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01-10-2010, 08:24 PM
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#1 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
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Intel i7 build - Photoshop and General Use
Our primary family computer has been in desperate need of retirement for some time, but the recent noises coming from the hard drive have made me realize that the time is now.
This will be a non-gaming build and will be used by my wife and children. Other than general usage, the primary purposes for this PC will be: 1. Support for my wife’s growing photo editing hobby. Currently she is using Photoshop Elements, but will likely move to Photoshop CS4 in the future. 2. Some video editing using Corel and Pinnacle. 3. Ripping DVDs (yes, we do own them) for backup and streaming to our D-Link DSM-520. (Eventually I want to find a way to stream them from our Windows Home Server.) Finally, this PC will be located in our family room, so I’m looking for a quiet case with no lights. I know that GLC and others seem to really like the Antec Sonata III with it's great PSU. Would this meet the need? Here is what I’ve come up with so far: Motherboard - Asus P7P55D http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131404 CPU - Intel Core i7 - 860 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115214 HDD - Western Digital Black - 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284 OS - Windows 7 64Bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754 DVD Burner - Lite-On (Retail) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106334 As you can see, I'm in need of suggestions for memory (8-12GB), a graphics card, and a card reader. Would I benefit from a second HDD as a "scratch drive" for Photoshop? Also, any suggestions of building techniques that would help decrease as much noise as possible would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance to all of you! |
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01-10-2010, 08:33 PM
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#2 |
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Member (2 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2
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For Silence:
Maybe check out the Antec P183 or Solo. Both are pretty understated without a side window and pretty quiet. There are other quiet choices as well. Make sure and get an aftermarket CPU heatsink and research your fans, both for case and Cpu The stock intel is pretty loud. Check out silentpcreview.com for sure. Go to ASUS website and look at the manual online for your RAM configuration. It's pretty important as there are modules that will work and ones that won't. Good luck! |
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01-10-2010, 08:38 PM
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#3 |
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The best memory configuration is 2 sets of 2x2 DDR3-1333 or DDR3-1600 kits. The best hard drive configuration for a Photoshop machine is 3 drives - one for OS and software, one for storage, and one scratch drive.
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01-10-2010, 08:58 PM
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#4 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
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I just noted that these have been recommended other threads:
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMD4GX3M2A1600C8 - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145265 CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145260 In your opinion, is the extra $40 per kit for the Dominator worth it? What size HDDs would you recommend for the scratch and OS drives? (I'm sure that these extra drives won't be help the noise issue!) 
Last edited by dr_x; 01-10-2010 at 09:03 PM. |
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01-10-2010, 09:09 PM
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#5 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Western PA
Posts: 691
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The dominator probably has better timings for overclocking and enthusiasts, I wouldn't pay the extra $40 for them.
__________________
Case...Cooler Master Centurion 5 | PSU...Corsair TX750 Mobo............Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H CPU..............AMD Athlon 64 X2, OC @ 3.0ghz RAM.............2gb Gskill DDR2 800 CPU Cooler...Zalman 9700 GPU.............Sapphire 4870HD Monitor.........22" Acer LCD Storage........500gb Seagate DVD.............Lite On DVD Burner Windows Vista 64 bit |
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01-10-2010, 11:34 PM
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#6 |
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Any ram that's on the Asus QVL will work fine. I wouldn't pay extra for Dominator either.
I'd use a WD Black for the OS for speed, and WD Green for the other 2 for quiet and low heat. |
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01-11-2010, 09:25 AM
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#7 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
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Thanks for the great advice. Any suggestions on a graphics card? We're currently using a 22" Samsung monitor.
Last edited by dr_x; 01-11-2010 at 01:49 PM. |
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01-11-2010, 04:38 PM
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#8 |
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A Radeeon 4670 would be plenty good enough for that use, and that would let you get away with a decent 400 watt power supply even with all the other components. Just make sure it has an 8 pin EPS connector for the motherboard. Check Antec, Corsair, and Seasonic.
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01-12-2010, 09:15 AM
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#9 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
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Is anyone familiar with this graphics card? The "fanless" design caught my attention considering my desire to decrease the noise, but there are no reviews as of yet.
POWERCOLOR SCS3 AX4670 1GBK3-S3H Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-171-_-Product |
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01-12-2010, 11:57 AM
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#10 |
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That would be my choice.
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01-15-2010, 09:28 PM
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#11 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
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Thanks for all the suggestions. Here is my final list pending any other suggestions:
Case - Antec P183 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129061 PSU - Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007 Motherboard - Asus P7P55D http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131404 CPU - Intel Core i7 - 860 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115214 Memory - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Retail (2 kits) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145260 HDD 1 (OS and Applications) - Western Digital Black - 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284 HDD 2 (Data) - Western Digital Green - 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136490 Graphics Card - HIS H467PS1GH Radeon HD 4670 iSilence4 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161288 OS - Windows 7 64Bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754 DVD Burner - LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136177 As you can see, I've left out the 3rd dedicated scratch drive. Until my wife becomes a real Photoshop "power user", do you think it would be acceptable to create a small partition on the data drive for the scratch drive? If you think we'd see too much of a drop in performance, I'll add that 3rd drive. |
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01-15-2010, 10:39 PM
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#12 |
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If anything, partition the OS drive. You don't need 1tb for the OS and apps. I personally would have bought two 500gb drives for OS/apps and dedicated scratch.
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