help for new machine

Joni wrote on 9/11/2003, 10:59 AM

Hi,

I am planning to put together a new PC for video only.
Can you suggest what is the best in terms motherboard and video cards?
Please suggest the ones you really like and/or think are the ones to go for.

1 - Motherboard (intel): ?

2 - Video Cards: ?
(I need 2 video cards: 1 for two computer monitors - dual head; and t 2nd to see my video in an externar video monitor (tv like)- don't know exactely how to achieve this).

thanks

djoni

Comments

Ted_H wrote on 9/11/2003, 11:11 AM

You do not need two video cards to send signal to an external monitor. The external monitor previewing is done via Firewire. There are no known conflicts with any motherboards, so get the fastest or best-equipped model that your budget will allow.

Ted

Joni wrote on 9/11/2003, 11:35 AM

Ted, thanks a lot for your reply.
Is via firewire the only way to preview on an external monitor??? Can I preview in full screen? without rendering?
I thought I could buy some video card that would "render" the video to an external monitor. Isn't that possible?

What kind of motherboard are the fastest and better ones for video?

thanks

djoni

TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/11/2003, 11:36 AM

For the MB don't get a crappy name brand. Stick with good name brands. One's I've had NO problems with are the Ausu A7V8X-X (AMD) and ESC P6S5AT (Pentium 3). If you can get one with RAID on it: you can support more IDE drives then 4.

BillyBoy wrote on 9/11/2003, 12:04 PM

For reviews of motherboards check here:

http://www.motherboards.org/

Personally, I like Abit, ASUS, Gigabyte. Chipset, checkout the 845 for Intel P4.

As far as picking between AMD and Intel they BOTH make good chips. I've used Vegas extensively with both with no problems. Its really a matter of when you buy as to who's is the fastest at the moment. Some problems you may have heard about AMD were problems IN THE PAST, I know of no problems with the current offerings.

You didn't ask specifically, but PREMIUM memory with a heatsink riser for a few dollars more at the highest speed you MB supports is a good investment, if you plan on overclocking. If you don't, overkill.

Best to read reviews rather than be limited to what the specs say. For example the board I'm currently using claims to supports no higher than 3200 RAM according to the specs, however it is perfectly stable with 3700 RAM, which will give you higher FSB if you plan on overclocking.

I personally don't seen any advantage to RAID. In fact if anything there are a few disanvantages. If you're going to load up on devices, much simpler and CHEAPER to pop in a second IDE controller card. They you can get 8 devices. Most high speed drives (133) come with a seperate controller card that preloads its own BIOS anyways.