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I understand you're dilema as I found exactly the same lack of info out there.If it helps, I decided to go the cheapest dual processor route I could, so I purchased a dual P3 733 mhz Compaq AP550 secondhand thru Loot (£500 without monitor) and then equiped it with 2extra 40 + 60 gb IDE hard drives.I only purchased the standard software and have to disagree that you need to spend twice as much on the production pack before you can edit, I've now cut two 16/9 3 camera shoots without any major difficulties at all. I run Avid film composers at work and the only thing I'm presently missing from them on Fast is extend edit, but it isn't worth the extra £700 !! I guess by your comment about the production pack being the only way to go, that you read the review in C.V. which was of the production pack pre loaded onto a brand new machine (as far as I could tell) It was inaccurate in one respect as Slip editing is most definately in the standard version and it didn't get into any of the aspects of loading the software from scratch yourself.
Fortunately it was a dream to install and simply worked straight out of the box for me (onto a clean install of W2K)
The place for more info is the Fast web board at http://fast.bcastvideo.com/
which is the most helpful place I've yet found on the web.
I can recommend the secondhand route, total expenditure to date for PC, monitor, software = £1475.
The only problem with the software is that there are no real time boards for it yet, rendering is dull but at least the dual processor setup allows you to continue doing something else, otherwise its simply the best! Hope this helps, Paul
1. As far as I know the Fast program dont support Dual CPU. I might be wrong...
2. Use the new Asus Dual AMD Main Board if you dont like the Tyan. In any case you will want a monster PSU for it. I recommend the Enermax wisper 550W.
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www.highvid.com
Hi Paul & Scuba,
sorry for the late reply. I've been on holiday. Paul many thanks for your comments. It's always good to hear from users directly. I'm particularly interested to hear your are impressed with the software given that you are using AVID systems elsewhere. I guess it was sound control that started to concern me and it was for this reason the production pack seemed to make sense. Any comments on sound control? Secondhand does seem like a good option and given your experience this will probably be the way I go. I use the web board you mention and have posted some other questions there.
Scuba
Not heard of the ASUS board for twin AMD CPU anymore info?
Thanks to both of you I will post my system when it is setup
Gary