$2000 Photoshop/Lightroom build review request

[RR19]

First Time $2000 Photoshop Computer Build Review Request

Hey everyone,

I've really enjoyed looking at the different builds on here and am anxious to give it a try. This is my first build. I need to get/build a photo-editing computer that will last a few years and would like the education of building it. Here is where I'm at now:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:

This week

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:

Photoshop / Lightroom, Photomatix, Quickbooks Pro, Microsoft Word/Excel, web-browser with 5-10 windows open. My only game is the classic mine-sweep which I don't think is too resource intensive However, I do run many of the above programs simultaneously

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:

keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:

probably newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

PARTS PREFERENCES:

Intel

OVERCLOCKING:

Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:

Don't plan on it but who knows

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Functionality is more important than appearance

--------------------

Tentative parts list.....tentative being the keyword. Please feel free to jump in with suggestions.

Processor:

Intel Core i7-930 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Retail $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225

cpu cooler:

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ... - Retail $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Board:

Trying to decide between these two -

ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

-or-

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

RAM:

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C7 G - Retail $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16820145250

PSU:

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Case:

I saw this case on another build and liked it a lot. Specifically the finger-press buttons for quickly maintaining or upgrading 5.25" drive devices and Removable HDD racks.
It is big thought. almost 2 feet long and tall which means inventing a new space for it at my desk.

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Casel $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

system drive:

Corsair P128 CMFSSD-128GBG2D 2.5" 128GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $375
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233087

Media Drives:

Two SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $180($90/each)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

GPU

Torn between these two. The first is a workstation card that is specifically for renderings, cad programs, and not gaming ...The reviews say it outperforms the gaming cards by 25-400% for these applications, but apparently not games which is fine for me. It also puts my build over budget. The second one is cheaper and I've seen it used in other builds.

ATI 100-505505 FireGL V7700 512MB PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card - Retail $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195061

-or-

GIGABYTE GV-R485MC-1GI Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125258&cm_re=4850-_-14-125-258-_-Product


Optical Drive:

HP Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 24X Multiformat DVD Writer - Retail $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140042

Raid Rack

(for storage flexibility)

KINGWIN KF-4000-BK 3.5" Internal hot swap rack raid-4 bay - Retail $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817990004

card reader

Rosewill RCR-FD400 74-in-1 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 Card Reader w/ Floppy Drive - Retail $35
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223111

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758



Total: $1997.87 (with the Asus P6T board, and HD 4850 GPU)

This is my first build and I'm a little nervous about compatibility with everything and I'm sure there is some ignorance on my part involved, but hopefully it will all play nicely together. I open to any suggestions you are willing to give.

Thanks

 

[JackNaylorPE]

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 is version 2 of this board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

but i'd get

ASUS P6X58D Premium
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614&cm_re=P6X58D-_-13-131-614-_-Product

unless ya wanna wait for the Rampage III Extreme ...see video ....can monitor OC, temps, voltages by BT on ya phone .... BISO via flash drive on bare MoBo (no componnets installed)

http://pcper.com/ces.php

Case / PSU - if ya don't find the styling too aggressive, I'd wait a week or two and get the Antec Dark Fleet Series DF-85. Shown at CES in January, I am quite enamored with all the easy access features and the hot swap drive bays.'''also retains the dust filters and fits the Antec CP series PSU's .... in other words, the unmatched CP-850 fits in this case.

http://pcper.com/comments.php?nid=8230

 

[RR19]

The ASUS P6X58D Premium does look like a great board, but I will have to drop a hard drive to keep it in budget. Probably worth it though.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The ASUS P6X58D Premium does look like a great board, but I will have to drop a hard drive to keep it in budget. Probably worth it though.

save a bit if you get the Antec 1200 / CP-850 $244 (save
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345233

Case is comparable, each of the two trade pluses and minuses. CP-850 though is a better PSU and quieter.

 

[RR19]

Hmmm, I really like the finger press buttons on the first case. That was the selling point on that. But both power supplies are about the same price, so I could switch those out if the CP-850 is better.

I think I am just going to shell out the extra cash and get the better board for upgrade-ability sake. I spent all day coming to grips with that decision.

 

[RR19]

Thanks for the good input. It's hard trying to find the right combination of everything.