end graphics card, I would go with processor and ram every time. You will use the processor and ram constantly, the graphics card benefits are limited use. I have had bad experiences with AMD chips in the past and stick to intel i7 but in truth I left AMD aroound the time the AM2's were just coming out so they may have improved since then. The AMD chips I had did not multi-thread well and were very unstable. I love my i7 machine.

Could somone please explain in laymens term what this "CUDA" thingy is all about. Thanks

CUDA is a processor similar to the microprocessor in your computer. It does not do everything your microprocessor does, but it can run the same code in parallel 100 or more times (depending on which model you buy).

At first sight, video effects work on video frames or bitmaps. In reality, a typical video effect works on individual pixels. First it processes the top left (or bottom left) pixel in the image, then the next pixel to the right of that, then the next until it comes to the end of the line. Then it processes the leftmost pixel of the next line, then the one to the right of it, then the next, until it comes to the end of the line. And so it goes until it processes the last pixel of the last line.

A typical filter runs the same code on every pixel. And if it works on a 1920x1080 frame, it runs the same code 1920 x 1080 = 2073600 times for each frame.

CUDA allows it to process 100 or more (many more) pixels in parallel, i.e., simultaneously. So it can handle each frame in a fraction of the time your CPU can handle it. So, instead of something taking a day to process, it may take less than an hour.

That is what CUDA allows video effects to do. Of course, the effects software has to be CUDA aware and take advantage of CUDA if it finds one in the computer. That's about it in layman's terms. :)

Could somone please explain in laymens term what this "CUDA" thingy is all about. Thanks

Adam did a pretty good job explaining CUDA.

If you want to learn more you might check out this link on the NVidia website.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/what_is_cuda_new.html

I tried the HP and had to take it back. I just bought the Dell Studio XPS X8300 work station with the core i7 sandy bridge processor, 1.5 TB SATA 7200rmp hard drive, ATI radeon 1gb ddr5 video. I am thinking I will be O.K. with this. I just won't be feeding my child mush for the next year.... Thanks for all of the input guys.

curiosity - why did you dump the hp?

(i would have too having had poor experience with hp in the past)

The HP kept freezing up and I would get blue screen errors and since it was in the time frame for me to return it I did. It was refurbished, I was trying to save a few dollars. I will pick up my new computer tomorrow and I can't wait to start editting and see how it goes.