Please Critique My Mini-ITX PC Build for Video Editing (No Gaming)

• 

  Drakesy on 16/02/2022 - 14:41

  -1

  If you're not gaming why wouldn't you got for an acer nitro 5 laptop with a 3060 and use it as a desktop?
  Wait just saw you need a shiz tonne of disk space.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 16/02/2022 - 14:47

    I guess I could but not keen on plugging in external HDD's all the time. I've already got a laptop used for email/youtube when I travel but now I want a desktop because my current one keeps shutting down and rebooting.

  • 

    p1 ama on 16/02/2022 - 21:43

    -1

    If you're not gaming why wouldn't you got for an acer nitro 5 laptop with a 3060 and use it as a desktop?

    Not as upgradeable, not as fast, less longevity, likely poorer performance vs. an equivalent priced desktop. Overall, I'd never recommend a laptop over a desktop unless the user needs it to be mobile.

• 

  BOGLOAD on 16/02/2022 - 14:47

  +2

  You might get a B550i board with a newer bios that already supports the processor, depending on how old it is. If not, you should have the flashback functionality available where you can pop an updated BIOS on a USB stick, and press the flashback button on the I/O shield to kickoff an update (Q-flash its called on gigabyte boards I believe). Easy.

  Not sure you're going to have enough room for a 2nd 3.5" HDD, you can fit one comfortably on the PSU shroud. Maybe on the bottom of the case if no GPU is there, however…

  Not sure what sort of video editing you're going to be doing, but if you're using things like Premiere Pro, exporting with a dedicated GPU is probably the way to go instead of real-time CPU processing. My understanding is that if you use an Nvidia card, you can use the NVENC encoder to greatly speed up time on processing. And thus, will require an actual GPU.

  More RAM isn't going to hurt, would probably recommend it tbh. Check the Corsair site to see if its compatible with the board first. 3600mhz ram no slower than CL18 will be fine.

  And if you want the ability to move to an actual dedicated GPU, I would get an SF750 from Corsair at a minimum, or an 850w SFX from CoolerMaster.

  Good luck.

  • 

    daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 20:18

    Which mobo would you recommend that would support the 5600G out of the box please?

• 

  zrmx on 16/02/2022 - 14:53

  +1

  Which video editing softwares do you use mainly?

  A to your Qs:
  1) You'll need to change your platform to intel, OR change CPU and add a dGPU if you want to go PCIe 4.0, as 5600G only supports 3.0.
  Also in general regarding 3.0 vs 4.0, it'll depend on your own workloads. Are you already working with Gen 3 drives that you see you need a further improvement? The almost doubling of speed from PCIe 3 to 4 is not on all types of Read/Write but likely mostly limited to sustained. Random Read/Write difference can range from zero to far less than double. Anandtech has a pretty good Samsung 980 PRO review that has data on working in Gen 3 and Gen 4 modes: https://www.anandtech.com/show/16087/the-samsung-980-pro-pci…

• 

  OzViper on 16/02/2022 - 15:04

  +1

  Answering your first Question. It probably wouldn't be much of a difference in upgrading the storage. The 5600G only supports PCI3 not PCI4, so the extra potential of the Gen4 SSD would most probably be wasted..

• 

  Could Be Better on 16/02/2022 - 15:42

  +1

  I built a similar system in an InWin Chopin case, that case is brilliant if you don't need a GPU and want the tiniest possible PC possible (another plus: a 150W power supply comes preinstalled). The stock cooler that came with the 5600G just fit as well (although you have to remove the shroud - just two tiny screws and it's out). Regarding your other questions, the 5600G doesn't support PCIe4, so even if you install a PCIe4 SSD, it will be stuck at PCIe3 speeds. The RAM should work well, and 32GB should be enough. The motherboard definitely can run all that storage and more.

  • 

    zrmx on 16/02/2022 - 18:59

    +1

    The Chopin is a very neat system (even though building it can be quite a pain, but hey that's the ITX experience one is looking for right?), I built it for my wife and we both like it.

    However, do note its limitations if you are going to use it as your main system if you'll have it under full load most of the time.

    It is a very compact case which means airflow will be sort of limited for components other than the CPU (VRM likely will be okay as well as 5600G won't be able to pull that much power and the B550i motherboard VRM is sufficiently capable even if poor airflow). Under full load your fan will be going full speed and CPU temp I guess might run into the 90s. Granted they are still within AMD spec.

    I suppose I'm more concerned about the crammed space likely will mean your SSDs might run quite hot.

    There is a limitation on upgrades too if that need ever comes up, as the Chopin does not allow for dGPU without heavy modification (you'll likely need a dremmel, and options are very limited).

    So yea, if the Chopin still fits your workload scenarios, you are getting the smaller size by paying more, and the need of getting new case as well as new CPU if you want to upgrade in future.

• 

  virsagomk2 on 16/02/2022 - 22:46

  +1

  If I were you I would swap the purpose of the SATA SSD & NVME.

  SATA SSD for OS & apps.
  NVME SSD for storing project files data files, offload initial raw footage, cache drive & exporting projects.

  For video editing it makes more sense to have all the project files saved into your fastest drive. Having the NVME as cache drive & saving all your initial raw footage will tremendously speed up your video editing program accessing all the necessary files. Using NVME as your export drive will also speed up the rendering process too.

  There's no point on having OS / apps installed on NVME if it's only purpose is a miniscule speed increase when booting or loading the apps.

  • 

    virsagomk2 on 17/02/2022 - 00:08

    +1

    Additionally, depending on what app you're using for video editing, 32gb RAM is more than enough.
    Generally NLE apps like Premiere & Resolve doesn't consume a lot of memory, they use a lot of disk cache instead.

    If you're using After Effects however, then you need as much RAM as you can, max out to 64gb if your motherboard could.
    AE eats a lot of RAM to play a preview. Some plugins, extensions & working on 3D layers will also eat a lot of RAM.

• 

  daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 15:20

  Hi OP,

  what did you end up going with?

  I'm thinking of building a basic desktop for video editing too.
  my needs are very basic
  simple 1080p videos for youtube
  2-3min would be absolute max
  1-2min would be the usual

  some simple fade in and fade outs
  background music
  subtitles

  also basic 2D CAD diagrams (lines, boxes & text boxes).

  got a NAS for final storage
  would like a mini-itx/compact setup too

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 20/03/2022 - 16:00

    Hi mate I ended up building with all the parts in the OP. Pretty happy with the result - I got heaps of storage and it's very fast compared to my old system (i7 6th gen with 16GB RAM). The new case is bigger than i thought but it's ok and doesn't take up much space. My previous case was a Chopin and it's much smaller, about 3lt but the built in PSU was only 150W

    • 

      daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 16:12

      thanks. you mentioned issues with the CPU and the mobo without updating the BIOS?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 20/03/2022 - 19:59

        I paid a guy to assemble it and he said he had to update the BIOS. Not sure what other problems it caused but he says the WiFi didn't work until the update

        • 

          daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 20:17

          @[Deactivated]: Thanks mate.

          Hmm I don't have another CPU to put in just for the BIOS update. Will check if this supports updating without a CPU.

          • 

            [Deactivated] on 20/03/2022 - 20:26

            @daft009: Q-flash allows users to update to the latest BIOS using a thumb drive without the CPU or memory needing to be installed

            • 

              daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 20:54

              @[Deactivated]: Thanks. Done deal then. I'll just order the same configuration 😎

              Saved me lots of time.

              I haven't built a desktop since athlon X2 days

            • 

              daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 21:29

              @[Deactivated]: thanks.. all bought! :)

              • 

                [Deactivated] on 20/03/2022 - 21:45

                @daft009: Cool, enjoy!
                Did you buy all stuff in OP or just the CPU & mobo?
                I think this CPU/mobo combo is best because no dedicated GPU is needed but still handles graphics very well

                • 

                  daft009 on 20/03/2022 - 22:03

                  @[Deactivated]: everything except the 2nd & 3rd storage devices.
                  did go for the white case though, same model.
                  the 1TB will be plenty for our needs, with an on-site NAS.

                • 

                  daft009 on 26/03/2022 - 09:33

                  @[Deactivated]: Have you stuck with the stock cooler or upgraded at all?

                  Just waiting for the last few bits to arrive before I can build

                  • 

                    [Deactivated] on 26/03/2022 - 09:55

                    @daft009: I just use the stock cooler and have no problems with overheating

                    • 

                      daft009 on 26/03/2022 - 12:49

                      @[Deactivated]: Thanks. Turns out we are using the free version of VDSC for our basic video editing

                      • 

                        [Deactivated] on 26/03/2022 - 12:55

                        @daft009: Haven't heard of VDSC, I'll download and give it a try, cheers for the tip

                        • 

                          daft009 on 29/03/2022 - 20:21

                          @[Deactivated]: Got it up and running today.
                          No need to flash the bios, supported the CPU out of the box.

                          • 

                            [Deactivated] on 29/03/2022 - 20:40

                            @daft009: Nice 👍