How are my computer specs when it comes to video editing?

[Norman Willis]

Fernando,

Are you on a desktop, or a laptop? Desktops are much better, because all of that activity generates a lot of heat (which kills components). Desktops do much better with heat, but some guys need a laptop because they have to take the computer with them when they shoot. I do that sometimes also, but when I can I use the desktop.

If you have a desktop you should have room for more internal hard drives. If you have a laptop you may have room for one more internal drive, or you may not.

The thing is that H.264 is very, very, very tightly compacted. It is like vacuum packaging. To ask the computer to unpack, and then do its thing, and then re-pack in real time is asking a whole lot, especially with only two cores. Four cores is much better, and what Cineform NeoScene does is it un-vacuum-packs the files for you, so your cores can process them much easier. I have a quad core but I still like to use it. Also, if you ever do any kind of keying or effects, it makes it much, much easier on your computer.

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Fernando Park]

Thanks Norman.

I’m on a desktop, but I also have a laptop but do most of my editing on my desktop. There is an extra space for an internal hard drive. I’m looking to purchase one at newegg.com. Probably this one: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

As for the two separate physical hard drives, it will only work in terms of “having more people help pack a moving van” when you have your video files in the hard drive with a lot of space right? In other words, say you have 2 internal hard drives, C:\ and D:\ let’s say. Your C:\ is almost filled to capacity, and your new D:\ has a terabyte of space. When you import your video files, they should be imported to your new D:\ and then open up that file with Vegas Pro. Then when you’re doing your edits and rendering, the D:\ will do most of the work putting less strain on your C:\.

Am I in the ball park here?

[Norman Willis]

Yes, that’s exactly right. You put Windows to C and put your video files to D, and tell Vegas to find and edit the video files on D. Some guys also have a ‘stock footage’ drive E, as an option.

You also need your C drive to be no more than 75-80% full. If it gets more than 80% full it starts to slow way down, kind of like you cannot pack and unpack boxes in a room when it is too full.

For that price, you might also want to consider these drives:

https://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4691121&Sku=TSD-1000AS4 1TB for $59.00

https://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4138742&Sku=TSD-1500AS 1.5TB for $79.00

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Fernando Park]

Thanks Norman. You’ve been very helpful!

[Fernando Park]

I just bought the Seagate 1.5TB hard drive and I just read this on my computer specs:

The XPS 410 supports up to two hard drives, each with up to 500GB space – a potential capacity of 1TB . And with Dell DataSafeTM and RAID 0 options, you can choose your storage to meet your needs, whether it’s for storing large quantities of files, backing up system information and files, or improving performance with data striping.

* Up to 1TB Multiple Serial ATA Hard Drives with both hard drives utilized.
* Up to 500GB with Dell DataSafe, exclusively offered by Dell – a safe and simple way to help protect your memories from damage due to accidents, system crashes and other disasters.
* Up to 500GB Single Serial ATA Hard Drive

My C:\ is a 250GB hard drive. Will I have a problem installing the 1.5TB since it says it supports up to 500GB per hard drive?

[Norman Willis]

Wow, I have never heard of a restriction like that in a Dell. It does not make sense. I would suspect that your XPS motherboard is a standard 2TB limit, just like everyone else’s.

Do you have Dell Technical Support? And can you either call them, or do email chat? (I prefer email chat.)

If not, can you use the forum at https://www.tomshardware.com? There are some serious hardware experts there. If Dell cannot tell you, then someone there should be able to (if you post under the right category).

I cannot think of any reason it might not work, but I would first try Dell, and then Tom’s Hardware forums.

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Fernando Park]

i think that’s just what dell would install if you ordered the desktop. i already purchased it and my friend told me it’ll be fine. so we’ll see how it goes.