HD Video Editing Computer

I am not a professional videographer but, I would like to get into editing video. My Panasonic TM900 camcorder is capable of shooting in 1080/60P mode and I would like to get a computer that is decently equipped for HD video editing but, I would like to stay in the area of between $1,000 and $1,500 U.S. Dollars. Additionally, could anyone suggest any alternatives at around the same price range. I cannot spend $4,000 to $6,000 on a computer.
I have been looking at the i880 Video Editing Desktop Computer from My Video PC ( www.myvideopc.net ) which runs $1,200. Here are the specs of this computer:
24x CD/DVD RW Burner Dual Layer Drive
2000GB SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive
16GB DDR3 1600MHz High Performance RAM Memory
AM3+ AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Eight Core CPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 Video Card
OpenGL 4.1
2 High Speed USB 3.0 Ports
6 USB 2.0 Ports
IEEE 1394 Firewire Port
eSATA Port
8 Channel HD Audio
Microsoft Windows 7 64bit Tested*
Apollo Computer Case
This website also lists an i950 computer at $1,480. The specs of this computer are as follows:
24x CD/DVD RW Burner Dual Layer Drive
2000GB SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive
16GB DDR3 1600MHz High Performance RAM Memory
AM3+ AMD FX-8150 3.6GHz Zambezi Eight Core CPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 Video Card
OpenGL 4.1
2 High Speed USB 3.0 Ports
6 USB 2.0 Ports
IEEE 1394 Firewire Port
eSATA Port
8 Channel HD Audio
Microsoft Windows 7 64bit Tested*
Antec 900 Computer Case
Could an experienced video editor give me an assessment of the above computers? Obviously, I would rather spend $1,200 than spend $1,480 but, I don’t want to nickel-dime myself.

Its a good setup, but I would split the drive to two. Make sure they're a high RPM, too. That way, you have one for your files to render off of, and the other to access files, program files, etc. Or, get an external.

The first system looks pretty good for the price. Surprisingly good. The new AMD processors (fx series) get a bit of bad feedback, but I think they are future proof, as in optimised for Windows 8. It's a solid architecture to invest in. (despite what the intel people will tell you).

Neither of those list a monitor, so make sure to budget for one.

If you're not feeling too lazy, have a look around for a phenom 2 x6 based computer. The chips are harder to come by now, but they're slightly better performers than the new AMD FX, and I think some people are still holding some stock. Look for something based around the 1090t or 1100t. I use the 1090t and its ridiculously quick. Like rip my face off quick, and it overclocks stupidly easy on the stock cooler.

If you're feeling even less lazy, you could build yourself, and save money in the process to put towards a nice shiny monitor. If you felt like doing this, let me know and I could help you spec a machine.

I already have a nice Samsung 27" monitor with a very decent keyboard and mouse.

Presently, I am using a
Gateway FX6831-01
CPU: 8GHz Intel Core i7 8602.8GHz
Motherboard Chip Set: Intel H57
Memory: 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics: 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5850
Hard drive: 1.5TB 7,200rpm
Optical Drive: dual-layer DVD burner
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
However, my wife wants a desktop computer (she is presently using a Lenovo notebook) and I thought, rather than spend six to seven hundred bucks or so getting her a new desktop, I could give her the Gateway (which is still a darn capable computer) and spend another six hundred or so and buy a computer that might be better for HD video editing. I expect that the replacement computer, at 16GB of memory might functon better as a video editor than the Gateway at 8 GDB...

I have a couple of 1TB external hard drives so the size of the hard drive on the new computer is not critical.

BTW: I have both the Sony Vegas Editing program (which I got free after a double rebate) and Premiere Elements 10 which I really like...

I've had Vegas Pro since v8. That's what I've been accustomed to. But lately, I've fallen in love with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 (only because my computer can't handle CS5 or 5.5).

Looks good. But, like megawatz said, split the drives into two.
Then, if you're looking to splurge just a little. Invest in a good SSD. No more than 64GB if you're looking to save, if you can afford it, shoot for a 128GB name brand like Intel or Crucial.

They're expensive, very expensive ... but, the benefits they bring are enormous.
Use it as a boot drive and Windows 7 will boot up in less than 10 seconds. You could move applications like Sony Vegas or any Adobe Suite program for the same sort of speed boost.

As for RAM, save yourself a couple bills by only getting 8GB total (2 sticks of 4GB) and put that into a good fan+cooler like a Zalman and/or a sufficient modular power supply.
Or, if you're solid on the 16GB of RAM, just downgrade the case a little. IMO, cases are where people spend too much money on something that (unless you have it displayed on a golden pedestal of which you can gloat 24/7 to your neighbors) no one will see.

You know what. You might as well just build your own.
If you are looking for the best price, and computer that will best match your needs, just do the required research that comes with PC building and look into building your own. This allows you to learn along the way and take full customization over your rig; all while retaining the ability to shop for parts at sites like Newegg, Tigerdirect, etc for the absolute best deal.

TL;DR:
Get a SSD. Don't skimp on: Motherboard, RAM, CPU Fan+cooler, Graphics card.
Hell, build your own.

Also, why would anyone want to downgrade from a BEASTLY "8GHz Intel Core i7 8602.8GHz" processor?! You could bring Steve Jobs back to life with that thing!

Take a look at the Asus notebookson New egg...I just purchased a G-74 sx with 12 gb ram (added 4) latest intel I7 processor, 3 gig dedicated video Nvidia card, 500 GB storage in 2 250GB HDD, 17.3 " screen, huge, heavy and very fast and powerful, $1400 and some change at new egg....
Jim

If you are a video editor thinking about buying a Canon camera, go to POTN.

If you are a photographer/videograp​her looking to buy or build a computer to edit video using Premier Pro, go
to the Adobe hardware forum . http://forums.adobe.co​m/community/pr...?view​=overview .

(Yes, read the FAQs.)

borealis wrote in post #14083182
If you are a video editor thinking about buying a Canon camera, go to POTN.

If you are a photographer/videograp​her looking to buy or build a computer to edit video using Premier Pro, go
to the Adobe hardware forum . http://forums.adobe.co​m/community/pr...?view​=overview .

(Yes, read the FAQs.)

Disreguard him.

megawatz wrote in post #14084481
Disreguard him.

Lame. And unhelpful.

borealis wrote in post #14103848
Lame. And unhelpful.

Posting two same posts in 2 different threads? I'm sure you've learned the copy and paste buttons real well,

hard12find wrote in post #14059958
Take a look at the Asus notebookson New egg...I just purchased a G-74 sx with 12 gb ram (added 4) latest intel I7 processor, 3 gig dedicated video Nvidia card, 500 GB storage in 2 250GB HDD, 17.3 " screen, huge, heavy and very fast and powerful, $1400 and some change at new egg....
Jim

I recently bought an ASUS N55SV notebook and it's a very capable machine. Smaller and lighter than the G-series, which mattered to me. But I was very disappointed and surprised when it arrived to find it doesn't have a firewire port. It would be a superb video editing machine, and in fact it IS superb at that, but I'm having to use a different machine as an intermediary to communicate with the camera. Watch out with ASUS as they may surprise you with the most amazing omissions.

Well, optimal hard drive set up is three different storage drives.

1st drive for OS and programs, this should usually be a fast HDD or SSD
2nd drive for Program Cache and Libraries - Something Premiere Pro and After Effects use immensely
3rd drive for the raw video files and project files - this should be a high capacity drive, an NAS in RAID configuration would be optimal

Once you separate these you should never have any read/write bottlenecks.

megawatz wrote in post #14106777
Posting two same posts in 2 different threads? I'm sure you've learned the copy and paste buttons real well,

You are correct. I did multiple post.

Pekka/Admins/Mods: my apologies: I posted the same thing here and at https://photography-on-the.net …hp?do=newreply&​p=14106774 . It was reflexive, unintentional, and out of the frustration coming from seeing the same questions being repeatedly asked with the same less than ideal advice being given. I shall accept any beatings like a man. Mea culpa.

megawatz: I don't use "buttons". Anyone with a modicum of experience editing video or building computers uses the keyboard.

Good points, Kento. The principles of basic drive set-up are extremely important for good performance in PPro. I do like external NASs and they can be a powerful addition to an editing system (and they're just plain fun!) but I prefer to keep my drives in the tower when I can. Not sure why, except that it provides a cleaner "feeling" in the edit suite. Probably just habit, I've never personally had any issues with them. (Besides the dreaded header/footer flag problem in Photoshop, years ago.)

Also- get full-size towers, folks, and a serious power supply. Mid-size towers are great for photography and a lot of video editing programs, but if you are building even a semi-serious machine for Premiere Pro, get a full size tower with lots of room for drives and good cooling (especially if you are also using it for photography). Four to ten hard drives, possibly an SSD, a burner, a good GPU, overclocked CPU, lots of RAM, gold-label power supply, aftermarket cooler, etc, all take space and generate lots of heat. Big towers don't cost that much more but they do take up space.

borealis wrote in post #14107798
You are correct. I did multiple post.

megawatz: I don't use "buttons". Anyone with a modicum of experience editing video or building computers uses the keyboard.

hahaha. Getting technical. Geez, relax.