Video Editing PC Build - Needs Tweaking

[mikec82]

Budget is $1400. Looking for a machine with a primary use of video editing, so render speed is very important. Already have Adobe CC (Premiere, AE, etc.). I need to purchase Windows 8.1. This is just a beginners attempt - suggestions?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/K3Y923

 

[CTurbo]

I really like everything but the RAM. I changed a few other things for better reliability and value. Also, when the time comes to actually buy, you need to get the 1231v3 instead of the 1230v3. They're the same price, but the 1231v3 is newer and faster.


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Rg8rRB
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Rg8rRB/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($102.80 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-03 White ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($66.66 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Cooler Master R4-L2S-122B-GP 39.8 CFM 120mm Fans ($5.99 @ Newegg)
Other: nMEDIAPC ZE-C98 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader ($23.99)
Total: $1391.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[RealBeast]

If you are not a gamer and really want top performance out of Premiere, I would go with a cheaper video card and use the money to buy an additional SSD for use as an Adobe scratch disk.

 

[mikec82]

I really like everything but the RAM. I changed a few other things for better reliability and value. Also, when the time comes to actually buy, you need to get the 1231v3 instead of the 1230v3. They're the same price, but the 1231v3 is newer and faster.

Thanks! I don't see the 1231 on partspicker, but it's on newegg. I know I can add it to the parts list manually, but it won't check compatibility still, will it?

Also, what is the difference in the RAM? I notice it is significantly cheaper.

 

[mikec82]

If you are not a gamer and really want top performance out of Premiere, I would go with a cheaper video card and use the money to buy an additional SSD for use as an Adobe scratch disk.

I was planning on putting just the OS and Adobe on the 120GB SSD. Would that work ok?

Also, I was going back and forth between the GTX760 and 770. The 760 is $75 cheaper. Since I don't play games at all, would this be an ok downgrade for my use? Edit: Looks like Adobe doesn't support GPU acceleration for the 760.

 

[RealBeast]

The 760 is more than you need for good video rendering. I use an old card (HD 5850) on my video editing machine and it has minimal impact on performance. You should put the OS and Adobe products on the same SSD, but if you add a second SSD (even an old 60-80GB, I use an old Intel) it will enhance performance. Take a look at your Adobe manual or their online support -- adding a second SSD and properly configuring it as a scratch disk makes a significant difference. It does require specific setup in Premiere or Photoshop to work best.

 

[mikec82]

The 760 is more than you need for good video rendering.

This is a beginner question, but since Adobe doesn't support the 760 for GPU acceleration, would I be losing significant performance?

 

[mikec82]

I had to downgrade a couple of things, because once I put them in my shopping cart, because the total cost (before rebates) ended up being almost $1900. I've got it down to about $1550 after taxes with this setup:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/m2xH7P

 

[CTurbo]

1231v3 is $244.99 and is the same socket as the 1230v3

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?p=E3-1231V3B&c=fr&pid=8a2ccd4554b9771b650d4a90af824beb67473acab91324bf4f09ee08e2827f5e&gclid=CJGmnZGPvr8CFW4Q7Aodhm0Anw

 

[rhapdog]

I see one of the changes CTurbo made to your setup is to replace your 32GB kit with 2 individual 16GB kits.

Please, please don't buy 2 separate 16GB RAM kits to attain 32GB. Get a 32GB kit. They can be had cheaper than 2 16GB kits, and you may not get 2 16GB kits that are compatible, even if they are the same brand and model. They need to be purchased as a kit to use all 4 together with any guarantee of total compatibility. Just sayin'.

Another point about the memory in your setup... If you aren't going to buy ECC memory, then what is the point in getting the Xeon processor over an i7 processor? The particular Xeon you're looking at is less powerful than an i7-4790K, though you'll spend more for the 4790K. However, as stated earlier by several in this thread, you won't get a performance hit by downgrading the video card. Adobe is more CPU intensive than GPU intensive, so pick up a stronger CPU if possible. The more cores the better, though the higher core count Xeons are getting out of the price range pretty quickly.

Don't have time to work on a build for you, but thought I'd throw in my 2 cents on it.

At least, if you're getting the Xeon, downgrade the graphics card a bit and throw in ECC RAM for good measure.

 

[CTurbo]

Please, please don't buy 2 separate 16GB RAM kits to attain 32GB. Get a 32GB kit. They can be had cheaper than 2 16GB kits, and you may not get 2 16GB kits that are compatible, even if they are the same brand and model. They need to be purchased as a kit to use all 4 together with any guarantee of total compatibility. Just sayin'.

I have read this a lot on here, but in over 20 years of working with PCs, I have NEVER at any time seen two dual channel kits of similar memory NOT work together.

Also, it is in fact cheaper to get two 2x8GB kits as opposed to one 4x8GB kit. The two 16GB kits @ 1600mhz I selected are $20 cheaper than the one 32GB kit @ 1333mhz that he had listed initially.

The point of the Xeon is it's tremendous value. It's $90 cheaper than the 4790k, and then he's not going to put a 4790k on a H97 motherboard so there's more money and then even more money spent on a good cooler. The Xeon has the same amount of cores, cache, and hyperthreading. Though, unlike in a gaming build, he would actually benefit by overclocking, but is it worth all of the extra money? Unless he drops down to well below a GTX760, he can't afford to spend another $150+ on overclocking.

 

[rhapdog]

I have read this a lot on here, but in over 20 years of working with PCs, I have NEVER at any time seen two dual channel kits of similar memory NOT work together.

I started out repairing/servicing IBM Mainframes, then began working on PCs when they were first introduced. Did my first service/repair job back in 1977. Notice I said "working on" and not "working with". I have seen kits not work together. Most of the time they do, but not always, and there is no guarantee from the manufacturer. Many factors can affect a particular production run that can cause just enough differences to make it incompatible with a previous production run, but still be a good product on its own.

I have seen them NOT work together as recent as last month even, and about 6 times during 2014.

They may very well work together. In my experience there's about a 75% chance that they will. It's the 25% and the cost of shipping back for RMA that concerns me the most.

 

[RealBeast]

The 760 is more than you need for good video rendering.

This is a beginner question, but since Adobe doesn't support the 760 for GPU acceleration, would I be losing significant performance?

No, if you are not a gamer you could go with a much cheaper video card and be fine, the money on an additional SSD scratch disk is well spent though. I am currently (on this machine) rendering a video with CPU utilization of all 4 cores at 99-100% and by having my OS with Premiere on one SSD and a separate scratch disk SSD the times are close to half of what they would be using HDDs in my experience.