Build a Photoshop PC

[Wickedfn4u]

I am looking to build a first time system. I am a professional photographer shooting raw and using Capture One for my darkroom functions and using PS3 to do my work in. I will be opening large numbers of files for my posters and my current HP just crashes. I also do some (not professional just family stuff) HD video work not a lot of editing but getting off the camera, adding some audio and burning to disk. So I want power and speed. I have TB of external drives and 5 or 6 500's sata drives empty laying around. My best friend works at MS so software is not an issue just the hardware side.

I know there are many options which brings about many opinions so respect ideas. I have a Fry's close or can mail order from newegg or is there someplace better. This would be my first DIY but I have no problem opening my case to add stuff so this should not be that hard. My big gap would be choke points, don't want 400 hp being put to the ground on 13" snow tires if you get my comparison.

OH budget 600-900 with no HD or monitor

Thanks a bunch.

TC

[Wickedfn4u]

Ok here is what I kind of pieced together:
MB GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $135.00

Memory G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - $60.00 each x 3

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor $170.00

Optical Drives Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B x 2$33.00 Each

HDD I have 2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 and Wester Dig WD5000AAKS

Case/PS I have no clue as I look at them. I want quite as it sits right next to me not in an encloure so good air flow.

Video card: No clue.

What else misc would I need? I don't want to get this and find I need cables or some other things.

[Alaron]

Good start.

You don't need that much RAM, and your board can't even handle six sticks. Go with one of those kits and see how it works for you. Most people don't need more RAM, and if you find you do, get a second kit later to fill the extra two slots.

I'd go with a Q9550, it is a hell of a chip for not much more.

Case is largely up to you since you have to look at it. I like Antec brand.

For the power supply, look at Corsair brand units. I'd pick the 650w or 750w unit so you have plenty of room for upgrades.

As for the video card, we have been recommending the Radeon 4890 but I'll let someone more versed in graphics work make a recommendation there.

We always recommend buying from Newegg.

Finally, don't forget Windows. You'll need 64bit for that extra RAM. Pick up the copy of Vista that comes with a Windows 7 upgrade coupon.

[Khalil]

Asus P5Q Pro is what you want for a motherboard. I don't understand why 3 sets of memory??
The Q8400 will do the job for your purposes However a Q9550 would be much better.
Your hard drives will work well. Sony Optiarc are solid reliable optical drives and I use them most in my systems.
I would get a roomy case, look to Antec
Video card, any 512MB video card will work, a workstation video card will work better but is not necessary. Many will tell you onboard video will work, it will but a dedicated video card will produce much better results.
You can go with a cheap one like this ATI

[Wickedfn4u]

Alaron, maybe I said the memory wrong. I want a total of 12gb and the MB has 4 slots or a max of 16. Processing raw photos is a memory hog that is why I though I would go large. Right now, granted only using 3gb of ram I cant run PS3 and Capture one at the same time.

I was thinking of putting some of my 1tb drives inside vs on my desk in a external case so the PS probably should be 700w. The main thing with the case is quite, cool and I don't need fancy lights or the clear side. I want as many ports up front as possible (usb/fire/sata).

Thanks for the recommendation on the Video card will look into it.

[Khalil]

You don't need more than 4GB of memory for your applications. You don't need a 700W power supply unless you plan on buying a power gaming video card.

[Wickedfn4u]

Originally Posted by Khalil You don't need more than 4GB of memory for your applications. You don't need a 700W power supply unless you plan on buying a power gaming video card.

so for the power then 500 would be ok? I will make the change on the Chip and go with the 9550 and Asus MB.

[Strider]

I haven't build a computer for over a little over a year and a half, but as for the power supply stick with a brand power supply that is of good quality. I personally myself would stick with the 700 watt power supply or don't go below 600-650, for one of my builds before my last one ran a little quirky with a power supply that was a 500 watt. I know someone will disagree with me, but I rather have the wattage than go darn I knew I should had bought a bigger power supply when my computer runs a little weird. Just my .02 cents.

[Alaron]

The RAM you chose is a 4GB kit. It has two sticks that are 2GB each. You can only fit a total of 8GB into the motherboard (four 2GB sticks). The way you had it written, getting three of the kits, means you'd have a total of six sticks. As Khalil said, 4GB is lots. Stick with that for now. If your graphics are so large that you feel more would help, a second kit would get you to that 8GB and that is certainly plenty.

Let's split the difference on the power supply go with this 650w. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=corsair%20650 That will be a good fit.

[Wickedfn4u]

Yeah don't know what I was thinking, actually I do. I was thinking each was 4 not 2 to make 4. I just went to Fry's to see a case just to get a feeling for size. Man glad I did the one I was looking at was huge. Yeah I am looking at the 650-700 range.

Would this be a good combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.250627

[Khalil]

I have never had problems with Cooler Master products, I was using that power supply on a couple of my triple 9600GSO machines before I retired them, the power supply never over heated or gave me any issues.
Sea Sonic or Antec would be a better power supply than Cooler Master though, Corsair are made by Sea Sonic and rebranded.

[Wickedfn4u]

Can I ask a bit of advice too and I think I know the answer. Again because I do so much card downloading I want the fastest card reader I can get. I know a lot depends on the cards but I am using most current fastest cards. When I look at card readers would I want to search for SATA hook up vs USB 2.0?

[glc]

For a card reader, consider a combo floppy drive/card reader that installs in a 3.5" external bay. It internally connects via USB 2.0 headers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820300009

For a case, look at a Coolermaster RC690.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

It has USB, Firewire, eSATA, and audio ports on top.

[Wickedfn4u]

Thanks GLC, I looked at that case but with the ports on the top, and it being under my desk I could not get to them.

As for the card read I have looked at the combo type units. My question though what would be faster one that attached via USB or SATA?

[glc]

I don't think there are any cards on the market that are as fast as even USB 2.0. Also, from what I can find out, the very few eSATA card readers out there still connect internally with USB 2.0 and use a converter card.

[wz2p7j]

Hey Wicked,

What size and res photos are you opening in Photoshop? I use Photoshop a lot and I can have several 40 meg photos open at the same time. Either really large or small but with many layers. My rig is basically a Q6600 Intel processor and 8 G ram. Basic Asus mother board P5E or something, can't remember. Windows XP 32 bit.

Chris

[Khalil]

The Q6600 is a lot of processor and it can easily handle heavy loads of Photoshop work specially if you have 4GB of Ram.

[glc]

Why do you have 8g ram and only a 32 bit OS? You have less than half of your ram available.

[wz2p7j]

glc

you might be right - it's probably 4 sticks of 1G. It was the max for 32 bit OS when I built it a while back. memory (mine) is bad tonight plus hard to type with one finger withis cat laying in my lap taking up left arm chris

[wz2p7j]

cat still in lap - typing 1 finger. Mr. Greens landscape design is 8X10 inch with about, dunno, 20 layers or something. OK cat jumped off, easier to type now. That file is 114 meg so it's a monster. The Q6600 with 4 G sticks handles it fine. Chris

[Wickedfn4u]

Originally Posted by wz2p7j Hey Wicked, What size and res photos are you opening in Photoshop? I use Photoshop a lot and I can have several 40 meg photos open at the same time. Either really large or small but with many layers. My rig is basically a Q6600 Intel processor and 8 G ram. Basic Asus mother board P5E or something, can't remember. Windows XP 32 bit. Chris

Each picture that I bring in is usually 6-8 Meg could be as high as 10. When I do the poster of a team or child I will usually have about 50 to pick from that I have to open to work with. The main project will have 25 layers up to 75 depending on the type of poster I am doing, number of kids in it and the text.

[Wickedfn4u]

OK so my toys arrived today. Not like IKEA that is for sure, but fun to put together. I got it all hooked up but have a question now. How do I turn it on? Normally when you pick up the box computer the OS is all installed and it is ready to go. I have not powered it up yet so wanted to make sure before I do. I saw a CD/DVD for the MB do I put that in one drive? I am lost at this point please help or ask more questions so I can fill in the blanks.

[glc]

1. If you installed a USB card reader or any peripherals that have USB devices that will be seen as a removable drive, disconnect them. Do not connect any peripherals except keyboard and mouse.

2. Turn the computer on and make sure you get a display. If not, refer to this thread:

PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

3. Go into the bios setup and set the date and time, make sure all drives are seen, and set the optical drive first in the boot order.

4. Put the operating system CD in the drive and restart.

5. Install the operating system.

6. Use the motherboard CD and component CD's to install drivers.

7. Reconnect any USB devices you disconnected and connect peripherals, establish an Internet connection.

8. Activate Windows and go to Windows Update.

[Wickedfn4u]

Cool THANKS! glc that is exactly the steps I needed to get this moving. Picking up the OS today will let you know how it goes.

[Wickedfn4u]

Would I need to load video drivers, I am not getting anything on my monitor. I made sure nothing is plugged in, no USB not HDD. Just the Video card is hooked up to the black slot on the Asus P5Q Pro. There are two slots but could find anything in the install saying one over the other.

[glc]

PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

[Wickedfn4u]

Its ALIVE! OK look through that site glc, it was op error. there was two power connectors, the 24 pin and a small 4 pin. I missed the 4 pin and boom.. BIOS. OK so got the date/time set and it sees all the drives.

OK so here is a question I can't figure out yet. I have 3-500 GB HDD 2-1TB HDD and 2 optical. On the MB there are SATA 1-5 and SATA_E1(port0, Orange) & E2(Port1, White). My understanding (guess) is I want my C drive on E1 and I think E2 is for backing up drive on E1. Correct?

[glc]

What motherboard did you wind up getting?

[Wickedfn4u]

Went with the ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo. So far this is nice.. very fast. Also like that it does not come loaded down with a bunch of crap already installed.

[glc]

There are 3 mass storage controllers on that board:

SATA 1-5 = Intel ICH10R
SATA E1 & E2 = Silicon Image Sil5723
eSATA and IDE = JMicron JMB361

E1 and E2 can only be used for hard drives, they do not support optical drives. I do not recommend that you use them for your system drive - use SATA 1 for that and use E1 and E2 for data drives. In order to see the status of E2, you have to install the Drive Xpert software. Drive Xpert has 3 modes - normal, which allows E1 and E2 to hold 2 independent drives, EZ Backup, which automatically keeps a backup of E1 on E2, and Super Speed, which I assume is a form of RAID 0. To use EZ Backup or Super Speed, you must use 2 identical drives, and you cannot use either one for your system drive. I don't recommend the use of either.