Computer set up

Russell Moore

Russell Moore

Well-known member
I'm sure there must already be a thread addressing this, but I can't find it.

I'm going to get a new computer set up. I want to be able edit my own films.

What set up do you recommend and/or what are you using?

Please include any specs (firewire, RAM, gigs, ETC.) helpful info, etc.

I will probably end up building it myself in school.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
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You might also want to state which platform you prefer, or no preference if you are looking for suggestions for that as well.
 
Well I use PC.
Will 500$ get me something decent if I build it myself?

I have just started the class, so my knowledge is still pretty basic. Thanks for the response, hopefully that helps.
 
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Not being sarcastic at all. Machines that can edit video, are quite powerful and generally quite expensive. For instance, a common nVidia graphics card suitable for for previewing HD size footage will cost about $250-$400. A good 7200k hard drive will cost about $250. A decent monitor may cost $350. 4GB of RAM which is generally a starting point these days can cost $200 or more.

So when I say this is out of my league, I mean I cannot even tell you how to begin on that kind of budget. I am looking at a new editing machine for myself, but I have another zero on the end of my figure and I am trying to figure out how to get it for that because both DELL and HP quotes come in above that $5k figure.

At a minimum, you are going to need a motherboard and case, as well as a power supply and RAM. If you add a monitor, you're already over budget and we haven't gotten any drives in there yet.
 
Holy crap! Looks like I'm going to have to be a lot more patient than I'd like.

It'll take me awhile to build up enough extra cash to get something like that together.
But I'm still interested in what I need(you already gave me some info), at least the minimum...so I know what I'm working towards.

Thanks for the post.
 
Sorry,

I've been in the SAS world too long, and been pricing what the SATAs cost to add to the DELL builds . I just took a look at some retailers and you're right. They are fairly reasonable. But even at $100, it's 1/5 of the listed budget. Looking at newegg, the case and power supply are going to run about $150, and the cheapest LCDs I could find are about $140. Motherboards seem to be about $120 for the decent cheap ones.

Case/Power = $150
Motherboard = $120
Screen = $140
Drive (video) = $100

So we've got $510 without RAM, the OS drive, mouse, keyboard, DVD drive, or any of the other things that make up a video editing machine.

I'd say for $1k he could get in the game comfortably, but $500 is way too tight.
 
How 1,000 to 1,500$ It would take me a bit longer to put together, but I could do it.

What are we talking, how much RAM? Specs like that.

Thanks for the Link.
 
Yea, between $1k-$1.5k you could put together something nice. There are a few things in a video machine you can barely get enough of...

1. CPU. More is always better. And faster is always better.
2. Disk speed and space. Buy all you can afford.
3. Video card. Buy best you can. nVidia Quadro is where it's at on PCs.
4. RAM buy all you can get if you intend to do 64bit CPU (and you should)

CPU and RAM would be my first choices of where to spend budget. You can stack disks on later as you need them. Video card you can start cheap and upgrade in 15 minutes.

I think some of the guys here can give you good advice on building a decent machine in this price range. Because I am corporate, I can't do home builds. So my machines have to come from Dell or HP since that is who we do business with. I see guys doing home-builds on machines for $1500 that are costing me $3500. Makes me mad, but what can I do.
 
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