Help with a machine for video capture

[Olimain]

First of all hi to everyone - long time lurker however first time poster. I hope that you can give me as good advice as you seem to provide for everybody else.

I am looking for a Motherboard/Processor/Heatsink+Fan/RAM to stick in a case I already have which will be suitable for capturing video through firewire (and eventually through a BlackMagic Decklink card). Therefore the motherboard must have firewire and for now on board graphics as I never game but would like the facility to put something better in in the future should I wish to do some higher level video editing.

I have a case with a 350W PSU (I assume as I'm not running a serious graphics card this will suffice?) and DVD and HDD (running XP Pro) already. Looking at a spend of about £200

This is what I put together from reading the other posts on the forum. Does it sound ok? Will the motherboard support 1394?

4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core, E5200, Socket 775, Wolfdale Core, 2x2.5 GHz, 2MB Cache
Gigabyte GA-EG45M-DS2H
Scythe Ninja II Heatpipe Cooler

Many thanks in advance

Oli

[staffsMike]

Looks fine. I will report back my feelings on the ninja II when I get one (tomorrow) but don't rule out this
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=26857

currently £23 on www.scan.co.uk/todayonly.

Those G45's certain are expensive though, especially since the onboard graphics isn't up to much.

Have you considered AMD. It's a good route to take for low budget, high end onboard graphics

[Funkstar]

I wouldn't insist on Firewire built in, I'd look at getting a separate firewire card with a Texas Instruments chip set.

It's not that common now, but you used to get problems with some of the other Firewire implementations, but the TI chip has always been solid. Also means you'll end up with a couple of ports, not just one. They are only about £10 or so anyway.

For graphics, it might be useful to get something Nvidia so you can take advantage of the graphics acceleration as part of their CUDA platform. All the new Adobe stuff can take advantage of hardware acceleration.

[Olimain]

Thanks for the quick reply Mike. I haven't actually considered AMD, just automatically went with Intel for some reason! Any recommendations?

[Olimain]

Funkstar, would the Scan 8 Port USB/Firewire Combo PCI Card be likely to use the TI chipset?

[staffsMike]

Well you can get a 780G (or 780V which I also have coming tomorrow) for about £50.

Same RAM and cooler would leave about £85 for a CPU. Thats either

Low power quad core (2.2GHz)
Triple Core 2.2 -2.3GHz
Dual Core.. anything you like. 3.1Ghz is about £60 from scan. Just makes sure its a brisbane/65nm chip.

Take the chip speed with a pinch of salt, Intel is still a bit faster but I think you get a far better package with AMD.

[Funkstar]

Funkstar, would the Scan 8 Port USB/Firewire Combo PCI Card be likely to use the TI chipset?

At least I think it was the TI chipset that was the best

That card hav a VIA chipset going by the photo

Looks like it's only this one that has the TI chipset: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Lycom...Low-Hi-Profile

[Olimain]

At least I think it was the TI chipset that was the best

That card hav a VIA chipset going by the photo

Doh!

[Olimain]

So would I be better off going for a Phenom X4 9500 Agena Core, AM2+, 2.2GHz or the 3.1GHz Dual Core?

Thanks again,

Oli

[staffsMike]

Depends on what software you use. If it uses 4 cores then the quad if it only uses 2 or even 1, then the dual will be better.

[fuddam]

for CAPTURE, you could use the oldest machine you could lay your hands on - lol

editing is a different beast

[Olimain]

System is working brilliantly (other than rebooting a couple of times when multitasking?)

Thanks for the help Mike & others, very pleased with what I got for £200.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What did you get in the end BTW??

Perhaps a new PSU is in order if the computer is rebooting at times of stress!!

You can get this 350w Silverstone for under £30 from Scan:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/350W-...ATA-80plus-Eff

It is £21.84 on Today Only!