Is this computer good for video editing?

[milkmandan]

how do you define better?

Misread.
Better = Better CPU, better motherboard with higher FSB, faster clocked RAM, faster HDD, larger screen, more space.

[the Black Monarch]

I do not want to build my own computer, all I'm asking is if this computer is decent enough to edit videos on and not lag or crash.

The short answer is yes, but if you're on a $300-$800 budget, you should look into an AMD system. Their top platforms aren't as good as Intel's top platforms, but are MUCH cheaper. You can get an ass-kicking AMD system for the same price as a mediocre Intel system.

And for the love of God, stay away from Vista. Some companies let you choose whether you want XP or Vista. HP is not one of those companies.

[Kionon]

I wouldn't assume what she wants. She asked for suggestions, of course we will project what we would prefer she do. That's why shes here asking O_O
No need to be so defensive.

Heh. I am not being defensive. We just disagree. And what I would prefer to do for myself is not at all what I think is necessary for her. What I prefer to do for myself is clearly a Mac Pro, maxed out, with dual 30" Apple Cinema Displays. This is overkill for me. For her? Way beyond overkill.

Better = Better CPU, better motherboard with higher FSB, faster clocked RAM, faster HDD, larger screen, more space.

Ah, okay. I define better as "most practical." I think that adding ram, a faster/larger HDD, and a larger screen are all things she can practically do. I do not think a better CPU or better motherboard are practical at this juncture. She would be spending money she doesn't have to, and she would need to learn an an entirely new operating system as well. Yes, she could be editing exceedingly faster on higher specs as we both know, but I just think, in the end, the cost/benefit analysis would reveal that as her specs increase she will rapidly hit the point of (practical) diminishing returns. Until she tells us specifically that she is going to go beyond the "average" AMV, I see no sense in pointing her to massive specs. In fact, I would feel like I was misleading her by doing so.

But yes, you are right, for what she wants, a simple upgrade will help greatly and will be much cheaper. I can believe your Mac can handle ur everday AMV needs just fine. My old P4 (specs way worse than yours handled AMVs just fine as well).

Then I fail to see your issue with my advice.

however she did ask specifically that she wanted a system that wouldn't slow down and etc.
Since she has had this Mac for 2 years now, it probably is pretty filled up with crap in the HDD and is acting very sluggish
if she doesn't know anything about how to optimize her HDD or even bother to clean it up and is willing to just buy a new computer, getting a PC would be recommended.

Which is utterly silly. Do I move to a new apartment when mine gets messy? Do I buy a new car every time it needs new fluids? Of course not. If you take good care of a system and make sure to upgrade it as far as it can go, you can get a good long run out of it. I am running a PowerMac G4 Quicksilver as a file server. It's from 2002. It's running 10.5.7 Leopard.

A fresh install of the OS is always a good idea, and specifically with OS X, you should always apply the Combo Updates each time a new version comes out and not the individual Delta Updates. That way the Combo Updates can fix crap left behind by earlier versions, and the Delta versions do not do such a good job with anything outside of their own version and the version directly previous to it. Furthermore there are plenty of tips and tricks to keep OS X functioning cleanly and quickly (see Onyx).

I would be more than happy to walk her through the process. If she really has let her system go two years without tidying up, the difference she will see is probably going to be significant.

I have a dual quad workstation sitting in my room right now, just come on over and create your average AMV, the experience will be smoother and when you are all done...your final export (RAW uncompressed video) wont take more than 5 minutes.

better computer = shorter render times = get things done faster.

I don't doubt this at all. I am not questioning its veracity, but its necessity. I don't buy that it is necessary.