New PC for 4K video editing / encoding, multitasking, occasional gaming

nitram773

New member
Hi. I'd like a couple of ideas for a PC that can keep up with me!

I tend to multitask, several programmes running at any time, loads of open tabs running on Chrome. At the same time running video editing or conversion/encoding, whilst watching Netflix or movies, using Office as well.

I mostly use Cyberlink PowerDirector / Adobe Premiere Elements for video editing and Handbrake for converting my BluRays. I do more and more 4k video editing and will probably start buying/converting UHD blurays for my media server (separate NAS). An ancient version of Photoshop is used for photo editing. The system will need to be able to output to 2 x 4k monitors with ease. Possible future music production.

Occasional gaming, although my sons are getting older and may progress from driving games to far more demanding games in future.

My current PCs are 8 and 6 years old as I have been able to upgrade parts now and again (eg RAM, SSD, graphics card). So I'll be looking at some future proofing with upgradeability in future.

2 max budgets currently under consideration: 1) up to £1200 and 2) up to £1500 inc VAT.

Also, am I able to add my own hardware (eg BD writer, additional HDDs) without annulling my warranty?

Thanks
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
Also, am I able to add my own hardware (eg BD writer, additional HDDs) without annulling my warranty?
Yes, as long as you don't break anything while doing it, natch :) See:

7.7Unlike with most computer companies, we allow you to open your case and install your own components without voiding your warranty on the following conditions:


  • if the actions of the person installing the components cause damage to the computer, your warranty will be void;
  • if you install components that are not purchased from us and they cause problems with your computer, your warranty will be void;
  • if you install components that are not purchased from us we will in no way support you in installing them or with any problems you have relating to the components you have installed.
  • we will support you in installing components purchased from us providing you have purchased them through the upgrade service available on your online account.
7.8The company reserves the right to suspend the warranty or refuse service if your Case, Motherboard, CPU or BIOS have been replaced without authorisation.
Any tampering, repair or modification by unauthorised personnel voids the warranty.

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/terms/


Since £1500 is an option, consider the Ultima X01 off the review section: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/configure-review/238/

it has about £1700's worth of hardware for a fixed £1479 price. You probably won't do much better for Premiere Pro for the price, with its i7 8700k and GTX 1080. You may find yourself wanting to upgrade to 32gb RAM in due course, though the mobo should support that.

I can't promise how smoothly it will run other tasks while encoding/rendering video, but that's mainly because from my limited experience of Handbrake, video encoding can push any CPU to 100% regardless of how much you spent on the system.
 

nitram773

New member
Since £1500 is an option, consider the Ultima X01 off the review section: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/configure-review/238/

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately there is no option to add an optical drive on this set up, and my main use is multimedia, including production of BDs and CDs. I do not wish to have an external drive. Could you suggest an alternative, as you said I can't assemble this for the same price.

thanks.
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
Something like:


Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SERIES™ 200R COMPACT GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-8700 (3.2GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME Z370-P: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2133MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
2TB SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W VS SERIES™ VS-550 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212X (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Quantity
1

Price £1,255.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z370-pc/durFDv69NZ/
 

nitram773

New member
Thanks, that looks a good set up, allows me to add optical drive. :sorcerer:

ASUS® PRIME Z370-P: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs

Would it work if I switched mobo to Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Gaming 7?

It seems to have more future proof in terms of USB: 2 x USB Type-C (1 at back, 1 internal), 8 x USB 3.1 ports (6 at back, 2 internal), 4 x USB 2.0 (internal). I've been burned before - eg getting PCs just before USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 came out, and in both cases regretted it for years.

Would that require better Power Supply or case?

thanks
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
If you want USB 3.1 go with the Gigabyte Ultra Gaming rather than the AORUS Gaming 7. The Gaming 7 is almost £100 more expensive, for which you get thunderbolt add-in card support (not even thunderbolt, just support for add-in cards, and not many people need thunderbolt anyway...) and a 2nd LAN port, which will serve you no purpose since otherwise you'd have asked for one.

USB 3.1 (i.e. USB 3.1 Gen 2, as opposed to USB 3.0 which has now been renamed USB 3.1 Gen 1.....) has been around for ages but is not really taking off as far as I can tell. Perhaps because there's not much point to it. USB 2.0 bottlenecked external hard drives, but USB 3.0 is way more than sufficient for that - and there aren't many devices that need the extra bandwidth of USB 3.1 Gen 2. Hardly any new cases offer front USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectors, despite lots of high end motherboards having a header for them.

The Gaming 7 would be a really bad spend, imo vs the Ultra Gaming. And you may not even need the Ultra Gaming, given the above.

The case and PSU are fine for either.
 
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