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186
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 25/05/2008 16:33:40
Posts: 6,
Visits: 10
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Over the years I have built many computers - generally of the mundane "office" type, but I always learn a bit more from the frequent "build your own PC" articles that appear in MM (and in other mags). Normally I would not specifically ask for guidance as there is already enough out there, covering machines for the office, for photographers (still not movie), for gamers, for servers, for almost any purpose in fact.
However one type of machine never seems to get a mention - specifically an unashamed number cruncher for intensive processing like video encoding. Obviously for a machine of this nature such exotic items as high speed graphics cards, multiple USB ports, surround sound audio, etc. are not required. Indeed it may be possible to operate one without any graphics capability at all over a LAN. It may also be the case, I do not know that a light OS of the Linux variety would be better than Windows.
The last such machine I tried to build was a few years ago based on an ASUS P5P800SE, Pentum 4 3.2GHz, 2GB RAM and XP, but converting about 10 minutes worth of video into something I could put on a CD/DVD took so long that I gave up and re-allocated the PC to general duties.
So how about an article on such a project - this would include a spec for a high end machine for the comparatively rich and a spec for a more budget machine for the likes of us poor relations. It would, of course lead into considerations of software (free if possible), file formats, timings (most important - if I am going to be a cine director I want to spend my time shooting video, not sitting waiting for a computer), and tips on how to get the best out of the software and hardware.
If all that is too much, then how about a simple listing of suitable specs?
Failing that, a few lines on the problem page???
Here's hoping
Edit
I may, of course, be barking up the wrong tree and perhaps I do not need a PC at all! Maybe there is some super duper plugin hardware (PCI of USB) that would do the job just as well
It's easy when you know how!
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Pentium
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 21:27:13
Posts: 2,989,
Visits: 8,928
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Hi Old Timer 
There's a thread you might be interested in here:
http://forum.micromart.co.uk/Topic242129-19-1.aspx
where Slipstreem has got a load of us to test our hardware with a specific video and encode it with specific settings that give pretty much identical qaulity to the original file, but for a fraction of the size. There's also an efficiency column so you can see more than just the raw speed.
You may also want to have a look in the folding forum, where our resident number crunching lunatics hang out and put our processing power towards helping to find cures for cancer, alzheimers and other nasties.
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