38 replies to this topic

[Sweeney]

Basically, I know fuck all about hardware, so... I defer to the range of expertise here.

I want:
Windows.
64 bit (for high end video editing suites).
A decent RAM/video capability for aforementioned video editing. I seek advice here... I don't really know what I need.
Capacity for two monitors.
Wireless interwebs.
A moderate hard drive. 500Gb?

I'm not huge on gaming, so I don't need super-souped-up graphics cards, unless that impacts on the video aspect?

Advise me. I have a hefty budget.
(Also, I want it built for me, and in the UK )

[iargue]

Graphics card is insanely important for video rendering. As the graphics card is what handles all of that.

The key elements that you will want is problably an i7, as having 4/8 cores will increase your rendering speed. Between 8 and 12 gb of ddr ram, or maybe more (6gb didn't cut it for me using After Effects) and then a 1gb or 2gb video card.

I would build it all of you. But I don't know of a site that ships to the UK or anything.

I could find people selling prebuilt ones, but you will get gouged a lot of money if you go that way.

[chaoprokia]

Sweeney, on 08 April 2011 - 09:55 AM, said:

Basically, I know fuck all about hardware, so... I defer to the range of expertise here.

I want:
Windows.
64 bit (for high end video editing suites).
A decent RAM/video capability for aforementioned video editing. I seek advice here... I don't really know what I need.
Capacity for two monitors.
Wireless interwebs.
A moderate hard drive. 500Gb?

I'm not huge on gaming, so I don't need super-souped-up graphics cards, unless that impacts on the video aspect?

Advise me. I have a hefty budget.
(Also, I want it built for me, and in the UK )

6 GB RAM Team Elite
RADEON VAPOUR 5870
OnBoard Wireless.
HDD? SSD for SUPER Performance. or else anything will do

[Darkthrone]

Yeah if you have the money you should definitely go for an i5/i7 cpu, grab as much DDR3 ram as you can and a SSD although expensive is really worth the money. When building a new PC I always grab the best components on the market I can afford just to 'future proof' my build as best I can. The only thing I would really recommend though is that you order your pieces off somewhere like ebay/amazon/scan and put it together yourself, you save a huge amount of cash that way .....and software? Someone was telling me about this site that apparently gives software away for free?

[Kyle]

Hard drive space is so cheap. Might as well go for a TB or 2

[Danielle88]

Get an Alienware computer. Best computer on the market and they are custom built.

[iargue]

Kyle, on 08 April 2011 - 10:40 AM, said:

Hard drive space is so cheap. Might as well go for a TB or 2

Yeah. When a Tb is only 20 dollars more then 500gb, only an idiot wouldn't get it.

[Waser Lave]

kyliexo, on 08 April 2011 - 10:42 AM, said:

Get an Alienware computer. Best computer on the market and they are custom built.

They're also a complete rip-off.

[Danielle88]

Waser Lave, on 08 April 2011 - 10:43 AM, said:

They're also a complete rip-off.

They're expensive, but I think well worth the money.. I love mine, what can I say. xD

[Darkthrone]

Alienware are a massive rip-off for the prices they charge you, you could build yourself one twice as good.

[Sweeney]

This is what I'm looking at at the moment:

	CPU 	        Intel Core i7 970 (6 x 3.2GHz) 12 MB 	 
	CPU Heatsink 	Intel Advanced Heatsink & Fan - Low Noise 	 
	Memory 	        Corsair 12GB (6x2GB) XMS3 1333MHz - Lifetime Warranty (DDR3) 	 
	Graphics Card 	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 - 2 GB - (PALIT) (PCI-E) 	 
	Motherboard 	Asus P6X58D-E/USB3 (Intel X58) 	 
	Sound Card 	Motherboard Integrated HD 7.1 Sound 	 
	Networking 	Edimax Wireless LAN 150Mbps (PCI) 	 
	Expansion Cards Motherboard Integrated 	 
	Power Supply 	Cooler Master 1000W Silent Pro 	 
	Case Wiring 	Professional Cable Standard 	 
	Hard Drive #1 	2Tb Seagate ST2000DL003 Barracuda LP, SATA 3Gbps, 64Mb Cache, 5900rpm, 8ms 
	Optical Drive   Samsung (SH-D162D) 16x DVD-ROM - Black (SATA) 	 
	OS       	Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 BIT (Genuine DVD & COA Included)

That tips just over 1.6k inc VAT.
Thoughts? Do I need anything above mobo sound?

[punkrockbigmouth]

You forgot a built in webcam so you can finally make your highly anticipated grand entrance in tinychat. *wishful thinking*

[Fresca]

I personally am no help, but my boyfriend just built a pc with help from Reddit's buildapc subreddit. There's a lot of knowledge on there and you can post the exact things you're thinking of buying (like you just did above) and they'll offer advice/suggestions.

[Sweeney]

punkrockbigmouth, on 09 April 2011 - 06:28 AM, said:

You forgot a built in webcam so you can finally make your highly anticipated grand entrance in tinychat. *wishful thinking*

Actually, the website I'm using gives you a free webcam as a gift
OOOOHHHH!

[Waser Lave]

Sweeney, on 09 April 2011 - 06:32 AM, said:

Actually, the website I'm using gives you a free webcam as a gift
OOOOHHHH!

So it costs you £1,600 but you get a free webcam? BARGAIN!

[Sweeney]

Waser Lave, on 09 April 2011 - 06:34 AM, said:

So it costs you £1,600 but you get a free webcam? BARGAIN!

I know, right? The webcam definitely sealed the deal.

[CraigChrist]

waser +repping the post on alienwares. i wanted to hug you when i read that. Alienwares is a dell subsidy making them shit now too.

[punkrockbigmouth]

Sweeney, on 09 April 2011 - 06:32 AM, said:

Actually, the website I'm using gives you a free webcam as a gift
OOOOHHHH!

Excitement!

[Sweeney]

Ok, here's another spec with an AMD processor instead of an intel:

        Computer Case 	NZXT Lexa S 	 
	CPU 	        AMD Phenom II X6 1100T (6 x 3.3 GHz) AM3 9MB 	 
	CPU Heatsink 	Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 - Silent 	 
	Memory 	Corsair 16GB PC3-12800 1600 MHz (4x4GB) - Lifetime Warranty (DDR3) 	 
	Graphics Card 	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 - 2 GB - (PALIT) (PCI-E) 	 
	Motherboard 	Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 (AMD 870) 	 
	Sound Card 	Motherboard Integrated HD Sound 	 
	Networking 	Edimax Wireless LAN 150Mbps (PCI) 	 
	Expansion Cards	Motherboard Integrated 	 
	Power Supply 	700W Cooler Master Silent Pro M, Modular, 80 PLUS Bronze, EPS 12V, 135mm Fan 	 
	Case Wiring 	Professional Cable Standard 	 
	Hard Drive 	2TB Western Digital WD20EARS Caviar Green, SATA 3Gb/s, 5400+rpm, 64MB Cache, 8ms 	 
	Optical Drive 	Samsung (SH-S223L) 24x DVD Re-Writer/Reader +/- RW - Black - Lightscribe (SATA) 	 
	Card Reader 	Internal Card Reader 50-in-1 	 
	OS              Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 BIT (Genuine DVD & COA Included)

This one is almost £300 cheaper, pretty much just from dropping the intel label! I also got an extra 4Gb of Ram.
Mobo is upgraded a touch, too. Few more ports, etc.

[CraigChrist]

that Build looks full of win

[Sweeney]

I'm ordering this beaut in a few days once a cheque clears. I changed the HDD to a 2x1Tb RAID setup.

If I need/want anything else, there is precious little time to tell me

[iargue]

I would vote for the i7 instead, it will reduce your rendering time by a lot.

Also. I would recommend against sticking with an hard drive that is under 72000 rpm. With a hard drive of that size, the faster it can spin through the data, the faster you will get what you want. At 2tb, you will see a major hit in performance, especially on boot.

Not even sure were you are buying from, as the I7 is cheaper then that Amd processor over here

[Sweeney]

iargue, on 10 April 2011 - 09:19 AM, said:

I would vote for the i7 instead, it will reduce your rendering time by a lot.

Why is there a difference between an intel and an AMD when the stats on the chip are almost identical?

[Waser Lave]

iargue, on 10 April 2011 - 09:19 AM, said:

I would vote for the i7 instead, it will reduce your rendering time by a lot.

Also. I would recommend against sticking with an hard drive that is under 72000 rpm. With a hard drive of that size, the faster it can spin through the data, the faster you will get what you want. At 2tb, you will see a major hit in performance, especially on boot.

A 72000 RPM hard drive would be amazing.

[iargue]

Sweeney, on 10 April 2011 - 09:24 AM, said:

Why is there a difference between an intel and an AMD when the stats on the chip are almost identical?

Better craftsmanship?

The benchmarks don't like though

http://www.hardwareh...troduction.html
http://www.tomshardw...amd,2810-4.html
http://www.guru3d.co...00t-be-review/9

Waser Lave, on 10 April 2011 - 09:26 AM, said:

A 72000 RPM hard drive would be amazing.

Oh, shush!