Hi All!,

 It's been a few years since my first projects and I now have some time again.

I'm building a new PC on a budget for editing.  I used to have an Asus A8V Deluxe with a AMD 3200+, 1GB Crucial RAM and an ATI 9600 XT (256MB) using Studio 9.  The only problems I ever had with that combination of Hardware/Software was me, LOL.

For now I'll be using (buying soon) Studio 12 and I need a new PC aswell.  I've been checking a lot about onboard video and audio and it seems like most of the info is old (pre quad core) so I'm wondering if I still need a dedicated GPU and how much CPU the sound card really takes up?

For now I'll use Studio 12 ultimate and I've still got a 5yr old camcorder, not HD yet so my vids are 1hr = 13GB.

 

Finally the questions:

#1. If I'm not a gamer and don't do any 3D rendering, will onboard graphics be good enough for making movies/slidshows in studio 12?

#2. Same as above, how about onboard sound (5.1 or 7.1)?

#3. If I get an HD camera later, would that make a difference for onboard video/sound?

#4. Pinnacle 9 used to import and separate clips based on the time and date stamp (clips separated by the on/off button while taping, that was PERFECT!!!).That's the reason I choose it as Adobe didn't.  Does it still do that without any plugins or spending xtra cash for the feature?

 

Trying to save money for now, but not if it means buying a new PC in a year or 2 when I upgrade my camera to HD (1080p)

 

Thanks,

Barry

 

Here's my take on onboard GPUs

They tend to be lower powered, but most modern motherboards seem to at least have usable ones - so you would need to check the specific chipset. Another issue is they often use shared memory, stolen from your main allocation, which does seem to upset some programs. However, if you are building a desktop, as long as you make sure the motherboard has a slot for adding a graphics card later, you are covered, really. Studio uses the GPU for many tasks, not just 3D rendering, so you should see the benefit of a good  GPU and dedicated memory.

Sound - I've not had a separate sound card on my last two computers and I don't think it's a requirement at all

If you get HD later, you can slot a new graphics card in - although what works for SD should work (slower) for HD. Won't worry about sound....

S12 still treats DV video in the same way as S9 without additions.

Have you tried the S12 trial on your current hardware? It should run quite well

If you are specing up a new computer, two things I'd suggest you check with your new motherboard.

One is that if has sufficient expansion slots - mine only has 2xPCI, 1xPCI-ex16 and 1xPCI-ex1 and I've run out of slots - I've even found a use for the PCI-Ex1 - a wireless network card - so if I wanted to add a sound card I'd have to remove my USB/Firewire expansion card.

Two is the number of internal HDDs you are likely to want to add. Some new Mobos skimp or omit completely PATA HDD connections, so you won't be able to salvage old drives. Others also might only have 2 SATA ports. My last upgrade relied on using two HDDs and a PATA DVD burner from the last computer, so I got a board with 4xpata and 2xsata, and they are now all in use. (1.5 terrabytes not counting USB connections).

Anyone else?

I can't answer to 5.1 or 7.1 sound since all of what I work on is stereo 2.0. Integrated sound card is fine for that but integrated card can do 5.1.

As for HD, I make the jump and I'm glad I did. However, things have slowed down in the HD world. Editing is still workable thanks to Studio 12 good on-the-fly rendering engine - but bumping memory up to 4 GB (inexpensive upgrade) or at least 2 GB is advisable.

HD takes a lot of CPU power. This is more important and demanding in the AVCHD world (my HV30 camera is not AVCHD). I'm saving for a very fast Core 2 Duo new computer in the not-to-distant future. Consider fast disk drive(s) for rendering (7200 RPM) and large drive(s) for storage and backup. 1.5TB drives are approaching $100 and 2TB drives are still a little too high.

 For video - fast CPU, fast video card, fast disk will make the process faster for your and more enjoyable. I don't think Studio is compiled and tuned for quad core processors (verify anyone)? Studio 12 is tuned for dual core.

 Not sure if the next version will benefit from this yet either. Try searching other forums if you're considering quad.

 

All great tips above. I agree with the mentioned specs. Integrated GPU is actually making your system slower as it robs you of your ram. An add on video card is not required but it surely have its pluses in the responsiveness of the whole computer and not just within Studio.

If you are probably going to make the move to HD in the near future, not spec'ing the computer you will be needing properly now can be a costly mistake.

HDV (mostly tape based HD) can live fine on a fast dual core processor but most of the development and impetus in the HD world is tapeless.  And most of that is AVCHD.

 I moved too quick and bought a Q6600 processor (quad core) based machine without paying enough attention to clock speed.  It was only 2.4Ghz and Studio needs mininum of 2.66Ghz for editing 1920x1080 HD video.  With a graphics card upgrade (to an Nvidia card with 512MB) I could do it but it was still slow and there were problems I had to work around.

Current machine is Intel Core i7 based and things are much easier.

While HDV (tape based) is not "dead" yet, all the manufacturers are putting out fewer tape based camcorders and more flash media (AVCHD) products and flash media gear is rapidly taking over.  

Just some food for thought.  Having just gone through some really frustrating experience I thought I'd pass that on.  Good enough for now may not be.

Bruce Foreman:

Current machine is Intel Core i7 based and things are much easier.

Would you say that its significantly better over the previous Quad cores in a matter of real world computing?

quote:

Current machine is Intel Core i7 

 

what is the chip and clock speed of your I7? since you said that clock speed was a problem with using studio (studio needed at  least 2.66, you said), i was curious what I7 you ended up with.

idicmike:

quote:

Current machine is Intel Core i7 

 

what is the chip and clock speed of your I7? since you said that clock speed was a problem with using studio (studio needed at  least 2.66, you said), i was curious what I7 you ended up with.

After checking Bruce's profile it does seem that he forgot to mention that. Let's till he gets back, I'm also curious myself.

Everyone,

 Thank you for reading and commenting!

 I guess I'll go with the separate video card.

As far as Studio 12 not using all 4 cores, it and other software will later, trying to make this PC last at least 4 years if not more.

i7's and the DDR3 Ram are just too much so I'll hope that a Q9450 or Q9550 with 4GB of RAM will keep me going for a while, again, not being a gamer I only need to worry about things like Pinnacle working.

 Another thing I've just noticed is that there is no mention about 32bit/64bit support, does it work on both?

I've got 32bit XP Pro (will at least see 3GB of RAM) but I'd like to use 64bitXP (4GB RAM) then upgrade to Windows 7 later and maybe add more RAM (Just because I can :-).

Will Studio12 Ultimate work for both 32/64bit Windows?

 

Thanks,

Barry

Yes, Studio works with 32- and 64-bit Vistas but not on XP 64 bit. I don't seem to recall users here using this type but I have to re-check this again to confirm. Meanwhile you could help me digging for info here on the forums. :)