Please Critique this Photo-Video Editing Build before I Buy 7-4-09

[finleyb]

Seeking fast, quiet and low heat system that will go together with minimum issues as this is my first build. Purpose- General use and photo / video editing using PhotoShop and Pinnacle software. (Will potentially be using the system with a 47" HDTV if the noise level and size can be kept to a minimum.) Budget- $600 or less.

Note- Considered GA-MA790X-UD4P paired with a Radeon 4870 graphics card instead of the GA-MA790GP, but increased the cost. Not sure there is enough gain given my application. Look forward to your comments / advise.

BUILD:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail
211638GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail COMBO PRICE with discounts $254.98

GSkill 4GB 2X2GB 240 Pin DDR2 1066
Antec 300 Black Steel Mid Tower Case COMBO PRICE $89.94

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $59.99 (after rebate)

208025Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Microsoft Gift - Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 x64 64-Bit - OEM Free with purchase! $109.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM $60.00

Existing wireless keyboard and mouse
Existing LCD TV/Monitor
Existing Lightscribe DVD Burner / CDRW

 

[Proximon]

Looks good!

 

[finleyb]

Looks good!

Thank you for the vote of confidence / your feedback.

 

[sighQ2]

This will work.
But I think since you are buying all new mobo/cpu/ram that you should go all AM3 and DDR3.

PH II 945 (or other AM3 quad or triple core)
DDR3 (GSKILL or other) (OCZ or Corsair)
similar Giga mobo w 790GX chipset - except get the AM3 socket = "Ultra Durable"

not much cost difference - and sys would be current generation with full upgrade options

I see you are leaving out the discrete vidcard, using onboard video. It's a good solution for your intended use, and you have the option of adding a discrete vidcard if needed (with either the AM2+ or the AM3 socket solution).

I just think better value in the newer AM3 socket solution.

You could also use a PH II 720BE triple core or the PH II 810 quad core. The 810 only has 4 megs L3. But either of these cpu's would be cheaper, as well as the locked 945 cpu. The 940 you mention is an AM2+ part /similar to it (locked) is the 920, also AM2+ - they were the first Ph II's released (pre socket AM3). The future is all AM3, and that's my main point!

But if it's simple quick deal price right now in a hurry - what you listed is quite good. And what's amazing! is that the AM3 cpu's will drop into that AM2+ mobo! with only a bios upgrade! SO you are covered; but committed to DDR2 RAM.

I hope this helps more than confuses.

 

[finleyb]

Thanks SighQ2 for the input. Would the AMD 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1 16 MB L3 Cache AM3 be another good option for my application? I am reading that this is actually a Q4 if paired with the right board and changes applied. If a good approach, your thoughts regarding pairing it with the Gigabyte 790X or 790GX?

 

[Proximon]

You don't need a crossfire board, but you do need a good quad core CPU, not a chance at a quad (550).

Let's try a different build:

CM 690 and AMD 945 combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.208482

780G MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154

DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231241

 

[jsrudd]

The newest version of photoshop benefits from a discrete graphics card. It will offload some of the processing to the GPU.