Video Card for Video editing.

[BeastlyKings]

Hi,
I was wondering which video card i should get for video editing to be smooth and easy.

Abit AS8 mobo
4/8x AGP slot
Two 120Gb Sata HDD's
P4 socket 775 CPU
450W PSU
3Gb DDR RAM

I know that in former posts i said i was making a gaming machine but for now I'm going with video editing only.(maybe some games)

My OS will be Ubuntu.
All i need is a good video card, on the cheap side, that will serve my purpose. I know you say that "Google is my friend", So i searched Google and could not find the info. What i think i need is a actual person that knows these things and can tell me what i need to hear.

So if you could give me some advice on what to get i would be VERY thank full.

[Spatcher]

May I ask why Ubuntu for vid editing? If anything I'd use a PC unless you have a Mac because of Adobe programs. Or will you use the new Ubuntu that is geared specifically towards video editing/photo editing (although I don't think it's been released yet and I cannot remember the name).

I would get a nVidia (ATI doesn't work too well with *nix driver wise) and at least 128 mb.

[Fr4665]

search for ATI Firegl or Nividia Quadro
those are all video editing/rendering cards
note that with those cards you cant really play games well thers gaming video cards and then thers these.

[Inactive]

you would need fast HD access as well. setting up those 2 HDs using RAID0 would speed things up. keep in mind there is no redundancy using RAID0 so keeping backups would be important.

[BeastlyKings]

Thanks all for the help,
@Spatcher
I'm using Ubuntu because I'm sick of windows and want a change. I have used it before... just not for video editing.
Ubuntu Video edit link
Ubuntu Link 2

@Fr4665
Why are those cards so pricey?
NewEgg Link

@freddyhard
Yes thats what i was thinking of doing, The HDD's are 7200RPM so they are pretty fast but i think that they will be faster in RAID0 like you said.

Edit: Just Adding a few Links

[sinclair_tm]

why do they cost so much, because they are for a small group of high end users. they are work station cards. but for home computer video editing, the vid card really doesn't do the work, the cpu does. you need special apps to use the vid cards to do video work, and if you afford those apps, you can afford the vid cards that go with them. for agp, i'd get a nvidia 7 series card with 256mb, then it'd be good for games, and drawing the video on screen.

[BeastlyKings]

So should i just go for a standard 256Mb card?
If so, Which one?
Sorry for all the questions, I just need a card that will handle some novice video editing. As cheap as i can go without hurting performance. Thats what I'm looking for and i would be grateful if you could help.

[sinclair_tm]

any of these cards here will be good. i'd get a 7600gt if it was me.

[BeastlyKings]

Thank you very much, This is what i need.
Like i have said before, you guys really know your stuff.

Thanks again
-BeastlyKings

[superflysmith]

I think your asking for a lot of head aches trying to do video editing in Linux. I can't see you being able to find much support if you find yourself lost at how to do something. I wouldn't have minded giving it a try a few years ago but none of the big NLE companies support Linux.
Let us know how it goes. I'd be curious to know if you can make it happen.
Good Luck.

[BeastlyKings]

Yeah,
If it don't work then I'll just move to XP (unless Vista gets its but in gear) and use that. I will let you all know how it goes...

[ebackhus]

If you're just working with 2D video then you can get by on a cheapy PCI card. You don't need tons of VRAM, either. 8MB or 16MB is all you'd really need.

[BeastlyKings]

I'm working in 2D, I think...
My plan is to videotape me and my friends snowboarding, Load it into the computer, then edit it and add affects like fade in out.

I still want a decent card, Because in the far future I might Get Vista and want it to be able to handle that...
So I still want a 3D card.

[BeastlyKings]

Bump...

[Inactive]

the link that sinclair_tm posted (if i remember correctly) were all 3d cards. the link isn't working for me right now. in fact i'd go as far as to say that any video card of any reasonable price is a 3d accelerator.

[BeastlyKings]

Well I was thinking this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143083
How about that one for basic video editing and normal usage?
Maybe Vista in the future?

[BeastlyKings]

If not something cheaper but still affective...

[koala]

That card is fine for what you need. 128mb of GDDR3 memory is about as low as you want to go if you're planning on using it for 3D games, but it will easily be good enough for video editing. Whichever card you go for, check on the manufacturer's website or forums to see if there are Linux drivers available for it and how good they are.

Check your system's power requirements using this power calculator (add 30% to the total) before doing any hardware upgrades. New graphics cards tend to be more power-hungry than older ones, so if your current PSU is the generic one that came with the case, it might not be up to the job.

[BeastlyKings]

It says I need a 405W PSU and I added 30% and it came to 526W.
But I'm building the computer and i don't know exactly which CPU I have, That might not change it too much, Would it?
Either way, this is the PSU I think I'm going to get.

[koala]

The CPU could require an extra 50-150W (approx) depending on which one you go for.

You will need to know which CPU you're going to install before selecting a power supply. You're on the right lines with that excellent OCZ, although you may need a 650W.