Question for the Computer Guys

[dbaldock]

It's a good thing this forum doesn't have thread-drift...


So, for most Audio / Video applications, if you're (re)building a system from scratch (new M/B, CPU, Memory, Video Card), is it better to use a 4-Core Processor that has a higher clock frequency rather than a 6-Core Processor with a lower clock frequency - if the bus speeds are ~same?


BTW (to feed the drift) - I've been running Linux for ~10 years. My current PC (Dual-Core Opteron 185 (2.6 GHz) on an Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe M/B, with 4 GB DDR-400 Memory) does have WinXP Pro installed on one of the Raptor drives, and I do boot into M$ Windows every month or two to download security patches. I'm considering upgrading to a Core i7-950 processor on a socket 1366 M/B, with 12 - 24 GB of DDR3-2000 Memory (and a new Video Card). Why does it seem like every time I build / upgrade my PC, it costs another USD$1,200 - USD$1,500?

Take Care,
David Baldock

[BoostFab]

i7 quad core is the way to go as far as in terms of the "cost - benefit ratio". if you can afford the i7x the 6cores is even better for video editing/encoding/decoding. don't skim out on the video card either.

i just built this for a friend: i7quad, gtx460, 16gb ram, 4tb hdd.; i would over-clocking to 4ghz, but my friend is too scared. LOL

[Harley]

I've enjoyed many accents, but the most unintelligible was a guy from New Zealand..... Whatever it was, it was highly entertaining and he laughed at himself every 30 seconds or so.

You really do have to catch them when they are sober to get any sense out of them - you should know that!

[LelandCrooks]

Off topic, but still computer

I have a VCD disc I need to edit. Video on cd. It looks like an audio cd when you look at the files. It was trashed, the brasso polishing trick resurrected it, burned a backup image on my hd. Now I need to edit it. What the hell do I use? Preferably free.

[bzb]

Off topic, but still computer

I have a VCD disc I need to edit. Video on cd. It looks like an audio cd when you look at the files. It was trashed, the brasso polishing trick resurrected it, burned a backup image on my hd. Now I need to edit it. What the hell do I use? Preferably free.

You get a Mac and use iMovie I use Final Cut Pro for large movies and iMovie for quick clip generation. Love the workflow on the Mac for movie editing.

Windows Movie Maker for Vista or Win7: http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker

If you're on XP, I think you have to use 2.1: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/down ... aker2.mspx


You may have to convert the files to something WMM can use first. For that, I think you can use Expression Encoder on the trial. There's a bunch of other methods out there to re-encode, but they're a lot more involved (such as ffmpeg). Last resort, if it's small enough to send, I can re-encode it for ya.

[bzb]

i7 quad core is the way to go as far as in terms of the "cost - benefit ratio". if you can afford the i7x the 6cores is even better for video editing/encoding/decoding. don't skim out on the video card either.

i just built this for a friend: i7quad, gtx460, 16gb ram, 4tb hdd.; i would over-clocking to 4ghz, but my friend is too scared. LOL

Love my Hackintosh

I built one for under $700 almost two years ago using a Shuttle SG45, Q9440, 8GB ram, a fanless 9500GT that I got for $20 at Microcenter (!!), and using a couple hard drives and other components I already owned. It smokes - scores in the 8000 range on Geekbench.

[Drey Chennells]

u guys are awesome. I'd join you in the nerd off but woefully, I can't. So I added you both to my bfm friends for future reference in computer goodness. I'm chopping up a box of stout computer power supplies to run 2 of the 4 channel T amps..

[LelandCrooks]

Thanks. It's a little big to send. 1hr video. Expressions has a 10 minute limit. There was precursor to it that's no longer supported. I'll find it.

[bzb]

Thanks. It's a little big to send. 1hr video. Expressions has a 10 minute limit. There was precursor to it that's no longer supported. I'll find it.

http://pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Pr ... =PN-SW-ST1

Fully featured 14-day trial. Learning curve is a bit higher than WMM/iMovie, as it's based off Avid's software IIRC... but it'll do you fine for slicing that video into chunks.

Check your PM, too.

[Les Webb]

Thanks. It's a little big to send. 1hr video. Expressions has a 10 minute limit. There was precursor to it that's no longer supported. I'll find it.

Boot from a current Ubuntu live CD and use Pitivi. Its very simple and easy.

[LelandCrooks]

Boot from a current Ubuntu live CD and use Pitivi. Its very simple and easy.

Ubuntu. I have not a clue anything about it. I quit trying to be a real geek after windows 95.

[BoostFab]

windows 95.

live is a lot better and more productive after Winblows LOL

[Gauss]

I've enjoyed many accents, but the most unintelligible was a guy from New Zealand..... Whatever it was, it was highly entertaining and he laughed at himself every 30 seconds or so.

You really do have to catch them when they are sober to get any sense out of them - you should know that!

I stayed a couple weeks with some New Zealand 'grandparents.' They were extremely kind, and the grandpa was hilarious. He kept saying things like, "That's fair dinkham," and "Look at that jugger," which was supposed to be joker.

[dbaldock]

i7 quad core is the way to go as far as in terms of the "cost - benefit ratio". if you can afford the i7x the 6cores is even better for video editing/encoding/decoding. don't skim out on the video card either.
...

It's interesting that the AMD Phenom 6-Core Processors range in price from USD$180 to USD$270, and the Intel Core i7 6-Core processors are USD$900 & USD$1,000 (at Newegg.com).

Is the $900 Intel processor really more than 3x the performance of the $280 AMD processor? And how does the performance of the i7-950 4-Core processor (USD$295) compare to the Phenom II X6 1100T 6-Core processor (USD$280)?

Take Care,
David Baldock

[BoostFab]

It's interesting that the AMD Phenom 6-Core Processors range in price from USD$180 to USD$270, and the Intel Core i7 6-Core processors are USD$900 & USD$1,000 (at Newegg.com).

Is the $900 Intel processor really more than 3x the performance of the $280 AMD processor? And how does the performance of the i7-950 4-Core processor (USD$295) compare to the Phenom II X6 1100T 6-Core processor (USD$280)?

Take Care,
David Baldock

definitely the Phenom x6, no doubt-- if you're looking for bang for every dollars worth. sorry, I was in the hackintosh mindset, therefore I've only mentioned Intel. the performance of the 980x over the Phenom2 x6 is measurable, and not just marginally. However, the The price point offered by AMD is amazing compared to Intel.