Building New Computer - Old Topic New Questions

tserface wrote on 5/1/2003, 1:18 PM
I'm building a new computer for doing my video stuff. I'm not unhappy with my current computer (1.4GHz AMD 512MB memory, etc. etc. etc.), but my daughter needs a new computer and that gives me the chance/excuse to build new one for me so that I can give my old one.

Questions:

- Does Vegas benefit any from the faster video cards (I.E., that gamers use)? I'm looking a card based on the nVideo Ti4200 chipset with 128MB of memory and support for dual monitors. Does V4 use any of the memory for prerendering or anything like that during playback? This is a nice medium price video card so I'll probably use it anyway, but I didn't know the answer and you guys know all the answers. :)

- How much do I benefit if I use a dual channel DDR memory motherboard? I'm going to use a Pentium 3.06GHz, but I don't know if I want to spend the extra $200 to get the dual channel if there isn't a significant difference in video rendering times. I know I'll get some benefit from the hyperthreading in the chip, but I don't know how to quantify the value of the dual channel stuff.

Thanks in advance...

Tom

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 5/1/2003, 2:03 PM
Video card doesn't matter for Vegas. Pick one that suits your needs for other tasks you'll use the computer for.

DualDDR memory should in theory anyway optimize system performance by increasing bandwidth and reducing memory latency. I think the newest motherboards use a pair of memory controllers, part of the reason for the cost differences, aside the more expensive memory. Should give something like close to 6.5 GB a second bandwidth. So, unless I'm missing something... so what? If you CPU is half that speed how do you benefit? Beats me, anyone know?

The down side of using super fast memory is it likely isn't has stable. Again, what do you gain if half way through rendering a big project, your system burps and it locks up? Nothing.

I would stick with the earlier and much cheaper DDR memory myself. Unless I'm misreading something this is the next generation stuff. I'm using DDR memory that's rated at 2600. My motherboard can take up to 3300, but I tired it and it wasn't stable. So doubling the speed again, I would think you're crawling pretty far out on the limb.

JR802 wrote on 5/1/2003, 2:30 PM
tserface,

I agree with BillyBoy, I to had fast RAM and instability problems were abundant, stick with the PC2100 - PC2700 range. IMO if you can afford a Dual CPU system go for that instead of faster RAM, this will definitely help when rendering.

As for your question regarding the Ti4200, I have this card and I definitely noticed a big difference when previewing during playback. I was able to increase the size of the preview screen without a jerky motion. Secondly the dual monitor feature is the bomb! Beware of the model that captures analogue signals(S-Video, Composite), it does not do a good job quality wise. It's not worth the extra bucks.

Hope that helps!

JR802


BillyBoy wrote on 5/1/2003, 2:43 PM
Say JR I just had that little light bulb over my head light up. <wink>

I wonder... maybe the video card DOES matter, at least as far as the quality of the playback on an external monitor. I'm using a Matrox G550, the dual head, but only have one monitor connected.

SoFo... or anyone that knows:

Is the video signal fed through the video card before it goes out the firewire? If so, does it effect the playback quality, assuming you have a up scale video card or one with lots of memory?
SonyEPM wrote on 5/1/2003, 4:08 PM
"Is the video signal fed through the video card before it goes out the firewire"

DV bits go right out 1394, video display card has no impact.