"ML" <mlines@apostles.org> wrote in message news:b746403d.0401051536.18a1b44b@posting.google.com...

> I edit on a mac so I am not very knowledgable on windows.

>

> a buddy of mine has a 2ghz athlon computer (upgraded from a 700 mhz

> system) with 333 megs of ram running windows 2k. The computer has

> only one 40 gig harddrive (5400 rpm). capture card is a MSI m-peg 4

> realtime pci tuner card.

>

> This individual is editing weddings on premiere 6.5 and is trying to

> avoid buying a completely new computer.

>

> Here is the issue as he describes it when digitizing the wedding

> footage...

>

> - can only digitize 4-5 minute then the "footage time -progress

> marker" freezes. it might advance in clumps but we are obviously

> having some capture issues.

>

> 1. what is the weakest link in the system?

> 2. if it is the 5400 rpm drive should he buy a new drive to be used

> solely as a capture/render drive (keeping premiere as an application

> only on the 5400 drive)?

> 3. is the ram enough

> 4. I've recommend that he defrag everyday. Is there anything else I'm

> missing?

>

> thanks in advance for your expertise on this!!

> Michael

A separate video drive or two (or more...;-) is VERY

desirable (and cheap/easy-to-install). Defragmenting the

program drive often is not required if some care is used

in placement of temp/preview files (and even without care,

this is not much of an issue). The computer is plenty fast

enough (even 700MHz is fine...), with enough RAM

Shut down unneeded background programs when

transferring (anti-virus programs are especially

troublesome). If the FireWire card does not use a TI

chipset, there can be problems with capture/play (why

is the capture in MPEG4 instead of a direct digital

transfer with FireWire - assuming the camera was

digital?). Good FireWire cards are cheap these days...

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com