Build a computer or buy a HP workstation

[LuckyStudio 13]

A friend told me that if you want reliability, do not build your own PC because all those diff components might not work 100% together. Money is a consideration because a pro workstation like the new HP Z820 is $$$$$$$$$. I am planning to go either with Media Composer or CS 6.

[mcgeedigital]

Other options include Origin:

http://www.originpc.com/genesis-pro-...p-features.asp

ProMax One:

http://www.promax.com/s-150-promax-one-features.aspx

Maingear:

http://www.maingear.com/solutions/cu...orkstation.php

Either way you are going to pay to have someone else build it for you and have support.

I ended up building my own and am pretty happy with it.

[LuckyStudio 13]

Matt, are u running Media Composer or CS 6 ? Quadro Nvidia GPU ?

[mcgeedigital]

I am running both. With Resolve as well.

2 Nvidia 580 cards.

[David Jimerson]

A friend told me that if you want reliability, do not build your own PC because all those diff components might not work 100% together.

They will if you do your homework and buy the right components.

[LuckyStudio 13]

They will if you do your homework and buy the right components.

Which is the most critical link ? Motherboard with GPU ? If so, I might get an Nvidia board to go with the quadro ?

[mcgeedigital]

You don't want an onboard GPU, get a MB with as many x16 PCI slots as you can.

Also make sure that your power supply is beefy enough. 1000W and up minimum with multiple Nvidia cards.

[LuckyStudio 13]

Matt, you running Red Rocket ??

[Jester2138]

A friend told me that if you want reliability, do not build your own PC because all those diff components might not work 100% together.

If you know what you're doing a custom built PC will ALWAYS be more reliable than a pre-built PC, for two reasons:

1) You get to pick the best brands and components for every part. Manufacturers will pick cheaper and lesser-known RAM and PSU brands and such to save money (while still touting "8GB" or "750 watts" or whatever it is without mentioning what brand the part is). You, on the other hand, can be smart and buy top-quality in every part because every part can cause the whole system to fail. As a result, a well-built custom PC is ALWAYS better than a pre-built.

2) Since you know every part in your computer, any required maintainance is really easy and you don't have to deal with customer service. If a part fails, just replace it yourself.

All that is predicated on your being knowledgable about, for example, what makes one 4GB stick of RAM better than another 4GB stick of RAM. If you aren't, and aren't willing to learn, then a custom-built can be much more trouble than a pre-built.

[mcgeedigital]

Matt, you running Red Rocket ??

Absolutely.