Help for a SFF video editing machine

[oversampling]

Hi all,

I just found this great forum and hope to get some suggestions about a video editing SFF machine I am trying to build (details below, as per the "answer these.." sticky post).
Thanks for all the ideas you can provide.

Roberto

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1. What will you be doing with this PC? Video editing/encoding, Photoshop, Web browsing, Office (no gaming).

2. Will you be overclocking? No

3. What's your budget? around 1K€ (display cost, tax and shipping EXcluded), flexible budget though.

4. Where do you live? Italy: I will purchase from any suggested european online shop

5. What exact parts do you need for that budget? Z97MB with M.2 PCIE x4 slot (is the Asus Max VII impact my only current option?), Intel CPU (i5 or i7), CPU cooler, CPU fan, 2x8GB RAM, Antec ISK310 or ISK300 case (wanted. Anyway a different case should allow the use of PCIE slot, and should have a vertical measure < 10cm), extra case fans, PSU (Antec?Pico?), ODD BD writer (required), M.2 SDD Samsung XP941 256GB.

6. If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? No reused HW parts

7. What specific features do you need in a motherboard? mini-ITX format with PCIE x4 M.2 slot (required), at least 2 USB 3.0 (required) and 2 SATA 6Gb/s (required).

8. What resolution output do you need? 1080p playback, 2 monitor outputs

9. Does this system need to fit into a particular space and do you need an optical drive? max 10cm vertical system measure, internal ODD required

10. How comfortable are you with custom case design/modification and electrical wiring? What tools do you have? Don't want to cut the external part of the case, internal modding is ok, cable/board soldering is ok. My tools include Screwdrivers/Leatherman, Drill, Dremel, Metal snips, Soldering Iron, complete electronic lab (oscilloscope, signal generators, spectrum analyzer...), electric tools for wood and iron modelling (no CNC)

11. How important is the noise/silence of this sytem? As silent as the budget will allow

12. This system does not need to be mobile. No need for a carrying handle or carrying straps. Weight is not an issue

13. I own WIN 7 retail 64bit, Canopus Edius video editing software and a TS870-ultra QNAP NAS

14. When do you plan on building/buying the PC? this build should be completed by December 2014

 

[rhansen5_99]

For the Motherboard you could check out the ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac as it is mitx and has a m2 connector on the bottom of the board. I have the z87e-itx board and am very happy with it.

On a side note if you are using Photoshop CS6 then there is also the option to use opencl acceleration. Depending on your work this may help you a bunch in lowering render times.

That being said the 10cm limit may force you to a half height gpu. I am not sure what the best card would be / case to match.

 

[melk]

 

[EdZ]

melk may have the right of it, depending on the editing. What programs are you using? What sort of files are you editing (MPEG2 or h.264 straight for home media / Targeting DCI / etc)? Is you media stored on a DAS device, needing an interface card? Do you need a Xeon or something else with ECC? Does your chosen editing (/encoding?) program(s) support GPU acceleration, and if so does it require a Quadro or Fire?

 

[oversampling]

For the Motherboard you could check out the ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac. VERY nice board but M.2 PCIE is 2X only (and generation 2), vs the required 4X

What programs are you using? Canopus Edius under Windows 7

What sort of files are you editing (MPEG2 or h.264 straight for home media / Targeting DCI / etc)? h.264, AVCHD

Is you media stored on a DAS device, needing an interface card? Media is stored on the Qnap NAS

Do you need a Xeon or something else with ECC? No need for ECC

Does your chosen editing (/encoding?) program(s) support GPU acceleration, and if so does it require a Quadro or Fire? Edius supports GPU acceleration for the transitions/video effects, but I don't use elaborate transitions very often: I would say no need for Quadro/Fire.