PC for video editing

[sanjoh]

Hi, want to upgrade to a new PC as I'm replacing my video cameras for HD ones (I film weddings). Had thought about Dell XPS 8700 but didn't give me everything I wanted so thought I'd consider getting 1 built. I've done loads of research but PC hardware is generally not in my comfort zone so grateful for views on the following spec that I'm considering:

Case

PCS DEFENSOR 7203B BLACK CASE



Processor (CPU)

Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-4770 (3.4GHz) 8MB Cache



Motherboard

ASUS® Z87-A: ATX, USB2.0, USB3.0, SATA6GB/S, SLi, XFIRE



Memory (RAM)

32GB KINGSTON DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz (4 x 8GB)



Graphics Card

2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 660 - 2 x DVI, HDMI, - 3D Vision Ready




Memory - 1st Hard Disk

240GB INTEL® 520 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)



2nd Hard Disk

2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)



3rd Hard Disk

2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)



1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive

24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM



2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive

15x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW



Memory Card Reader

INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT



Power Supply

CORSAIR 550W VS SERIES™ VS-550 POWER SUPPLY



Processor Cooling

Corsair H80i Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler




Sound Card

ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)



Wireless/Wired Networking

WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps PCI-E CARD




USB Options

MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS



Modem

NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND



Firewire

3 Port IEEE 1394a Firewire PCI Card




Power Cable

1 x 2 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)



Operating System

Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence



DVD Recovery Media

Windows 7 Professional (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve



Office Software

Microsoft® Office Home & Student 2013 (1 License & Disc)



Anti-Virus

BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL




Keyboard & Mouse

LOGITECH® MK270 WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO


Thanks

 

[keynes]

32gb ram seems a lot, if you are sure you will use all of it go for it, pretty sure you will with video editing but you could try 16gb RAM first and see how it goes. The CPU cooler seems overkill for a CPU that is not overclocked, the triple copper heatpipe CPU cooler will be fine.

 

[stearman65]

Video editing, especially HD is quite demanding, your graphics card will need to be on top of its job, IMO the 660 has been around some time & if you wish to build in some future proofing I would consider the 760 or 770. I will be ordering my new PC in November & I'm into AV work & I've chosen the 760.
Stearman65.

 

[sanjoh]

Thanks Keynes. I must admit things like the case and the cooler are the things I've done the least research on (had concentrated on processor and motherboard in the main) so I'll change the cooler as you suggest. As for memory, the general advice for video editing seems to be "the more the better but at least 16GB" so I thought I'd get the 32GB first as last! Even with SD video, rendering and certain other tasks on my current PC (with 8GB) takes ages so keen to speed things up which I'm hoping the haswell processor and loads of memory will do!

Using a SSD is going to be a new experience for me. I've always had 2 internal HDDs to keep video footage etc on 1 and programs and general stuff, photos etc on the other and then an external HD for backing up the videos. What do you think of the SSD/2 HDDs I've included? Plan to use SSD for all programs and 1 HDD for general stuff, photos, music etc and the other HDD for video work and still to back up to an external HD.

 

[keynes]

The SSD and caviar black are great , got the same set up. Case wise you could consider a quiet case like the silencio.

 

[nathanjrb]

As someone who does a lot of video editing - 16GB RAM is enough....... but the extra 32GB won't do any harm if you can afford it - and with the way technology is evolving at the minute I wouldn't be surprised if you needed it in the future.

Remember when RAM was in MB? and we all thought it was enough? Well soon it will be "Remember when RAM was in GB? and we thought it was enough?!" You mark my words

But no. SSDs are great for speeding up workflow and Caviar Blacks are excellent drives

 

[sanjoh]

Thanks Nathanjrb and, yes I remember RAM in MB (showing my age) and also future proofing a PC by having 2 x 256GB HDDs fitted and being told I'd never fill them!!!!!

 

[sanjoh]

Thanks Stearman. Thought I'd replied earlier but can't see it! I'll have a look at the graphics card as I would like to future proof but need to consider cost too as the spec is already quite expensive!

 

[sanjoh]

Amended spec, taking into account great advice. Going to think about it till weekend then order, so any last minute advice welcome:

Case COOLERMASTER SILENCIO 550 QUIET MID TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-4770 (3.4GHz) 8MB Cache
Motherboard ASUS® Z87-A: ATX, USB2.0, USB3.0, SATA6GB/S, SLi, XFIRE
Memory (RAM) 32GB KINGSTON DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 760 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready
Memory - 1st Hard Disk 240GB INTEL® 520 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk 2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
3rd Hard Disk 2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
RAID NONE
SSD CACHE DRIVE NONE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 15x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW
Power Supply CORSAIR 650W VS SERIES™ VS-650 POWER SUPPLY
Processor Cooling Super Quiet 22dBA Triple Copper Heatpipe Intel CPU Cooler
Sound Card ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps PCI-E CARD
USB Options MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Firewire 3 Port IEEE 1394a Firewire PCI Card
TV Card NONE
Power Cable 1 x 2 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence
DVD Recovery Media Windows 7 Professional (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office Software Microsoft® Office Home & Student 2013 (1 License & Disc)
Anti-Virus BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Warranty 3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)