I am new this forum and have read many of the posts with great interest. I have not yet purchased the CL software but from everything I have read since first reading the PC Magazine review, it looks to meet my needs quite nicely. My only experience to date creating DVDs from home movies and slides (all digital content to begin with) is my wife's Macbook running iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto and iTunes. I have done enough of them that I feel very comfortable and productive using those tools.
Now it is time to transfer all of my analog (VHS, Hi-8, DV) content while the tapes are still readable. I have tested some of them and they all look pretty good. Now it is time to capture all the highlights of the kids growing up, our various family trips, etc. and create some DVDs that will last much longer.
So the reason for my post is to seek feedback on an ideal PC configuration for PD 12 (and the entire Director Suite). Fortunately budget is not that big of an issue for me although I would like to keep it reasonable. My old machine that I am looking to entirely replace is a Dell P4 2.8 ghz with 1 gig of Ram running Windows XP. Here is where my research has led me.
CPU: Intel appears to be the front runner with i7-4770 (no need for the K version unless you want to overclock)
Motherboard: Asus looks like one of the best, the Z87 Deluxe/Quad with the Thunderbolt ports is interesting but I haven't really seen any compelling uses of Thunderbolt in non-Mac products.
Operating system: Either Windows 7 Pro 64-bit or 8.1 but some say 7 is a safer way to go until Windows 9 comes out
GPU/Graphics Card: I have been told that CL is one of the few vendors that utilize the built in Intel 4600 graphics and that if you get a graphics card the performance will be seriously degraded because of too few lines. Before hearing this I was looking at the Nvidia 780.
Memory: Not sure if PD will benefit from 32 gig or will 16 gig suffice or less. Memory pricing is pretty cheap in the overall cost.
Storage:
1) SSD for the system device seems pretty straight forward. 250 gig, 500 gig, or ?
2) Secondary SSD for cache workspace or ?
3) Seagate Barracude 3 TB or WD Red 3 TB - both have phenomenal transfer rates but the Seagates spin at 7200 rpm versus the 5400 of the WDs
4) Other internal hard disks - target for all the converted analog content until it is put into a completed movie/slideshow project
5) Internal Raid, external raid or both - I can see the advantages of protecting all the content with Raid 10 and it looks as though an elegant solution would be something like the Synolgy box. Wasn't sure if this could also be the target of the capture and also use if for archive.
Monitors: 1 or 2? Desk space is a consideration but I could make a few adjustments to squeeze in two 24". Been reading some of the reviews, was surprised to see Asus as a popular one, would have expected Samsung etc.
Capture: Grass Valley ADVC-110 (Firewire connection) since I was told the Black Magic Design Intensity Shuttle (Thunderbolt version available) will not work with PD. If the copyright noise comes up step back to MSFT Moviemaker or the free one that has been mentioned here in these forums.
So thank you very much for taking time to read this and I look forward to your responses.
All the best,
Phil