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Recommendations on a new Vegas editing PC configuration?
Hello Sony Vegas Users;
I’m currently running Vegas 8.0c on a four-year old Dual-Processor (Pentium-D) Dell XPS under XP Professional, 4GB memory, with dual 19″ monitors, dual 500GB ISA disk drives and a 1TB USB drive for video storage.
The system is still working fine, but I’m starting to look at a replacement system in case problems develop.
I’m working in standard-definition DV to create public access documentaries and public service announcements.
Any thoughts/recommendations on PC configurations or brands that I should consider? I would like the option of working with high-def, but that would be a year or more into the future. The new PC must continue running my existing drawing and Office 2003 applications.
Finally, are there open-source benchmark programs that would let me measure my PC’s rendering speed so that I can compare that performance to that of current systems?
Thank you in advance for your help and advice.
-Bruce M.
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2 Replies
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I’m looking as well. I would think something with an i7 processor would be a good start.
https://www.intel.com/Consumer/Learn/Desktop/corei7-detail.htm?cid=cim:ggl|core_us_ci7|f7A912|sBob
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If you search here on the Cow, you will find several recent threads on this subject. Obviously, budget is usually the deciding factor. There are some pretty good PC based workstations out there now, and the HP z800 has a very positive review in the October edition of Event DV magazine, with some amazingly quick render comparisons. I have built 4 new workstations for my edit bays over the past 16 months. I pick out each component – from the case, fans, etc. up to the processor, drives, etc. If you have a good local builder, you can often get the best components with a careful install for considerably less than a factory based workstation. There are the newest iCore based 5 series from Intel out now, or the dual proc Nehalem Zeon based system powerehouses showing up now. Plan for WIndows 7 – one version even has Windows XP built in. I run all of the Sony Tools and Adobe CS4 as well, with no problems on Vista. In addition to the procs, the 2 most significant components to look at from a performance standpoint are the use of a Solid State drive for your OS, and a minimum of Raid 0 for your media drives. Like just about everyone else in the Pro environment, you will eventually be dealing with HD. Don’t skimp now if you can afford the faster components.
John D. Frey
25 Year owner/operator of two California-based production studios.Digital West Video Productions of San Luis Obispo and Inland Images of Lake Elsinore
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