Should I Buy This Setup?

[alekgv]

I am buying an HP workstation (has to be HP because my office has a contract with them) for video editing (premier, pinnacle, etc.). I need to stay under $5K but I get discounted prices.
I was looking into the xw8600 (all E5400-series Xeons), but heard the E5500-series was superior so I've been looking at the Z800. I'm thinking of going with this configuration. Any suggestions or changes you'd make?:

* HP Z800 Workstation
* Genuine Windows Vista® Business 64-bit
* (2X) Intel® Xeon® E5530 2.40 8MB/1066 QC CPU
* NVIDIA Quadro FX580 512MB Graphics
* 24GB (12x2GB) DDR3 - 1333 (bought separately)
* (2X) 74GB - SATA-300 - 10K RPM (RAID1, OS and apps)(bought separately)
* (4X) 500GB - SATA-300 - 7200 RPM (RAID5, storage)(bought separately)
* HP 16X DVD+-RW SuperMulti SATA 1st Drive

[minidv2dvd]

get one for me too 8)

[jagabo]

I suspect that's way overkill for what you'll be doing. But if you don't mind spending the money it's a nice machine.

[edDV]

Vista Business lacks most media support. Pay more for Vista Ultimate.

But I agree it is way overkill for home video editing and inadequate for home media apps or games. The screaming 10K drives will annoy others if not you. Why do you need 24GB RAM?

[stiltman]

I never buy first generation computers. I mean brand new models. However, if that's what you want, I would change the video card out for the FX1800. The FX1x00 series has always been the best workstation graphics card.

If it were me, I would get the xw8600 or xw9400 with a FX1700. Save a little money on the hardward and instead get Pro video editing software like Avid or Edius

[INFRATOM]

No, you didn't say what you want this for. Sound like an Auto CAD workstation but I think you can make this with $3000 and get same or better performance. If Industrial light and magic or Disney is paying go for it, otherwise the best you could build that would top that is $1000 CPU $500 MB $500 PSU and the rest including RAM would not be $1000. Of course there are website that promote sales for Newegg and others make $10,000 setup they are like talking about Ferrari to sell Fiat. If you get the core i7 with the above $ it would give the max performance for an individual setup. More than those numbers sounds like some company's hardware procurement Your HP spec is more like a server rather than workstation. What do you want 24gig of RAM for unless server is running several OS on the same system.

[edDV]

Reminds me of a fellow who could get a forklift at 50% off through his business contract. He thought it might make a good lawn mower.

[stiltman]

Didn't even notice that RAM...good catch!

I would go with 8gb unless you're going to be doing some 3D work too, and then I'd up it to 10 or 12gb

I'd stay with the same HDD config though.
Again, if work wants you to have a professional workstation, then request professional software. JMO