Minimum Specs for Video Editing?

[mmuhlenkamp]

Hi all, I'm looking to submit a request for a 7D and some new computer equipment where I work. I currently run a Dell Latitude D630 laptop and it has a hard enough time running my static Adobe programs and I don't think it would be able to handle video editing.

We are still using XP at work and I don't see windows 7 coming anytime soon. I need to be specific in asking for what I want, but I have a terrible time really understanding computer specs. Anyone have a good baseline of specs that (at minimum) I would need to edit video from a 7D without pulling out my hair waiting on it to process? I don't need a laptop per se, the IT department might be able to beef up a tower that isn't currently in use.

Thanks for any input.

[Charles Putnam]

From a PC standpoint, you're looking at something like an Intel i5 or i7 quad-core (min 2.8GHz), at least 4gigs of RAM (8 recommended), high end ATi or nVidia card, high speed (7,200 or 10,000 RPM drive, or SSD). It'd be almost impossible to do enough upgrades to an older tower to give it enough horsepower to be effective enough to do video editing without encountering delays.

As an example, something like the Dell Studio XPS 9100 - Studio XPS 9100 Desktop Details | Dell

Personally, if this is for work related stuff, I'd almost recommend going to an iMac.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Thanks for the feedback Charles. I know Macs are good for video, but with everyone else at work on PCs I think I'd rather stay on a PC to keep it simpler from a maintenance and compatibility persepctive.

The link is great, I can have an example of what I'm looking for in my proposal and the price of that PC is pretty reasonable.

EDIT: Also, all the computers here are Dells, so that might make it easier for my IT department to get.

[Flea77]

Well, much like asking for specs on cameras, this can get confusing as well.

What kind of video will you be doing? What will be your output? Will you be using stock and if so, what is it on? Need to import analog and digital? On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being grandma showing off her grandkids to her bridge club and 10 being a Hollywood big screen release contender for the Oscars, how serious will this endevor be?

Here is why I ask:

There are simple editing packages that really are meant for home users, they have almost no titling, limited tracks, no acceleration, and minimal output forms (think DVD or Youtube).

Then there is the midrange stuff which I think is where Charles was going. It is quite dependant on hard drive, CPU and GPU (in some cases) pretty equally. Newer versions of say Pinnacle Studio, Corel VideoStudio and Adobe Premiere all use GPU acceleration to a degree (and don't forget audio acceleration too!).

Lastly you have the big boys. These guys offload 99% of the processing of the video and audio to a dedicated card so computer specs pretty much mean nothing (except for hard drives of course). The only time specs are important is if you offload to do stuff in Maya, 3DS or After Effects.

Then if you are doing serious stuff, a lot of your stock will still be on Beta, so you need to think about that. Got a Beta deck?

Allan

[mmuhlenkamp]

I would say it would be mid-level video editing. I'm not planning on producing feature length movies or even a commercial. I work for a welding company and say we would like to show off a new product, so the video would either end up on the web or maybe showing in a loop at a tradeshow booth or something. I would still mostly do photography, but I would like the ability to provide more services (job security!) for the company.

My primary job is to be a graphic designer, but I wear a lot of hats and I like to grow my skillset when able. Also, my computer is struggling at the moment as it is, I'd like to upgrade and I might as well make it count

[Charles Putnam]

FWIW, Mac's are all but maintenance free, and from a compatibility standpoint, can integrate into an AD server system quite easily. The key to remember is that, especially as a graphic designer, you need the proper tools. Sure, there is Window-based software and such that will work, but Mac is probably the better platform for both photo and video editing.

FWIW, I was a longtime Windows user, but made the switch to Mac when PS CS5 came out. No regrets.

[Rson]

Bla bla bla Mac is maintenance free. she doesn't want to go mac, so your Apple flag waiving isn't needed. :) Not the better platform since the software that MOST of us use isn't an Apple product(PS, LR). It still runs as bloated on a Mac as a PC. I'd put my one year old box against a comparable Mac any day and watch the carnage unfold and at a quarter of the price.

Build your own, get the most you can afford. 8gb ram, quad or Hex core, Mid level video card(256bit, 1gb ram), SSD drives lots of cooling.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Rich, it's for my 8-5 job, I have to submit a proposal and can't build my own (IT would not approve). I'd rather stay PC because I do think it's easier in a corporate environment for everyone to have similar equipment (mine will just be better ).

My goal is to get a computer that can handle my current workload better and be able to do some basic (but good) video editing for promos and stuff. If I can get the PC upgrade I will then be trying to get a 7D and a 70-200 f/4 to help with the photography side.

Thanks for the input everyone.

EDIT: also, my home PC is still running great after those upgrades you helped me out with last year, Rich. Thanks again!

[Flea77]

Originally Posted by Charles Putnam

FWIW, Mac's are all but maintenance free, and from a compatibility standpoint, can integrate into an AD server system quite easily. The key to remember is that, especially as a graphic designer, you need the proper tools. Sure, there is Window-based software and such that will work, but Mac is probably the better platform for both photo and video editing.

Sorry, have to disagree here.

My wife works as the VP for Educational Video Network, the people who made all those filmstrips we watched as kids (ok, some of us who were born last century did anyway, heh). I worked there for a while as CIO before moving to the company I am with now. Even with some of the video guys running Macs (the older ones, all the newer stuff was PC even then) all new purchases, and everything on the business side was PC.

Now, many many lifetimes later, the destroyed.....er...the school districts we manage have even shifted away from Mac completely because they will not integrate with AD worth a flip. Sure, you can log on to the domain, and you can share and restrict with security permissions, but if you want to do anything more advanced, forget it.

Heck, even TDCJ has been using PCs for their video for years (I built them one back when a P4 3.0 was like $800 for just the CPU).

For me, as one of the owners of about the largest IT company within 75 miles I can use any machine I want, provided by the company for free (tax deduction!) and I choose PCs.

Allan

PS. I do however love my iPad, iPod and iPhone!

[Rson]

Originally Posted by mmuhlenkamp

Rich, it's for my 8-5 job, I have to submit a proposal and can't build my own (IT would not approve). I'd rather stay PC because I do think it's easier in a corporate environment for everyone to have similar equipment (mine will just be better ).

My goal is to get a computer that can handle my current workload better and be able to do some basic (but good) video editing for promos and stuff. If I can get the PC upgrade I will then be trying to get a 7D and a 70-200 f/4 to help with the photography side.

Thanks for the input everyone.

EDIT: also, my home PC is still running great after those upgrades you helped me out with last year, Rich. Thanks again!

Can I propose a machine? :)

[texkam]

Rich, it's for my 8-5 job, I have to submit a proposal and can't build my own (IT would not approve).------......Can I propose a machine? :)

What's the difference if it's got a Dell logo, an HP logo, a SONY logo or a Rich logo? Go Rich!

Of course you could really blow IT minds and propose a Linux set up.

[Tom]

Not the better platform since the software that MOST of us use isn't an Apple product(PS, LR).

For video editing, the most popular software seems to be Final Cut Pro, which is Apple-Only.

I'd put my one year old box against a comparable Mac any day and watch the carnage unfold and at a quarter of the price.

You could not have built a PC including identical spec'ed monitor for what I paid for my brand-new Quad-Core iMac when I bought it. Not possible. Just because it is a mac doesn't mean it is overpriced.

I have a windows server, custom-built windows machine, XP Netbook, iMac and two MBPs.

If I can get the PC upgrade I will then be trying to get a 7D and a 70-200 f/4 to help with the photography side.

Primes are better for video. One hand to hold, one hand to focus, no hands to zoom.

[Charles Putnam]

Melissa

If your company uses Dell's, chances are they may have a purchase contract with them already. A customized Dell Precision Workstation would most definitely work. They can easily spec one out that similar to the Dell XPS I originally posted.

Rich - my apologies for offending you by suggesting a Mac as an alternative, and that they're reliable.

[ldelacruz]

When the 5DMKII first came out PC's were not able to smoothly edit the video. Even with the newest processors and hardware. Search the older posts if you want to read about it. On the other hand my MBP that wasnt the latest model had no problems at all. Just food for thought!

[mmuhlenkamp]

I have a hard enough time explaining why my graphics files are so large (I was storing a bunch of stuff on the server and it recently went "critical", granted I needed to clean up old and redundant files, but it's just going to fill up again with actual useful files). It would be a whole lot easier if I could just buy what I needed and get reimbursed, but that's not going to happen. I'm a salaried employee, not contracted or freelance, I have to work with the man, not against him.

Thanks all for your input.