Specs for Video Editing?

What would be good specs for graphic design/ video editing/ effects?

• I'm going to be going to college for graphic design/ video editing and am going to need a new laptop when i go. I am wondering if i would be able to do this with laptop with a core i3 330 or 350 or if i would need a core i5? Also would a 320 GB or 500GB hard drive be fine? And what type of graphics card would be needed? I know a pretty decent amount about computers but i just don't know about what type of specs are needed for video editing/ effects. I also will be getting at least 4 GB DDR3. Thanks

• Answer:

  Wow eerie, I'm also going into Graphic Design! I've done TONS of research into the best computers for Graphics students, and this is what I have found out: If you can live with using a mac, get a Mac Book Pro but make sure to upgrade the RAM! This will ensure that your programs will run as fast as possible! Mac's are built for these tasks, so they have an intel duo core processor, top of the line Graphics Card and lots of HD space. HOWEVER! If you are like me and can't stand Mac's, I recommend going with an HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition or the HP ENVY 15 or the HP ENVY 15 Beats edition. All 3 are SUPER Customizable with the choice between i3-i7 intel core, Nvidia graphics, 4-16GB of RAM! BEWARE THOUGH! Customizing can get expensive the more RAM you add ;) Now I'm either going with the HP ENVY 15 Beats Edition or the HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition myself, so here are the things you need to know about each: Both of the ENVY's are SUPER THIN and portable with nice slim extra attachable batteries, but neither has an internal disc drive, both come with an external one; so if you can live with this, go for it! Both can take up to 8-16GB of RAM and have the option of having the new i7 core! And have 3 different options of High-end Graphics Cards. The HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition is NEARLY identical to the HP ENVYS in what you can put into it (obviously the appearence is different :P) the only major differences are that the HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition can only take 8GB of RAM it has an INTERNAL disc drive and it can have a 1TB 7200 RPM HD!<----WOOT! Final thoughts: I have been into TONS of computer stores (small and large) and I have actually spoken to the HP Sales Assistance Rep about these computers so I'm not Bsing here :) The computers that I recomend you stay away from: Alienware-> they seem powerful an tempting, but as a Computer Tech I see them come in with more problems than Tiger Woods has. Dells-> The same goes for Dells since Alienware is a subsidary of dell, they both see TONS of issues, plus HP has better Customer Support than Dell and frankly HP's just look nicer ^_^ Toshiba-> VERY LIMITED CUSTOMIZATION plus REALLY high $$$$ prices for some pretty not so goo models =/ Asus-> same boat as Toshiba Lastly I hope that you do find a computer that you like, I STRESS that you go online to the sites, look at the computers, talk to their sales reps to find out more information. I also STRESS that once you pick one, TRY ONE OUT AT A STORE BEFORE BUYING IT! Do this to make sure that you like the keyboard feel, that it looks nice (some times pictures can be deciving ;) ) and that you will be happy with it! (I know I'll be doing this REALLY soon myself :D) Good Luck! and feel free to e-mail me with further questions at; [email protected], My words tend to become disjointed some times! P.S. I'm 18, senior in High School In Shorewood, WI; I work in a computer store (a local fixer-upper one not Best Buy :P) and I'm Heading off to Rocherster Institute of Technology this August to their Graphics Design Program. EDITS!!!!! I forgot to talk about how to choose your parts if you customize it! A good processor IS KEY contrary to what others have posted. A top-notch processor takes the load of the Graphics Card acting as a processor so the card can focus more on what it's meant to do! Hard Drives: You want a 7200RPM HD NO EXCEPTIONS, DON'T GO FOR SOLID STATE!!! Since both you and I will be creating large files in PS, Illustrator and whatever movie editor that you use, SOOOO we'll need to have them load nice and fast! The max HD in the ENVY's is 640 or 500GB 7200 RPM Idk what the MAC book has, and the HP Pavilion had a whopping 1TB 7200 RPM HD! If you find out that you need more space, just but a 1TB external HD! They are $100-$80 and FALLING! They will be SUPER CHEAP This summer! And finally, a little side-note, if you have 8GB or more of RAM you NEED to have the Windows 7 64-bit, Vista 64-bit or Windows XP 64-bit OS (Operating System) That's all for now unless I think of something else lol btw please drop me an e-mail, I'm curious to where you are going, plus I want to know what computer you end up choosing! (it might help me decide lol) ohh and my name is Jason :3