[Help] Upgrading to a new PC [URGENT!]

[spoRv]

I had some problems with my PC lately and, even if probably I could solve them just buying a new PSU, this lead me to think about others things (oh yeah, I like to make my life even more complicated, technology-wise! )

Features I noted that I miss with my actual PC (when working) are:

1. GPU HEVC HDR UHD decoder - it stutters, as the CPU is not powerful enough to decode it
   
2. GPU HEVC encoder - not mandatory, but could be useful sometimes
   
3. 10bit output - still not 100% sure about this on better GPU non-pro versions, though
   
4. UHD-BD playback - CPU not powerful enough; not mandatory, too, but nice to get it
   

Now, I know that I *should* be able to get points 1 and 2 with a "mere" GTX 1060 (1050 can't do UHD AFAIK); and probably also point 3... so, adding to that a new PSU, I'll spend around €250.

I'm also thinking to upgrade to a new (read: used, but "fresher" than mine) desktop. I'm leaning towards an AMD, a ThreadRipper in particular... got a very good occasion to grab a system with a 1950X + Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti + 32GB + 1TB m.2 SSD (+ other nice things not relevant for this topic) at half the price of a new one. Points 1 and 2 sure, 3 most probable, and I think it should got point 4 as well, unless "mama" Intel has the only compliant CPUs...

Using mainly Avisynth (for the moment), but thinking to start to use DaVinci Resolve as well (what? an old dinosaur like me?).
I know that AVC/HEVC encoding (CPU) would be at least twice faster, if not more. I'm pretty sure 4K would benefit from the GPU - as well, probably, as 8K, just to be future proof for a while. I must admit I'm pretty satisfied with my actual PC - also considering I lived with the old one for so much time before it... yet, I'm thinkering the idea of starting to work with 4K (read: UHD) sources, so...

Summary:

- fix the PC (hopely) with no improvement: €70
- fix the PC + a used GTX 1060: €250
- get the "new" PC and sell mine (fixed): €1400 - (€450 - €70) = €1020
- get the "new" PC and sell mine (fixed), instead of retain mine (fixed) with a "new" GPU = [€1400 - (€450 - €70)] - €250 = €770

Now, for the few ones that are still with me, do you think that spending around €750 more, taking in account that the "new" PC will cost €1400, and I'd need to shell out €250 for the needed upgrade, and I hope to sell mine (fixed) for €450 at least - would be "wise", taking also in account that this "new" PC *should* be good for the next, let's say, five years, avoiding an upgrade in this time slot? (of course not sure to have mine sold, nor to get that amount for it so I should force some friends to borrow me all da cash, now!)

(why urgent? because the guy told me he will reserve it for a while for me, but not forever, so I should take a decision ASAP!)

Opinions, experiences, thoughts, are welcome!

[Colek]

Just FYI - GPU-based HEVC encoders are very fast, but offer very poor quality in the end compared to regular x265.

[spoRv]

Just FYI - GPU-based HEVC encoders are very fast, but offer very poor quality in the end compared to regular x265.

Yep, I know, that's why "not mandatory" - there always could be some instance where I may need a "quick'n'dirt" encode, though!

Tell me more about Ryzen, pleeease!

[deleted user]

The great thing you might love about the 10x0 cards is NVENC, but not so much for encoding any release (too bad quality) but to make screen recordings with ShadowPlay. You can literally make screen recordings at 50-100 Mbps (if your hard drive can handle it) h264 at 4K with 60fps, with almost no stutter. It's utterly fantastic.

[spoRv]

The great thing you might love about the 10x0 cards is NVENC, but not so much for encoding any release (too bad quality) but to make screen recordings with ShadowPlay. You can literally make screen recordings at 50-100 Mbps (if your hard drive can handle it) h264 at 4K with 60fps, with almost no stutter. It's utterly fantastic.

But, as I do not care about gaming... maybe it could be useful to capture streaming movies, too, right?

[deleted user]

The great thing you might love about the 10x0 cards is NVENC, but not so much for encoding any release (too bad quality) but to make screen recordings with ShadowPlay. You can literally make screen recordings at 50-100 Mbps (if your hard drive can handle it) h264 at 4K with 60fps, with almost no stutter. It's utterly fantastic.

But, as I do not care about gaming... maybe it could be useful to capture streaming movies, too, right?

Yep, have done this myself, but you will have lots of duplicate frames and inconsistent framerate, so it's not the best option. Still watchable, though.

But that aside, it's also great for recording quick tutorials and stuff like that.

[Stamper]

HP Elite 8300 it's dirt cheap (around 250 bucks) used, and you can customise it with a great graphic cards, 32gb of ram etc.

[spoRv]

HP Elite 8300 it's dirt cheap (around 250 bucks) used, and you can customise it with a great graphic cards, 32gb of ram etc.

Why spend money for a downgrade from a 4th gen i7 to a 3th gen?

[Stamper]

Those HP Elite 8300 (the i7 ones large tower not SFF) are equivalent inside to the tower MacPro (the one in metal they don't make anymore). In fact they are MacPro clones and cost nothing because they were produced for compagnies who dumped them after three years.
You can find them pristine mint in many places, almost never used. (Just open and see if the HDD looks new and there is no dirt).
They are hackable with OSX, and are the best machines when it comes to video editing because they are highly customisable.
You add the graphic card you want, the ram you want, and have a killer machine for a fraction of buying one new, and this one will last you for years.
If you're looking for 4K playback without stutter, google this machine with 4K card added, i'm sure you will find some people giving configurations. You can also I think change the processor, though you need to know what you are doing.
The best way to have a future proof machine is a custom one, but these are the next best thing, and come pre-built.

[spoRv]

@Stamper: even if the 8300 could be nice for someone who has no PC, or has an older one, they are useless for me - why pay, let's say, €300 for a PC with previous gen i7? I see no point, even more because I should add the cost of a GPU... instead, I could spend the money for that same GPU, retaining a newer (and faster) i7, and spare those €300. Do you agree? I guess so; and, I'll leave it alone!

The problem is still there: is it "advantageous" to spend quite much money for a 1950x + GTX 1080i? IF it will do anything I want - UHD HDR 10bit HEVC encode (and possibly decode) and 10bit HDMI output (and possibly UHD-BD support), AND be AT LEAST twice fast when encoding AVC/HEVC (GPU or CPU encode) and faster in other situations, in comparison to mine, I think it could be a valuable upgrade, albeit quite pricey (even if, buying that, no upgrade should be needed for some years, I guess).

If, with a new GPU not-out-of-this-world, like a "mere" GTX 1060 3GB, I can get UHD HDR 10bit HEVC encode AND 10bit HDMI output, I could "live" for some time more, I guess...

Now, there is at least one or two members here that got a Ryzen CPU, and I would like to know what they think about this, in comparison to Intel, in particular i7.