CompuServe Thread

Andy, One of the ongoing projects I have been working on over the years is reviewing components to allow you to make your own PC for DTV work. My latest recommendation is based on i486 architecture, but I am currently working on a version of the specification for Pentium 90 systems. I anticipate thie evalations will be complete in 60 to 90 days and the specification recommendation will be uploaded then. If you would be interested in assempling your own PC, take a look at the following files in Library 2 for some ideas… PART1.ZIP, PART2.ZIP, and PART3.ZIP (these require an IBM-type PC running Microsoft Windows 3.1) DTVDOC.ZIP These should get you started. NOTE: There has been one change to the recommendation. I now recommend the PC POWER AND COOLING Full Tower Case rather than the one from the co. listed in PART2.ZIP. The info for PC POWER and COOLING is in PART3.ZIP. Their case is better. Hope this helps… James Bell Jr. — Multimedia Contributor – CompuServe I agree with the recommendation of the Pentium 90 and the larger hard disk drive.

Hi, If you do not plan to expand into Non Linear editing a 486 DX/2 66 Processor will be just fine. If, you plan to get into graphics packages to do animation or PhotoShop to do overlays I would suggest to plan for the future and go 90 Mhz Pentium and plan to intend to increase both Hard Drive and RAM. As far as the Packard Bell, well I would suggest DELL or somebody useing an Intel mother board for Pentium. IMHO check Gateway's and Zeos's forums here on Compuserve before considering one from them I think youll be surprised. PS. PCI bus is the future hot ticket that many people are designing for so try to get a machine with one. Hope this helps Bob The Design Shop

Andy I am a semi-proud owner of the same Packard Bell Pentium 60 system that you describe. When I bought it last June the Price was approx $2800 with a 15" monitor. Since then you can get the P-5 90 for even less. I would opt for the Pentium 90, wait until Intel is shipping only good pentium chips (another month or so) and AVOID Packard Bell if possible. My system has been basically trouble-free but it is nigh on impossible to get Phone support from PB and they are rated as the worst service in the business. (Dec 1994 PC Magazine) Dell seems to be about the best overall, but Micron appears to load the most bang for the buck. Get a copy of Computer Shopper and do some homework. Try to leave yourself enough $ to add 8meg more of RAM and purchase Adobe Premiere for nonlinear editing. Good Luck AL

Andy, which computer to buy would really depend on what you want to spend. Since you want to use it for desktop video, I assume you'r not on an extreme budget. For under $2000 the pentium 60 would be OK, but I'd really suggest at least a 90Mhz, it'll give you much more room to grow. For $3000 to $3500, you can get a nice 100Mhz Pentium. I have a Micron Millennia on order, and for under $3500 it comes with the P5-100, 16 megs of EDO memory, a 1.275 Gig HD, 4X cd drive, Diamond stealth 64 w/2 megs VRAM, sound card, speakers, and all the other stuff. What's special about it is that it uses new Extended Data Output (EDO) memory, which makes it run about 20% faster that an average P5-100. It also comes with Intel's new Triton PCI chipset which gives it 4 true 64 bit PCI slots. I think a 60Mhz is fine for linnear editing, just controlling VTR's (actually you could do that with a 386!) but if you want to be able move to non-linnear, you'll really need a faster computer, with a fast video sub-system.