okay so i need a new computer and i will be editing with premiere. i dont mind having a desktop and i like pcs. but i feel like a dell xps tower is way more powerful and could handle hd editing a lot better than a macbook pro. not to mention an xps isnt as expensive as a macbook pro. please let me know what you think.
Dell XPS or Macbook Pro
- Thread starter deadby23
- Start date
You would be better off in Windows for using CS5. More hardware options (like MPE-compatible graphics cards), and it runs a little better.
Let alone the superiority for editing of a tower over a laptop.
Let alone the superiority for editing of a tower over a laptop.
As a final nail in the coffin, the new Macbook Pro's crash under load (when rendering, for example).
I'd also recommend a good Windows-based desktop instead. If you don't know how to put it together, get the local computer store to do it for you for the extra $75 or whatever they charge. I'd go:
Asus P8P67 motherboard
Intel 2600K CPU
16GB RAM (4x4GB)
GeForce-based card (check MPE compatibility, or just use the nVidia hack)
Corsair H70 cooler
Decent 850w power supply
Full tower case with room for drives
The intel 2600K CPU is designed to be overclocked from the factory. With just regular cooling you'll get 4.2Ghz without issue.
This rig will cost you around $1500 or so and will destroy any laptop or overpriced garbage Mac.
If money is no object and you want to go crazy, a dual Xeon system would be the way to go, but you're looking at $4k-$6k in that case.
I'd also recommend a good Windows-based desktop instead. If you don't know how to put it together, get the local computer store to do it for you for the extra $75 or whatever they charge. I'd go:
Asus P8P67 motherboard
Intel 2600K CPU
16GB RAM (4x4GB)
GeForce-based card (check MPE compatibility, or just use the nVidia hack)
Corsair H70 cooler
Decent 850w power supply
Full tower case with room for drives
The intel 2600K CPU is designed to be overclocked from the factory. With just regular cooling you'll get 4.2Ghz without issue.
This rig will cost you around $1500 or so and will destroy any laptop or overpriced garbage Mac.
If money is no object and you want to go crazy, a dual Xeon system would be the way to go, but you're looking at $4k-$6k in that case.
Demistate
Veteran
Do you need to be mobile? Do you absolutly need to edit in the field? If you answer no, get a desktop.
If you need support if the hardware fails, you'll spend a little more getting a workstation from Dell or HP. You'll still need to get a supported GPU to have hardware acceleration for your effects in windows.
You can go cheaper, but the more cheap you go, the more support you'll be doing yourself. It's just a tradeoff. I do all of my own support for Hardware built all my PCs and have never missed working on OS X since.
If you need support if the hardware fails, you'll spend a little more getting a workstation from Dell or HP. You'll still need to get a supported GPU to have hardware acceleration for your effects in windows.
You can go cheaper, but the more cheap you go, the more support you'll be doing yourself. It's just a tradeoff. I do all of my own support for Hardware built all my PCs and have never missed working on OS X since.
chromeboy007
Well-known member
How much would you invest in a PC desktop monitor?
I have a iMac i7 27 inch. The computer is great and the monitor is superb! The screen is huge and its way over HD. And of course I don't have 50 million wires going from computer to monitor to mouse to power supply to even more power supply. My external hard drives and speakers need way more wires hooked up and my iMac.
However, I would like to have a PC laptop to supplement on the road, with CS4 or 5. Plus it would serve as a cheap P2 storage option for long events. I would still consider CS4 as thats what I have on my iMac now.
I wonder what minimal processing power I would want to edit DVCPRO HD properly?
I have a iMac i7 27 inch. The computer is great and the monitor is superb! The screen is huge and its way over HD. And of course I don't have 50 million wires going from computer to monitor to mouse to power supply to even more power supply. My external hard drives and speakers need way more wires hooked up and my iMac.
However, I would like to have a PC laptop to supplement on the road, with CS4 or 5. Plus it would serve as a cheap P2 storage option for long events. I would still consider CS4 as thats what I have on my iMac now.
I wonder what minimal processing power I would want to edit DVCPRO HD properly?
A couple of the guys over at ADK regularly post in the Adobe forums. They can probably build you one.
http://www.adkvideoediting.com/choose.asp
http://www.adkvideoediting.com/choose.asp
If you are going to represent this, please provide some support.
I just finished an extensive DVCProHD project on a 13" i7 2011 MacBook Pro
Three days of editing off a FW800 bus powered drive, and not one crash at all.
Not all MBP are affected, and some are not affected at all.
A recent update to the OS has addressed this: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2382332,00.asp
The point being that this issue is neither widespread, nor consistent, and it should be reported as such.
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You will get more power and faster rendering *per dollar* with Windows, especially with a budget GTX Card enabling the Mercury engine. Some laptop cards will do this, as well. You will get a better resale value from the Mac platform, so part, but not all, of the investment is offset down the line making the difference smaller. If money is no object, you should be giving us advice. Reliability: Most laptops are are on the high end of MTBF, and Macs are on the high end of laptops (but not the highest), so factor that in if downtime costs you money. I recently set up a Toshiba with i7, 18.4 inch screen, firewire, etc AND a 1.5 gB 460M Nvidia built-in video. A fast machine with a huge screen. But there are many choices, and it depends on what other software you are running.