CAN WE HAVE A STICKY on hardware

[STORMDAVE]

To add to the good advice here... You do get what you pay for. I once bought a $30 motherboard from an brand-name company whose website ends in .com.tw for a cheap umpteenth-ondary system. Somehow, some way while adjusting the BIOS settings, the nVidia RAID controller got completely demolished.
Okay, no problem, use PCI RAID controller. Ran for about a week, then the BIOS was completely screwed. The video didn't come up properly, nothing. Components worked fine before, and continued to work fine in another motherboard.
Swapped out power supply, changed battery. Still hosed.
Replaced motherboard with exact same make/model. Ran OK again - for another week or so, then the nVidia RAID BIOS went kaput and I pulled the motherboard out and threw in the junk pile. $60 and 40+ hours NOT well-spent.

Always check the reviews and let the experience of other users in this thread serve as a general guide.

Very true. Always stick with brand names...they are not that much more expensive than cheapo motherboards such as ESI etc etc.

They were having Abit p35 boards on sale for $90 (Deluxe) or $60 (Non Deluxe) these were excellent prices for these boards as they run in the higher hundreds...there's always a soft spot with good motherboards.

[GrassValley_BH]

To add to the good advice here... You do get what you pay for. I once bought a $30 motherboard from an brand-name company whose website ends in .com.tw for a cheap umpteenth-ondary system. Somehow, some way while adjusting the BIOS settings, the nVidia RAID controller got completely demolished.
Okay, no problem, use PCI RAID controller. Ran for about a week, then the BIOS was completely screwed. The video didn't come up properly, nothing. Components worked fine before, and continued to work fine in another motherboard.
Swapped out power supply, changed battery. Still hosed.
Replaced motherboard with exact same make/model. Ran OK again - for another week or so, then the nVidia RAID BIOS went kaput and I pulled the motherboard out and threw in the junk pile. $60 and 40+ hours NOT well-spent.

Always check the reviews and let the experience of other users in this thread serve as a general guide.

[STORMDAVE]

I gotta mention that it will be hard for GV to keep track of all the hardwares out there.

For companies such as Matrox it's easier because their cards don't work with all the hardware that's out there, they have a specific list (speaking from experience with their cards, but maybe that has changed with their latest...).

The GV cards are much more forgiving, which is a good thing.

Nowadays Intel is dominating, so your best bet is to look at the newer Intel chipset based motherboards from Asus, Abit, Gigabyte and a few others. Stay away from nForce, VIA, etc...althought some people might have no problem with those. These are the best motherboards on the market. Graphic cards are similar as well, they are very good nowadays and there aren't that many compatibility issues as they were a couple of years ago.

If you've been building computers for years and haven't been "in the game" lately, do some research on NewEgg and this forum. Read reviews for motherboards so you can keep yourself upto date.

If you are new to computer building, I would recommend that you google computer sites about building PC's. It is much easier nowadays...or just go the Turnkey route from places such as Guy Graphics or Grass Valley. They have their own support and when you have trouble you just call them and they'll help you out. With a custom built PC, you're pretty much on your own as each part has separate warranty and it will be very hard for you to keep track of what the problem is.

[GrassValley_KH]

Just to weigh in here - the Web site list is based on the in house testing performed by engineering/QC in Japan. Since the list of computer hardware out there is vast and ever growing/changing, it's simply not feasible to run a dedicated "we test computers" team outside of turnkey QC.

That said, I have a few more motherboards I'll be adding to the list shortly, which were tested and verified last month.

[GrassValley_MD]

There seems to be two areas of thought here...

1. A very strict hardware list and no tech support if you are outside of that.

2. Wide open and willing to help with any config.


We take the 2nd option which makes it very difficult to keep up and test every config possible, and even if we approve a board and the change the bios it can become a worthless piece of Hardware listed by us as good.

We have found that the users on this board have the most up to date list and all anyone has to do is ask.

Also, like Brandon mentioned it is much better and safer to go with a turnkey system from us or a proven integrator that is tested and works. Unless you REALLY know your stuff with computers and even then it can become a toss up, turnkeys are the way to go.


Mike

[Imagine Video]

sig is now included

[Imagine Video]

I see what you mean guys this would be an even larger mine field and difficult to control in the long term. My own build was not without its problems, It is a pitty though as the CANOPUS list of compatible hardware is outdated.

Keep up the good work this is an excellent support resource, without this community I would have had a lot more of a learning curve!

Cath

Happy new year!!

[Bluetongue]

I have had the exact same problem (referning to sample pic) - re-install didn't fix it. It effects final output too.

Did the problem get solved or did this post just get hi-jacked?

Which PIC Mat
Regards Barry

[mattmatt]

I have had the exact same problem (referning to sample pic) - re-install didn't fix it. It effects final output too.

Did the problem get solved or did this post just get hi-jacked?

[Bluetongue]

Brandon I could not agree with you more, my system was working perfectly until I added 2x22 inch Samsung monitors and then I started loosing overlay when switching between sequences, it took around 3 switches for the purple screen to appear.
Problem solved by replacing the 6600GT card with an 8800GTS, latest drivers for the 6600 made no difference except the latest drivers, the same for the 8800 caused problems in some other software until Quicktime was modified under preferences for VIDEO using GUI only.
All this can only be a guide, I think we all should list our hardware etc in our signature, I have found that extremely useful.
Regards Barry

[GrassValley_BH]

The unfortunate fact of the matter is with the constant revisions of BIOSes, motherboards themselves and not the mention the other components involved, it's virtually impossible to guarantee that what works for one user will 100% work for another, even if they are the same components, because no two components are 100% the same.

That's why we have turnkey systems. The price is a bit higher than you would pay by piecing together a system yourself, but the extra money is well worth the peace of mind to know that you have a system that's been tested and backed by GV support.

My general rule applies: You pay either way - in time or money.

Much like myself, tingsern has obviously "pre-paid" in a lot of time to earn wisdom, but if you haven't already "pre-paid" and you don't necessarily want to learn a lot about the fickleness of computer technology, I'd definitely consider the turnkey route.

Once I built my own PVR... that went through 2 and a half build generations. Then I got a TiVo. If I was to do it all over, I'd skip the building my own part entirely and go straight to TiVo.

[drgagx]

Cath, I think it is a good idea to post HW outlines in signature lines. It has been the practice as far back as I can recall (2002) on this and the predecessor Canopus forums. Are you going to include yours in the future?

However I think that this can only be a guide to what is known to work with Edius/GV software and hardware. It may or may not necessarily be appropriate for a specific user as there are now so many different types of user, with different inputs, editing needs and outputs. I am sure that my setup, as a hobbyist here, will be anathema to most of those who use Edius to earn a living.

[pjsssss]

Cath, I think you misunderstood Fred. I took his post as meaning it was a good idea becuase it did not insult the community.

[tingsern]

Cath,

Not so easy. For example, the "Hard Disk Too Slow" problem upon capture. I, for instance, will NEVER experience that problem. Because I don't capture. Just because my system is suitable for me does not imply it won't cause problems to the next person.

Also, what makes you think the broadcast pro will demand uncompressed media? I think the folks who will use uncompressed 4:4:4 are those filming for the big screen only. Most of us here - including broadcast pro will definitely compress - as no bandwidth exists through the airwaves today that allows transmission of uncompressed video. Especially HD uncompressed.

I like your idea. Especially to serve as a more up to date h/w list of EDIUS capable h/w. When I looked at the Canopus site - it really looks dated. However, the first paragraph example I quote should serve caution to the people whom might think the list represents "gospel truth".

Cheers,
TS

[Imagine Video]

without insulting the current quality of this community

How have you got this! even from my original post!!

I would NOT insult the quality of this community Please re read my post in the context of the header!!!



I would think it could be managed by way of a section here called hardware, people could just list there hardware in a field that would be headed with the relevent componants and make model used for that particular user.

I think a definite destinction between the two groups pro and broadcast pro would be needed as we all dont need uncompresses capable media drive arrays.

This is all just a suggestion to help new users, and to make it easier for people to see what is required to run edius smoothly.


Cath