Upgrading for HD video editing, help needed!

Jimpowers79 · 2 Jun 2009 at 10:56

Hello! I use my computer almost entirely for image manipulation and video editing. Rendering video is a laborious process on my current computer, made even worse when i attempt to render HD footage. I just wanted to ask if it would be worth upgrading my current system or starting over.

How might i find out the spec of my current system? Is there a way of doing so without opening the thing up?!

I'm sorry for my obvious lack of computer knowledge!! Cheers.

mp260767 · 2 Jun 2009 at 11:57

google/download cpu-z, gpu-z and the free edition of everest home edition, should be able to get near enough all the information.

will need to open the case to get an idea of what psu you have.

Mattus · 2 Jun 2009 at 11:58

A start would be to find out which CPU and how much RAM you have. If you right-click on My Computer and click Properties, a box will pop up which will show, amongst other things, your CPU and RAM. Post back with that and we'll have a look.

siumatfung · 2 Jun 2009 at 13:26

so whats your spec then?

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 17:09

Sorry i'm now having problems with my connection hence the delay, hopefully will be back online within the next few days. Cheers for getting back to me, back soon...

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 19:17

OK, first off its a Dell system! spec is as follows...

Dell Dimension DM0051

Pentium(R) 4CPU 3.20GHz
3.19GHz, 1.00GB of RAM

wbc1 · 6 Jun 2009 at 19:24

That is pretty out of date now, a new build would be better.

What's your budget?

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 19:54

mmmm, well it isn't much i'm affraid. Maybe around the £400 mark?

The only other problem as you can probably see from my previous choice of Dell, is that i have no experience whatsoever in the self building of a system. Would a complete novice such as myself have much success with such an endeavour??!

Glaucus · 6 Jun 2009 at 19:57

Well i7 would be the ideal choice for hd image editing and it would win over the others by a mile. However that's way out of your budge.

Problem is some dells can only take dell mobo and dell psus. But I'm sure if you post the model someone could help you out.

I would be looking at a intel c2q, p43/p45 mobo, 4gb ram.

if you have to upgrade the lot, this is as close to 400 as I could get.

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 20:10

Thank you that certainly looks a lot better that what i am using, whether or not i would be able to put the thing together would be another matter.

The other thing i was considering was a dual screen setup so that i could edit on one screen and use the other as a preview monitor. Do you need some kind of special graphics card for that kind of thing?

Glaucus · 6 Jun 2009 at 20:20

gfx card with dual dvi connectors. most have this.

Assembling is easy. Just take your time and watch a few videos. Although that spec does not come with windows so you would need to add that on.

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 20:26

Oh ok thanks a lot for that. I have a copy of windows on my current system, but i'm guessing it isn't transferable right?

Glaucus · 6 Jun 2009 at 20:28

not unless it's retail. which your's almsot certainly wont be.

Jimpowers79 · 6 Jun 2009 at 22:27

oh ok. why would a retail version be transferable?

RJC · 6 Jun 2009 at 22:56

OEM software it tied to the motherboard it was originaly installed on, if this fails then the License goes, by transfering it to another motherboard / system you will be breaking the EULA and not legally licensed.

Retail software costs more but allows you to update any part of the system including the motherboard belongs your only ever running one instance of the software.

Glaucus · 7 Jun 2009 at 12:04

RJC said:
Retail software costs more but allows you to update any part of the system including the motherboard belongs your only ever running one instance of the software.

Just to clarify, it allows you not just to upgrade any part, but also switch it to another system. As long as you only have one instance installed at any one time.