CHEEEP Video Editing PC - Please Advise!

[Mundos]

I'm way out of tech loop these days. My most recent computer is a Thinkpad T510 which is pretty painful for editing and rendering video.

I have a huge batch of video so work on, so I'm thinking it might be worth putting something together, and likely selling it when I'm finished with these projects.

I have:
- A case (Huge old ATX Server tower)
- Optical Drives
- HD's and SSD's
- Windows 8.1 + Adobe CS6 Master Suite
- 1920 x 1080 lcds x2

I need to:
- Edit (and especially render) 1080p video as quickly as possible. - H.264's
- Spend wisely
- Build something I can resell relatively easily

I'm most concerned with general recommendations and less with specific deals from specific suppliers. I'll be sourcing the parts from Canada Computers/Amazon, etc.

Realistic budget - $400+/-

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ken g6]

This is one case - the only one I can think of, actually - where AMD Bulldozer is the way to go.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.95 @ Vuugo)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $324.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-14 16:40 EDT-0400

This isn't exactly an "overclocking motherboard", but it has onboard video and you should generally be able to OC an 8320 close to 8350 levels (4GHz). Or, yes, you could spend $40 more on a real 8350.

Oh, and if you want to do more with your Thinkpad, I suggest you see [thread=2385257]this thread[/thread] where I optimized my T420 for a similar sort of work.

 

[Mundos]

This is one case - the only one I can think of, actually - where AMD Bulldozer is the way to go.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.95 @ Vuugo)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $324.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-14 16:40 EDT-0400

This isn't exactly an "overclocking motherboard", but it has onboard video and you should generally be able to OC an 8320 close to 8350 levels (4GHz). Or, yes, you could spend $40 more on a real 8350.

Oh, and if you want to do more with your Thinkpad, I suggest you see [thread=2385257]this thread[/thread] where I optimized my T420 for a similar sort of work.

Excellent! This pushed me in the right direction! Thanks!

If I'm able to source a hand-me-down video card, it it worth incurring a bit more expense on a better power supply?

Would having a dedicated graphics card change your motherboard/cpu selection?

 

[mistersprinkles]

Do NOT put that CPU on that motherboard and don't get an Antec Basiq PSU they are garbage. The lowest board I would put an 8320 on, especially if overclocking is an ASUS M5a99FX. Cheapest I would go with is the M5A97 R2.0, also from ASUS.

You want an Intel CPU for this anyways as the iGPU is a wizard at transcoding H264. Get a 4690 if you aren't overclocking.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You want an Intel CPU for this anyways as the iGPU is a wizard at transcoding H264.

While it can trans-code H264, I don't think that the quality is up to professional standards.

 

[DominionSeraph]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-ProLiant...677527?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item43cad3a7d7

 

[Mundos]

While it can trans-code H264, I don't think that the quality is up to professional standards.

Please, explain...?

 

[Cerb]

Please, explain...?

Quality is sacrificed for speed, to make the GPU encoding blazingly fast.

 

[Mundos]

Quality is sacrificed for speed, to make the GPU encoding blazingly fast.

You mean the quality of the rendered video? I'm afraid I don't understand the technology very well.

 

[Cerb]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($190.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $392.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-14 20:17 EDT-0400

Potentially faster editing (if not SSD/HDD-limited), slightly slower encoding, better IGP, costs $100 more, would be more usable later on, but relies on an MIR to meet budget (it's really over budget). 400 CAD is tight even with so few components, and it's still kind of meh, especially for the up front cost.

One thing you could do, as well, is to take Ken's, and swap the 8320 with a 6350. 6 v. 8 cores, but a substantial performance boost per core, prior to, or without, OCing (only about $15 savings).

A used video card around the performance of a GT 620 or better would do fine.

 

[Cerb]

You mean the quality of the rendered video? I'm afraid I don't understand the technology very well.

Yes. If you're converting it for a random mobile device, no big deal. But, if encoding it after editing for archival purposes, stick with the best CPU-based encoding you can use. Now, filters, applied prior to encoding, are an excellent use of GPU power, and have basically no downsides to you, as a user, if they are avaiable.

 

[Mundos]

Yes. If you're converting it for a random mobile device, no big deal. But, if encoding it after editing for archival purposes, stick with the best CPU-based encoding you can use. Now, filters, applied prior to encoding, are an excellent use of GPU power, and have basically no downsides to you, as a user, if they are avaiable.

I use the youtube setting with the h264 codec included in cs6. Should I be using something else? X264?

 

[Torn Mind]

Intel's iGPU encoding is called Quicksync. The program would have some setting to enable it if you really want to use it, which you don't if quality is the first priority. You also have to have a motherboard that supports it.

 

[Torn Mind]

Do NOT put that CPU on that motherboard and don't get an Antec Basiq PSU they are garbage. The lowest board I would put an 8320 on, especially if overclocking is an ASUS M5a99FX. Cheapest I would go with is the M5A97 R2.0, also from ASUS.

You want an Intel CPU for this anyways as the iGPU is a wizard at transcoding H264. Get a 4690 if you aren't overclocking.

The board can use an 8320, hence any qualms about electrical insufficiency at stock is equivalent to superstition.

What is the problem with that board, is that a Sempron is often required to flash the BIOS to a later one so the CPU can POST, and there other odd quirks such as incompatibility with faster memory speeds.

Basiq CPUs will simply die faster due to the capacitors, but the output power are well within ATX specs. With that said, more wattage is useful because AM3+ motherboards with 9xx-series chipsets don't come with integrated graphics.

 

[Mundos]

Thank you for all your help!

I'm going to count my pennies. This information is of great assistance!

 

[ElFenix]

does everything have to be new? because if not, some of those old socket 1366 xeons can be killer video editing CPUs. especially if you can find a dual socket board. 12 cores, 24 threads.

 

[gmaster456]

does everything have to be new? because if not, some of those old socket 1366 xeons can be killer video editing CPUs. especially if you can find a dual socket board. 12 cores, 24 threads.

Even used those can still run you a pretty penny

 

[VirtualLarry]

The board can use an 8320, hence any qualms about electrical insufficiency at stock is equivalent to superstition.

What is the problem with that board, is that a Sempron is often required to flash the BIOS to a later one so the CPU can POST, and there other odd quirks such as incompatibility with faster memory speeds.

Microcenter has the single-core AM3 Semprons for $19.99 + tax in-store.

Basiq CPUs will simply die faster due to the capacitors, but the output power are well within ATX specs. With that said, more wattage is useful because AM3+ motherboards with 9xx-series chipsets don't come with integrated graphics.

I assume you meant to say Basiq PSUs? They are OK for lower-powered machines, but I would hesitate to run an 8-core AMD on one. I think I might even hesitate to run one on a CX430, although that's probably an irrational fear on my part.

 

[Torn Mind]

Microcenter has the single-core AM3 Semprons for $19.99 + tax in-store.


I assume you meant to say Basiq PSUs? They are OK for lower-powered machines, but I would hesitate to run an 8-core AMD on one. I think I might even hesitate to run one on a CX430, although that's probably an irrational fear on my part.

Yeah, I meant to say PSUs.

No Microcenters are in Canada

Also, just to be clear, I agree that a PSU that has a higher wattage rating would definitely give some peace of mind and needed headroom. The Basiq 350 can only handle 276W on the two 12 V rails. The 8320 will hit its TDP mark, so only low TDP cards can complement it if one uses the Basiq 350. Beefier cards are out of the question, like the 140+ watts TDP for a GTX 660 or the 130 W TDP needed on a 7850 cuts it way too close on the Basiq's 12v rail.

I don't think the Basiq even has a PCIe connector and the number of SATA connectors is limited, IIRC.
The CX430 is rated for 32 amps on the 12 volt rail, so there is much more headroom.

Adding a $100 powerful video card would take the OP over budget anyway, so AM3+ is not optimal for him.


--------
Smoove's post links to some of the quirks people have experienced with the Gigabyte board, even with CPUs that should work with the F1 BIOS.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2387252

 

[crashtech]

ElFenix suggested going used, twin Xeon L5639s can still be found for $100 each, and OCed would pretty much stomp anything else in their price range, but finding a suitable motherboard for the right price can be a challenge.

 

[crashtech]

Check this out:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2385617