Would this configuration (read details) be good enough for Full HD Video editing?

Q. Hi,

I've just ordered a Dell XPS Laptop with the following configuration:

Second generation Core i7 2630 QM processor 2 Ghz with turbo boost 2.0 upto 2.90 Ghz
FHD Monitor
8 GB Dual Channel DD3 RAM
2 GB NVIDIA GT 540M graphics

and i think the i7 processor on this has 6MB of cache.

not that i bought this specifically for editing, i know that laptops are generally not suited for high end video editing work, but was just curious as to would this configuration be good enough for Full HD video editing? if so, to what extent?

I have a DSLR camera that shoots Full HD video, i was wondering if i'll be able to edit the footages shot from my dslr using this laptop configuration? i'll probably be using adobe premiere for editing.

thanks for your answers. I appreciate it.

regards,
Deepak.

Answer
I'll cautiously say that you should be fine. Meaty processor, good amount of RAM, powerful discrete video card. Those are key components. I'd say Premiere should work fine, as should most other programs. Avid Media Composer might even play nicely with that, but I'd check against the supported configurations. Anyway, I think I like that build. If that NVIDIA card is CUDA-capable, and I guess it probably is, that could be very useful for video processing. Look up some NVIDIA information about how to turn it on and use it.

As for the DSLR, that's almost certainly H.264 video, so I'd still probably convert it to something else before I edit, something less compressed like DVCProHD, or AVC-Intra, or something like Avid DNxHD. The reason is that even powerful computers work so hard to deal with H.264, that the playback stutters and it's not a pleasant experience. That's true for virtually every computer, even high-powered machines. When I work in Final Cut Pro, I convert H.264 to ProRes immediately. Same goes for Avid, but to DNxHD.

Also check to see that your computer is expandable somehow. Does it have a FireWire port, or at least some kind of expansion card slot? I don't think the XPS series has "Thunderbolt" yet, but I could be wrong. That's a nice kind of connection to have as well, as it can carry a bunch of different types of connections at the same time.

Beyond that, I'd say you're in pretty good shape, unless someone else has any red flags to raise.

Asus Laptop GOOD for Editing Videos?

Rocky

I was looking at the Asus k60i for editing my gameplay with sony vegas so I can put it on youtube.Im getting this laptop for around $435, so tell me if there is something better in the price range. Here are the computer specs.

* Intel Pentium Dual Core T4400 2.2GHz Processor
* 4GB DDR2 Memory
* 500GB SATA Hard Drive
* DVDRW Optical Drive
* 16" LED HD Display with built-in webcam
* 4000 MB Ram
I was looking at some with nvidia but the prices are way to high :( the webcam on this camera is alright even though im not going to use it. its 0.3mp

Answer
YOU WILL GET THIS ONE AT REASONABLE RATE OVER HERE
ASUS K60I-RBBBR05 / DUAL 2.2GHz/4GB RAM/500GB HD K60I #
*Condition:
New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is ... Read moreabout the condition
*Processor Speed:2.2 GHz
*Screen Size:16 inches
*Processor Configuration:Dual Core
*Memory (RAM):4 GB
*Hard Drive Capacity:500 GB
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574865779&toolid=10001&campid=5336440665&customid=sdhrhiaiaa&mpre=http%3a%2f%2fcgi.ebay.com%2fASUS-K60I-RBBBR05-DUAL-2-2GHz-4GB-RAM-500GB-HD-K60I-%2f220669868400%3fpt%3dLaptops_Nov05%26hash%3ditem3360f2f970%23ht_971wt_907

check out at amazon there are really good deals going
ASUS A52F-X3 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
*Intel Core i3-350M (2.26 GHz)
*4 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz DRAM, 2 slots, 8 GB Max
*320 GB Hard Drive (5400 RPM); Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System
*Intel HD Graphics; Super Multi Optical Disk Drive; Wireless 802.11bgn
*15.6-Inch HD LED LCD Widescreen Display; 0.3 MP Webcam; HDMI Port
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-A52F-X3-15-6-Inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B003UN6YUE/?tag=sdhrhiaiaa-20

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What is the best configuration for either a Mac or Windows computer to edit HD video?

laptop configuration for video editing image

elnano42

What sorts of processors, RAM, video card, etc. should I be looking at? I want to know my best options before I buy something that wouldn't do the job. Should I go Apple or Windows?

Answer
Mac vs. PC eh, well if you don't like tinkering with your computer, learning all about hardware options and admin tasks and just want to be a computer user then the Mac is better choice. If you don't mind being a computer hobbyist, and spending time figuring things out and are trying to minimize your costs then a Windows PC is a better choice.

As for specs, look at the system requirements for the software you're planning to use as a starting point. Editing video is a compute intensive task so you'll want to get as much power as you can afford. The iMac or Mac Pro desktop machines are preferred over laptops.

The system requirements for your software will tell you what you need today, your budget will determine how long the computer you purchase will last. A quad-core CPU iMac with 4Gb RAM and discrete video card will be a good option if you can afford it.

How do you download from a Sony Camcorder to a laptop for editing without an ilink cable?

gbeuchel

How do you download from a Sony Camcorder to a laptop for editing without an ilink cable?

I have a USB cable but because I use Vista it is not compatible. Any patches or fixes for this problem?

Answer
Honestly, your best bet for transferring video from a Sony camcorder is to use an i.Link cable. Keep in mind, i.Link is nothing more than Sony's name for a Firewire cable (IEEE-1394). I use a 6-pin to 4-pin firewire cable all the time from several Sony camcorders, transferring video to both PC's and laptops running Vista. Works perfectly (and quickly)!

You can pick up a 6-pin to 4-pin Firewire (i.Link) cable at places like Best Buy. Shopping online though could save you $$$.

For example, Cable Stockroom has a 10 foot, 6-pin to 4-pin Firewire cable for a little over 5 bucks. A lot cheaper even with shipping. Here's the link specifically for that item:
http://www.cablestockroom.com/IEEE_1394_6P_4P_Firewire_Cable_10ft_p/10e3-02110.htm

Just make sure you select the proper pinout for each end! Your camcorder should have the small 4-pin, while a PC or laptop normally uses the 6-pin configuration.

Hope that helps!

Franklin

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On a loose $1500 budget, what is the most productive configuration for a laptop intended for Adobe CS6?

laptop configuration for video editing image

Manny

I'm planning on using the laptop with Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, and After Effects mostly for editing DSLR video and photographs. I need something that will be able to handle multiple HD video layers, some 3D rendering, music production, etc. Is this possible? NOTE: I'd prefer not to hack my video card but I can if I absolutely have to.

Answer
You need something with an extremely fast CPU and lots of RAM. Graphics card doesn't matter as much when it comes to everything you mentioned except 3D modeling. I suggest you look for a workstation-style build, and not a gaming build.
Something like this:
i7-38XXQM and above
16GB+ of RAM
SSD! Solid State Drives are very important if you want your programs and projects to open fast! I suggest either a hybrid drive or an all-out 256GB SSD.
Any graphics card over a GT630M or 7670M will do.

how much is a difference from usb 2 and firewire?

button

Before I spend 100 bucks on a firewire card for my laptop.
Other than speed is there really much of a difference that would affect quality using a USB rather than firewire?

Answer
Most digital video camera come with a Firewire connector so if you plan on downloading clips directly from it for digital editing, Firewire should be on the laptop.

In this case, I would say YES, Firewire (IEEE 1394) would be a valuable asset to you !


Now to correct some misconceptions, I present this: IEEE 1394 interface (AKA FireWire) versus Universal Serial Bus (AKA USB) - A little (short primer)
FireWire is NOT Apple's version of USB !

Apple (Firewire instigator) intended it to be a serial replacement for the parallel SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) bus while also providing connectivity for digital audio and video equipment while the consortium behind the creation of USB intended it to replace the multitude of connectors (serial and parallel ports) at the back of PCs, as well as to simplify software configuration of communication devices.

Speed Comparison between Firewire (400) and USB (2.0)

FireWire 400 can transfer data between devices at up to 400 Mbit/s half-duplex data rates (the actual transfer rate is 393.216 Mbit/s or 49.152 megabytes per second) while USB 2.0 transfer rate is 480 Mbit/s.

Although USB 2.0 nominally runs at a higher signaling rate (480 Mbit/s) than FireWire 400, data transfers over FireWire interfaces generally outperform similar transfers over USB 2.0 interfaces.

Typical highest USB transfers are 280 Mbit/s, with 240 Mbit/s being more typical.

This is caused by USB's reliance on the host-processor whereas FireWire delegates the same tasks to the interface hardware. For example, the FireWire host interface supports memory-mapped devices, which allows high-level protocols to run without loading the host CPU with interrupts and buffer-copy operations. Besides throughput, other differences are that it uses simpler bus networking, provides more power over the chain, more reliable data transfer, and uses less CPU resources.

So in short, despite the lower number of Mbit/s, Firewire is actually FASTER than USB.

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I want to buy a new laptop. How fast does it really need to be?

laptop configuration for video editing image

voiceofrea

I use my laptop for the same things that most of you do. Surfing the web, answering emails, downloading musci, and the occasional photo editing (very seldom). How much machine do I REALLY need. I know that the new Duo Core machines are cool and all, but do I really need that much speed. Someone recently told me that a Celeron 1.5 with 512K of ram and 64mb of video is more than enough. Is this true? Also the idea of a Sling Box interest me. Does the Sling Box require a faster machine to use it properly? Thanks in advance.
I know that some of you subscribe to the more, better, greater formula but lets face it, I only need what I need. I don't want to pay double the price for something I do not need. If I can get by with a Celeron instead of a Pentium or Duo Core then that is what I want. I have tried all three syatems by surfing the web with them and I can't tell a difference between them.

Answer
Most of what you hear is hype - the core DUO machines are really use-full in two real world scenarios - if your a gamer or your into digital production. i.e. graphic design / video editing. Would you believe you can still function quite well With a machine running with a proc speed of around 1GHZ. Most are going to argue that this is false or pretentious - but, the hardware we are led to believe as "superior" is really the market attempting to get you to spend 3K on a MAC or duo setup. That type of hardware configuration is really exceptional in needed environments like super- computing or as mentioned above. To run normal computing like e-mail, word processing, DVD burning etc. you can get fine performance from machines, from today's standards, are "inferior" - my advice - don't buy into all the hype.

What is the better laptop a PC or a Mac?

Dan H

I am looking for my first laptop. Which is a better laptop PC or Mac. What is the difference between the two? I am getting it for school but i will also being using it for fun.

Answer
I a film and video guy so I will always say Mac but I am going to be fair when answering this question. Both Mac and PCs have their negatives and positives. Macs have the best operating system (OS) meaning that it is safe and has a lot of power. It is very hard for a virus or hacker to get into your Mac. Macs are also a lot faster than PCs. Everything is faster on a Mac. Even the initial startup is faster. It seems like with a PC, you have time to order a pizza when you start it up. I have heard rumors that Adobe is creating an office suite exclusive to Macs. Need I say more? Now for the negatives. Macs are very expensive. To get the real experience of the power Macs offer, you should spend at least $2500-$3000. Don't let these prices scare you away. You can spend less than $2000 and still be greatly impressed by a Mac. I spent just over $8000 on my Mac Pro desktop. I have a standard monitor and a 30" HD monitor hooked up to my Mac for editing video and film. If that is not an example of the power Macs offer, I don't know what is. For beginners, Macs could be a little difficult.

Now for PCs. I also have a PC that I use for simple things like answering this question. All PCs run on Microsoft. Microsoft is not as evil as people make it out to be, unless you plan on running on Windows Vista. If you choose to get a PC, try to get Windows XP. Vista is still new and has problems. PCs are more office appropriate . They are good for data processing and other office tasks. You can get PCs that have a lot of power but it doesn't compare to Macs. PCs are also a lot cheaper than Macs. You can get a good PC for less that $2000. PCs are more likely to lock up when you are trying to complete tasks that require power such as photo editing, graphic design, film/video editing, etc. Windows OS also has Microsoft Office. Office is an amazing office suite.

In all honesty, I would get a Mac. For what I do, there is not a PC in the world powerful enough to complete the tasks that I complete. I noticed that you are getting a laptop to take to school. Macs are very popular amongst students. If you need a office suite now, Macs can run Microsoft Office. There is a special edition for Macs. Don't get a Mac Book Air. They look cool, but they don't have much storage space on the hard drive. I have included links to where you can configure a Mac Book and a Mac Book Pro. Take a look. I hope this helps. If you choose to get a Mac, great! If you need help choosing the appropriate configurations to get the best performance out of your Mac, please drop me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you select the appropriate hardware.

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best laptop make and configuration for development purposes?

laptop configuration for video editing image

Saravanan

1. Is it advisable to go for a laptop for development purposes.
2. Which is the best laptop make + configuration + trouble free running for using Visual Studio 2010 and other demanding applications?

Answer
Well a Macbook Pro is a best laptop for most editors/developers because it's a completely different OS so it's usually always trouble free and runs good without any viruses; which is perfect for people like me who uses laptops for photo/video editing and graphic development.

But Visual Studio 2010 won't be compatible for a Macbook Pro (Bootcamp/VMware Fusion can work but that's your own preference). So a Lenovo/Asus/HP laptop would be good for what you're looking for. Go to their respective sites and do some research, never hurts to look. Good Luck!

What is the best configuration for either a Mac or Windows computer to edit HD video?

elnano42

What sorts of processors, RAM, video card, etc. should I be looking at? I want to know my best options before I buy something that wouldn't do the job. Should I go Apple or Windows?

Answer
Mac vs. PC eh, well if you don't like tinkering with your computer, learning all about hardware options and admin tasks and just want to be a computer user then the Mac is better choice. If you don't mind being a computer hobbyist, and spending time figuring things out and are trying to minimize your costs then a Windows PC is a better choice.

As for specs, look at the system requirements for the software you're planning to use as a starting point. Editing video is a compute intensive task so you'll want to get as much power as you can afford. The iMac or Mac Pro desktop machines are preferred over laptops.

The system requirements for your software will tell you what you need today, your budget will determine how long the computer you purchase will last. A quad-core CPU iMac with 4Gb RAM and discrete video card will be a good option if you can afford it.

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