New PC - Need suggestions

ihatedv

ihatedv

Well-known member
So I finally got a machine and I'm setting it up to edit SD. I have a few questions about a monitor/video card and a RAID set-up.

My first question is about the 'currently' installed video card. (NVIDIA GeForce 9100). Is this a decent card? Should I upgrade the current card? I want to add a 23" monitor.

I know having a dedicated Raid set-up is the way to go but I have no idea where to start. What are some things I should look for in a hard drive? Access time? Anything else?

EDIT: I'll be using Adobe Premiere Pro CS4
 
Last edited:
If the video card has anything to do with your work depends on what software you're editing in. I don't know exactly which ones use GPU acceleration, other than Adobe CS4. For a RAID array, which is an acronym, you need to know first if your computer has a built in controller. If not, you would need to buy one. Access time should matter. Make sure it's a 7200RPM drive, decent storage and recent technology. In drives, new technology always beats out older, even older high quality stuff.

Now, what are we talking about with the array? RAID 0 might offer a slight performance boost, but if you are exclusively editing SD video, not high access rate HD, you'll never see it. Not recommended for your needs, all it does is increase your chance for data loss. RAID 1 is done for redundant backup, and works best with two identical drives.

Also, I suspect this is actually less expensive than buying the individual hardware. Probably a little less effective, but still. It used to be I saved a lot with some assembly.
 
Last edited:
How can I tell if my computer has a controller? Can you not tell by the specs? Or do I need to research the mother board?

Were you correct when you said "all it does is increase your chance for data loss" ? I thought the purpose of RAID is to protect data
 
For the data loss I meant RAID 0, not RAID 1. RAID 0 stripes two drives to be read as one, splitting files to be written and read simultaniously on both drives. So if one dies you lose everything. That's the performance kind. RAID 1 means you have two drives which are written to at the same time, causing your data to be saved in two places automatically. Which is probably what you were referring to.

According to the HP support site I found for this MB, it looks like it is configured for on board RAID control.

"RAID
Ready to use.
  • Starting Spring09, CTO models in North America may be configured for:
    • RAID pass-through
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 1
  • For all other regions, this motherboard ships in RAID Pass-Through mode. This means the PC is ready to be configured for RAID 0 or RAID 1.
  • RAID modes supported:
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 1"
So it should be able to handle that. You might want to call HP to make sure on that before investing, up to you. Just get two identical drives and you can try configuring it in the system. If it doesn't work you can do manual backups instead, but I interpret what I posted above to mean it will work.
 
Cassius said:
For the data loss I meant RAID 0, not RAID 1. RAID 0 stripes two drives to be read as one, splitting files to be written and read simultaniously on both drives. So if one dies you lose everything. That's the performance kind. RAID 1 means you have two drives which are written to at the same time, causing your data to be saved in two places automatically. Which is probably what you were referring to.

According to the HP support site I found for this MB, it looks like it is configured for on board RAID control.

"RAID

Ready to use.
  • Starting Spring09, CTO models in North America may be configured for:
    • RAID pass-through
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 1
  • For all other regions, this motherboard ships in RAID Pass-Through mode. This means the PC is ready to be configured for RAID 0 or RAID 1.
  • RAID modes supported:
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 1"
So it should be able to handle that. You might want to call HP to make sure on that before investing, up to you. Just get two identical drives and you can try configuring it in the system. If it doesn't work you can do manual backups instead, but I interpret what I posted above to mean it will work.
Click to expand...


Thanks a lot for your time. It makes sense now. If I want better performance go with a RAID 0, and for redundency purposes a RAID 1. So I'll make a decision on which route I should take.
 
ok, here's my advice...if you are editing Standard Definition and having no troubles, then don't worry about RAID or extra cards.

What you need to do is arrange a fee which is included in your estimates and invoices for data storage.

This data storage should be accomplished with external hard drives which after a project is finished should be copied to two drives total, and stored in two separate locations...in fact during your filming, pre-storage, and editing stages there should also be arrangements made for data existing in two locations.

Some lower cost guys may skip some essential steps, but they'll have a customer disappointment rate which is not acceptable...which in my opinion should be 100%.

Always overestimate your storage needs, over invest in external storage, as well as housing in said storage......pass on these costs to the client, and TRUST ME....don't give in to anyones wants for lower cost without these things....no one will hate you more then the moment YOU lost their footage.....and they WILL say it was YOUR fault even if you insisted they need these backups and they talked you out of it....when they talk to others they will never admit it was their fault.
 
Nick Walters said:
ok, here's my advice...if you are editing Standard Definition and having no troubles, then don't worry about RAID or extra cards.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I am working with SD. Not sure if I will have any troubles because I still need to purchase a monitor.
 
You won't have any troubles with performance, I can absolutely guarantee that. Most HD video would work great, too.
 
One big question is "what kind of work will you be doing?"

If it's mission critical stuff that needs absolutely perfect color....say a big release to DVD, color sensitive industrials, etc...then you need to wonder about a dedicated monitor for color correction.

If it's wedding videography, music videos, indi films, etc...then you can get away with one or two decent monitors...

Although I will say that it's always easier to edit with one highly defined monitor on which you have your tools, timeline, etc....and one other monitor who's definition isn't too important, but decent color representation would be nice. This second one would be for viewing video alone
 
Some footage will be critical and some not. But my thinking is do it right no matter what. I think going for the two monitor set-up is something I will do. As a start will this monitor suffice ?
 
Nvidia makes some really nice graphic cards. If you haven't already, check them
out.

Good luck.

Mark

PC Specs:

VisionDAW 4U 8-Core Xeon Workstation
2 Intel QUAD-Core Xeon 5365-3.0GHz, 8MB, 1333MHz Processors
16GB 667MHz Fully Buffered Server Memory Modules (2x2GB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition
Microsoft® Windows® Windows 7 x64
WDC 250GB, Ultra ATA100, 7200 rpm, 8MG Buffer Main OS HD
2 WWDC 750GB, SATA II, 7200 RPM, 16MB Buffer HD (Raid 0)
2 WDC 750GB, SATA II, 7200 rpm, 16MG Buffer HD (Samples)
2 WDC 1TB Enterprise Class, SATA II, 7200 RPM, 32MB Buffer Hard Drive
MOTU 24 I/O (main) / MOTU 2408mk3 (slave)
Plexor PX-800A 18X Dbl. Layer DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
Front Panel USB Acess
Integrated FireWire (1394a) interface
Thermaltake Toughpower 850W Power Supply
3xUAD1 Universal Audio Cards
NVIDIA QUADRO FX 1800 / Memory 768 MB GDDR3
CUDA Parallel Processor Cores / 64
Maximum Display Resolution Digital @60Hz = 2560x1600
Memory Interface 192Bit
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) / 38.4 GB/sec
PCI-Express, DUAL-Link DVI 1
Digital Outputs 3 (2 out of 3 active at a time)
Dual 25.5" Samsung 2693HM LCD HD Monitors
 
ihatedv said:
Some footage will be critical and some not. But my thinking is do it right no matter what. I think going for the two monitor set-up is something I will do. As a start will this monitor suffice ?
Click to expand...
I'm in the search of a monitor too and I will say at least get a monitor that supports 1080p.
the monitor you linked doesn't support that and in that price range you should be able to find 1080 monitors.
 
ryvac said:
I'm in the search of a monitor too and I will say at least get a monitor that supports 1080p.
the monitor you linked doesn't support that and in that price range you should be able to find 1080 monitors.
Click to expand...

Is having a monitor that is 1080p really necessary for my DVX?
 
1080 is overkill for your dvx but an overall good investment / choice for the extra $30 because in a couple years you might have a 1080 hd cam, it's not overkill for photoshop or other apps, you'll be glad you bought it.

Your computer looks like it will cut sd footage like butter (many layers of sd footage) and more than likely it'll be fine for hd stuff, I know Avid for hd needs dual 2.4 processors and you have dual 2.5's.

If you do want a 2nd monitor for color critical viewing there are deals to be had all over eBay for pro SD studio monitors, were talking $200ish for a sd monitor that cost $2k+ 5 years ago, they still are great, just everyone went to hd and has no use for them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top