So, I have a new project, replacing a video studio's computer equipment for a local non-profit.

The objectives:


3 New Systems

Dual Core Processors / Or Dual Single Core Processors
1 GB of RAM (AT LEAST)
High Quality Boards (prefer server boards)
Low Power Consumption (prefer AMD)
DVD-RW Burners (best 2 per system)
Redundant RAID Setup (NO RAID 0)
Gigabit Network Interface
300 GB HD space per system
Prefer server based boards / processors (Xeon / Opterons)

1 LARGE Redundance Storage Server (At least 1 terrabyte)

Redundant RAID Setup (NO RAID 0 -- Likely RAID 5)
At least 1 terrabyte of storage
Doesn't need to be high performance
Could run Linux (Samba mount for Windows access)

Budget of about $3,700 for all systems combined (software licensing sepreate)
DV Compatible System


They currently have 3 licenses of Adobe Premiere 6.5, and will be upgrading to Premiere Pro 2 when they recieve the new systems. Therefore, Windows is the operating system here.

So, does anyone have some recommendations?

I recongize that someone probably has a perfect machine that is $10,000, but lets stay realistic to this budget.

Video production would be much better with a really good graphics card and as much ram as the budget will allow. I would suggest a 512 mb graphics card and at 2-4 GB RAM

is the video going to be HiDef?

I would say for HD
AMD X2 or Opteron
2 - 4 gb ram
your choice on HD
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500 256MB Pro Video Edition ( http://www.pny.com/products/quadro/fx/1500PciExV.asp )

For regular DV video
AMD dualcore / singlecore series
1 - 2 gb ram (max if you can)
your choice on HD
ATi x(highest you can afford)

Might want to look at configurations at boxx and build boxes their spec
http://www.boxxtech.com/products/Workstations.asp

No Hi-Def video at the current time.

Would be nice if one system could expand into in the future though

Just verifying, a Xeon or Opteron processor would be better then a Athlon or a Pentium D, correct?