System Requirements?

[Arrummzen]

What are the system requirements to convert a DVD to a .avi file? I know a DVD drive is needed but what else (suppose you want to use the programs DVD2AVI and SmartRip)?
What kind of CPU?
RAM?
HardDisk?
Etc.?
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen

[legionpc]

Apart from needing the DVD ROM, the only requirement is lots of HDD space really. Unless you rip straight into an avi file (which puts lots of stress on the DVD ROM) you'll need about 8GB of free space. If you have that, and a DVD ROM, you're set.

A fast CPU will make the job much quicker, but you can use any CPU really, as long as its compatible with the software you want to use. Personally I use a 266Mhz for all my encoding, and while its slow, it works.

[Arrummzen]

Ok thank you.
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen

[magomago]

Oh God!!! a 266mhz Processor!

You know @ newegg they have 1600+ (Agoia cores too!) for 50 bucks...get that a nforce board, a fast HDD (doesn't even have to be big if all you will iuse it for is encoding), a 512 megs of pc2700 ram and you are set...
all for a low price ( 50 processor, 75 mobo(onboard sound/video/etc.), 130 ram, 100 for a good hdd (or 107 for the 80 gig WD SE...that sucker is FAST)...that is 300ish dollars...)

Now I know you are tinking "what about a moniter and whatnot" If it is your encoding pc get a moniter. ANY moniter...go get some old VGA moniter, a cheapo keyboard and mouse and you are set.

But you could be encoding a LOT faster if you ditched that...

[musher70]

a 266? you must be kidding all of us here,
Are you running linux or windows 2.0 too???

maybe some edo memory???

Living in the past, ur really justing wasting ur time away...

[legionpc]

Geez, the 266MHz isn't that bad. Takes about 15 hours to encode an hour of SVCD MPEG2. I can live with that.

I already have a decent HDD anyway - 40GB 7200rpm Seagate Barracuda. Not the fastest drive in the world, obviously, but its good enough

[Innershield]

What is wrong with a 266? Maybe he is not concerned with how fast he can encode or maybe he doesn't have $300 extra just lying around. Maybe he doesn't do that much encoding and he does't seem like he is concerned about how slow it is , so why should you be?

[Arrummzen]

Ok thank you for all your advice. I just got my hands on a rely nice system so the minimum requirements are not to much of an issue anymore.
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen

[magomago]

Time is money and that is a LOT of wasted time. An hour of SVCD in 15 hours!

That barIV is awsome...but still man -you could do SOOOO much better with that HD (which is like virutally silent!) in a different rig. Like I said, 1600XP for 48 dollars...

[Arrummzen]

My motherboard is RAID capable. I am thinking about buying a 100 gb hard disk for it but would it be better to get 2 smaller disks? Is hard disk speed important for this kind of thing?
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen