Vegas PC Upgrade

fixler wrote on 12/4/2005, 1:02 AM
Hey Guys,

I wanted to rack your brains for just a moment...

I am currently running:

DELL Dimension 8200
Intel Pentium 4 2.0Ghz
512MB RD-RAM
2X WD 120GB HD (7200RPM)
Matrox P-650 64MB Dual DVI (AGP8X)
Dell 1901FP - 19" DVI LCD
Creative LIVE! Sound Card

As you would expect, I am finding Vegas 6 performance a little weak at the moment and I think it is about time for an upgrade. I would happily fork out now for a new PC but am a little hesitant to do so prior to Vista's release.

So, for the moment I have decided to upgrade my current system until the time is right.

I want to retain most parts, and only upgrade; Processor, RAM and Motherboard.

So, without spending a fortune, what do you guys recommend I upgrade to until then?

Thanks in advance. fixler

Comments

craftech wrote on 12/4/2005, 6:08 AM
I would recommend that you make your computer a proprietary computer for video and/or photo editing and use another computer for everything else. Get rid of all the unnecessary processes running as tasks that install (sometimes without permission) with programs so that only the bare necessities are there and disable the Virus guard that is running. I am not saying to remove virus protection, but rather the Virus guard since most of the time you will not be connected to the internet. When I edit, the internet is off and even Zone Alarm is disabled. I have only Systray and Explorer running. The computer flies (Pentium III, 1GHz, 756MB Ram). Also, I don't have an LCD monitor so I can run at 800 x 600 while I edit. With your LCD you cannot. That is one thing I don't like about them. I would like to note that I am running Vegas 4 on W98SE so that helps with the speed issue as well, but what I suggested should work on your computer as well. However, if you are dead set on upgrading your motherboard and processor I have found two good combination deals at Fry's/Outpost here and here. The 506 combo is advertised $109 @Frys store also.

John
Wes C. Attle wrote on 12/4/2005, 7:16 AM
Supplies of motherboards that support AGP video cards are getting smaller. So if you decide to replace the AGP video card to get a more future-proof new system, then I would highly recommend you drop the hard disks into a Shuttle SN25P bearbone kit http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/SN25P.asp with a $322 Dual-core Athlon 64 X2 3800+ CPU from Newegg.com. In fact, you probably need to replace everything as you could use SATA2 drives in RAID for better video performance with the Shuttle... and you'd be better off with 2GB of RAM which Vegas can easily use with Dual-core CPU's. (from my experience today).

I just built one for my wife two months ago. It screams fast in Vegas and runs cool and quiet. Vegas rendering loves dual-core!

I dropped Intel for AMD earlier this year too. My Opteron CPU's blow me away in Vegas. Right now AMD is by far your best choice. Intel just fired more Execs again last Friday :-) Tough times for another year or so as Intel chips just can't compete right now.

Search the other recent threads in this forum. Lots of good info and suggestions already in other threads for other people in the same boat as you.
johnmeyer wrote on 12/4/2005, 8:08 AM
If you are doing SD, just upgrade the motherboard. Form factor may be an issue, since the Dell chassis is somewhat non-standard. Also, the power supply connectors are weird. Another 512MB of RAM may help a little, but not as much as you'd think, although it does make a difference in reducing "thrashing" with DVDA if you want to continue to work in the background during an Prepare operation.

Bottom line from me is that you better concentrate most of your energies on finding a board that will fit and that will connect to the non-standard power supply connectors and worry less about FSB or whether it is Athlon or Pentium etc. Of course, to make the whole thing worthwhile, you are going to want to get something faster than 3.0 GHz and something that is hyperthreaded. However, if you want to get dual core or multi-processor, you should just buy a whole new computer because the motherboard with one of these configurations is going to be far, far more money than you'll want to spend on an upgrade.
Former user wrote on 12/4/2005, 8:30 AM
fixler,

Forget the upgrade on a Dell box. Trust me - I have tried this in the past and it won;t happen. Dell build their boxes the way they do for a very specific purpose - so when it comes time to upgrade...they are hoping you will just spring for a new Dell box instead of building your own.

Also - don't even think about Vista...it is a LONNNNNNNG way off....and judging by the latest hardware requirements even at this early stage - even if you bought all new today...you will most likely have to upgrade a pile of stuff - maybe even the whole box again to run Vista properly...beside - XP is tried and true and will serve you well even when Vista is available...work for the now...not the 18 months from now.

You are on the right track with what you need to upgrade but you are going to have to spend some dough.....to truly get some longer lasting value from your existing parts (The matrox, hard disks, optical drives etc etc) - try this on for size

1. Motherboard - ASUS A8V Deluxe (Act fast...these are disappearing quick!)
2. AMD X2 CPU (your choice between model 3800 to model 4800) - Don't even bother with a single core chip as of now.....
3. At least 1 GB of quality (Corsair, Crucial) DDR Dual Channel standard memory. RDRAM is complete waste of time and money.....
4. And most important of all - lose the Soundblaster immediately and get a real audio interface.
5. Keep the Dell intact...stick it on your office desk and use it for admin purposes...email...surfing...writing in this forum....

This listing is start point...of course - you will need a new case...a good power supply, cables etc etc. You didn't mention your budget but it certainly won't be a fortune...but you will have a kick-ass system when you are done.

Cheers!

VP
busterkeaton wrote on 12/4/2005, 10:47 AM
Vocalpoint is right. You can upgrade some components on a Dell, but not the motherboard, which for the 8200 and the regular desktop line Dell uses a proprietary shape for the motherboard. So if you buy a standard motherbaord it will not fit in the Dell Case, the connectors will be in the wrong place. Dell power supplies have different wiring from standard ones. Dell may use standard parts on their XPS systems and their workstations, but don't quote me.

You have a few options for upgrading. This list is roughly in terms of cost.

Upgrade just the chip and memory
If your chip is only a 2.0, your motherboard probably can support a much faster chip. You can buy the fasteest chip you can find for your motherboard and buy more memory. I believe all Dell 8200's use RDRAM memory and I think you are limited to 533mhz speed.

Upgrade your chip, memory and motherboard.
This would mean getting a new case too. You can get a good case like the Antec Sonata II which is very cool and quiet for about $100.

You can a buy another prebuilt PC as a stop gap system until you buy a dream system later on. Dell often has some great deals on refurbished systems. (Of course its the same issue with Dells, but now you know that.)

Dimension 4700 --(3.40GHz Pentium 4 -550 HT, 800FSB) Microsoft Windows XP Home, 512 MB DDR2, 80 gig HD, 16x DVD +/- RW SDRAM

Final Price after discount : $577.75

This has faster memory and motherboard and a much faster CPU than your current system. You would definitely feel the increase. More memory, of course, would be nice.

Third upgrade option is to build a new box.
At this stage, I cannot see building a system that doesn't support the AMD dual core chips. So this probably takes you over $1000.

GlennChan wrote on 12/4/2005, 2:52 PM
You may not be able to upgrade the CPU unless you can get the old socket Pentiums. Check for chipset compatibility. And as others mention, you need to check for compatibility with the case, power supply connector (at one time Dell used power connectors with the ATX connector shape, but with the wires different; that would destroy components if you tried to use ATX parts), etc.
It's almost certainly not worth upgrading. Even if you had bought a non-proprietary computer it still probably isn't worth upgrading.

Along the lines of what buster is saying, you can look for a good deal on a new computer. You might also want to look at buying a new computer, because OEMs like Dell and eMachines typically offer very good deals on them.
For about $700 you can get a very very basic Dimension 9100 - dual core 2.8ghz processor, 17" LCD, same thing as the 4700 but without the DVD+-RW burner.

Don't buy the overpriced upgrades from Dell, check prices with newegg.com and throw your own upgrades in. see http://www.gotapex.com/
Dell's RAM upgrade might be worth it.

Of course you run into the same upgrade conundrum, but even with a non-proprietary computer you still run into the same problem. AMD and Intel are going to move onto new sockets and chipsets so your system will become obsolete anyways.

In the rendertest.veg results, the dual core Intel systems hold their own against the AMD systems and can be better value. AMD is faster if you pay more.