Alienware

Jeff Lampert wrote on 8/9/2014, 2:27 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some advice. Thanks for any help you can provide me.

I'm looking to upgrade my dell XPS 8500 computer. The current XPS 8700 won't spec high enough. The Alienware Aurora machines have high-end GTX and AMD cards and 6-core I7 options.

I was considering a workstation but I don't think I need an enterprise card (Quadro, FirePro) which are very expensive or Xeon processors.

I am mainly doing multi-camera edits with up to 10 Flip cams, .mp4 720p, adding pans, zoom, effects, and supplemental video tracks. I have one edit with around 15 tracks which was rendered ok with an HP laptop with 16 GB ram and core I7, 8MB cache, Passmark score = 9000 and Radeon 7850m scoring 1343 in Passmark. It did constantly use 100% of the CPU according to the WIndows Task Manager and I had to remove GPU acceleration for it to render properly.

The Alienware I am considering scores far higher in both CPU and GPU benchmarks and has 32 GB ram. It also has a dual card option.

I know this is very general and that Vegas Pro 13 will operate better with certain cards than other cards. I'd appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks, and below is a link to the Alienware computer. It shows you the various options.

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-aurora-r4/pd?oc=dpcwny5&model_id=alienware-aurora-r4

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 8/9/2014, 2:37 PM

On machines with very fast CPUs, the real-world benefits of additional hardware rendering (of any variety) are negligible, approaching zero. In the speed vs. $ department, I would spend my money where it will do the most good.

OldSmoke wrote on 8/9/2014, 2:46 PM

And there is exactly the problem. You can't select a 4930K which would be perfect for editing. As for GPU, get the cheapest they offer and replace it with a good AMD/ATI or Nvidia. A HD6970 or GTX580 will do you just fine.

Stringer wrote on 8/9/2014, 3:17 PM

I'm with Oldsmoke.

You could take it with the default 4820, and replace it with a $500 4930k instead of paying $1000 that Dell wants for the 4960K; but that might affect your warranty..

As an example, here is a very powerful system from Microcenter with a 4930K at only $$2,399

http://www.microcenter.com/product/421719/X500_Desktop_Computer

You could probably put together a similar or better system with any number of system builders. However, warranty and support is always a prime consideration, and those will be very good with Dell, HP or even Microcenter..

I would stay with 16GB RAM.. Vegas doesn't put a dent in 16 ...

Jeff Lampert wrote on 8/9/2014, 7:44 PM

Thanks for the link. That system would seem to get me to where I need to be. And I noticed that about the ram. I have a 16 GB HP laptop and when it rendered 15 tracks with some pans, zooms, and effects, it never went over 25-30% (according to task manager).

I will talk to Dell and see how much of a discount they'll do but I'm sure it would cost at least $1000 more. OTOH, it will be spec'd higher and it will last me a few years and probably provide me some additional future-proofing because of the higher specs.

I seem to have noticed a few comments here and there where Vegas seems to render faster with AMD cards over GTX. Alienware provides an AMD option. What are your thoughts about that? I guess the point is that since the card has negligible value, it doesn't matter and just get the cheapest option (I think it actually comes with a GTX 770, which I guess is real overkill). Thanks again for your help.

Jeff Lampert wrote on 8/9/2014, 8:01 PM

I just configured the Alienware with the 4930k, dual GTX 760 cards, and 16 GB ram so it's pretty close to the Microcenter configuration and it's $3433, about $ 1000 more!! wow, that's a lot of extra bread for the case, something which has zero value to me.

Byron K wrote on 8/9/2014, 8:03 PM

AMD may render a little faster but many plug-ins use CUDA acceleration. You'll need to see what plug-ins you have that actually use CUDA.

OldSmoke wrote on 8/9/2014, 8:03 PM

The issue with Nvida's GTX cards is that newer models like 600 and 700 series aren't well supported under Vegas and older models like 500 series work better/faster. The only newer card that seems to work well is AMD's 290. I am sure no system builder will fix you a GTX500 series card but maybe you can get them to install an AMD 290.
These are all the reasons why I decided a very long time ago to build my own systems; over 20 years ago. You just never get what you actually need; you either get too little or the total overkill.

Jeff Lampert wrote on 8/9/2014, 8:58 PM

Do you mean that newer models like 600 and 700 series are NOT well supported under Vegas and older models work better/faster? I'm not clear on what you're saying.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/9/2014, 9:20 PM

Without knowing what the specs on your current machine are I wouldn't say if you'll get any improvement worth paying for.

Just from you saying you handle mp4's, converting to a better format for editing (mpeg-2, quicktime png movie, etc.) would give you the biggest editing boost.

OldSmoke wrote on 8/9/2014, 10:38 PM

@Jeff
[I]Do you mean that newer models like 600 and 700 series are NOT well supported under Vegas and older models work better/faster?[/I]

That is exactly what I am saying and it has been discussed over and over again in this forum.

chap wrote on 8/9/2014, 11:29 PM

@Jeff-

I had two alienwares, and ever since Dell bought them they have really gone WAY downhill. Also overpriced. Don't know where you live, but for that price I would say you could pay someone to help you and build a machine yourself. Since doing that I have been much much happier and a lot more bang for your buck, plus a clean install of Win 7 (instead of 8) means no bloatware like Alienware puts on there.

like this guy:

or this:

If you don't have time or gumption to do it yourself, I'll say use the Nvidia brand video cards, they work really well with Vegas.

Also I saw on your config that you are thinking of having Liquid COOLING? DO NOT USE that, there is no need for it unless you are overclocking. I bought it on my last alienware and one of the pipes burst inside the machine. I saved the drives, but even though they say that liquid has no charge and is OK with electronics.. it was NOT.

Good lucK!

Chap

BruceUSA wrote on 8/10/2014, 9:57 AM

If you are going to get GTX600/700 series cards you will be disappointed. As everyone are saying, Vegas don't work with that series cards. R9 290 is your friend, get it you will see massive editing/rendering improvement.