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Build or Buy help

TheOne&OnlyZeke

TheOne&OnlyZeke

100% Irish
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Jul 21, 2000
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I've been building my own rigs for years for gaming so no issue there.
I've been asked today to get together or just buy a PC for someone for video editing.
I've never used a machine for this myself so I'm not sure whats required

Am I right in thinking that for editing video that you need just a decent cpu and at least 8gb of ram. Does the GPU come into the equation at all except for playback? if so a highend gpu probably wouldn't be needed!
(guy wants to edit 1080p stuff and output it as HD as well)

Any suggestions welcome. Depending on what advice you guys have as i said it'll be either a build or buy.
 
What software will be used for editing? Premiere CS5 can use a GPU to accelerate certain functions. Video editing is something where I'd build rather than buy in most circumstances. You essentially want a good gaming machine (go Sandy Bridge) but can skimp on the graphics card (but it has to be nVidia since CS5 uses CUDA acceleration.)

How important is uptime on the machine? Warranty? Those are areas where I'd purchase a system from a system builder so long as they can do next business day warranty repairs. That way you limit your downtime (and loss of production) to 48 hours.
 
Uptime isn't important. This will be used by a home user, so they will be shutting it down regularly/
As for what software, that i don't know, and he also doesn't know, so best to hedge my bets and get a reasonable gpu as well.
Warranty, well thats one reason I'd nearly prefer to buy. That way if something goes wrong, he will have to ring the maker and not me :)
 
I've always been a firm believe that building is more cost effective in the long run then buying a whole unit.

Buy something great now. then later on you can upgrade invidual components to increase performance.
most PC-in-a-box setups are fairly limited with components you can add or even physically fit into the cases.

also the latest and greatest features aren't always available on the prebuilts from dell/gateway/hp/compaq/etc.
 
True. I agree with you alright. You never get the exact setup you want with a bought machine, there is always something lacking.
I'll look into piecing together a machine first for the user.
Thanx for the advice guys
 
If you get the other person to commit to a budget, answer the questions in The Sticky. If you do that, you'll get some detailed build advice. Provide as much information as you can, especially with usage scenarios, because the computer I'd build for an aspiring filmmaker who wants to use Adobe Premiere CS5 20 hours a week isn't necessarily the same one I would recommend for your friend who wants to send DVDs of his kids to Grandma using Windows Movie Maker every couple months.
 
for what software, that i don't know, and he also doesn't know
Click to expand...

Clearly tonytnnt is right, this isn't an actual build for someone who's going to use it to make money. Build him a computer, make it cheap, get him the bare minimum for WMM and he'll be happy.
 
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