GPU spec advice, (and other new PC questions)

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Lykho

253 posts

Ultimate Geek

#279689 1-Nov-2020 20:20

hey guys,
so I *fiiiiinally* replaced my 8+ year old budget build with a 2nd hand middling build,
and I have a question or two,
main one about GPU upgrades (I have no clue on compatibility, and welcome advice on important specs):

my primary desire is to do video editing with smooth accurate playback and minimal delays.
(I don't game *ever*, so that's not a factor, it's purely a work-station / multitasking home PC.)

this has over the years become impossible with my
Win 7 (32bit) + HDD + 2-core Athlon + 4GB DDR2
which can't even do mere VLC playback of 1080p.
I now have
WIN 10 Pro* (64bit) + SSD + 4-core Ryzen + 8GB DDR4 + onboard Radeon Vega graphics

so, I know a GPU is probably an intelligent addition, I just don't know how cheap is worth having at all, or how expensive is important (ya know, can I get a 2GB GPU and a new 8GB Kingston stick of RAM to do what I need, or do I really need to get a GPU with a lot more of its own RAM?)

(I'm in Chch if that's any help (maybe someone here has a compatible part to sell -- I'll most likely be hoping to get something affordable on FB Marketplace.)

*may do a clean install of Home instead (?good or bad idea?), or a clean install of Pro regardless, because I tried to set up some security question thing (my first time exploring Win10's features) and it wouldn't let me because apparently the password the builder gave me to log in is not the password they want for this.

also,
this thing sounds like a goddamn aircraft with only one rear fan as the cause AFAIK. what would you recommend I replace it with so I don't need earmuffs? (I think the fan on my old PC would fit (same size case AFAIK), but I'm not ready to migrate fully just yet)

also,
what's the standard choice for encryption for onboard folders and external drives with Win 10?
(I've been on Win 7 using TrueCrypt for years for peace of mind in the event of burglary)

cheers guys.

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#2595992 1-Nov-2020 20:34

What do you edit with? Some software uses GPU, some doesn't. I edit home video with premier elements, the built in video to that 10 year old chip works fine. I suspect your Ryzen will be fine too. Before you spend money see how it goes with what you have.

Clean OS install is often a good plan. Either OS.

Noctua make great fans, quite quiet. I put a manual fan controller in my PC as I could never work out how to get them controlled automatically, but my PC is pretty old so things have probably moved on since then.

Lykho

253 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2596018 1-Nov-2020 22:28

timmmay:

What do you edit with?

Clean OS install is often a good plan. Either OS.

thank you :)

I use VideoPad (was like a $50 program I bought online, dunno if anyone has heard of it)

timmmay

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#2596058 2-Nov-2020 06:20

Nah never heard of it. If it doesn't explicitly say it uses GPU it probably doesn't. Even if it does, does it use it to accelerate interactive editing or batch operations? If it's batch, is the savings in export time worthwhile for you?

Lykho

253 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2596086 2-Nov-2020 08:28

oh, also
it came with Windows 10 Pro
...but it says that it's not authenticated, and can't be
(the seller who assembled it reckoned it was.)

do I have to pay for a copy?
I was under the impression fresh installs were a free download these days
...but maybe that's just for fresh builds, and because of all the recycled hardware I'm gunna have to buy one?

timmmay

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#2596090 2-Nov-2020 08:50

Windows is not free, you have to pay for it. There were free upgrades from from older versions for a while.

xpd

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#2596114 2-Nov-2020 09:11

Lykho:

oh, also
it came with Windows 10 Pro
...but it says that it's not authenticated, and can't be
(the seller who assembled it reckoned it was.)

do I have to pay for a copy?
I was under the impression fresh installs were a free download these days
...but maybe that's just for fresh builds, and because of all the recycled hardware I'm gunna have to buy one?

Ask the seller how it was obtained - upgrade from 7 to 10, or a purchase ? If the latter, they'll have a key.

If the motherboard is different from what it was activated on, it'll fail activation.

I avoid buying complete 2nd hand systems, too many unknowns.......

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Lykho

253 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2596142 2-Nov-2020 09:57

xpd:

I avoid buying complete 2nd hand systems, too many unknowns.......

yeh. first time I've done it. only thing I could afford.

it took 30 minutes to get Chrome to load without 'not responding' and freezing my old computer today. something had to be done

Equinox IT

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Lykho

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Ultimate Geek

#2596707 3-Nov-2020 06:12

timmmay:

Windows is not free, you have to pay for it. There were free upgrades from from older versions for a while.

hmm, ok

so is this all I need?

I googled to find out the best place to get it (amazon, tastech, etc, ya know, the non Noel Leemings prices) (usually it's like $100-150 right?) but google is giving me all these $30 options. are they sketchy?
I have nothing against piracy, but I do want a legit O/S whatever it costs lol

timmmay

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#2596708 3-Nov-2020 06:30

I guess but Windows costs about $200 in NZ, if you can find it at a lot less than that you have to wonder if it's lefit.

Batman

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#2596735 3-Nov-2020 07:47

GPU - usually the bang in the middle of the range GPU of any series gives the best performance for dollar for video editing

so that'd be (i only know nvidia lineup sorry) 1060/1070, 2060/2070.

nvidia vs amd - depends on the program you use, it may or may not be optimized to one or another. historically these sort of programs are optimized to Nvidia but things may have changed in the last 2 years where AMD has started to become a major force in the gaming world - but I doubt video rendering programming engineers have caught on yet.

timmmay

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#2596736 3-Nov-2020 07:48

Batman:

GPU - usually the bang in the middle of the range GPU of any series gives the best performance for dollar for video editing

so that'd be (i only know nvidia lineup sorry) 1060/1070, 2060/2070.

nvidia vs amd - depends on the program you use, it may or may not be optimized to one or another. historically these sort of programs are optimized to Nvidia but things may have changed in the last 2 years where AMD has started to become a major force in the gaming world - but I doubt video rendering programming engineers have caught on yet.

No point with basic software that doesn't use a GPU.

Batman

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#2596740 3-Nov-2020 07:50

Lykho:

timmmay:

Windows is not free, you have to pay for it. There were free upgrades from from older versions for a while.

hmm, ok

so is this all I need?

I googled to find out the best place to get it (amazon, tastech, etc, ya know, the non Noel Leemings prices) (usually it's like $100-150 right?) but google is giving me all these $30 options. are they sketchy?
I have nothing against piracy, but I do want a legit O/S whatever it costs lol

i don't know if these are legit but i've used them a couple (? 3 times) and the programs work, and they still work today.

but each time my credit card will get stolen. right after using on these sites.... but i can't prove how they did it.

i suggest using a one off paypal and deleting your paypal right after buying something from these sort of places!

Batman

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#2596741 3-Nov-2020 07:51

timmmay:

Batman:

GPU - usually the bang in the middle of the range GPU of any series gives the best performance for dollar for video editing

so that'd be (i only know nvidia lineup sorry) 1060/1070, 2060/2070.

nvidia vs amd - depends on the program you use, it may or may not be optimized to one or another. historically these sort of programs are optimized to Nvidia but things may have changed in the last 2 years where AMD has started to become a major force in the gaming world - but I doubt video rendering programming engineers have caught on yet.

No point with basic software that doesn't use a GPU.

yes of course

xpd

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#2596743 3-Nov-2020 07:55

Warning with those keys..... as mentioned, they can work but have other "issues". Another thing with them too is that MS can label them as being deactivated, and won't allow them to be reactivated.

If you have a legit Windows 7 key, use that to activate a fresh matching install of 10 - has worked for me in the past (even after the "free" period).

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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cruxis

480 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2596747 3-Nov-2020 08:24

I went to eco drop / refuse station ,Took some photos of windows 7 pro keys stickers on dumped laptops and they worked installing and activating windows 10 pro.

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