Computer specs for capture?
 

Good Evening everyone!

I am planning to help my dad with converting his VHS and Hi8 tapes from analog to digital and have been extensively reading through posts here on the forum. First, thank you all for the info you have shared. I originally thought I would buy a cheap converter but after reading through everything hear I quickly learned what a mistake that would be and this forum is a wealth of information.

I am going to start with Hi8 tapes and currently have a working Canon ES75 camcorder with s-video output and have a Panasonic DMR-ES15 to use as a poor man's TBC. I still need a capture card and a dedicated computer. The capture device is unfortunately on the back burner until I raise a little more capital but I've found several inexpensive computers on Facebook locally that I'm interested in.

The computer I'm looking at the moment has the following specs and I want to make sure it will work with a majority of the ATI or similar capture devices. From what I've seen on here this seems to fit the bill but I have read a lot of posts with people using Pentium 4 processors and not sure if AMD plays well with the capture devices. It's been a while since I've built anything and I recall there being some issues every once in a while with Intel and Pentium.

Specs:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 B55 (3.2 GHz quad-core, unlocked)
Motherboard: ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 470 1.2 GB GDDR5
RAM: 8 GB DDR3
Storage: 240 GB SSD
Cooling: Stock
OS: Windows 7 Pro SP1 (activated)
PSU: OCZ ModXstream Pro 600w semi-modular PSU

The person who listed it appears to be a retro system builder and are not asking a lot for it. Figured I would check here first before finding out this won't work

Thanks!

Welcome. :)

I'm glad to hear that we've saved you from that common mistake.

That's fine. You could worse.

Just make this easy on yourself, and get one from the marketplace here. Not the low-end junk "Amazon special".

In the 2020s, it's best to avoid ancient P4/AMD single-core IDE systems. Those are just painful to use now.

The 2000s was the heyday of capturing video, so that's when the best video hardware existed (S-VHS VCRs, TBCs, capture cards, ES10/15, etc). What you get now is just Chinese garbage. But the 2010s desktops/laptops made the 2000s capture cards better.

A modern ideal capture system is mid-2010s dual-core (i3 best), SATA2, USB3, with capture HDD in easy-eject mount (so you can edit the capture on more modern systems).

WinXP/7 best, and OS determines capture card options.

My main concern is the AMD Phenom II X4. That CPU has serious overheating issues. I had one of those CPUs back in 2009, and it melted itself on my motherboard in 2013. The board scorched, small flame. Luckily no SSD/HDD was harmed, just melted wires.

I would run away if that hot CPU only uses a stock cooler. Insanity. :mad4:

Nvidia graphics cards are generally a problem with capture cards, not a benefit. Too many conflicts, from the 00s to 10s, and even now in the 20s. Onboard/iGPU tends to have the least amount of issues with capture (aside from AIW cards).

How much is he charging for it?

In my experience, a "retro builder" is a fancy term for somebody using old crap to cobble together a computer. And I would have to say it tracks with the above system.

Seriously, that X4 CPU with a stock cooler makes me entirely doubt that person's competence.

He is only asking $50 for it, so it probably is a computer built out of spare parts. With your experience with the processor, I'll pass and look for something different. I'll keep looking for dual core Intel and see what I come up with.

Does 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 make a difference or is one preferred over the other?

Sometimes even free is a bad price, more hassle than anything else.

Win7 x64 (64-bit)
WinXP x86 (32-bit)

I have good experience with Arctic coolers.
They are very quiet and effective.
Available in US too.

https://www.arctic.de/en/

I have good experience with the Cooler Master 212. But neither of those will help with that X4. Even a Noctua will struggle. But for the price of a good cooler, he can get (or put towards) a better system that doesn't need the best biggest (and most expensive) chunk of metal and fan.

Sure. But I only meant nearly all used PC need at least processor cooler (and most PS too) replacement. Original is noisy in most cases. But I agree there is no reason to buy old crap. However - I have IBM XT machine from 80s together with monitor in my collection. Built quality is amazing! All gold platted sockets, strong case etc. 5,25" FDD :)

Off-topic now... but I still have one of our 1980s ESDI HDDs. :D
Computer long gone.

That’s a good idea. It takes a while to transfer those onto a portable HDD then onto a newer computer even with USB 3.0.

This: https://amzn.to/3Klb3nK
But it needs a simple mod. Unscrew the 2 screws holding down that tension bar/wire. Throw that bar/wire in the trash, keep screws with your other extra screws. The tension is unneeded, and potential problem (eject during writes!)

I use this for myself: https://amzn.to/48QBXfB
But you often have to carve out the plastic side grill with a knife, so it fits in the case. Too often, it's too wide as-is, needs some mm shaved off. Why use it? I prefer the door build quality, more secure. But 3x the price.

Use either 2tb Seagate HDD, or Samsung EVO 2tb (not other brand/model SSD!)

My Phenom 2X 4 955 still rocking this world like there is no tomorrow, working daily. Don't believe the hype. But yeah pick the adequate cooling rad (-> TDP 95W)

Well, yes, it is beautiful according to Feng Shui (it is forbidden to build houses according to Feng Shui in China)! ;)

I have a simpler system - a longer SATA cable and a power cable extender. Once a year or two they need to be replaced and everything is fine. I use 4 Seagate Iron Wolf Pro 4TB HDDs. Processing on another computer with the same system :)

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