660m Graphics card for video editing

Hi can anyone please help.

I am considering buying the Optimus IV laptop, which is a Clevo, from PC Specialist, a UK Company. I will be doing mainly photo editing and hopefully some video editing too. I am not really concerned with gaming on the laptop.


I intend to configure the model with the matte 95% gamut screen, an I7 3740qm with 24 gb ram, 240gb ssd and a 750 gb 7200rpm hard drive.


The only graphics card the Optimus IV comes with is the GTX 660m. Is this graphics card sufficient for 1080p video editing? Or do need to spend another £300 and get the Vortex 3 model which has the 680m or the AMD HD 7970M?


They configure their 'Video Editing' pc's with the 660m, at PC Specialist, and on the Nvdia website one of the features mentioned is 'Hardware Video Editing Acceleration', so I presume that will be fine. Have I just answered my own question?


I just wanted to be sure and get some further information from you guys before I spend over £1000.

Thanks

 

That is a very nice price for the vortex i was shocked a bit. the 660m is more than sufficient i i think. The 7970m would ofcourse be better but in no way justify the extra 300 pounds for what you are going to use your laptop for. Why do you choose the i7 3740qm? I doubt it is worth the extra 100 pounds over the normal 3630qm. But if you got the money why not..

I dont think the 6xxm are the best suited for video edditing. They are more for gaming than for profesional uses like video edditing or 3D CAD.

 

For your use, the GTX 660M will be *plenty*. The display is more important in this case since your GPU needs are meant (you chose right to go with the 95% 1080p panel). SSD is also a great bonus, and you have both speed and mass storage.

Like danielschoon, I'm curious why you're going with the i7-3740QM. The only things that the -3740QM offers over the -3630QM is a few special instruction sets for virtual machines and the like, and a few hundred Mhz speed (won't matter; you won't notice it subjectively or objectively). I'd save your money and get the -3630QM instead.

 

Assuming the system will be used/kept for longer than 18 months, I would recommend purchasing immediately 32GB RAM (why is that not an option? There must be 4 Sodimm connectors on board, right?) and the i7 3840QM for your intended uses. Especially as you will most likely trend to be doing more video editing as time goes on (just my general observation of the changing demands of clients here...).

While the price to performance increase is almost linear - it will make a difference around two years from now to have ~26% more compute performance than the i7 3630 - and a huge difference to be able to use all that power every single day until then.

(Won't hurt when it comes to selling the system and/or having the leeway to be able to hold off for the 'right' upgrade at some future date too).

As long as the cooling system is up to the task of keeping the higher performance cpu properly cooled and running as close as possible to it's top turbo bins - that is definitely the 'sweet spot' for bang-for-the-buck in the long term of this system (having played with the PC Specialist configuration for a bit).


See (PM score: 7355):
PassMark - Intel Core i7-3630QM @ 2.40GHz - Price performance comparison

See (PM score: 9285):
PassMark - Intel Core i7-3840QM @ 2.80GHz - Price performance comparison



I agree with the others that the gpu should be sufficient for your needs - but I would also suggest that Win8PROx64 is a must going into 2013. (Along with the Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD and the WD Black 750GB HDD).


With the above pieces in place (OS/platform/cpu/ram/gpu); I see this system being usable (and used) well into the next decade, though you may decide to upgrade to a Skymont/Skylake platform (or better)before then.

With the RAM: I would be getting the 2GB DDR3 1333MHz single Sodimm and be installing 4x 8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz Sodimms myself.


I am not trying to spend all your money today: I am trying to get you to spend it as wisely as possible for your immediate and near future needs.

Good luck.

 

I agree with you that the 3840 is lots better. If you got the money i'd say why not but a 26% increase of preformance at more than increase in 50% price isnt that good (source: ark intel tho processor upgrades seem to cost a lot more than the prices ARK intel advises). I think the 3840qm costs almost twice as much as the 3630qm at that configurator. Yes it is indeed good with your eye on the future but i doubt if you will keep this system for longer than 5 years.

 

Gentlemen, one thing to consider is the editing applications themselves, if they are CPU bound, your video card makes no difference, if it is CUDA enabled the 660 should work well, if it is OPenCL enabled the 660 will be beat hands down by something as old as an old 460m as nVidia has severely gimped many GPGPU functions on all kepler based GPU's other than the k series quadros.

a prime example is one of my custom OpenCL rendering applications is taking a 60% hit with kepler consumer cards, and applications such as photoshop and illustrator are the same

 

^ this.

It doesn't matter what GPU you get if your software is not written to use the GPU.

If it is, then, as said above, you need to see what API they use. Also, you don't want to be getting 32 gigs of memory right now. What does that cost? About 350 quid? You don't need it now. Also, 32 gigs would directly imply the pro version of whatever win OS you get. I do not know if you need to purchase that separately as well.

Get the least possible amount of memory and, if you budget allows for it, get 16GB. Else 12 (3x4 or 1x4, 1x8) is more than enough. Even 8 if your budget simply does not allow for it.

About the processor, check to see if your video editing software is CPU bound. If it is, get the best possible CPU you can afford. Else, the 3630 is fine.

 

A 50% increase in price of a single component is not the way to make a proper decision:

You must compare it to the total price of the system (after all; you can't run PS on (only) a video card or (only) a cpu).

In that light; it is closer to a linear increase in performance vs. the increase in $$.

 

Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate your knowledge.

Not sure whether to go for the 3840qm or the 3630qm now. Would Premiere Elements and Final Cut be CUP bound or not? How can I tell? I think these are the two I will choose from.

I thought the 3740qm would be a decent compromise out of the three. I am aware that there is a 10% better performance from the 3630qm. There is approx £300 difference from the 3630qm to the 3840qm.

 

300GBP difference between cpus is NOT justified.
The 3630qm will be just fine... however, the 3740qm comes with unlocked multipliers, so you'd be able to raise its clocks later on if you wish... but I doubt it would be necessary.
I'd stick with 3630qm in your case.

As for 32GB RAM... oh it would definitely be worth it... HOWEVER, do NOT configure it with the laptop.
Instead, get it separately and install it yourself (a lot cheaper like that).

The Optimus IV if I'm not mistaken seems to come with 3 RAM slots however, so 32GB wouldn't be possible... but 24GB would be.
Ebuyer has plenty of RAM options.
You can pick the Optimus IV with only 2GB RAM, then simply get 24GB on your own (3 x 8GB of course - 1333 or 1600 with lowest timings - whichever is cheaper).
I think the prices of those individual 8GB sticks are up to 27GBP max... so 24GB would be 81GBP

As for GPU... yes, you need to see if the programs you use are CPU or GPU bound.
A note of caution - as it was previously mentioned, Nvidia severly gimped their compute performance on Kepler series, and they are extremely underpowered in GPGPU tasks (however still usable if you have no other option).
If your programs support OpenCL, then AMD all the way (increasing number of software is beginning to use it either way...).

Its a sad thing that PcSpecialist seems to only offer 7970m in its most expensive 15" laptop.
no sign of mid-range AMD mobile gpu's of the GCN series.

 

What is the total purchase price of the system and how long are you planning to keep using it?

As mentioned before: if longer than ~18 months AND this is a work related purchase (i.e., you will be doing paid work on the system) I would be leaning towards the 3840QM.

Again; for work? Don't compare the cost with VAT included (skews your decision the wrong way).

The i7 3740QM would not be on my list just because it is within my budget - it is almost a sideways upgrade - not worth it over the life of the system (and still £110 more expensive). Just because you can do something doesn't mean it is worth doing.

The i7 3840QM on the other hand while being much pricier (but still, only £214 more without VAT) brings more features (although granted, VM related), larger cache (8MB vs. 6MB) and performance that justifies it's price increase - sure, cheaper is better (call PC Specialist and see what you can work out...), but as it stands it is still the most bang for the buck.

See:
ARK | Compare Intel® Products



All programs are cpu/ram bound - more is never enough.

See:
Macintosh Performance Guide: Final Cut Pro X Usage of CPU Cores and Memory



Spending ~£100 more now to get ~25% more performance over the life of the machine is wiser than saving that £100 and NEEDING a new system months/years sooner.


So, is this for work? What is the total cost of the system as configured? And more importantly, what is your maximum budget at this time?

 

^ Except you do not understand that not everyone has cash lying around. I was pretty sure that a M18x would be a MUCH better purchase for me but I went with the best that I could afford at the time. Even if it IS for work, if OP is funding the system, s/he can only get what they have in their budget. So our responsibility is to tell them what the best hardware is that they can get for how much they are willing to spend. OP has already given a preferred budget of 1k GBP (in the original post).

 

No, OP hasn't given their budget nor the total cost of the system as configured (that's why I keep asking...).

I do understand that not everyone has cash lying around:

I understand you're trying to help. So am I.

 

My max budget is around £1400. However I could stretch if it really is worth my while. I am just at hobby phase though. I intend to keep the machine for about 5 years.

The configuration with the 3840qm and 24gb Samsung ram, 240gb ssb and 750gb hard drive is £1533. With the 3630qm it is £1306. This is all including Windows 8 Pro 64bit.

The integrated webcam is 1.3 megapixel which seems to be less than other laptops on the market? But considering the machine is only £575 without any configuring, I suppose that is fair.

 

if it is your hobby i'd choose the cheapest one. No need spending that much more money then. Ask your self will that extra 230 pounds justify the extra plesure of better preformance? There are a lot of other nice things you could do with 230 pounds...

 

Elements is a bit CPU bound and Final Cut is OSX only and heavy on OpenCL ( Mac or Hackintosh ). you would be better looking at Elements and Adobe Premier as IMO it is a better NLE than FCP-X. another option is Lightworks and it is free.

 

dovviya7,

Considering that this is a hobby (that will stay a hobby); +1 for staying at or below budget.

If this 'hobby stage' will progress to a paying proposition - then the £227 (~17%) additional cost to get about 26% additional performance in your specific workloads is something that you have to decide for yourself.


For myself; I would be more than willing to spend/invest the additional funds in myself (and possible future) - especially considering that it is only £133 more than what I had originally budgeted for.

If I wasn't paying by credit card; I would simply wait/save the additional funds (£133) until I was able to get the system that would hopefully make me money one day.

Even if this stayed at a 'hobby' level for the life of the system: ~25% faster enjoyed over the life of the system (5yrs...) is worth much more than spending an additional £227 (17% more) now to me to get a much better balanced setup for the intended workload.


Curious how you decide which way to jump. Hope our conversations have helped you make a solid decision that you won't question too much after your purchase is final.

 

The thing is you don't get a 25% faster system every sec the system is on. It is 25% faster if such software can utilize it.

 

This is a falsity.

Given two identical systems with only the cpu's differing like we're talking about here; the faster system will always 'feel' faster - no matter what load it is under.

Whether a user can 'feel' that is up to the individual - but the responsiveness of the system is ALWAYS affected.

 

posted incorrectly, just ignore me

 

How about try throttlestop and decrease multiplier by a few notch from turbo and see if you can feel it?

 

I actually have tried that - I wanted to throw the computer away (huge responsiveness hit in my eyes).

 

So I am thinking of getting the Optimus IV configured with the 3840qm, 24gb ram and the 660m graphics card.

Is that a healthy balance for this configuration, and also for longevity?
Does the 3840qm cpu match that graphics card? (or is that a pointless question?)

Or am I still better off saving my money and matching my spec with the 3630qm, even if I keep the laptop for five years?

This will definitely be a long term investment for me so any 'future proofing', as it's called, is essential.

Thanks.

 

Can anyone help with my last post please? Also, how will 3D animations, such as titles, be effected by the performance of the 660m?

Thanks.