Processor for video editing?

[ldelacruz]

What Intel processor would be best for HD video editing and why? My budget is $400 max for the processor and motherboard. What are some of the specs I should look for?

[Peacock]

You can get away with any Quad Core Processor, Q6600 is not a bad processor with the right board will get you under 400, don't forget memory...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

[robert t]

using what software and hardware?

[darktiger]

I say a q6600 with a decent board. Q6600 are low priced and they overclock very well...

[terryturner]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

What Intel processor would be best for HD video editing and why? My budget is $400 max for the processor and motherboard. What are some of the specs I should look for?

Lonnie

Ping ttindle on TPF. He does lot's of this and can help you I'm sure.

Terry

[ldelacruz]

Thanks for the input on the Q6600. That is one of the ones I ws looking at.

Robert,
Adobe Premiere Elements and videos from my 5D MKII, I will eventually get an HD camcorder when I can find a good prosumer one with manual settings. I bought my wife a MAC Book Pro and it handles the HD video fine but I bought it for her so I don't want to hog it. All my other laptops and PC's won't play the HD videos smoothly. Do you have any suggestions on a camcorder? The 5DMKII opened my eyes but it is very limited.

Terry,
Thanks for the tip.

This company assembles them optimized for video and seems like a fair price. Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83, 8 gig Corsair PC2-6400, 800Watt, ATI Radeon HD4850 512mb, Hitachi 1 gb drive 16mb cache, Nvidia RAID, Blu-Ray Burner, Adobe Premier Elements and 64 bit Windows Vista for $1799. www.ibuypower.com

Or another Mac Book Pro?

[robert t]

What ever software you plan to use go past the spec's a little on the processor. Final Cut and Adobe will not use the full power of the quad core processor (only about half), it will make use of the Duo Core.

I am building a new machine now based on an Intel board. The biggest issue is storage, really needs to be dedicate SATA 7200 or faster on a raid card or on the MB and look for 500GB or 1TB HDD's. HDV files are not as big as full 1080P or I HD files but the system will perform better if the disk is not completely full. Using a E8500 Duo Core 3Ghz CPU and 4GB of ram. Plus a video card that meets the requirements, both programs use the video card for processing effects. Not all the processing is done in the CPU. A Mb with Pci x or Pci express slot. Final cut will not work with integrated Intel graphics.

I went with the Intel board switching from an Asus board so I can continue to use my real time Matrox DV card and it will accept the HD real time Matrox card or an AJA later.

I may have told some of what you already know sorry, I ramble too much.

[robert t]

Biggest issue is what is your planed use, will you need to add on a lot? Wireless mic's? do you need good glass?

I am not up on many of the new consumer camcorders. I work with JVC HDV, like the GY-HD 200 and Sony DVcam/Betacam. I am naturally leery of the consumer DVD cams, because if the disk fails you can not recover anything, But I like the Sony XDcam HD Which uses pro production version of Blue Ray.

HDD cams are the newest rage but once the disk is full you have no back up unless you carry a back up portable HDD unit. But most seem to have enough space to handle a lot of video. The codec is the other issue, Mpeg 2 or HDV? I would go with HDV tape or the HDD type camcorder, unless you could swing a Panasonic P2 system or Sony XDcam EXwhich use memory cards

[ldelacruz]

Here is the one I am looking at but it doesn't output to fire wire so I have not ordered it yet. I will use it for family use and the occasional kids football or baseball game.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...VCHD_Hard.html

It records to hard drive and SDHC.

[AndrewCCM]

Until Apple fixes the Quicktime version for windows, you'll have issues with the h.264 codec in your windows NLE's.. Especially from the 5DMk2 due to it's very high bitrate. HDV and such may work fine with much less processor power. I edit with an older 2.4 Ghz Core2Duo just fine (but not 5D2 footage). On the Mac (same specs as my PC except 6GB LESS RAM) the 5D2 footage works fine. Sad.

[Rson]

I may be the minority but I love the quad core Athlons. Best bang for the buck. Couple that with a solid RAID 0 array, lots of RAM, and 64 bit OS and you won't be waiting for any editing.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by Rson

I may be the minority but I love the quad core Athlons. Best bang for the buck. Couple that with a solid RAID 0 array, lots of RAM, and 64 bit OS and you won't be waiting for any editing.

I bet you will with the 5d2 footage...sadly.
Unless you put a hacked version of OSX on there. LOL

[Rson]

Bring it, I have yet to have issues. :)

In fact, I did the speed test for PS and I was beating the Extreme Cores with my result.

[AndrewCCM]

Do you have any 5D footage to test with? I hope I am wrong...But I tell you the CODEC on windows is majorly flawed and is not taking advantage of GPU and other acceleration. I am guessing that perhaps the extra cores on the main CPU might make up the difference, but it's sad to have to burn all of your CPU cycles just to handle what your GPU should be able to do. Very very inefficient (for now).

I should send you a few 5D clips to test...
The 40mbps files are a mixed blessing with this footage. I am just in hopes that the CODEC situation gets resolved. It's sad when a significantly underpowered Mac (comparatively) can easily cope with these files.

[MHampton]

I have the Q6600 in my HP workstation (vista64/8gig ram) and I use Vegas 8 Pro for my video editing. I have found that the 5dii footage is very choppy in the editing mode, (as well as play back full screen) but I have a script for Vegas that will may smaller proxy files for me to edit with and then swap back to the full size when it is time for the full render. Works out pretty good until something better comes along.