Too Many Options - Simple Video Editing and Converting - Please Help

Hello,

I am thouroughly confuded on what would be best for video editing and conversion from Mini DV to dvd. Maybe M-peg4 in the future. I do not wantto do anything fancy. i like Nero. I want to download video, may some small editing, add somestill pics, add some menus and go.

There are too many options, AMD, Intel, hyperthreading, p4, p-M, duel core, AMD 64 Etc.

I know that one of the 1st questions will be what is my budget. I do not know yet. I would like to see a simple list (for a simple person) that says something like

Intel xxx processor, x cache, x memory - absolute best - est time 1 hr video
AMD xxx processor, x cache, x memory - best
Intel xxx processor, x cache, x memory - Very good

As far as hard drives go - I think that is simple - the bigger the more you can store. I am more worried about time processing time and computer freezing.

I had a laptop with 512mb ram, 2.4ghz p4, 40gb drive. Froze all the time, I needed to stop all startup processes, run know applications, start from a reboot and hold my breath and hope it would not freeze. Recently I broke the computer.

Maybe is cannot bethat simple - but if it can that would be great.

Thank you,

Anthony

 

if you're very serious about it, you're best going with a mac. Only thing mac's are good for.

 

Thanks for the reply - I know some people that think the only computer in the world is a MAC. The problem is all my other software is Windows compatable.

What makes a MAC so good? No crashing? Faster? What makes them bad at everything else?

Thanks,

Anthony

 

they crash alright they aren't all too fast and they're expensive. Very expensive. They just are good for video editing and sound manipulation.
the g5's are 64-bit with a 64-bit operating system which is pretty nifty.

I don't know much about mac's and really, I don't care to. They are uncompatable with most programs, and gaming to them is like pulling teeth.

 

OK.

This is not coming from me but from a mate who is a complete Video editing freak but BIG TIME :good:

He used to use AMD but converted to Prescott 3.0GHz which his mobo overclocks to around 3.2 when needed. Do not ask me.... I would not know a fart about it.

Next, RAM - at least 1GB if you can. Then again I use 512MB DDR400 and It seems to do for me. From the sound of it I do a hell of a lot more than you.
HDD - if you can SATA. They are mega quick and price wise not that much more expensive to their ATA couterparts.
Graphics - again as quick as you can I have 128MB card and it seeems OK.

To be honest, you will have pro's and con's to every setup... you'll see...

This is my setup which has seen a lot of Video conversions -
P4 Prescott 3.0Ghz not overclocked in any way but HT enabled.
512MB DDR400 PC3200 RAM
ATI Radeon 128 MB G card
Drives: 120GB SATA Drive and 20GB Quantum Fireball 5400RPM for garbage.

Really not a top end machine but does the job. What I would suggest is at least 400W PSU which is a must for Prescotts and cooling, cooling, cooling, cooling!!!
It could be that your system froze because of it.... or lack of RAM? who knows? not me....
To wrap my little input - For transferring from DV to my machine, I use the software which came with my firewire card. It allows me to transfer uncompressed or to compress on the fly to any format I choose. For video conversions I always used Nero. The problem is price. I do not like to pay for my software so I use freeware. Loads out there. You know what? Why not go here - http://www.videohelp.com/
I challange you to find this site unhelpfull!!!!

Ahhh, and one last thing, just to confuse matters more - my mate uses Linux. Do not know why but he says he will never ever edit or convert video with XP ever again..... Don't look at me..... hah: I use XP pro and happy as pig in shit with it :good:

Let the forum know how you get on.....

 

That's the other piece of the puzzle. Linux on x86 hardware vs the Mac is a different story than Windows on x86 hardware vs. the Mac.

Linux may work out well for you. Of course, if you've been running Windows for awhile, you're probably gonna find it tricky to just jump over, but you should still be able to find loads of freeware stuff.