CPU for video editing

[irse]

I currently have a 2500K but it's two years and am thinking about a new build. No gaming but I do a lot of video editing. I was looking at two processors, 3570K or 3930K. How much of an improvement would I get with each of these processors and would the 3930K be overkill? Or will Haswell be a bigger improvement? The 2500K is OK but would like something faster plus the internal header for the USB 3 doesn't work. So am I being foolish in buying a new CPU and motherboard? Thanks

 

[ClockHound]

3930K would be a big upgrade for video work. But, not overkill. You can never have too many cores for video editing/plugins/rendering. Plus you have an upgrade path to IVY-E in 10 months or so for more cores (hopefully).

Or you could wait for Haswell, like me...but kick yourself, like me, when you later discover Hasey is not much better for video stuff and could have been finishing projects faster for months with a 3930K. Maybe the big vendors (Avid/Sony/Adobe) will have a quick AVX2 update and I won't kick myself. Maybe.

If you need a big productivity boost now, get the 3930K. Don't bother with the 3570, unless it's a budget thing, better to get a 3770K, but 3930K is the sweet spot processor for video stuff right now, in the pro/prosumer world.

Like always with upgrades, you're either sitting on your hands or looking over your shoulder.

 

[Idontcare]

Video editing will benefit from the 50% increase in cores if you go to a 3930K.

Only you can say if it is overkill. Do you do 30min of video editing a day, or is it more like 6-8hrs worth every day? How much is your time worth to you?

Do you OC? That 2500K on a NH-D14 should be able to push upwards of 4.8-5.0 GHz. If you are already considering throwing the 2500K away then why not OC it and if it dies early from the OC then replace it at that time the same as you intend to now?

 

[tweakboy]

Yes 3930k 6 core 12 threads. More cores the better however AMD falls short once again...... we have HT and single thread,, gl

 

[irse]

The 2500K is overclocked. I've got it to about 4.1. Any higher, the temp goes to 60-70 at idle. I am also waiting for the Swiftech H220 to get in stock. I do most of my editing around football and basketball seasons. Maybe a 3-4 hours a week. I guess I like fast computers. How would the AMD 6 core chip compare? I knows it's a lot cheaper but I would prefer performance.

 

[AnandThenMan]

Video editing is a very open term. What software? What exactly do you do with it? And video editing is not the same as video encoding. Some software greatly benefits from GPU acceleration depending on what you're doing, some not at all.

What I'm saying is tailor your decision on your workflow and software used, don't go out and buy a processor just because it's faster, that may do very little for you.

 

[Markfw]

The 2500K is overclocked. I've got it to about 4.1. Any higher, the temp goes to 60-70 at idle. I am also waiting for the Swiftech H220 to get in stock. I do most of my editing around football and basketball seasons. Maybe a 3-4 hours a week. I guess I like fast computers. How would the AMD 6 core chip compare? I knows it's a lot cheaper but I would prefer performance.

even an 8 core 8350 can't touch a 3930k (6 cores, 12 threads) at the same speed, and yes, most 3930k's will do 4.2 at least with good cooling.

 

[irse]

I use Corel Videostudio x5 to do some editing and encoding. I have a HD5450 video card. I had the GTX 660 Ti but it slowed things down so I went back to my older card and it was fine. I guess I was reading the other thread about the Haswell and was wondering if it was worth waiting for considering what I do with the computer or if there were better options that is available now. Most threads are about gaming so when it comes to non gaming uses, I can't find as much info that I can use.

 

[loccothan]

Go for x3970 X79 or AMD x6 phenom II or AMD FX 8350 and min of 16GB 1866 CL8 1T

 

[moonbogg]

I have a 3930k @ 4.3 stable with a corsair H80. If you want, I will test a video file for you or do a benchmark of your choice for your comparison. Just tell me what program to use and what to do.

 

[irse]

I have a 3930k @ 4.3 stable with a corsair H80. If you want, I will test a video file for you or do a benchmark of your choice for your comparison. Just tell me what program to use and what to do.

I appreciate it but I think I'll stick with just upgrading my case (to a Arc Midi R2) and CPU cooler (to a H220) this year. Then my youngest gets out of preschool and frees up $800/month so I may do my upgrades then. I can do more research to what will help me the most. Maybe AMD will come out with something worthwhile

 

[beginner99]

The 2500K is overclocked. I've got it to about 4.1. Any higher, the temp goes to 60-70 at idle. I am also waiting for the Swiftech H220 to get in stock. I do most of my editing around football and basketball seasons. Maybe a 3-4 hours a week. I guess I like fast computers. How would the AMD 6 core chip compare? I knows it's a lot cheaper but I would prefer performance.

Ok so it's a hobby and your income does not depend on it. So IMHO not worth an upgrade.

What is your problem with your current cpu? why do you think you need a faster one?

Even if encoding is 50% faster with a 3930k (due to 50% more cores) does not change much. I mean if it takes 2 or 3 hours doesn't really matter if it doesn't net you more money at the end of the day.

 

[irse]

Ok so it's a hobby and your income does not depend on it. So IMHO not worth an upgrade.

What is your problem with your current cpu? why do you think you need a faster one?

Even if encoding is 50% faster with a 3930k (due to 50% more cores) does not change much. I mean if it takes 2 or 3 hours doesn't really matter if it doesn't net you more money at the end of the day.

Impatience. Yes, it's not for pay.

 

[sm625]

We dont even know what haswell's quicksync will bring. I would wait.

 

[MustangSVT]

with just that much of encoding, it is indeed a wiser move to get a better cooler and run it at 4.5ghz and you'll be fine. Maybe get more ram or ssd if you don't already have em.

 

[Shephard]

bumping this topic.

I am no pro video editor. I was learning to make gaming movies a few years ago using Vegas.

I made a video last year, 720p (although aspect ratio was actually wrong) but still HD quality. 9 minute video took nearly 2 hours to render on my dual core AMD X2.

With my 3570k I have not done any movies yet.

Curious to how fast your 2500k renders compared to something like a dual core?

 

[colonelciller]

Hi there,
Unfortunately Anandtech is not too interested in Video Editing / 3D Animation / CAD type stuff.
I'd recommend the creative cow forums, two in particular:

Here's one specifically for Sony Vegas:
http://forums.creativecow.net/sonyvegas

And there's also the hardware forum where people ask about the right build to match up with their particular software/application.
http://forums.creativecow.net/whatsystemortool

here's a thread that's a little more high end than what you're looking for but it is still interesting:
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/322/540#540
Anyway... that's a start for you.

Those guys over there really know their stuff... the forum there does have less activity though.


Hopefully Anandtech will start benchmarking for software other than games and scientific compute... such as more serious Video Editing/3D Design (think game asset design, movies)/CAD/After Effects...etc. There's a bunch of people out there that just may bring their knowledge and know-how to these forums if Anandtech decides to expand beyond games. We'll see

 

[beginner99]

bumping this topic.

I am no pro video editor. I was learning to make gaming movies a few years ago using Vegas.

I made a video last year, 720p (although aspect ratio was actually wrong) but still HD quality. 9 minute video took nearly 2 hours to render on my dual core AMD X2.

With my 3570k I have not done any movies yet.

Curious to how fast your 2500k renders compared to something like a dual core?

2500k has double the cores and each core is faster so it would take max. half the time, but even less than that probably less.

But also depends on which X2 you actually had. Athlon or Athlon II? Or Phenom?

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/190?vs=288

in x264 encoding the 2500k is almost 3 times as fast.

 

[Shephard]

2500k has double the cores and each core is faster so it would take max. half the time, but even less than that probably less.

But also depends on which X2 you actually had. Athlon or Athlon II? Or Phenom?

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/190?vs=288

in x264 encoding the 2500k is almost 3 times as fast.

No I rendered with AMD X2 6000+.

 

[Geforce man]

The 2500K is overclocked. I've got it to about 4.1. Any higher, the temp goes to 60-70 at idle. I am also waiting for the Swiftech H220 to get in stock. I do most of my editing around football and basketball seasons. Maybe a 3-4 hours a week. I guess I like fast computers. How would the AMD 6 core chip compare? I knows it's a lot cheaper but I would prefer performance.

Something isn't right here.

My brother's 2500k @ 4.4Ghz idles @ 28c. I think that good contact isn't being made with your cooler. most 2500k's are good for 4.4-5.0Ghz with the cooler that you have, and keeping it under 75c while doing it.

 

[Makaveli]

The 2500K is overclocked. I've got it to about 4.1. Any higher, the temp goes to 60-70 at idle.

This alone would indicate something is wrong with your settings.

I think IDC is right overclocking maybe more beneficial to you unless you encode many hours a day.

If you can go to SB-E and sell the old system to cut some of the cost that may also be an option.

Go for x3970 X79 or AMD x6 phenom II or AMD FX 8350 and min of 16GB 1866 CL8 1T

Phenom II X6? umm no.

He would be better off with the FX 8350 if going the AMD route.

 

[Artician]

Any reason why you wouldn't go the Xeon route for this? That's what I'm looking at right now, and it's comparable price to the 3930K.

 

[Makaveli]

Any reason why you wouldn't go the Xeon route for this? That's what I'm looking at right now, and it's comparable price to the 3930K.

The cpu price maybe comparable but you need more than that to build a system.

What is the total platform Cost you are looking at?

 

[Shephard]

so is x624 the best codec for high quality movies?

I use use wmv with a template in vegas called 720 hd something.

Then some guy told me you need to render your original video as .avi uncompressed. then when that's done you put it in virtual dub and render it as x624.

so 2 steps instead of one but you get better quality, just takes longer.

 

[Artician]

The cpu price maybe comparable but you need more than that to build a system.

What is the total platform Cost you are looking at?

By cost, do you mean my budget? I don't have much of a budget; I'm willing to pour some money into a system right now. Mine is over 5 years old, and I'm more interested in these criteria:
- performance
- no need for water cooling

That's about it. I was under the impression xeons were better at floating-point stuff, and I do a lot of fluid dynamic simulation. I also work in games, so I'm doing just as much real-time work, so I'm all across the board.

so is x624 the best codec for high quality movies?

Did you mean 264? or is there a newer codec and I've just been out of the loop that long?