$2000-Max Digital Artist PC (Paint Tool SAI, Photoshop)

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My friend in Hungary is going to be purchasing parts for a new PC. His greatest concern is to have enough power to support gigantic drawings in the 5000+x5000+ pixel range. Would this be dependent on RAM or video card memory? He uses Paint Tool SAI and Photoshop CS4, and would like the computer to play Guild Wars 2 and Starcraft 2, but these do not have to be at max settings. Additionally, he is interested in 2560x1440 IPS displays, however it is not a necessity. Thanks in advance for any and all advice :)


Approximate Purchase Date: This Week

Budget Range: $1500-$2000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Paint Tool SAI, Photoshop, Guild Wars 2, Starcraft 2

Parts Not Required: Full new build

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country: Hungary or USA if required

Parts Preferences: Possibility for IPS display, not 100% required though

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440 (possible)
 
Check out this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/342177-31-2500usd-digital-artist

His budget is $500 more, but switching out a component for a slightly less high-end one would get you down to your budget. He's getting way more help than you are (just luck of the draw for what's on top of the forum).

I just have a few quick questions.
1) Are his (your friend's) pictures 3D or 2D?
2) Is he just running one app at a time?
3) You need monitor, keyboard, and mouse, right? Do you need speakers?
4) Are you sure for no overclocking? It's pretty simple
5) Can he/you wait until April 29th for the new Ivy Bridge Intel chips to come out? If not, then make sure you get a Z68 motherboard instead of a Z77. If you are going to wait, make sure you get a Z77 motherboard.

I'll start you off by saying that you need at least 16GB of RAM, 32GB is preferable. A GTX 680 should get you far enough... try to go for more video RAM (maybe a 3GB model).
 
I'll take a look through that thread, thanks for the link.

1. He draws in 2D using his tablet.
2. He streams his work live over the internet while listening to music, but he doesn't usually have Photoshop and SAI open simultaneously.
3. He needs a new monitor as well, he can use the keyboard, mouse and headset he has currently.
4. If it's something simple like a Windows GUI utility, I might convince him to, but stability is a big issue. Imagine working for hours on a piece and then having your computer crash from the summer heat stressing your OC's components.
5. He's been pining for this for a while, but I'll mention it to him. Has AMD refreshed recently, and would it be a good starting point?

Gotcha on the RAM and video card.
 
^hmmmm... that's interesting...

jarek319:
1) If he draws in 2D on a TABLET, are the graphics that complex? If a tablet can handle them, are you sure he needs a supercomputer?
2) That's fine. I was just deciding whether I should suggest 32GB or 16GB of RAM... I'm still unsure, to tell the truth :/ I hope someone who is experienced in graphic design can help you with that. I know about gaming computers more than graphic design
3) I'm not sure about new monitors... do you know what size? Like 27''? I know nothing about monitors, so maybe devbunny could help you with that more than I can.
4) Overclocking just a little bit isn't unstable, and it's generally fairly simple. Just look up some safe overclocks. How hot does it get? If you want to be very safe, you could look into liquid cooling for about $70 extra (for the H100 vs Hyper 212 Evo fan). Again, I'd need some more input from someone who knows graphic design to know if it's impossible to somehow monitor temperature. Generally, it's unnecessary, but if it's important, I'm sure you could have some sort of software-based alarm go off if the temperature is above a certain point.
5) Don't go AMD... they went down the drain with CPUs (GPUs are fine, it's just the CPUs... ugh). I think waiting for April 29th would be beneficial, since Intel chips are only released once a year, and while an incremental upgrade, it's... worth it, we'll say.
 
Most artists doing painting on a PC use a tablet, including the guys that paint textures for games/TV/Film. He's not referring to a tablet as in a iPad/Android tablet etc, he's talking about a Wacom tablet.

A quick note is that Photoshop CS4 and higher do use OpenGL acceleration for display/zooming/panning etc so the graphics card is a little more important on Photoshop systems than it used to be.
 
for photoshop and stuff,an IPS monitor is better.2560x1440 monitors are really very expensive,1080p is best IMO :) .here's my build for you-
Lite on dvd burner-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
500R-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009
F4 2tb-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245
U2312HM IPS 23"-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824260055
NZXT HALE82 850w -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817116016
comfort curve keyboard-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109149
compact optical mouse-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105166
vengeance low profile 16gb 1.5V 1600mhz ram-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233198
gigabyte GA-Z77X-U3DH mobo-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128544
hyper 212 EVO-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
Samsung 830 256gb ssd-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147164
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130768
note-IPS panels are better for pro editing and all stuff.the one i suggested is a good choice.16gb ram will take care of ram demanding multi threaded apps.256gb ssd is great and psu is enough for 680 SLi.all parts are high quality and compatible.
 
any cheap optical drives is great, any case that looks pretty in your eyes too, just make sure it should fit your mobo,
I say on seasonic psu go platinum or gold whichever you want should give you better results. +2 on the keyboard and mouse hell put up, corsair vengeance low profile is great or go g.skill if you wan't (for vengeance go get one that has nice color with your mobo for art's sake) hyper 212 evo is an awesome cooler, and I do suggest stick to air cooling and use an after market cooler even if you DON'T or DO overclock, those extra air should help you keep your case cool, awesome pick for the samsung 830 with hell +10 to that,

I do agree about IPS panel but it will sure take a toll on your wallet, go Ivy if you must, those extra performance increase would benefit you not that much but we will still see.

gigabyte should be a great system for you, never had any other mobo they sell except the x58 socket, and only used MSi on most of my system both mobo and gpu and some asus, so can't say much for giga on other sockets.

2TB of hard drive storage is a great bet as someone who needs to save a lot of work, 2TB is sure well worth it you won't be bothering to add another one in a while at least. samsung/western digital caviar black/seagate barracuda, any of those with 7200rpm or higher and at least 64mb cache for the extra I can sleep better feeling(your feeling) but if you want you can fit in those noctua nh-d14 and the other big one silverarrow(never had one of these can't seem to get my hands on it) noctua nh-d14 is huge and looks weird but cooling is awesome in the case, I used one on my other system @ stockclock since I just loved that cooler, and it keeps things cool, but I do say hyper 212 PLUS(if you can get this at 18 bucks it's a steal of course brand new) and hyper 212 evo if you like a few degree drop
 


great and thnx for the info :) but i already jadusted everything 😛
 
Actually, hellfire, I think he may want a better mouse. He is into designing, after all... so he's probably going to do some precision work with the mouse. Unless he does everything on the tablet. Heh... I really don't know enough about digital artists...
 
btw for the mouse I recommend those that let you rest your whole hand on it more like those palm type and a mouse pad or something with a wrist pad as it help things comfortable. but of course he doesn't have to get them now as they can be bought later