Hardware specs for an animater

[sojourner753]

I have an aunt who is looking to buy a computer for serious animating and editing.

She's looking at tools like:
Adobe Premiere Pro (http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/systemreqs.html)
After Effects (http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/systemreqs.html)

Any suggestions on specs for a computer? Windows and Mac specs welcome.

Thanks

[Jason Dunn]

Well, there's no real magic there. Serious CPU firepower - AMD FX60 would be my suggestion, a good amount of RAM (2 GB minimum), and a fast hard drive (7200 RPM 500GB or 10,000 RPM Raptor X 150GB) for scrubbing video back and forth.

[sojourner753]

Thanks Jason, this helps.
It sounds like it might be more fiscally reasonable for me to offer to build a computer for her rather than look for one off the shelf.

[Jason Dunn]

It sounds like it might be more fiscally reasonable for me to offer to build a computer for her rather than look for one off the shelf.

Pretty much. Though you could also look to some of the performance-minded vendors such as CyberpowerPC, ABS, Monarch, iBuyPower. Basically any company that advertises in the back of Maximum PC. ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

Oh, I should add that I think an Athlon X2 CPU would be the best choice - the dual core processor power would really help with video rendering, the more brutal task she'll likely be doing in regards to the CPU.