How is MEP performance affected by computer?

Kami_1 wrote on 9/4/2015, 1:10 PM

Hi,

I'm looking at new computers.  I've been wondering how much the processor, memory and graphics card affects MEP's performance, esp. with video rendering and viewing edited videos on the timeline.

I'm looking at Lenovo "Thinkstation" with 16 GB Ram.

1)  How much performance difference will I see between a Xeon E5-2609 v3 Processor (15MB Cache, 1.90GHz) and a E5-2620 with 2.40 GHz?

2) Same question for a Nvidia Quadro K620 with 2 GB vs. K2200 with 4 GB.

Thanks for any input.

Kami

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/4/2015, 5:35 PM

Hi Kami

Unless you are intending to also use the PC as a highend gaming machine I would recommend the following:

Intel i5 or i7 4th or 5th generation processor with integrated HD graphics - do not need an extra graphics card with these, in my experience there is no advantage except for some New Blue plugins for MEP.

16GB RAM minimum 32GB preferable

1 x 1TB  + 1 x 2TB (min) SATA 6 hard drives - one for Windows and programs, the other for data.

BD / DVD writer

If you only want a single monitor then a 24 inch one is preferable - you can get away with a 22 in if pushed - or my preference 2 x 22 in monitors (with DVI and VGA input)

Make sure the PC comes with pre-installed Windows 10 - ie not preinstalled Windows 8.1 which you have to upgrade to 10 - there are issues with this route which Microsoft have to fix.

If the PC comes with Norton or McAfee anti virus I would uninstall them and use a lighter weight alternative - I use the Avast free edition and it works very well and does not slow the PC down.

. . . . How much performance difference will I see between a Xeon E5-2609 v3 Processor (15MB Cache, 1.90GHz) and a E5-2620 with 2.40 GHz? . . . .

I would avoid Xeon processors - they are designed for mainly server use and high end CAD.

. . . . Nvidia Quadro K620 with 2 GB vs. K2200 with 4 GB. . . . .

I would also avoid any high end graphics cards they are really designed for gaming and do not always perform rendering very well and may have compatibility issues.

The maximum video throughput speed is going to depend on where any bottleneck in the computer system is - this is usually the hard drives - SSD drives are not a big advantage for video editting and their capacity / price is a limiting factor..

HTH

John EB

.

Last changed by johnebaker on 9/4/2015, 5:45 PM, changed a total of 5 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Kami_1 wrote on 9/6/2015, 8:10 PM

Hi John, Thanks for your input. 

Good to know about the graphics cards and SSD drives for video.  The reason for the Xeon processors is because that's what comes with the Lenovo ThinkStation I'm looking at; it's designed so hard drives and components simply slide in without having to attach wires and cables.  That's a big plus for me because I want to have in the new computer one of my current hard drives which has all my original video files.

Because of those video files, I'm way beyond 1 TB drives. 

But I take from your comments that I can select a base Xeon drive, a 2 GB graphics card, and spend the money on Ram.

Monitors.... I've been using two for a few years; one is also a TV, full HD.  Even with 24" monitors, two is great for working with MEP.

I've yet to see a computer ship with Win 10.  You get one with Win 7 or Win 8, then get the annoying Microsoft popup to upgrade.  (There is no way I'm going near Win 8.)

Thanks again.

 

 

johnebaker wrote on 9/7/2015, 6:03 AM

Hi Kami

My recommendation is to avoid Xeon processors   As I said before they are designed for servers and high end CAD workstations.

There are several reasons why:-

  1. The extra cost for Xeon processors with no real speed advantage*
     
  2. Potentially introducing issues using Xeon processors.
     
  3. Locking your self in to specific RAM type requirements (depends on Xeon processor) which can get expensive.

* the slowest component in the computer system will always cause a bottleneck - this is usually the hard drives, so no matter how much faster a processor is, the speed at which video data can be transferred to / from the hard drive will always be the limiting factor.

. . . . . Lenovo ThinkStation I'm looking at; it's designed so hard drives and components simply slide in without having to attach wires and cables . . . .

A great idea, however again you are paying extra for something which you only need to do when a component fails.

If you want to use multiple hard drives and swap then in/out - which is not a particularly good idea if you spread a project across multipe drive - then you could have a hard drive caddy fitted to the computer and purchase several caddies.  I used to use these when I had a PC with limited number of hard drive bays.

To give you an idea of performance that can be achieved with an Intel i5-4670K 3.4 GHz, 16Gb RAM, 1Tb +2Tb HDD + 60Gb SSD computer, I regularly render (export) full HD video projects at speeds from 0.5 to 1 x real time depending on the project complexity.

HTH

John EB

 

Last changed by johnebaker on 9/7/2015, 6:03 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Kami_1 wrote on 9/9/2015, 11:24 AM

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I'm not getting email notifications that I have replies.

You gave me much to think about, which I appreciate, esp. lack of speed advantage with the Xeon processors.

The hard drive swapping was to put my current hard drive with all my original video files into a new computer without any hassle. 

I'm unfamiliar with "caddies."  Is there a *good* article about them somewhere? 

Cost aside, is there an advantage with the graphics card to have 4 GB memory over 2 GB? 

Thanks much!

Kami

johnebaker wrote on 9/9/2015, 2:00 PM

Hi Kami

. . . . The hard drive swapping was to put my current hard drive with all my original video files into a new computer without any hassle . . . .

Fitting a hard drive is a matter of four screws and two cables - one for power and the other for data.  If you feel comfortable doing this there are many tutorials online how to do this.

. . . . I'm unfamiliar with "caddies."  Is there a *good* article about them somewhere? . . . .

You will not need a caddy system if you are installing your existing drive as a data drive.  Caddies fit in one of the drive bays where you would put a DVD/BD drive and allow you to plug in hard drives which are fitted to the actual caddy, they are only useful if you want to swap out hard drives regularly.

. . . . Cost aside, is there an advantage with the graphics card to have 4 GB memory over 2 GB? . . . .

None - unless you are going to use the computer for gaming as well.  Fitting a 4GB graphics card will reserve 4GB of RAM for itself even though it has its own memory, so you end up with less available for Windows and programs.

On my previous computer I reverted back to a 1GB card from a 2GB card because of the reservation of RAM and no discernable increase in speed with MEP in rendering - I do not play games on my computer.

HTH

John EB

Last changed by johnebaker on 9/9/2015, 2:00 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Kami_1 wrote on 9/9/2015, 3:08 PM

Thank you!  I learned a lot here (video & rendering only, no gaming, no 3D).

I installed hard drives when I was younger.  Very difficult now.  As I mentioned, I want to swap in the data drive from my current computer, so I don't have to copy all the video files to a new computer.  So I'd like to look further into caddies.