Facecam - Need better computer?

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  • Facecam - Need better computer?

    This isn't the usual "HOW DO I DO THIS" type of thread... more of a "How should I"

    I'll start with my PC setup (highly considering an upgrade):
    CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 - 820 2.8 GHz (AM3 socket)
    Ram - 6 GB (DDR3)
    GPU - GeForce 9800 GTX+
    OS - Windows 7
    Chipset - AMD 880G
    Southbridge - AMD SB850

    My main dilemma with this is I just can't find an efficient way to do it.

    A) I Use a program like Xfire that can just add the cam to the top and I can record both with fraps. This works, except Xfire blows and won't pick up mods... which are the scariest games I have atm.
    B) I use a program like Xsplit which can record both. But this lags the games (for me, not in the video) and the quality is questionable.
    C) I use a program like FFSplit which does the same as Xsplit, but the problem is it saves the file as a .flv, which when using windows movie maker (what I normally use) isn't compatible and converting it takes hours.
    D) Record both separately and put together in Adobe After Effects. This works too, except AAE lags my computer to complete crap to where I can't do ANYTHING and it takes HOURS for 1 15 minute video doing this.

    I'm not really sure if I have any other options at this point other than dropping a grand or so on some new computer parts. If I do need new computer parts, given the information I've specified any clue on what I can get for the most bang for my buck and still get a banging comp?
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    The post was edited 1 time, last by VcentG ().

  • I record to a face cam to a dslr camera (Phone camera should work just as well) then I drag those files in after, this way to avoid any lag to my games even though my computer is beast compared to yours... Ah yeah that would be a good way around it if you have a camera or phone camera.
    Also I just use fraps for the game and then Audacity for my voice ( I like to have separate audio files from the game)

    If you can record both serparately perhaps try sony vegas to put them together, it's not as intensive but can't do as much to the same quality (I use it for all of my vids unless I need to add in affects/Cool stuff)

    D) When you say it takes hours for a 1:15 min vid do you mean that is to render it? I found some ways around the rendering to make it a lot faster


    I'm not really sure I feel confident enough to suggest items for your new rig, my surgestions would be to go to a more dedicated computer site and have a look on their forums that's what I have done for my past 4 I made.

    I'm not really sure if much of this will be of any help
    I wove you...

    Oh what YOUTUBE ATTACK!

  • Uhhmmm...Just so you know, your PC isn't that old. It's actually still fast and even better than AMD's newest cpu, the bulldozer. However, I think it's your GPU that make your FPS go down significantly. I think you need a new card like a GTX 560 ti.

    Camtasia is a good recorder for getting screen and it also records webcam.:) But they can't record fullscreen games though.
    Bandicam is another one. You can check my thread here about PC builds on my signature btw.

  • It's not just the GPU that's the issue, it's the CPU as well. 2.8 ghz is not quite a decent enough speed to really capture and render on PC all that well.

    My suggestion is obtain vegas if you can, record the game and cam separately edit it together in there. If you have plenty of GB free on your hard drive, I'd say render as an uncompressed AVI file, then compress it using handbrake. It will make things much faster. If you don't have that much space, then render as an mp4 file. You can PM me if you'd like and I can tell you the settings I use.

    Hopefully this helps. PC recording is sometimes a pain.

  • Yes, when I said hours for a 15 minute video I meant rendering. I watched some tips like multicore rendering and stuff but it just didn't help with my little CPU XD.

    Aww, don't say that. I was thinking of getting the FX 8150 3.6 Ghz (4.2 Turbo). With GeForce 560 or so (depending on money XD) ti.

    I don't really know much about all the processors and stuff, but just numbers wise Intel seems really expensive for lower to the same numbers. But then a lot of people say they're the best... but Unfortunately 1 grand on an i7 just doesn't feel right <_> especially when I have to buy a new GPU, mobo, case and all that on top of it. Easily jumping out of my desired price range. I was going to use this setup and it was going to cost about 800

    New Case - 150$ (mine's a micro plus since I'm buying so many new parts I may just make 2 PCs eventually)
    CPU: AMD FX-8150 3.6 Ghz (4.2 Turbo) - 190$
    MOBO: ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS - 100$
    Ram: 16 GB (2 x 8 ) of ram 95$ 1866 MHz
    GPU: GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) HD 2560MB 320-bit GDDR5 - 310$ (Google says 560 TI is still just below 570 so why not, plus it has the 320 bit and 2 GB of memory which I couldn't find a 560 TI that had both)

    Comes in at just around 845 bucks. I thought it'd be nice. Was I wrong? o_o
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    The post was edited 2 times, last by VcentG ().

  • VcentG wrote:

    Yes, when I said hours for a 15 minute video I meant rendering. I watched some tips like multicore rendering and stuff but it just didn't help with my little CPU XD.

    Aww, don't say that. I was thinking of getting the FX 8150 3.6 Ghz (4.2 Turbo). With GeForce 560 or so (depending on money XD) ti.

    I don't really know much about all the processors and stuff, but just numbers wise Intel seems really expensive for lower to the same numbers. But then a lot of people say they're the best... but Unfortunately 1 grand on an i7 just doesn't feel right <_> especially when I have to buy a new GPU, mobo, case and all that on top of it. Easily jumping out of my desired price range. I was going to use this setup and it was going to cost about 800

    New Case - 150$ (mine's a micro plus since I'm buying so many new parts I may just make 2 PCs eventually)
    CPU: AMD FX-8150 3.6 Ghz (4.2 Turbo) - 190$
    MOBO: ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS - 100$
    Ram: 16 GB (2 x 8) of ram 95$
    GPU: GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) HD 2560MB 320-bit GDDR5 - 310$ (Google says 560 TI is still just below 570 so why not, plus it has the 320 bit and 2 GB of memory which I couldn't find a 560 TI that had both)

    Comes in at just around 845 bucks. I thought it'd be nice. Was I wrong? o_o


    First of all 16 GB of RAM you're not really gonna be using that 8 is enough but i won't stop you if you want it but what is really important is the speed of the ram and not how big it is.

  • Ah yeah, forgot to say the speed. It's 1866 Mhz. And yeah I know I'll probably never reach 16 XD. I have 6 right now and my memory is at 75% atm and all I'm doing is rendering a video on Windows live movie maker and using firefox. The rest are background programs I run. And I usually like to play/record games WHILE rendering a video in windows live movie maker. So I could probably hit 8 on max if I left enough stuff open. Which is what I like to do. I hate closing programs just to run other ones.

    I actually wanted some tracers (light up ones) instead but I'm having trouble finding the 1866 Mhz ones in stock. So meh.

    CPU useage is bouncing around 90s lol. WLMM taking ~70 and another program I use to host games taking 14-20 and then a couple other programs taking 1-2. Need moar CPU!!!
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  • I see, so what would you guys suggest that's in the same price range? Maybe some more, but I'm not going to blow 2 grand if you know what I mean XD. I have never owned an intel nor do I know anything about them as to why they're better. From my stand point it's always been they're just the expensive "name brand" type of thing.

    My main concern is making rendering not take 2 years and overall speed of course, but anything can be better speed than what I have now.

    Also I notice programs like Adobe After Effects have "Multicore Rendering" which allow you to make rendering faster by using more CPUs. Wouldn't an 8 core be able to utilize this more? I'll see if I can find the video.

    youtube.com/watch?v=Ofp7aFNOiTE In this video at about 1:45+ it shows the option and I think he shows task manager showing the program running more than 1.
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    The post was edited 1 time, last by VcentG ().

  • I looked :O. Any thoughts on this setup?

    amazon.com/gp/product/B008O0ZK…e=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER case
    amazon.com/gp/product/B007SZ0E…e=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER i7 3770k
    amazon.com/gp/product/B007RIFK…e=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER motherboard (has everything I want even if a little expensive)
    amazon.com/gp/product/B0056KUW…e=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER 8 gb of 1866 MHz ram.

    Total: 762$

    I'm thinking of getting all this and getting a GPU later, simply because I don't have the money for it all at once XD. But when I do, probably the GeForce 570 for ~300$.

    Just used amazon because newegg has my old AMD setup and I was comparing XD.
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  • Alright thanks, COMPUTER IS ORDERED.

    Minus the graphics card XD. But my current one hasn't failed me yet for the most part, so I can use it until I have the funds to acquire the 660 TI (which will probably be a week or 2 anyway so it won't be so bad).

    All the help was appreciated. And I can't 100% tell because I can't test it, but if this i7 is as much better than the FX 8150 as sites/people say, then thank you all for stopping me from buying it XD.
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