First Build (Photoshop PC) - comments welcome

swtrader

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Below is what I'm looking to build. Primary use will be photoshop. I know the video card is overkill but I can't find review for a GPU for photoshop just gaming. Please let me know any recommendations. Specially around memory, PSU & GPU.
Thanks


OPTICAL DRIVE:
LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM

CASE:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail

RAM (one of these TWO):
OCZ 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3X1600R2LV6GK - Retail
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8TU-6GBPI - Retail

MOTHERBOARD:
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU:
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail

CPU Cooler:
Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Cooling Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink - Retail

GPU:
BFG Tech BFGEGTX260MC896OCDE GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

HARD DRIVE:
Western Digital Caviar Black **NOT SURE OF SIZE YET**
 

darkjuggalo2000

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darkjuggalo2000

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swtrader

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Very helpful, I will have to go with the HD 5770 since it ahs Dual DVI. Just curious why would you pick the XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 over the other card the GeForce® GTX 260 OC MAXCORE 55 896MB GDDR3 PCIe 2.0?

Thanks again!!
 
Case / PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129064

MoBo - Suggest Asus USB 3 / SATA III Boards

GFX - At it's $155 price of 3 months ago, 260 was a good buy, not at $200+

CPU - i7 -930 is supposed to hit before monday.

RAM - CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 Model CMX6GX3M3C1600C7 w/ CAS 7 timings
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145286

Heat Sink - One of the top 3 here;
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_Heatsinks
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=15

pick a TIM from the top few here:
http://www.hwreviewlabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64%3Amega-44-thermal-paste-round-up&catid=32%3Around-ups&Itemid=47&limitstart=3
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/thermal-interface-roundup_10.html#sect1
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

Hard Drives - Check out the performance charts and pick whatever 500 GB per platter drive performs best under your usage patterns. The WD Black 2 TB is a good choice but at smaller capacities, you are limited to the Seagate 7200.12 or the Spinpoint F3. The 7200.12 excels in gaming, multimedia and pictures whereas the F3 wins at music and movie maker. See the comparisons here (copy past link in manually, link won't work in forum):

(http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/compare,1006.html?prod[2371]=on&prod[2770]=on)
 

darkjuggalo2000

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I would have suggested all of that exdept for the 1,000 dollar budget
 
Nvidia Quadro CX series is marketed for use with apps like photoshop.. Personally i'd suggest you to go for as much ram as possible.. Since you are not inclined towards gaming, you can do good with any entry level GPU also.. I'd recommend an nvidia card over the ATI because of the stability of both the display and the drivers..
 

darkjuggalo2000

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he has 6 gigs of ram and a great cpu... he should get the best gpu for the money so this computer can have a multipurpose behind it... and yes nvida has better drivers but not better cards.. I wish there was a company that made cards like ati and had drivers like nvida that would be awesome...
 
He has himself admitted the GPU selected by him as an overkill and so only my recommendation followed.. No point getting the extra horsepower only to driver inside speed limits.. If he intents to multipurpose ( gaming in another words ), then me too would agree with your verdict..
 

darkjuggalo2000

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yea i see what you are saying... what i was just simply saying is that for the price he would pay for the gtx 260 (179.99) he could get a hd5770 (159.99) and have a better card. that was simply if he was going to go that route. I also suggested a workstation card made for the purpose of 3d rendering/ 2d rendering programs like photoshop, solid works, auto cad etc... but i also mentioned "only if he does not intend to game. He said he would rather have the 5770, wich implies that he may game a little or would like to have the option to in the future. either way photoshop is not going to rely heavily on the graphics card so your right it really doesnt matter.. just make sure you have plenty of ram (6 gigs should be fine) and a decent cpu (the i7 bloomfield will suffice) and you should be a ok!
 

swtrader

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Thanks for the feedback.

Would it be worth the $90 to get the ASUS P6X58D Premium VS the Gigabyte GA-C58A-UD3R?

Also saw Fry's has the Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooler $20 AR, dirt cheap, worth it or stick w/ a better cooler?


Thanks agian
 

swtrader

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Computer is built thanks for the posts.

**BUT** I'm using the stock CPU Cooler (no overclocking yet). can someone recommend a CPU cooler that will fit in the Antec 300 case? One on the quieter side.

Thanks again
 

alexseven7

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after speaking to the Nvidia reps, i decided to purchase a quadro fx1800 web price $419. it is just a little slower than the GeForce GTX 285, but faster than gtx 260, but it is more stable and runs on less than half the energy. So you can save on a PSU and on electricity. Plus the drivers are a lot better and you get better support being a workstation card, drivers have been extensively tested. I spoke estensively, comparing differnt cards and asking the plus and minus. This would be the best bet, also if you ever get into video, this card would also work. I told them that I would be using this card for illustrator and photoshop mostly on 2 d work only. Here is the system i'm building: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/282181-31-workstation-system-recommendations-changes

One thing this is not a gaming card, so if you ar looking for that then the quadro fx1800 would not be your card.