New Build Request: After 8 years, looking to upgrade for photo processing

[jaz50y]

Approximate Purchase Date: one month

Budget Range:  ~$750

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Photo processing; photo streaming; other streaming; general business, etc.

Are you buying a monitor: No (DELL UP2516D)

Parts to Upgrade: CPU, MOBO, RAM, GPU

Do you need to buy OS: No, running Win10 64bit

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon or Newegg, but not critical

Location: Princeton, NJ

Parts Preferences: AMD – have been using AMD all along, and always had good results.
Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (DELL UP2516D)

Additional Comments: My current PC is full tower and very quiet. Would like to reuse my Cooler Master HAF 912 case. Don't know if existing cpu cooler would still be usable? Here are full specs:
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 B45
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 402MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. GA-MA785GM-US2H (Socket M2) 35 °C
Graphics
DELL UP2516D (1920x1080@59Hz)
1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (EVGA) 32 °C
Storage
1863GB Western Digital WDC WD2003FZEX-00Z4SA0 ATA Device (SATA) 34 °C
1863GB Western Digital WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 ATA Device (SATA) 25 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-E10L USB Device
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 ATA Device
Audio
High Definition Audio Device

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading:
I have been increasing my photography and work with photographs, particularly working with RAW. I use Photoshop Elements and Editor primarily, and have begun some video work using OpenShot. My library is quite large now, and things have greatly slowed down, so I thought time to upgrade. I also like to stream my photos, but the rest of my computer use is pretty mundane.

 

[ArchitSahu]

Since you are not overclocking, go with the stock cooler with the Ryzen Chip here. You can reuse your HDD, Case and PSU (Which PSU?). Motherboard will allow for upgrade to Ryzen 2 or 1800x later. Included SSD, but if you do not need one, you can drop it. Will save money.

GPU prices are retarded right now, along with RAM prices, due to miners creating shortages. Couple this with the NAND shortage and you have a problem. AFAIK, you do not need too powerful a GPU for photo editing, so this 1050Ti will help if you use it to render.

Consider waiting, as there is new GPU release this month.

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BjJNNQ
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BjJNNQ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3GHz 8-Core Processor ($279.78 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($218.90 @ OutletPC)
Total: $823.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-14 18:19 EDT-0400

 

[ikaz]

Take alook at this:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/HwqwV6

Basically Ryzen 1600 build, I added an optional blu ray writer (which you don't need but may want to upgrade too) I also added a M2 SSD which should be used as a boot drive again don't need but I would highly recommend since it will make your seem more responsive. I also added windows 10 assuming you don't have standard license but an OEM license which can't really be moved. This also assumes you can use your PSU, your current HD , case, and graphics card. However if the budget allows I would also recommend upgrading to a GT 1030.

 

[The Paladin]

this is my suggestion.
I chose the Ryzen 5 1600, since your not gaming no need to overclock, secondly I chose the 6 core because Photoshop uses 4-6 cores as per Adode web site, also Photoshop Elements requirements according to Adobe, suggest a line of video cards such a the Quadro P600, which the specs of that card is slightly better than the GT 1030. you can get the GTX 1050TI if you like but I would start with the GT 1030 and invest into a GTX 1060 6GB later when prices are not so ridiculous. I did include a nice 250Gb SSD M.2 (1500MB/s versus 150MB/S from a standard HDD)so that you can have performance OS and use it to run your Photoshop software, it does make a loads of different on load and processing time. Finally I put in there a fresh power supply, unless you got the psu your using less than 2 years ago, I would never risk a new build with an old PSU. (that's just me!) all that and 25$ short from your requirements, and I believe it covers all your needs, requirements, and then some.

Note : all items listed as (Purchased For $0.00) are the items your listed from your current rig and should/can migrate to your new system, I put them in there to give a complete look of your system

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($188.90 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL - EVO FORZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Western Digital - BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GT 1030 2GB LP Video Card ($109.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Cooler Master - HAF 912 USB3.0 ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Rosewill - Capstone 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG - GH22NS50 Bulk DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
Monitor: Dell - UP2516D 25.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $724.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-14 18:58 EDT-0400

 

[jaz50y]

Since you are not overclocking, go with the stock cooler with the Ryzen Chip here. You can reuse your HDD, Case and PSU (Which PSU?). Motherboard will allow for upgrade to Ryzen 2 or 1800x later. Included SSD, but if you do not need one, you can drop it. Will save money.

GPU prices are retarded right now, along with RAM prices, due to miners creating shortages. Couple this with the NAND shortage and you have a problem. AFAIK, you do not need too powerful a GPU for photo editing, so this 1050Ti will help if you use it to render.

Consider waiting, as there is new GPU release this month.

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BjJNNQ
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BjJNNQ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3GHz 8-Core Processor ($279.78 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($218.90 @ OutletPC)
Total: $823.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-14 18:19 EDT-0400

 

[jaz50y]

Great advice, thx. I'll wait for the refresh and think about the ssd.

 

[jaz50y]

The comments on GPUs, and their costs, sparked me to do a little digging, and it appears that Photoshop Elements 2018 only uses a GPU when doing facial recognition, so I can minimize that aspect (might even just keep my existing card for now). But the flip side is that the CPU is doing all the work, and cores and threads count. So given that info, how would folks modify their recommendations? Should I go as high as I feel I can afford on the Ryzen?

Also fwiw, my PSU is a 6-year old ZALMAN ZM500-RS 500 Watts

 

[The Paladin]

Jaz50y, if you look at my build that is why I only suggest a GT 1030 and kept the emphasis on the cpu /hardware based part of it. But your right.

 

[jaz50y]

Thx, Paladin, part of what got me looking further. Think it's worth going up to 1700x or 1800x? Or would I not really notice difference over 1600?

 

[The Paladin]

you could go with a AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and over clock it, Photoshop uses 4-6 cores not 8 cores so they would not be used by it as per their web site.
the 1600x is only 12$ more. but that is only my humble opinion, maybe other Ryzen experts can chime in.

 

[madmatt30]

The zalman needs to go mate , sell it with the rest of your old setup.

I think the ryzen 2400g would suit your needs well personally , you could dump that old gt 710 as the integrated graphics are about twice as powerful anyway.

Keeping os & editimg all your raw images on a decent ssd will make a huge difference to editing times.I would not bother with an nvme drive for this purpose personally when yoh can double the storage space on a sata model for the same money.

Just use your old drives for backups & edited photo storage.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($165.89 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($179.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.89 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $610.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-21 13:39 EDT-0400

 

[jaz50y]

Several good suggestions. I like the integrated GPU idea in general, but decided to maximize flexibility by keeping separate. The SSD suggestion is great, going to do that. The 1600x, while only a little more than the 1600, comes without a cooler so that would add $50-60. I end up with the following, which doesn't show some rebates currently available:

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($168.80 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GT 1030 2GB LP Video Card ($109.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $702.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-03-21 19:04 EDT-0400

 

[madmatt30]

Yeah thats rock solid in all respects.

Looking through your old system specs the new build is plain going to crucify it compared to what your used to.

Arguably the best part of your old pc is the cpu , it's the platform itself crippling your usage.

Only 8gb slow ram , only sata 2 interface , pagefiling ram on a 5400rpm drive via sata 2

Absolute performance killers , the new build is honestly going to knock your socks off when you firat boot it up ;-)

 

[jaz50y]

Yikes! I was going to move at least my unedited photos to the new SSD, but totally unnecessary! Everything is there when the program opens, ready to go! Thanks to all for the help!!

 

[madmatt30]

Youre all up & running then with rhe new setup ??

 

[jaz50y]

Youre all up & running then with rhe new setup ??

Yup. Easiest build I ever did. Had some problems getting the SSD to boot, and to activate windows, but no big deal. Pressed the button, the screen sort of blinked and the windows logo appeared!

For Photoshop Elements, my catalog appears instantly and completely, which used to take forever.

And Amazon had a one day sale on the Ryzen 5, another $40 off!! So I am s happy camper.