Need advice for my new work computer!!

[AprilSeven]

Hi guys,

I'm a graphic artist/webmaster who is now beginning work on videos for my office, and I need some help figuring out what components the new machine should have (a bit difficult when it comes to computing power working on the videos). The machine needs to run "happily" (handling very heavy graphics/photos/video) for 5 years.

Has to be a Dell and here's what I've heard so far from other artists/IT people

basic specs

Quad Core minimum, 6-Core is better
8 GB memory good - 16 GB better
Two 1 TB hard drives - at least 7,200 rpm (10,000 rpm is better)
Video Card (Nvidia) 2 GB if possible, with CUDA (suggested 3500 Quadro)

sound okay? I'm looking for a machine that will be robust enough for when everyone wants their programs as videos on YouTube and I'm going crazy in a couple years.

the question right now is focused on the video cards - the guy at Dell is pretty weak in knowledge (not that I'm all that great) and says we could handle the card as a single card or two 1 GB cards.

Any thoughts?

Oh, yes, and ASAP as she wants to order this tomorrow!

THANKS GUYS!!!!

Programs I run:

QuarkXpress 5.0 and 8.0
Adobe CS5 (Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Acrobat)
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
Dreamweaver MX (the CS5 version is a P.I.T.A.)
Microsoft Office and Publisher

In other words, you name it, I use it!

[diehard67]

more is always better, especially when doing stuff like video editing.
also make sure that you have upgrade options.
like get a board that can accept more then 1 graphics card even if you only get 1 for now.
you want to get ram that has fast timings, look for ram for gaming.

have you considered using an SSD for your os and apps, then use a regular harddrive for the data, your os and apps will load a lot faster from an ssd, then you have the other drive(s) for storing your video, pics and docs.

Intel's new sandybridge cpus have video transcending right on the chip and according to tekzilla can out perform a desecrate graphics card in at-least 1 case.

also why not email tekzilla, they will have a lot more info them me on this stuff.
http://revision3.com/tekzilla/

why does the computer have to be a dell?????

[AprilSeven]

Thanks for your suggestions, Diehard!

I have to purchase a Dell because of that's the "approved" brand for the university I work for, and we have to purchase it through their educational purchase department. It's really pathetic - I admit I'm shallow on current technical knowledge, although I used to be a software/IT/graphics person - so I can pretty much follow along.

This "sales rep" didn't know if the "recommended" machine had dual or quad core processors and if a 6-core was available (it wasn't). Basically my supervisor handed him a list of software, and he gave her the cheapest model that would meet the minimum requirements - but - as you suggested there was no room for expansion.

I like the idea of an ssd, but taking a quick peek on what's out there - it appears that they tend to have problems with holding up under the stress of heavy graphics apps - but if she gives me more time, I'll definitely check that out! Ditto with the sandybridge.

My problem is my boss is of those people who can never give you what you ask for (she assumes I'm asking for too much), so I'm worried this machine is going to be underpowered, but if it is, I'll just have to deal with it!

Good idea about Tekzilla (Veronica Belmont is my voice double)!! I haven't watched that in a while. Do you watch TWIT? My husband and I used to watch Diggnation every week.
I nominate KEVIN ROSE to play a teen Astro in a live action version!!
Now . . . time for work. Thanks again, Diehard!

kr_as_ab.jpg (23.68 KiB) Viewed 144 times

[fafner]

I don't see any 3D rendering software in the listed applications. Did I miss one or did you forget one? Because if there is none you really really don't need a 2 Gb graphics card, and certainly not 2 whatever the specs.

[AprilSeven]

Thanks, fafner

No, no 3-D stuff. But a couple folks said that the extra GB would boost the speed with which video and DTP projects with heavy high-res images (like our annual report, etc.) would load/run on the machine.

Not sure what I've got in the current machine, but if I download video from the camera, I can literally do NOTHING ELSE because the machine is so bogged down.

Also when I use large images (I do huge banners/posters with photos, etc.) I sometimes have to break the job into sections to work on it. But the videos were the WORST, and they are HD videos of day-long classes so they are even LONGER than a "movie."

But I'm happy to not ask to spend the extra $$$ if I don't need to!

[fafner]

I can't be certain for very high definition videos, but the way I think it is done they are boosted a lot by RAM on the motherboard, not on the graphics card. The more memory you have on the motherboard, the more frames you can store in it without swapping them out to disk. So long as you can store a single frame in the memory card, you're good to go. And seriously, I don't except any video to exceed 1 Gb per frame, that's 30k x 30k pixels, or more than 100 high-definition screens stacked 10x10