What Rig?

[loopyloops]

A friend is going to be using Avid Express Studio (updated for HDV). What would the ultimitate PC settup be - proc., hdds, mem., etc.?

[edDV]

See the recommended workstation configurations on the AVID site. AVID is very specific about what will work.

[yoda313]

Just a key rule of thumb is to always get as much RAM and Harddrive space as you can afford upfront. Makes video and gaming SO much easier.

[edDV]

Just a key rule of thumb is to always get as much RAM and Harddrive space as you can afford upfront. Makes video and gaming SO much easier.

But requirements for gaming and video processing are quite different. Also there are variations for different video applications.

A video editing machine needs enough memory but no more. It needs split HDD systems for OS and video I/O. A video editor needs to maximize on raw CPU power for effects rendering and encoding. Display cards can be very simple. Hardware decoding and encoding assist become next most important.

[yoda313]

Good points eddv. I can't believe I did video capturing with just one harddrive. Two makes it so much easier.

[loopyloops]

Thanks folks - I'll check the avid site as suggested. Anyone know offhand if Intel is better than Pentium for this purpose?

Are we talkin' this - http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/specs.asp


Is there an "ultimate settup" listed somewhere? I don't think cost is an issue - just performance.

[yoda313]

????

Pentium is made BY intel.

Maybe you mean Athlon?????

[loopyloops]

????

Pentium is made BY intel.

Maybe you mean Athlon?????

Sorry - hard to juggle life and post sometimes Yes, I meant amd or intel.

[yoda313]

I prefer Intel. Though I did use a Amd 800mhz for a few years and liked it well enough. I'm currently using a celeron 2.66ghz and like it just fine.

[loopyloops]

I prefer Intel. Though I did use a Amd 800mhz for a few years and liked it well enough. I'm currently using a celeron 2.66ghz and like it just fine.

I'm curious if the top Athlon 64 or top Pent. would be better for Avid.

[loopyloops]

I prefer Intel. Though I did use a Amd 800mhz for a few years and liked it well enough. I'm currently using a celeron 2.66ghz and like it just fine.

I'm curious if the top Athlon 64 or top Pent. would be better for Avid.

I have a Pentium M 2.13 GHZ and 2GB of DDR2 on my laptop - but I use my desktop for DV which has a rather long in the tooth 3000+. But it's seeming like the Avid requirements are very specific. No mention that I can find of AMD on their site.

[edDV]

If price is no object, you would get the preconfigured dual Xeon Compaq workstation and save weeks of configuration.

http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/avidmojo_compaqevow8000_guide.pdf

[loopyloops]

If price is no object, you would get the preconfigured dual Xeon Compaq workstation and save weeks of configuration.

http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/avidmojo_compaqevow8000_guide.pdf

It's interesting that compaq would make a great comp. for video editing, no? I don't doubt at all that they do, but they don't have such a good rep. in other areas - gaming, etc. Thanks - will check that out now.

Ok, looked. Wonder why that pdf only has a minimum hdd config - what would one ideally want - sure no one 40gb ide hdd. I guess you have lot of options.

[edDV]

If price is no object, you would get the preconfigured dual Xeon Compaq workstation and save weeks of configuration.

http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/avidmojo_compaqevow8000_guide.pdf

It's interesting that compaq would make a great comp. for video editing, no? I don't doubt at all that they do, but they don't have such a good rep. in other areas - gaming, etc. Thanks - will check that out now.

Ok, looked. Wonder why that pdf only has a minimum hdd config - what would one ideally want - sure no one 40gb ide hdd. I guess you have lot of options.

For HDV, go at least 200GB, better 1TB or more for video drives.

AVID will directly support these recommended workstations. Lower end systems can be used but support is your responsibility. Keep in mind AVID is the least flexible on hardware configuration and assumes professional systems administration. If your friend isn't tied to AVID, then Vegas or Premiere Pro might be easier to self support.

For AVID, your friend would save lots of time by using one of the approved system integrators.

http://www.avid.com/forms/integrators.asp

[loopyloops]

If price is no object, you would get the preconfigured dual Xeon Compaq workstation and save weeks of configuration.

http://www.avid.com/products/xpressprohd/avidmojo_compaqevow8000_guide.pdf

It's interesting that compaq would make a great comp. for video editing, no? I don't doubt at all that they do, but they don't have such a good rep. in other areas - gaming, etc. Thanks - will check that out now.

Ok, looked. Wonder why that pdf only has a minimum hdd config - what would one ideally want - sure no one 40gb ide hdd. I guess you have lot of options.

For HDV, go at least 200GB, better 1TB or more for video drives.

AVID will directly support these recommended workstations. Lower end systems can be used but support is your responsibility. Keep in mind AVID is the least flexible on hardware configuration and assumes professional systems administration. If your friend isn't tied to AVID, then Vegas or Premiere Pro might be easier to self support.

For AVID, your friend would save lots of time by using one of the approved system integrators.

http://www.avid.com/forms/integrators.asp

Thanks - I guess the Avid site says a lot - very strict re: what's needed.

One last question, so does one want, say, a 10,000 rpm os drive and then raided 500gb drives as video drives?

I think he's definately going to use Avid - just stopped with Premier and is getting more into it all the time.

I think I'm waiting 'till I have 10,000 hours of footage before I start to edit - and then I'll use Moviemaker2 - or maybe they're have 3 by then