Specs Okay?

[Cricket]

My current computer is dying and I need to build a new one. I haven't been keeping up with computers for the past year so I'm not sure what is what right now. Since I'm into digital photographyI need a computer that will handle photo editing using Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 2. I wasn't sure if I should go with a Dual Core or a Quad Core processor so I just picked a Dual Core but will change it to a Quad Core if you guys feel it would be the better choice.

This is what I picked out so far...

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor
ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
CORSAIR 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit
SeaSonic SS-500ET 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 Power Supply
SAPPHIRE 100264L Radeon HD 4350 512MB PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD Burner - Retail
WinXP Home
One of my old Antec cases

Let me know how this looks. I'm not a gamer and only need a video card for photo editing and web surfing. Gonna re-use my 19" Samsung LCD monitor, mouse and keyboard.

Thanks guys

Cricket

[shadowpr]

Looks good.

I'm not sure how that video card will work with photo editing, but i'm sure others will know.

Have you thought about doing an i7 build?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Have you thought about doing an i7 build?

Never been a bleeding edge kind of guy. Just want something a little more current than my 2.8GHz Northwood P4, ASUS P4P800SE, 3GB Crucial PC3200 DDR RAM, Matrox G550 video card, Antec Earthpower 380 watt PSU, 80GB Seagate IDE HDD, 80GB Western Digital IDE HDD, 250GB Western Digital IDE HDD and Lite-On DVD burner.

I think it's on it's last legs...been having all kinds of problems with it lately. I got about 5 good years out of it...time to put it to rest.

Thanks,
Cricket

[not important]

Looks like a solid build to me.

[glc]

Cricket, I couldn't find anything better for that use. Excellent component choices. The only thing I might do is get a modular PSU to cut down on the cable clutter but that will be more costly. I've been using the Corsair 520HX for that.

A suggestion for an additional component:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223110

You *will* need a floppy drive to install XP if you set the SATA controller to AHCI (recommended). Why not get a combo with card readers?

Also - SATA optical recommended, don't even enable the IDE controller.

[XenaWP]

That card reader would be handy ... I may add one to my photo editing PC one of these days.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by glc Cricket, I couldn't find anything better for that use. Excellent component choices. The only thing I might do is get a modular PSU to cut down on the cable clutter but that will be more costly. I've been using the Corsair 520HX for that.

Thanks glc, I'll take a look at it but cable clutter really doesn't bother me and my case doesn't have a window anyway. I'll just use lots of nylon zip ties to keep the mess under control.

Originally Posted by glc A suggestion for an additional component: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223110 You *will* need a floppy drive to install XP if you set the SATA controller to AHCI (recommended). Why not get a combo with card readers?

I have a bunch of floppy drives in my spare parts box and I'm gonna just use my existing Sandisk card reader. Gotta look into that AHCI thing though...haven't built a computer in a long time and I don't remember doing that the last time.

Originally Posted by glc Also - SATA optical recommended, don't even enable the IDE controller.

Yeah, I picked out Lite-On is a retail SATA DVD burner that comes with the burning software.

Gee, I haven't ordered from Newegg in awhile...the shipping cost is crazy now, about twice what I spent on shipping about a year ago.

Since glc said it looks okay I'm gonna place the order now. Thanks again guys.

Cricket

[glc]

AHCI is a new standard - it fully enables SATA 3.0 features such as NCQ. The only way to install XP on a ICH10/ICH10R without a floppy is set the controller to IDE emulation. The reason you have never seen it is your P4P800SE's ICH is only SATA 1.5 and only needs a floppy to install it as RAID - all you have is IDE emulation and RAID.

Vista has AHCI support built in, so no floppy is needed.

[Cricket]

Got the new computer up and running this weekend. It's not a whole lot faster than the old computer but it does seem to have an easier time with Photoshop and large image files. I'm surprised that the E8500 runs as cool as my old 2.8GHz Northwood P4.

I wasn't able to get that AHCI thing going...I tried to but I got an error message in the process (got a corrupt file using the "make disk" option on the motherboard CD, the downloaded one from ASUS worked). After I got that sorted out I tried again and got a BSOD further along the process. I didn't feel like futzing around with it any more so I just configured the SATA as IDE and went about my merry way. The computer works and I'm happy...well, the mouse died so I'm using an old spare right now, but everything else seems fine.

Maybe I'll give Windows 7 a try after it's been out awhile. That should have native AHCI support so I won't have to mess with driver disks and stuff.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Cricket

[shadowpr]

Cricket, you might want to check your seagate drives to see if you will have to update the firmware: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives failing