NLE Dud...

[3Martini]

I built my pc a couple years ago to do home video editing. I thought I had chosen my components well, but it completely failed to do the work. The pc labors for hours to render (using Pinnacle or MS Movie), and the final output is always a jumbled mess.

Here is my current system:

Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz
Abit AA8 Motherboard
1 MB RAM
Nvidia 6600 GT
2 Western Digital 165 MB SATA drives in Raid0
Antec Sonata case with upgraded 430 Watt PS

I still have lots of video that I would like to do something with. What is the most cost effective platform I can assemble that is up to the task?

I am considering running Linux and Cinlerra for my NLE app. Cinlerra recommends a dual Opteron based solution - which is pretty darned expensive.

Is there a way to upgrade my current sytems (new processor, more memory, etc) that would improve my video editing perfromance to an acceptable level?

Or can you recommend a cost effective CPU/MB combo that is up to the task?

Or should I just go buy a Mac Pro?

 

[DLM]

3Martini, i googled up you mobo and it is in fact a Skt LGA775 and can run a Core 2 Duo.
For your cheapest upgrade path, i'd get a new C2D processor and definitely more RAM, you should have 2-3gigs for video editing/processing.

Also, i would probably do something about your hdd situation, z x 165mb in RAID0 is not much storage space (j/k)...i would get larger drives, maybe 2 x 320gig or more.

I don't see the need to change anything else or go to a Mac even.

 

[3Martini]

Thanks! I am glad to hear that I can run the Core Duo. I thought I was limited to Pentium4s.

 

[DLM]

well, maybe i'm incorrect...check this link, you maybe right cuz i originally hit the processor support button on the right side of the page. Sorry if i'm wrong, but don't count a C2D out yet, just do some more research, if it can handle a EE, maybe it'll handle the C2D...sorry

 

[3Martini]

I looked at the Abit site too. The AA8 doesn't show up on the list of motherboards supporting the C2D, but I am not sure if that is because the board is discontinued or because it's truly incompatible.

 

[DLM]

i wonder if they would be about to tell you if you called their support #. Or maybe they couldn't like you said because it may have been discontinued before the C2D was released. or, maybe another AT Forum user might know.

however it comes out though, you'd end up getting a new processor, mobo & more ram, but i'd start with the processor 1st, try it in that board before you buy a new board, unless you can find someone here or Abit that can tell you conclusively.

 

[gsellis]

I assume you meant 1GB of memory. For standard definition, that is fine and you will not notice a huge performance increase if you double it.

You do realize that DV-AVI to MPEG2 compress is a huge performance hit on any system, right? I have a dual 3.06 Xeon with HT. It takes me more than 2-3 hours + to do a dual pass 8.5kbps avg VBR for a 1.5 hr video conversion.

As for a jumbled mess, what do you mean? If you try doing CBR video longer than 1 hour with PCM audio, the more you fit, the lower it has to drop quality to fit.

But, if you were going to get a new system and use Pinnacle Studio 10, Core Duo Dual, ATI X1800/X1900 series with 256MB, 1-2GB, 3 250GB HDDs would be peak performance.

In Studio, choose VBR at set avg to 8500 with Dolby Digital. Or CBR at 8500 with DD. You can reliably get 1.5hrs on a DVD with 8500Avg VBR and Dolby (AC3) with good quality. Since Pinnacle's MPEG2 engine is single pass (a good one for single pass), VBR is not always as good as it could be, depending on content. I usually use Tsunami for my AVI to M2V/AC3 conversion and then MediaChance DVD-Lab for mux and authoring. But I sell my videos (I also use Avid Liquid as my editor - but Studio 10 uses Liquid's engine.)

 

[3Martini]

Yeah, I meant 1 GB of memory! My pc labored for probably at least 12 hours and the cpu kept overheating (despite using an upgraded Thermaltake CPU fan and quality case).

By jumbled mess, I mean that after such a lengthy encoding process, my finished product never agreed with the video sequence I had saved. (Maybe due to the overheating problem?)

It was maddening and frankly, I gave up in frustration.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: 3Martini
Yeah, I meant 1 GB of memory! My pc labored for probably at least 12 hours and the cpu kept overheating (despite using an upgraded Thermaltake CPU fan and quality case).

By jumbled mess, I mean that after such a lengthy encoding process, my finished product never agreed with the video sequence I had saved. (Maybe due to the overheating problem?)

It was maddening and frankly, I gave up in frustration.

Are you overclocking? If so, don't. Some MPEG2 coders will get Out of Sync with overclocking, and that would be the source of your overheating as it will run 100%. I run 100% on 2 real cores with HT on (across "4" CPUs) when I encode with Tsunami.

Edit - my old 1.6GHz used to take 8-12 hrs to encode 1.5 hrs of video. I would start it overnight and let it run (went to work in the AM with it usually still running). But, that was dual pass with high motion detection.

 

[ForumMaster]

the Mac Pro is a very fast system. it is also pretty expensive however, it incorporates dual dual core WoodCrest CPU's. if you ever plan on that or even dual core, make sure the app you use is multi-threaded.

follow gsellis's adive regarding encoding settings.

as for hardware, you could also get a Dell Dimension 690 system which, like the Mac Pro, is designed for this kind of work. in fact, the systems are very similar.

 

[willtriv]

use linux for video. it totally pwns. I can do a 2 hour std dvd 720x480 @ 29.97 fps x264 @1.5MB it goes through at around 45 fps depending on the blocking I use. I use cinelerra, kdenlive, diva and lives to edit movies. I would say your system rig is fairly fast and that maybe your codecs are broken or you don't have them setup right. Try downloading avidemux for windows and transcode files with it. You may be surprised with the results.

 

[3Martini]

Awesome, thanks for all of the great advice.

My cpu is mildly overclocked. I will try going back to stock and see if that helps.

Avidemux sounds great (and you can't beat the price!)

Thanks again everyone.