PC Build (Many thanks to Harm's articles)
Editor Naama Jul 2, 2010 2:12 PMHello all.
For the past months I've been reading a lot about Hardware for building a new system. Actually it all started a few months back while reading Harm's excellent guide:A PC buying guide for NLE (mainly Intel)I also read To RAID or not to RAID, that is the question and a few more of his great articles. I printed and marked it. That led me to read other forum threads, and other sites, and so I made my own list. It was a lot of work!!! I learned a lot! I'm not sure I'll do that for my next build, but anyhow I've learned a lot and I'm about to go to the computer folks as a more knowledgeable customer who knows what to buy. Thank you very much Harm Millard!
Anyhow, I'd like to hear a few opinions. Here's my plan:
A system for Production premium CS4 (will upgrade in a few years or when I feel there is a need, not right now), editing DV and possibly HD formats (not uncompressed)
CPU: i7930
MoBo: GigaByte GA-X58A-UD3R
Ram: 6/9/12 GB RAM
Win 7 pro.
disk setup:
1. OS &Programs (500 GB)
2. Backed up captured/imported media (RAID0 2x 500 GB)
3. Scratch (media cache, preview files). (Raid 0 2 X 500GB) exports?
4. Projects, digital media, media created for the project, exports [(500 GB) or 1 TB?]
5. Miscellaneous. (500 GB)
Using these disks:
· Samsung HD103SJ 1TB SATA 2 32MBSpinpoint F3 –
· Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ,500GB,7200rpm,16 MB Cache
GPU
· nvidiaGTX-285/280/275/260/250
Or
· Nvidia9800GX2 or 8800gts
OR
· QuadroFX 580 or Quadro FX 1800
My questions are:
- How much RAM?
3x2GB Ram=6GB - Could that be enough?Is it true that if I want 12GB RAM I better buy a set of 12 and not 2 sets of 6? what about a set of 3X2GB RAM=6 + 3X1GB RAM= 9GB?
- What do you think about my disk setup?
I planned it that way so that no crucial unrecoverable file would be on the risky raid0. I think perhaps to first export files to the raid array for speed, and afterwards, transfer to the non raid disk. Are the disk sizes right? 500 GB or 1TB for no.4 (projects, digital media and export)?
- GPU
A card that would be enough for CS4: Premiere,After Effects, Photoshop, Flash and the rest of the suite. No need for CUDA approved cards at the moment. I think open GL is relevant for After Effects. I still have to check availability and real prices on those cards. What do you recommend?
Extra smaller questions of preference:
What's your preferences regarding an adobe keyboard vs. stickers vs. a regular keyboard?
What's your preferred monitor set up? 2 small ones or one big screen?
Is a Firewire 800 card useful for you?
Any opinions or comments would be of great value!!! Thank you all in advance!





