Just upgrade to Win XP, or should I buy a faster computer?

[2prfm.com]

hi everyone,

Still in the early stages of capturing video and burning dvd's. I seem to be making some progress now, as I have all the connections from my digital set top box, to my (1.7 GIG / win me / 640 Ram) computer working fine. Burning mpgs to DVD is working fine through Nero Vision Express 3, (after about six hours of format recoding), and disc plays fine in my Sony DVP-NS50P dvd player. Entire two hour movie captured perfectly as all video and sound are in sync. Computer is linked up to set top box by RCA to USB 1.0 converter cable.

Noticed some of the video skips every now an then. I can only best describe this as a cyclist moving from one side of the screen to the other. Motion is smooth then the bike skips like some frames have been cut out. I don't think it's frame dropping as my sound would be out of sync toward the end of the movie.

I'm capturing the video in mpg format, using WINDVD 7, as this program can capture from different audio and video sources. It's looking like a new computer soon, just want someone to confirm my suspicion. Either looking at just installing win xp, or should I get a faster puter?.

I suspect as I'm doing live capturing in DVD mpeg video, my computer has to encode on the run. Using a lot of processing power, It's most probable that my processor is not encoding the video fast enough to capture every frame of the movie. I'm notice a skip about every 30 to 40 seconds.

[2prfm.com]

forgot to mention that i did a system clean out,

1. wiped off some software that i never used any more,
2. did a registration clean up using registration mechanic 4,
3. did a disc defrag of both my drives,
4. switched off screensavers,
5. ran adaware to make sure there was no ad ware running in my system,
6. did a thorough system check with norton anti virus.

Noticed system is running faster, but still got same problem.

[SatStorm]

Your system drop frames, but that has nothing to do with the CPU you have.
A second HD and a clean installation of the windows you are using could help the non upagrade way.

A >2600mhz CPU could help in general. Windows XP no (I use W2K for example, on a duron 1200 and I'm able to capture realtime mpeg 2 using any bt8xx capture card and mainconcept 1.4.2 encoder, on half D1 framesize, which is OK for average use)

[Richard_G]

How much do you want to spend. Your choices are to buy a complete new computer, buy a barebones computer (and use your existing monitor, drives, etc) or upgrade. You processor, while not being the fastest on the planet, is still fast enough to cope with video (as long as it isn't a cut down like a Celeron or Duron), your hard drives are just about big enough, but you are seriously lacking in memory. 128 MB is too little to run WinXP properly, 256 MB being a minimum but for video work you should be looking at 512 MB or more.

Your cheapest option would be to increase your memory and switch to XP but if you can afford it, go for the new computer.

[TBoneit]

one thing you'll spend probably $100 just for a WinXp upgrade version. Which means that any computer you look at you need to take that hundred dollars into the equation... IOW consider that the new computer you look at as $100 cheaper because the new one comes with XP Vs buying the upgrade version, Then look at Dell for example sometimes they have 2.8/3.0 Ghz systems around $400. You can buy their stripped version and add your own burner/capture device. Maybe memory depends on the dell model and what type your is. On the Dells you need to watch their web site as they change prices constantly, sometimes several times a day. I suspect that they run specials for short periods of time either to sell off surplus product or to get money from frugal buyers.

Good Luck

[ranchhand]

Well, I can give you my experience for what it's worth. I been building computers for several years and work in IT, so I build my own boxes. I was trying to capture analog camcorder video and convert to mpeg2 using an K-World Expert V-Stream USB2 external capture garbage - ooops I meant device - on an AMD 1.3 GHz chip running at 266FSB with 512 MB ram. I had dropped frames galore in the preview, although the final capture appeared to be not missing any frames. It was really bad trying to capture, though.

I built an AMD 2.17GHz and bumped the FSB up to 333, and ran 1 gig pc3200/333 RAM. Suddenly all the dropped frames, hiccups and blanks disappeared - smooth as silk. The capture device corrupted the mpeg output so that nothing would burn it, but the capture/preview end was terrific.

[harley2ride]

I would have to say the other posters are pretty much on they money. You want at least a 2.8ghz pentium or amd equiv., two hd's, and a minimum of 512mb of ram. I noticed very little difference in encoding time between my 2.8ghz with 1gb 333 ram vs my 3.4ghz with 1ghz ddr 400. Both give a virtually 1 to 1 exchange 1hr film takes 1hr total time, depending upon numerous factors. Sure the 3.4 is a little faster, but not a hugh difference.

[ranchhand]

Hey harley2ride...

I see you are from Boise - I grew up there, except it was on a ranch about 35 miles North, closer to Idaho City. Of course, that was a long time ago, things have changed. They are building houses out there now, I don't think there are many ranchers left any more.

[harley2ride]

Hey harley2ride...

I see you are from Boise - I grew up there, except it was on a ranch about 35 miles North, closer to Idaho City. Of course, that was a long time ago, things have changed. They are building houses out there now, I don't think there are many ranchers left any more.

Land is disappearing around here faster than illegal funds in congress.

[anitract]

PC building is easy if you choose to go that route and have a bit of patience. The benefit being hand-selected parts. Research is the biggest thing you need to overcome when getting into it.

As for overclocking, I tend to keep my CPUs at stock these days, especially on my capturing pc. Most newer processors will handle anything you can throw at them just fine as is. 'Course I don't encode my video (I go straight to mpeg2)...so yeah...

[ROF]

I wouldn't upgrade to a complete new system. My recommendations would to upgrade your GeForce Card, pull the 128MB out and add either 2 256MB or a single 512MB Stick. If you go the route of the 512MB, you may be able to use your 128MB as well, but only if the speed(mhz) is the same as the 512mb you're adding. If it's slower, sell the 128MB to someone in need.