PC spec for editing video

[Piglet]

Hi Guys

I need to upgrade my PC as it won't run either the Adobe or Studio video editing software.

The firm I work for has just signed up for one of these PC incentive scheme thingies where you get Tax and NI relief on computers. There isn't a vast amount of choice and I'd appreciate some opinions on the spec I'm looking at, especially the processor - it's dual core and it's being suggested to me that this is good for intensive processes like video editing - I've not come across this before and could do with some opinions.

HBt3355 Desktop:

XP Home Edition
Pentium D Processor 920 Dual core 2 x 2.80 GHZ
1GB DDR2-SDRAM
360 GB (200GB + 10GB) SATA hard driveATI RADEON X1300 PRO 256 MB Video Memory

the rest of the spec is here http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/do

Cheers

[KB_S1]

The spec looks fine, but double the RAM at least.
I have yet to see a tax relief type programme that is any use for computers, does your's actually let you 'own' the computer or is it just a 'lease' for a pre set period?

[Piglet]

It's a three year lease with some fluffy wording about being able to buy the PC at the end of the period!!

[Hankscorpio]

you're usually able to buy it at the end for <5% of current retail.

The list prices are usually higher but when you add three year warranty and the ability to pay of top line income, it can be an OK deal (esp if you don't have a thousand pounds spare for a PC)

[Piglet]

Cheers Hank, that's the point about it for me at the moment, I need to upgrade the PC but don't have the money upfront to do it now - although if this spec isn't up to the job then I'll find a way around it I guess.

[ErnestM]

I would also see if there is a SATA RAID option on the motherboard that you can use to throw in a couple of drives for RAID 0. Indespensible for video work...

ErnestM

[_dobbo_]

Piglet said:

It's a three year lease with some fluffy wording about being able to buy the PC at the end of the period!!

At three years a PC has zero value on a company's books, so you should in theory just be able to keep it, or buy it at a neglible cost.

[flossythepig]

Microsoft said:

Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor

You'll have to upgrade to XP Pro to utilise both processors.

Hugh

[Piglet]

flossythepig said:

Microsoft said: Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor You'll have to upgrade to XP Pro to utilise both processors. Hugh

That's interesting We were planning to install XP Professional anyway.

With my stupid head on - is dual core actually two separate processors?

[ErnestM]

Two processor cores on one chip...

ErnestM

[HankScorpio]

The rest of that MS statement helps somewhat:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Windows XP Home are not affected by this policy as they are licensed per installation and not per processor. Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor.

So no need to upgrade.


>> Edited by HankScorpio on Tuesday 7th March 14:15

[Piglet]

That's great, thanks all, I'm going to order it I think, I can't afford to shell out up front for a new one even if Happy Snapper builds it himself. this way my existing one can be passed along to my Dad who's in need of a new one and I'll have a shiny new HP!!

Incidentally, they people who came along to work today to demo the stuff were absolutely shite. I knew considerably more about them than they did and I'm not great!!

[crmcatee]

One thing to bear in mind about these lease type arrangements is that if you're relatively low paid and subs to your pension are made based on your salary - the money for the PC is taken before any pension calculations are made so you could be paying in less to your pension scheme than you thought you were.

[roop]

I have not run out of RAM yet using Adobe Premiere, what is critical to me is HDD and CPU performance.

I run dual RAID0 (striped) 400GB SATA disks with a 3.0Ghz P4HT and 1GB RAM. I get some serious read/write performance off those disks...!