Using Server 2003 for Video Work

[laseats]

I'm putting together a system to be used primarily for working with video files (converting MPEG2 to XVID, ripping and burning DVDs, etc.). I'll be using an NEC 3500A burner and the following software: AutoGK, TMPEnc Author, DVD Santa, DVD Shrink, and Nero.

I am considering using Windows Server 2003 on this machine because of other functions I want this machine to perform on my network and because I have a spare license for Server 2003 and I don't have one for XP.

The hardware will be a machine with a P4 3 GHz Prescott chip with 1 gig of DDR400 memory.

Has anyone used the above on Server 2003? Can I anticipate problems, or should it work as well as it does on XP?

[billybobb]

Hey there..

2003 server has been a headache so far to get my AIW ATI card working properly. I wanted to do video capture from my old camcorder and still haven't gotten it working properly. (ALL WORKED UNDER WINDOWS 2000 server). Bottom line right now, ATI doesn't have a driver that is supported under 2003 server. Although I found that their media suite doesn't work, the capture driver does when not using their product. Ya strange, I got Nero Vision working for capture: when i stream the live video from the video camera all is clear, but as soon as I hit the record button.... the image becomes blurry.. have NO idea why, and that's how it does record to file... and is something I'm still researching! I have an ultra fast system (dual processor), that has no problems crunching data, so this problem I'm getting has completely baffled me. ANY INSIGHT ON THIS WOULD BE A GREAT HELP!

If you don't use ATI, then maybe you'll be fine.

I converted my 2003 server to act as a workstation... search google for the guide that exists on that if you're interested. Makes the server work great and adds a little flair...

[Gurm]

It's just a server OS. There ARE incompatibilities (ATI for example as already stated) but otherwise no it shouldn't be a problem.

The issue is simply what it's weighted for. Take two machines, install server on one and workstation on the other... run the same dedicated workstation task... it'll finish sooner on the WS machine, because the server machine was spending CPU time making sure that the network was happening cleanly and suchnot.

But a HUGE difference? Not unless you're making demands of it. We're talking a couple percent here.

[billybobb]

Yeah i'm not saying this capture is a little blurry .... it becomes horrible. Unviewable. I suppose I'll try some other software products to see if there is any difference. But what throws me off... is that when I view the FEED in the preview window it's completely clear. Premiere Pro doesn't even recognize the feed. I only got somewhere so far with the Nero Vision Package.