Video Editing Build Advice

[Phosphurus]

1) Budget $1,000.00-$1,100.00

2) Required Components
Case
Power Supply (PSU)
Case Fan(s)
Motherboard
Processor (CPU)
Memory (RAM)
Hard Drive (HDD)
Optical (Disc) Drive (CD/DVD/HD-DVD/BR)
Video/Graphics Card (GPU)
Monitor

3) Needs

Video Editing (Avid Media Composer)
Photo/Graphics Editing

5) No overclocking

9) Retailers (Canadian, I will likely buy everything from Canada computers because they have a b&m store in town. Although they price match any Canadian retailer)

http://directcanada.com/
http://ncix.com/
http://www.canadacomputers.com/

 

[tiraides]

Is it safe to assume that you will play no games? Or reuse any old parts (like hard drives or even peripherals)?

Which programs are you using for photo/graphics editing?

 

[E4g1e]

To the OP:

If your primary use is video editing via Avid Media Composer (Which version do you have?), you will need a Quadro. (GeForce cards may work, but stable operation of Media Composer is more guaranteed if a Quadro is used). For such a low budget, a Quadro 600, Quadro 2000 or Quadro K2000 is all I can fit in such a low budget without forcing you to cheap out on everything else.

 

[rtangwai]

VERY low budget for that role. Last time I recommended a system to do that (over a year ago) it was $1,800 plus taxes (I live in Toronto) and even that was cheating because it used a Geforce 570. The Avid forums have lots of debates on if a Quadro is worth the money over a Geforce. You have to balance CPU, RAM, storage, video, and displays quite apart from baseline components like PSU. If you want Nitris or Mojo you are screwed. I would highly recommend you find roughly double your budget unless you are willing to build a computer you may have to upgrade by August. Is this for paid professional work or school?

 

[Phosphurus]

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of information. This build is for a buddy of mine. Im glad you guys recognize the software. I am not familiar with that movie software. My buddy is Film major and wants doesn't want to use the lab to edit. He suggested that the school computers were not great machines either.

Ill look at the Avid forum and see what they are suggesting.

 

[tiraides]

The problem is that, if E4g1e and rtangwai are correct (and I have no reason to suspect otherwise), you're going to spend the majority of your budget on a workstation video card.

And my questions aren't meant to be filler: If your friend has other desires with this system, like gaming, it means that we may have to compromise in a few areas so your friend can use Avid and still play some games.