Advice needed....

[marceggers]

I'm in the market to buy a new system that will be dedicated to video editing/restoration/copying/etc. The new 64-bit systems (Athlon 64) are everywhere, although they seem to focus on the hardcore gamers. I'm not a gamer but I do want to get the fastest and best processor I can for video purposes. Should I step into the future and get a 64-bit system or should I just be happy using a P4 dual channel system? Thanks.

[Cobra]

Moved you to the Computer Forum - get some nicer replies here.

The A64s tend to be cheaper than their P4 counterparts and are very capable processors. I use one and it rips through any task I give it. They're better than P4s for gaming and unpredictable tasks, but not as good for predictable tasks such as video encoding - that's where the P4 will really pull ahead.

If the machine is solely for video, a P4 would probably be the better CPU for you. If you are going to use it for other things, or are on a budget, then the A64 would probably be better. They run a lot cooler than the P4s do, anyway.

As for 64-bit computing, it isn't vital. Might be in a few years, but it offers no advantage whatsoever right now until 64-bit Windows and all the drivers and applications become mainstream.

Hope this helps!

Cobra

[MackemX]

my system would depend on the budget and whether you are self building. I've just built a system for my Uncle that had a 3500 AMD, Asus A8N Sli deluxe board and the Asus PCI 6600GT graphics (forget the exact model but it was the most expensive one and various other good stuff and it kicks ass in performance compared to the stuff you get in pre built systems which normally contain bottleneck components

[funsoul]

If I was on the market atm, would definitely go with one of the A64 rigs. Pound for pound ($ for $), the performance can crush a comparably priced p4 setup.

Some of that depends on what your destination format will be...for example...if you're going for mpeg1/2, perhaps a dual xeon setup would be the way to go (get a pair of the 1.6LV's and run them at over 3ghz each)...definitely a (relatively) low money option but 0 upgrade path.

If destination is XviD, a dualcore setup (for example, A64's) kick serious butt. Until such time as ELDER is really working, XviD won't take advantage of dual cpu's but can use 90+% of the dualcore AMD's.

For video purposes (ie- gaming is secondary)...save moolah on the vidcard and plow it into the other hardware.

On the extreme encoding side...if a dualcore opteron fits your budget....