Computer Specs - editing HD

[Patrick Kaplin]

I've been looking to buy a new laptop (not for serious editing, just a good old home laptop) and have been considering between two Sony Vaios. Being somewhat overwhelmed by the mixed reviews and opinions I've received from various searches and enquiries, I've decided it would be best to ask people who have experience with high end post-production workflows.

My intention is to use the laptop to be able to cut my demo reel and to edit short projects (less 20mins.) shot on a 5d and transcoded to ProRes422. No major compositing, very little AE work... just cutting HD footage. Nothing too intensive, no Red work with this machine.

Here are my two options:

Sony's VAIO® CW-Series Notebook PC with Intel® Core™ i3 330M processor featuring Windows 7® Home Premium 64-bit

Processor
Type: Intel® Core™ i3 330M processor (2.13GHz)

Memory
Type: DDR3
Installed: 4GB PC3-8500 (2GBx2)
Maximum: 8GB
Speed: 1066MH

Hard Drive
Capacity: 500GB
Speed: 5400rpm
Interface: Serial ATA

Graphics
Processor: NVDIA® GeForce G310M GPU with Total Available Graphics Memory of 2007MB (max.)
Video RAM: 256MB dedicated video RAM
Chipset: Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset
Max. External Resolution via VGA: 2048x1536
Max. External Display Resolution via HDMI™: 1920x1080

Or

Sony's VAIO® F-Series Notebook PC featuring an Intel® Core i7 - 720QM (1.60HGz) CPU and NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 310M Graphics Card with 512MB VRAM


Processor
Type: Intel® Core™ i7 - 720QM
Speed: 1.60GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.80GHz
L3 Cache: 6MB
Technology: Intel® Core® 1 Quad Processor with Turbo Boost Technology

Memory
Type: DDR3 SDRAM
Installed: 6GB (2GBx2)
Maximum: 8GB
Speed: 1333MHz

Hard Drive
Capacity: 500GB
Speed: 5400rpm
Interface: Serial ATA

Graphics
Processor: NVIDIA® GeForce® 310M GPU
Total Available Graphics Memory: 2263MB (max.)
Video RAM: 512MB of dedicated video RAM
Chipset: Mobile Intel® PM55 Express Chipset
Max. External Resolution via VGA: 2048x1536
Max. External Display Resolution via HDMI™: 1920x1080


Obviously I'm leaning towards the i7, but my question is would the i3 be sufficient for basic editing and transcoding HD content? I want to be able to playback and edit HD content without skipping or sluggishness and would enjoy relatively fast transcode and render times. Is the difference between the i7 or i3 really that noticeable for the tasks I wish to do?

Thanks in advance for your help and advice. It is very much appreciated.

 

[Imran Farouk]

I'd go with number 2, 6GB Ram and i7 is definitely worth it...

for windows though, I'm not so sure about the editing stuff on there so don't know how the system would play out in terms of the differences between i3 and i7 but I've always gone for the higher processors to stay on the safe side...

Plus.. i7 for you has 6GB your i3 has 4GB. more Ram the better, though depends if your editing program uses it all up or not...like I said...windows person best to answer about program stuff but specs wise...

Second one is your computer I'd say.

are you losing anything but taking the second one?

 

[Bruce Ingram]

I'd really recommend up-grading that 5400 rpm drive to a 7200 if they offer it, it will save you future stress and give you better playback. Honestly, I'd hate to edit HD on a 5400 even with the more memory.

 

[Petr Dvorak]

ASUS N61JQ-X1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696

ASUS N71JQ-X1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220702

 

[Kenneth Elkington]

I agree in principal with Petr. You're paying a hefty "premium product" price if you go with a sony PC.

I'd say personally that if you're dead set on a laptop a Core i5 is probably you're best choice. It's got a larger cache and is faster than the i3, but is also substantially faster in single and double threaded tasks than the i7. If you look closely at the i7 model, it only runs at 1.6GHZ, versus the top-of-the-line mobile i5, which is 2.53 I believe. You'll also want a discreet graphics card like in the models Petr reccomended, so you can take advantage of DXVA video acceleration.

 

[Patrick Kaplin]

Thanks everybody for the advice. I'll probably go with the i5 but I'm still kicking around ideas. The only reason I would consider the i3 over the i7 is for the form factor. I like the smaller 14 inch design over the 17 inch but if it would be more advantageous to go with an i7 then I'll probably head in that direction. Thanks again!

 

[Petr Dvorak]

i7 is da best - 4 core at 1.6GHz and boost up to 2.8GHz when you need it!
i3 and i5 are only 2 core CPU's.

Asus is big factory which made laptops for Sony and several others.

 

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

If you are really going to work in Prores422 shouldn't you be looking at a macintosh?

edit/
I understand you can get the prores422 codec on quicktime for PC however my understanding is that the codec is strictly read only.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I have to agree with Craig.

But if you're working with R3Ds, then i5 is good, i7 is best.. But you're not, you're talking about 5D footage transcoded to ProRes-422... That's Mac territory there. Get a Macbook Pro -- updates real soon I think, they badly need a CPU bump. If you want to stay on a PC, then transcoding to ProRes is not the answer.

Sony Vaio??? Why? :-/