Do I need to Upgrade?

[nrestell]

Hi,

 

I currently have a Dell Dimension 9200 (E6400@2.13GHz), 4Gb DDR2 RAM (4x1GB; 2 running at 400mHz, 2 at 266mHz) and a 256MB Radeon X1300 graphics card.

 

From my basic knowledge, I know that the 2 RAM that can go to 400mHz are not due to the 2 at 266mHz. I also understand that this PC probably couldn't play Blu-Rays if I buy a blu-ray player.

 

I am looking to buy a whole new PC. However, mMy question is, for a non-gaming PC that I only wish to run Internet, Office and the occasional (basic) video editing/burning, should I go for the fastest CPU I can afford, increase my RAM to 8GB or get a better graphics card?

 

Should I go AMD (X4 640) or intel (Q8400) or something else all together?

 

 

 

Neil

[Dalo Harkin]

If your not planning on gaming or major video editing (basically anything that uses lots of graphical power) then onboard GPU or a low end card will be fine, again 8GB RAM is designed for major video editing so you can go with the recommended spec for which OS you get.

 

You dont need a quad core CPU either, just get a dual core.

 

Now peoples versions of video editing vary, so what you think it basic could be different to mine.

since you were asking about quad core cpus and 8GB RAM, you need to clarify your idea of basic :)

[nrestell]

you need to clarify your idea of basic :)

 

Thanks for the reply. I say basic but it will be HD video. We recently purchased a HD camera and I intend to do some cutting (of the bad bits) and joining (of the good bits) and adding some menus. Then I would like to put them onto a Blu-Ray disc.

 

I was also hoping to watch purchased Blu-Rays on this machine too.

 

Am I right in thinking that you would recommend an upgrade but maybe not as big as I had first thought? Maybe a new Graphics Card (1Gb Radeon HD5450 maybe?) and possibly a new CPU?

 

Thanks again,

 

Neil

Edited August 24, 2010 by nrestell

[Dalo Harkin]

You can go as far as you want to but it will be limited by your editing software and chosen OS.

 

to take advantage of over 3.75GB of RAM you need a 64bit OS

 

to watch Blu rays takes less processing and graphical power than you think.

I would test your current PC with your current editing suite and see how much of an upgrade you need.

 

You can tell if the CPU and RAM are throttling from the task manager :)

[nrestell]

to take advantage of over 3.75GB of RAM you need a 64bit OS

 

I probably should have mentioned that I am running Windows 7 64bit at the moment anyway.

 

I would test your current PC with your current editing suite and see how much of an upgrade you need.

 

I shall try this tonight with a moderately sized full-HD file to see if the system can cope!

 

I may just get a new Graphics Card and Blu-Ray writer, although with a HD monitor it may be cheaper to get a whole new kit!

 

Cheers!

Neil

[nrestell]

I shall try this tonight with a moderately sized full-HD file to see if the system can cope!

 

Well, I tried importing 6 minutes of clips from my HD camcorder into my editing package and the CPU maxed out at 100% for about 10 seconds before going to about 85-90% for the majority of the import. Making it then set up automatic chapters again sent it to 100% before the program crashed!:eek: I tried a second time and it worked but the CPU was working to the max for most of the time.

 

Memory struggled a little but no where near as much as the CPU. So, I think a little CPU upgrade may be required!:)

 

Thanks for you help Dalo.

 

Neil

[Dalo Harkin]

Ok,

 

but some/most of that will be to pick up the slack from the GPU, your going to have to upgrade the GPU anyway, so do it first and see if it still throttles the CPU.

 

what was your budget for a GPU?

[nrestell]

what was your budget for a GPU?

Thanks for the reply.

 

I was looking around the £50-75 mark to be honest. I had my eye on the ATI Radeon 5450 HD 1GB PCI card. Do you think that would be sufficient? Any other suggestions would be gratefully received!

 

Cheers,

Neil

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, Dalo may well be right about the GPU, however I have just had a quick look at a review of that machine and see that the CPU is only a dual core. In most cases that would be fine, however you want to work with HD video, and that is very high in data levels. I am not surprised you saw the CPU max out during import of that video, and in subsequent editing. Editing will bring in the GPU, yes, but not so for importing in the first place, that is just raw data handling, so I imagine an upgrade of the CPU may also be on the cards here.

I would also suggest removing the two 266MHZ RAM sticks and replace them with two 400MHZ, although 4GB total is more than enough, the higher speed will help.

Dalo Knows perhaps a lot more than I ever will regarding GPU cards, but in situations like this there are other factors come into it when trying to handle HD video files.

Nev.

[nrestell]

Hi,

Well, it turns out a relative wants to buy my current PC off me. So, I have a bit of money to spend on a whole new bit of kit (figured this was a good thing to start with since I needed so many new items!). Should I opt for an AMD Athlon X4 640 or Phenom X4 processor? Or is an Intel Q-series the better option? I am still thinking of the aforementioned graphics card plus 4GB DDR3 RAM (600mhz) and hoping that this rig will help me edit my HD video.

Neil