Please help me build a PC

[Mark R.]

Hello there,

I'm brand new to the forum, and I want to switch from an iMac to Windows; I work with photo editing (big files up to 500mb each tru C1 and PS) and I have a budget of 3500$ (monitor included).

I need something fast, with at least 64/128gb ram, would you care to list your top picks so I can build my very first custom pc?

Thank you all in advance

 

[extreme_noob]

Does photo editing really take that much ram? I'm just wondering if that much ram is even necessary.
And is photo editing all you do?

 

[Mark R.]

Yes, that's all I do

And yeah, maybe I can be content with 64gb ram, but from my past experience less than that will hinder my work flow.

 

[extreme_noob]

I've read elsewhere that photo editing doesn't take that much GPU usage, so the GPU isn't especially good. But if in your experience you do need a good GPU, then do let me know.
This has 64GB RAM, and I included a 4K 60Hz IPS monitor, and I believe HDR. Going to 128GB would likely require threadripper which is much more expensive.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FBFdGc
I put in two 1TB EX920s instead of 1 2TB equivalent nvme ssd because it is significantly cheaper. If you need more or less, tweak it however you'd like.
CPU is the best 3rd gen AM4 CPU at the moment. Not sure if such a good cpu is completely necessary, but put it in anyways.

 

[Mark R.]

I've read elsewhere that photo editing doesn't take that much GPU usage, so the GPU isn't especially good. But if in your experience you do need a good GPU, then do let me know.
This has 64GB RAM, and I included a 4K 60Hz IPS monitor, and I believe HDR. Going to 128GB would likely require threadripper which is much more expensive.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FBFdGc
I put in two 1TB EX920s instead of 1 2TB equivalent nvme ssd because it is significantly cheaper. If you need more or less, tweak it however you'd like.
CPU is the best 3rd gen AM4 CPU at the moment. Not sure if such a good cpu is completely necessary, but put it in anyways.

That looks pretty solid to me, thanks for your help man.

 

[g-unit1111]

Does photo editing really take that much ram? I'm just wondering if that much ram is even necessary.
And is photo editing all you do?

Yeah absolutely. Especially if you work with large files that have 100+ layers, it can take forever to get a decent redraw. And that can break multicore CPUs. I work with large CAD and rendering files and those work about the same as Photoshop and Illustrator, and can eat CPU cores and RAM.

That said I would suggest something like this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Threadripper 2950X 3.5 GHz 16-Core Processor ($689.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X62 Rev 2 98.17 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X399 Taichi ATX sTR4 Motherboard ($319.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 128 GB (8 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($659.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($115.80 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB XC ULTRA GAMING Video Card ($529.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H710i ATX Mid Tower Case ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ ModMyMods)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($99.99 @ B&H)
Total: $3255.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-02-17 00:38 EST-0500

Then you can add whatever monitor, keyboard and mouse you want.

 

[extreme_noob]

Yeah absolutely. Especially if you work with large files that have 100+ layers, it can take forever to get a decent redraw. And that can break multicore CPUs. I work with large CAD and rendering files and those work about the same as Photoshop and Illustrator, and can eat CPU cores and RAM.

That said I would suggest something like this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Threadripper 2950X 3.5 GHz 16-Core Processor ($689.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X62 Rev 2 98.17 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X399 Taichi ATX sTR4 Motherboard ($319.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 128 GB (8 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($659.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($115.80 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB XC ULTRA GAMING Video Card ($529.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H710i ATX Mid Tower Case ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ ModMyMods)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($99.99 @ B&H)
Total: $3255.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-02-17 00:38 EST-0500

Then you can add whatever monitor, keyboard and mouse you want.

Why would such a good GPU be necessary? And wouldn't an X62 have trouble with the large IHS of threadripper?

$250 is also not a lot for a good monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

 

[g-unit1111]

Why would such a good GPU be necessary? And wouldn't an X62 have trouble with the large IHS of threadripper?

$250 is also not a lot for a good monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

The X62 is one of the few coolers that are guaranteed to work with TR4 out of the box. Yeah you could probably get away with getting less of a GPU but if you're using Premiere having a good GPU certainly helps on multi-layered projects.

You can actually get pretty decent 1440P monitors from brands like Acer and Asus for around the $250 range.