What VideoCard? What software? Joystick or Gamepad?

Hi, I would like to start shooting some video on SL but I need to have clear ideas before spending my money. I'm a beginner, I dont need a 800 $ videocard right now.

My PC is a Pentium 4 3200Mhz.
The Motherboard is a GIGABYTE K8NF9 A.64 939 NForce.
1GB RAM DDR 400.

The videocard is an Nvidia PCX5300 128Mb DDR.
I want to buy a new one, what will you suggest? What do you use?
I'd like to get this one: Nvidia GF8500GT Silent512M DDR2

What do you think: Joystick or Gamepad for FlyCam?

What software do you use for video capture? Fraps?

What software do you use for post production? Pinnacle?

Do I need anything in-world? Any HUD?

Thank you very much!

Josey

i think the mouse would be easier to use then a joystick or gamepad

I wouldn't go overboard with a expensive video card just yet, try a nVidia 7 series (not GO or LE) check out whether you have AGP or PCI-E slots available.

Personally I use a logitech Gamepad with flycam.

I use HyperCam for video capture.

I use Sony Vegas Pro for first stage editing and rendering.

If you want to make your movies look like you have a cam and running about, you can buy a cam for about 1L$, its very effective and you just wear it, no messing with scripts. You can then run about filming without your avatar in view, it smooths the motion a bit and even looks like you are filming whilst climbing stairs, without shaking the teeth from your head.

Awesome, i'll do that. I got a wingman logitech, borrowed for the week end so i try and then i let you know! THNX

Hopefully, with the introduction of the Havoc4 engine, sim stability should allow a lot more use/creativity of the FlyCam option, unless you are on a good sim, it seems after a while to lock up and fly to a neighbouring sim at 0,0,0, which at best is annoying.

Combined, would be like flexi was to designers, it will open up a whole new refreshing way in which machinima creators can expand.

Just my 2 cents for you m8.

Im using a dual core amd x2 64bit 4200+ cpu with 1gig ddr2 533mhz ram, 7600gs 256mb silent gpu.

With that i get smooth capture on sl using gamecam. The reason i say gamecam is because fraps itself bring the speed of the program in line with the capture settings, so 30fps will bring sl to 30fps as well, all well and good for sync purposes, but sometimes when things get too slow so does your capture. The quality is superior because it captures almost raw footage which eats hard drive space for breakfast. If you know a little more about capture codecs and how your final render might turn out then gamecam is a step in the right direction for saving money on a capture system if you dont need the highest of the highest quality.

My system works perfectly for capture in the ways that i need it, it isnt a topend system but it also doesnt slouch when asked to perform multi tasking work.

There are a few things you can do with regards to camera tools, one i would recommend is FPHud which is the simplest inworld and scripted way of setting up filming paths, not the cheapest but deffinetely the best. Other methods seem a little to mechanical for my tastes so a gamepad with analog sticks is great for more epic style captures, or even finer movement (you can even apply a momentum to the camera, which add's a feeling of weight), so over a mouse i would recommend it anyday.

Thats just my opinion but i hope it provides another perspective when it comes to your spending and future work.