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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
attention computer geeks!

Don Pham
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Mar 25, 2008, 3:01 PM

Post #1 of 18 (735 views)
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attention computer geeks!	Can't Post

i am looking to upgrade my pc and editing system to edius broadcast. just checked out guy graphics and got the following quote. can you guys look at the specs and let me know if i'm missing anything. don't know much about computers so it is all latin to me.

thanks

• EDIUS NX for HDV with Expansion kit
• CoolerMaster CM Stacker STC-T01 Case
• 650W Power Supply
• Supermicro X7DAE Dual-Core Xeon Motherboard
• Dual Intel 5345 Quad-Core Xeon (18.64GHz Total)
• 4GB DDR2-667 FBDIMM RAM (4x1GB)
• ATI RADEON X1950XTx 512MB DualHead PCIe Video Card
• Creative Labs AudigySE Sound Card
• 160GB OS/Application Hard Drive
• 1TB SATA2 Internal RAID (4x250)
•
•
• Pioneer Blu-ray Burner Drive (Beige)
• Pioneer Blu-ray Burner Drive (Beige)
• Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard and Optical Intellimouse
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
•
•
• 90-Day Warranty (parts and labor) & Toll-free Technical Support
• 7,702.00

Don Pham
Take 1 Productions
The Blog
ReFrame

Kenneth
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 3:14 PM

Post #2 of 18 (724 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think the only thing it's missing are the words Apple and Mac. Otherwise it looks like a killer system. Wink

......................................................................
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The Kenneth Stillman Blog
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GmElliott
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 3:16 PM

Post #3 of 18 (720 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don, looks like a pretty nice machine. The parts that concern me are the relatively small primary OS drive (160 gigs) and the fact they are using FOUR 250 gig drives in a RAID. 500 gig HDs are sub $100 now, I don't see any reason to crowd up the interior of the case with 4 small 250 gig drives.

Additionally I'm not sure how to accurately judge because I don't know the price of your NLE but it looks to be about 3k over market value for the parts they are using. Unsure

I just configured a comparable (more powerful in some areas) Mac, INCLUDING Final Cut Studio 2 and it's still over 2k less.

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com

(This post was edited by GmElliott on Mar 25, 2008, 3:20 PM)

brucecleveland
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 3:21 PM

Post #4 of 18 (715 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

That looks lie an awful amount of money for what you are getting? How much is Edius?

Bruce
"Always over my head, but not quite deep enough to drown."

Scott S
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 3:25 PM

Post #5 of 18 (709 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

90 day warranty on an $8k purchase...brutal...

glimmer
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 3:47 PM

Post #6 of 18 (697 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Decent, but I'd get a larger OS drive and less drives for the raid - 2x500 and two raids, or 4x500...or, just install it yourself. I've gotten systems from them in the past and they're qutie solid...but come at a cost :)

JC/DV
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 4:17 PM

Post #7 of 18 (685 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't know about price because I'm not sure about the Edius NX, but wanted to bring to your attention that you will have 2.33 Ghz of processing speed... but with 8 processing cores. Not the same thing as 18.64 Ghz total speed.

Jerome
JC/DV Productions - Website - Blog

Technology. It does wonders if you know how to use it.

RT Steele
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 4:33 PM

Post #8 of 18 (679 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nice system but I agree with others it's overpriced. (But I don't know what Edius itself costs). I typically try to get 3 years maximum out of my PC's. (If they last that long Laugh

). Not so much because they go bad - it's just that subsequent versions of software while adequate today is developed to run on faster machines it seems. (I still think coders should do all their development on pentium 3's Tongue

).

So... how long do you want this thing to last? You can get 3 Quad core Dells for your price (or 1/2 a mac Laugh

). With plenty left over for some kick ass RAID trinkets.

Haven't heard too many good things about the Xeon but I can't speak first hand. Don't know why you'd need it for a 32bit OS though. There are enough "other" bottlenecks in any system that I'm not even sure the Xeon would be cost effective.

And I don't know why somebody put that high dollar motherboard in this configuration and then decided on 667mhz ram. Upgrade those modules to 800mhz. (32bit windows xp won't recognize all that ram anyway).

I like that RADEON 1950 though. Wish I had it.

Maybe Edius is a fickle beast and needs all this stuff? I don't use it. I do give you lots of credit for building a system around your NLE. More people should do this.

- RT

fr0gm@n
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 4:58 PM

Post #9 of 18 (671 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

My big thing is the RAID. Unless you are doing uncompressed or more than 3 streams of video (3 cams) at one time a standalone SATA/eSATA drive is enough. RAID are prone to problems and unless you need the speed for big multicam projects or uncompressed I think they are overkill. My single eSATA drives are sufficient for a 3 cam wedding edit. If you are getting Edius Broadcast and plan on uncompressed editing it will be nice to have them though but 1TB gets used up pretty quick.

Like someone else said, unless you need lots of power you can get 3 lesser quad cores that will do the job just fine. 2 bluray burners would be pretty sweet though. :-)

Just my opinion on the RAID but I am not an expert. I don't use one for my workflow and haven't missed having one.

Why does a gorilla have big nostrils.......cause it has big fingers.

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gl
Veteran

Mar 25, 2008, 5:07 PM

Post #10 of 18 (665 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I would say your getting a so-so system at a big price. I would AT LEAST expect 1 year of total coverage.

Ironically, guygraphics is located in my town, Spanish Fork. I think it's deals like this that keep them in business because I know the locals are not buying systems there :/

-gl

Bean
User

Mar 25, 2008, 6:43 PM

Post #11 of 18 (639 views)
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Re: [gl] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not sure how the edius system works with the xeon processor(s) the system requirements state pentirum D 3.0ghz or higher. If they do not use any of the xeon benefits you might consider another processor at a lesser cost.

also windows xp will only recognize approx. 3gb of ram, you can have 4gb or more of ram but windows xp will not access the full 4gb.

the radeon xt1950 is a good card but ati has some newer cards available

the X7DAE has an onboard scsi controller which you may not ever use

i just put together a system for my matrox rt.x2 card that was less than $2000 and runs the adobe suite software

do not know if a simililar system is good for the edius hardware/software

let me know if you have any questions

Don Pham
User

Mar 25, 2008, 7:14 PM

Post #12 of 18 (628 views)
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Re: [Bean] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks everyone for all the info. yeah...i was shocked when i saw the 8K.

Don Pham
Take 1 Productions
The Blog
ReFrame

Bean
User

Mar 25, 2008, 8:40 PM

Post #13 of 18 (594 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

is there an online community for the edius products?

matrox has an active group of users that post their computer configurations.
this provided me a great refernce of what components work and which to avoid.

chriswatson
Veteran

Mar 26, 2008, 12:29 AM

Post #14 of 18 (557 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Were it not for Vista, I would say just go to your local Best Buy and get the most powerful computer they have. I know it's un-hip to edit on an off the shelf computer but Canopus products aren't as.....delicate as some other software out there. I edit on a refurb Gateway with no problems. I imagine you wouldn't have much trouble running things on a fast enough box with enough RAM and processor power. In fact I'd say you could probably buy TWO pretty powerful editing computers for that price! Good luck.

Chris W

dMb
Enthusiast

Mar 26, 2008, 12:39 AM

Post #15 of 18 (552 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ive known Guy for years, his prices are ussally fair and he stands behind his products.
If you question the price, contact him again. He is a nice person and is honest.

David

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 26, 2008, 1:21 AM

Post #16 of 18 (537 views)
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Re: [chriswatson] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I would say just go to your local Best Buy and get the most powerful computer they have.

Beat up on the little guy why don't ya. Wink

You and RT see eye to eye.

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RenderLight
User

Mar 26, 2008, 7:17 AM

Post #17 of 18 (492 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

That's about right Don. The price is about what I would expect for what you are getting.

I would upgrade to the biggest raid drive you can, with maybe even more storage down the line.

Make sure your bluray drives are the newest ones that can do 4x burning. I mean, that is $1200 of the price right there!

But other then that, you have some expensive components that are the cause of the price. The Edius NX expansion kit and dual quad-core Xeons are not the cheapest processors (maybe downgrade a step to a diferent processor), 4gb ram etc.

That is why it is so high, but the expansion kit allows for realtime out to a monitor so you need that.

Paul

(This post was edited by RenderLight on Mar 26, 2008, 7:21 AM)

stevemoses
Veteran

Mar 26, 2008, 10:24 AM

Post #18 of 18 (458 views)
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Re: [Don Pham] attention computer geeks! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don, I just had Tony Hale of The DVShop in Atlanta build us 2 great computers, will get then Friday. He had lower prices than anyone and is great to work with. He is my new best friend. Smile

They know all their is to know about Edius and many more platforms and will put together a killer computer for you.
Steve Moses
Vantage Point Website
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