My "New" PC Build - comments?
 

Over the past few years, I have replaced older hardware on my PC. Well, now I pretty much have a brand new system. I just wanted to post here and get feedback on the build, as I am writing an article on how to build a basic editing suite. The system runs great, but I feel performance wise something is a little off.

Here is my current setup:

Antec 900 case
Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
Intel DG35EC
GeForce 9800GTx+
1TB hard drive
250GB hard drive
3GB DDR2 667
2x samsung DVD combo drives
Card reader
430w power supply
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
Adobe CS3 Master Suite
17" LCD + 15" CRT

Just upgraded to Windows 7, which I think slowed the system up? Was running XP 64-bit previously and absolutely my favorite OS. My previous video card was an old RADEON X800pro, so I thought the GeForce would have surely blown me away? As of now, I plan on upgrading to a 600w power supply and 6GB of RAM. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thanks

JS

John,

Considering that you "just built" this system, I think that you should have invested in a more current CPU that can give you a more future proof set up.

A core 2 duo system is already several years old and might not be optimum to more recent codecs, like AVCHD, current NLEs have now adapted this codec, like EDIUS 5.5 and ADOBE CS5.
These software require AT LEAST an i5 processor. Thats just for single streams.
The moment you start color correcting and layering you'd either need an overclocked i5 or an i7.

The core 2 duo processor handled HDV m2t's fine. But only if they were 1280x720, it will sputter with 1920x1080 unless you use an intermediate codec.
The new processors can handle newer and recently popular codecs like those from DSLRs and even RED Code r3d files.

Ted

Ted thanks for the feedback. Prior to this setup I could not even playback the files from my T2i, but at least now I can play them back. I have not began color correcting yet though and I know that is the most taxing on the system. I would've loved to get one of the i7 processors, but unfortunately that comes with a new mobo and RAM. So looks like I'm out of luck for now.

Is CS5 out of the question for a system like mine?

John,

CS5 can run in your system as you have Win7, and I think that will help with your T2i footage.

Another thing that will stall your playback is when you ad transitions. Hopefully the NLE only needs to render those areas.

Ted

Not surprising. This would have been a decent system a few years ago but now it's at about 25% of what it should be for a decent editing experience in CS5 or even CS3. Both your chip and RAM are about 75% below optimal levels, and you need at least double the power supply and a couple more hard disks. And your video card is at least one generation behind.

To get any benefit from CS5, it's recommended to go with at least 12GB of RAM, a Core i7, three hard drives and a GTX 200 or 400 series card. Lots of threads on this already.

Stick with CS3 for now until you can upgrade hardware again. Sorry to splash water on all this, but you just can't negotiate with Premiere. It doesn't care about what you can afford, only what it needs.

Hey Adam, it's ok I was in the splash zone. But you do make me feel a bit old! I'm a young guy lol. When I first started builing this system the most any mobo could support was 16GB, but now 12GB is considered "not out of the ordinary?" Wow times have really advanced while I was out in the field! I do have some external drives, so I'm ok for storage. As far as the video card, the 9800GTx+ is actually now being marketed as the GT 250. No changes at all.

So it seems what I have here is a physically sound "2008" system. I guess I will stick with CS3 for now. I may just upgrade the RAM and consider this system complete.

Thanks Ted and Adam.

JS

Actually, that would have been a physically sound "2007" system. The Core 2 Duo first came out late in 2006.

And the 9800 GTX+ is now marketed as the GTS 250.

Do you think a Core 2 Quad Q8300 would be a worthy upgrade to this system? I just priced the i7 processors and the like, and there is no way I could justify paying that much for a new setup. Right now I can play my raw footage without rendering, so that's good enough for me.

No, its not a worthy upgrade, go for an i5 750 then if your on a budget. thats what i have. but i'm putting together an i7 system next week. I do 3D so i need firepower.
Getting a core 2 quad is not a prudent investment at this time since it won't future proof you.

Ted, unfortunately my board only accepts the "Core 2" line. Otherwise I would consider shelling out the cash for an i5, etc.

John,

I suggest, you don't buy now and instead save until you can afford it.
A core 2 quad was my system before when I was still doing m2t files from HDV cameras at 720 P only. When these DSLRs and new AVCHD cameras came out with 1080 HD files, my quad couldn't hack it.

You'll be buying an obsolete system if you get a quad now.

An i5 650 is being used on one of our edit bays and my editor edits 1080 footage on it. Thats cheaper than the 750.

John, I think Ted's right and you've really taken this system as far as it can go. Unfortunately as technology progresses we need to move the hardware along to take advantage of it. But "upgrading" this system further would be like swapping a 1986 VW for a 1993 one, or moving from VHS to Hi8. Yeah, it's a little better and newer, but still several generations behind.

If you're moving to HDV -- or anything better than standard DV -- your system will just not likely give you a fun editing experience, especially with Premiere. You can't argue with it, you can't negotiate with it, you can't reason with it or explain why you can't afford more. It doesn't care. It wants what it wants. Sort of like my wife.

Save your money now and move to a nice Core i7 or i9 system in a year or so.

Adam, there is no i9 - it ended up being called an i7-980x and now i7-970.

John, if you have a custom built PC, then go for the Q8300 however, Microcenter has the Q9300 or Q9400 for only $20-30 more. Then add a $40-50 heatsink, and you can overclock the CPU to 3.4GHz very easily as long as your ram is fast enough.

I was just actually projecting what the next generation could be in a year or so...

Nonetheless, any upgrades John could do now are still just putting lipstick on a pig....

Actually, it is too expensive for the relatively sluggish performance it delivers. Plus, the Q8xxx series of Core 2 Quads are very short on L2 cache memory - only 4GB total (or 1GB per physical core) versus the Q9x00 series CPUs' 6GB of L2 cache. Thus, you will not see much, if any, performance improvement over your current Core 2 Duo E6600 for the money that you would have spent on that Q8300.

In other words, you (as another DVInfo member described) are just "putting lipstick on a pig".

As already suggested, other than adding RAM, you're pretty much maxed out.

What I would look into, if I was limited to this hardware, would be another software. Adobe CS3 will not do a good job editing AVCHD - you might be able to play back in real time your footage on the timeline, but probably only without any effects. Once you apply effects, there will be no more real time playback.

Not sure what else is available out there, but for $200 you can pick up Edius Neo, and for the casual editor that will provide everything needed, including some phenomenal optimizations for AVCHD. Go download the trial and see for yourself.

Others might be able to suggest other programs as well.

I hope this helps,

Unfortunately, an upgrade to an i5 will also require a new motherboard and new DDR3 RAM. And due to the lack of HyperThreading the i5-750 or i5-760 will be slower than any i7 in video editing especially in software that thrives with more threads (although an i5-750 will be somewhat faster than a Core 2 Quad at the same clock speed).

And not all i7 systems are equal. In fact, an i7-8xx system on Socket LGA1156 with a P55 chipset is lackluster at best even when highly overclocked because of its limited memory and DMI/QPI bandwidth.

Finally, I would not recommend any more RAM on the OP's current system. This is because the cheapest worthwhile 4GB dual-channel DDR2 memory kits are now more expensive than many of the good-quality 4GB DDR3-1333 dual-channel memory kits. That alone makes upgrading RAM on an older DDR2 system uneconomical.

This is starting to seem like my best choice. To completely upgrade my set up will be just under $500, which isn't bad. Later this year I'm sure that number will drop significantly.

Thanks Steve great website! I have a big Thermaltake heatsink so that should keep me cool. However looks like they only offer in-store pickup for processors : (

Going to pick up an extra 4GB of RAM. Found for $80 so that's not twisting my arm too much, made by Crucial. Right now upon playback of corrected footage [un-rendered], my RAM shows 62% and my CPU shows 82% (Windows 7 widget). This was only on a single project and playing for a few seconds so probably not the best representation of performance. But it seems my processor is more of a bottleneck than my RAM, right??

If I can find a way to get a hold of the processor from Microcenter, I may grab that. Otherwise, I'm saving for an i5 setup. Thankyou again everyone for the advice, without you I would be on a downhill course.

JS

Yes, you made the right choice given the current circumstances. Right now the price for that much DDR2 memory is as low as it will ever be for the remainder of its production life cycle because the memory manufacturers are now concentrating nearly all of their resources on DDR3 memory and future system memory technologies.