need help in building a fast video editing rig

[raging bull]

yo,
just had to get into video stuff (boss says), so i've got to learn all this stuff. need to put together a new big box that's fast enough to do video editing. what should i key on: the cpu? the video card? Memory? Hard drives?
i'll probably be putting it all in an x48 asus, with some pc3 10666 ram; wonder if 4G would make much of a difference?
thanks, dudes...

[ctal]

The most important factor by far is CPU speed. I'd suggest a dual core Penryn such as the E8400 or E8500, unless you know for a fact that your video editing program will be able to effectively utilize 4 cores during renders.

Also, you definitely want to have multiple hard drives. You should have a fast one (not necessarily big) such as a Raptor for the system drive, and a large one or preferably two additional drives for video file storage. Those should be 7200 rpm. I suggest two large storage drives, if possible, so that you can store your captured files on one, and build (render) to files on the other. Otherwise if you have a single hard drive used to contain both the capture files and the built files, the drive will undergo a lot of wear and tear during the build process.

Having a high performance video card is not important at all. I don't think that it will help to have more than 2 gB RAM, either.

You also need to think about how you will be getting video into and out of the computer. Assuming you are dealing with Digital Video, such as mini-dv, the best way is digitally via firewire. Don't get a motherboard that has a Via firewire chip (a lot of the Asus mobo's do, unfortunately), unless you are willing to install a separate PCI firewire card that has a TI or equivalent firewire chip. The Via chips have a history of erratic performance and dropped frames during capture.

Regards,
-- Al

[raging bull]

good idea on how to use the two drives.....i've been moving vids back and forth from my different hds because they're so big.....how about those seagate 1Ts --- think those would be better than the 750s?
thanks.

[ctal]

Before going with one of those I'd look over the user comments at NewEgg. The Hitachi seems to get better comments overall:

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

I've been using WD 500 gB's lately, two or three per computer, not wanting to take any more chances than necessary on something as important as hdd reliability. Some of the comments I've seen on 750's and 1000's have indicated that they seem to run hotter than the smaller drives, as well as being less mature products.

Regards,

-- Al

[raging bull]

looking at using one of the 750s/1T as just a 'warehouse;' the other 750 would be the workhorse; and the os would be on a 150 or 74 raptor.....
i guess what i'm really looking for is a big workhorse HD for my programs.....and maybe save the work at the end of the day to the warehouse.
or should i put the program on the os 150/74 too, and set the destination folders for the 750.
i've been using WDs for a couple of years, only one problem with one of them (rma); but from what i've read the seagates should be more reliable, plus a fiveyear warranty. is that perpendicular stuff really good?
thanks

[ctal]

The 500gB's, which are pretty mature at this point, I think are all perpendicular technology. So I wouldn't worry about the technology, just the choice of size and manufacturer. Everyone has their own anecdotal opinions about WD vs. Seagate; I'd first read through all of the user comments at Newegg and then your choice would be as good as anyone's.

I don't see that there is anything to be gained by putting the programs on one of the big drives -- you might as well put them on the Raptor which will help them open faster and perhaps run faster. It will simplify drive imaging, too, assuming you will be doing that (and you should be).

Regards,

-- Al