Photoshop New Build

[frogblossum]

Hello!

This forum seems to have some very eager to help folks on it and I’m hoping it's a place where I might learn to build my own computer. So since that seems to be the case, here goes with some information if you all don’t mind helping a newbie!

I use Photoshop 7 (I know, a dinosaur but it’s what I have) & Auto Fx quite a bit. I use it to do outdoor portrait photography on the side. My computer is either 4 or 5 years old and I had it built in another town. The computer is very slow with multiple files open or using the Fx program.

I’m wondering if I could use some of the hardware from the old computer to the new. Hardware like the 3 disk drives, the Tv channel input (I didn’t even know I had until I opened the case), the case (w/new power supply / fans), or anything else I could re-use to save money.

I’d like to put in a card reader and have plenty of hard drive memory. My budget would hopefully be around or under $1000 if possible. This budget would have to include the operating system. I don’t have to re-use hardware, just trying to cut corners & or use components that are still good enough and used rarely.

Is there an easy way to find out what hardware I do have on the computer without taking it apart?

Ok. Now that you’ve mucked through all of the above, I appreciate any help given…..I’ll try not to be too dense!!!!!

Thanks,

Ellen

[glc]

Download this:

http://www.belarc.com/Programs/advisor.exe

This will generate a full hardware and software report for you, copy and paste the pertinent sections. You will have to open the case and read the label on the power supply to get its specs.

[XenaWP]

You can build a kickbutt Photoshop computer for $1000, and that's even without using any current components. But do as GLC suggests for starters ... his advice is almost always spot-on, then post back with results.

Originally Posted by frogblossum Hello! This forum seems to have some very eager to help folks on it and I’m hoping it's a place where I might learn to build my own computer. So since that seems to be the case, here goes with some information if you all don’t mind helping a newbie! I use Photoshop 7 (I know, a dinosaur but it’s what I have) & Auto Fx quite a bit. I use it to do outdoor portrait photography on the side. My computer is either 4 or 5 years old and I had it built in another town. The computer is very slow with multiple files open or using the Fx program. I’m wondering if I could use some of the hardware from the old computer to the new. Hardware like the 3 disk drives, the Tv channel input (I didn’t even know I had until I opened the case), the case (w/new power supply / fans), or anything else I could re-use to save money. I’d like to put in a card reader and have plenty of hard drive memory. My budget would hopefully be around or under $1000 if possible. This budget would have to include the operating system. I don’t have to re-use hardware, just trying to cut corners & or use components that are still good enough and used rarely. Is there an easy way to find out what hardware I do have on the computer without taking it apart? Ok. Now that you’ve mucked through all of the above, I appreciate any help given…..I’ll try not to be too dense!!!!! Thanks, Ellen

[frogblossum]

That's a neat program! Wish I understood it all!

Here's what I have:

Operating System
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)

Processor a
2.00 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Not hyper-threaded

Drives
82.34 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity (I use external drives for my pictures and have run out of space with this drive several times)
24.01 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

AOPEN COM5232/AAH PRO [CD-ROM drive]
HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8526B [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

HDS72258 0VLSA80 SCSI Disk Device (82.34 GB) -- drive 0

System Model
NCSTECH Apollo
Main Circuit Board b
Board: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. K8VB Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1003.001 05/04/2004
Memory Modules c,d
1024 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM2' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 82.34 GB 24.01 GB free

Network Drives
None detected

Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller

Bus Adapters
VIA SATA RAID Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (4x)
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

Display
RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation) [Display adapter]
Mitsubishi DPoint SB70 [Monitor] (16.1"vis, s/n 2750445YA, July 2002)

Multimedia
ASUS Silicon WDM Video Capture
VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller (WDM)

That looks to be about the information you might need. I'll open my computer later tonight when I shut it off - have to unplug cables to get it out.....

I'm not looking for top of the line but certainly something that will hopefully carry me several years and something I can upgrade my Photoshop with in the near future....

Thanks again...

Ellen

[glc]

There really isn't much that's suitable for reuse unless you have the drivers and software for that video capture card. The optical drives are all IDE, and SATA is today's standard. You do have a SATA hard drive, but it's first generation (slow) and very small by today's standards. I have doubts whether your power supply is even compatible with a current technology motherboard, and whether your case has enough cooling. I'd plan on building a new system from the ground up, and I think we can squeak one up under $1000.

[frogblossum]

Ready for a challenge! Where do I begin? And thanks for your help......

[glc]

How about $998 shipped, no sales tax unless you are in CA, TN, or NJ?

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024

ASUS P7P55D LE LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131410

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115215

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9A G - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145251

HIS H465FS512H Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161303

LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136177

Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port / Extra silver face plate - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223103

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (OS and apps)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320

Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AADS 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive (Photoshop scratch drive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136358

Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (Data drive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136351

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM (Check application compatibility)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

[XenaWP]

Nothing to object to there.

[frogblossum]

Talk about sticking close to budget!!! Thank you!!! Now I guess the rest is up to me!

The next step would be to research all the software I have to see if it will run with Windows 7 and upgrade software if necessary. I really don't have the $$$$ to spend on upgrading much and know it will all run on Xp, so would it be feasible with the new components to just run xp for the meantime if necessary?

I'm impressed. Thanks again. Can't wait to get started!

Ellen

[glc]

You can certainly install XP SP2 or SP3 - all the hardware is compatible but you will need a USB floppy drive to install the SATA AHCI drivers during Setup, but it's only going to recognize about 3.25gb of the ram - you need to research compatibility with 64 bit Windows 7.

[frogblossum]

I'm confused. The programs I have on my computer are:

Adobe Photoshop 7
Auto Fx 6.0
Office XP 2002
Wacom Tablet

I've read and think I understand that Photoshop 7 may or may not work with 64 bit Windows 7 - some say theirs does others say it doesn't. Or that they have to switch the mode to make it work.

Office XP apparently works with 64 bit Windows 7.

I seriously don't want to spend the $$$ on the newest version of Photoshop as I don't really think I need that much. However, I can get a used copy of Photoshop CS from ebay? Will that work on 64 bit Windows 7?

And then there this post from Khalil on the Thread Should I Build My Own PC? by JaneGael:
I would rather see her stick to 32 bit. A lot of software still has many bugs with 64 bit. You still can't really use a 64 bit browser, most add-ons don't work. I have the latest version of Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver, they are supposed to work in 64 bit but i keep running into all kinds of bugs where things just don't function I ended up loading 32 bit in a virtual box so I can avoid the bugs.

So if I build this computer, do I just load 32 bit instead of 64?

I sure don't want to make huge mistakes and I seem to be confusing myself....

Thanks,

Ellen

[Iamjosh]

I have found that 64-bit still has a lot of software that is not compatible and my suggestion is to just go with Win 7 32-bit. Most applications which have Vista 32-bit compatibility will also be compatible with Windows 7.

[frogblossum]

My sister just bought a dell computer that is running 64 bit windows 7. Can I load my software on her computer to see if it works?

[Iamjosh]

I guess you can with her permission. I would also suggest to uninstall it when you find your answer.

[frogblossum]

Ok - so I'm waiting on my tax return money and then I think I'll make the plunge for building my first computer.

Besides the list GLC gave me for computer parts, is there anything else I need to make this a success (like the anti-static bracelet)?

Some of the parts are not available, so I guess I'll just find them at another reputable company.

If I run in to any problems, I'll be sure to ask.....thanks again...

Ellen

[triquee]

My best advice would be to take it as slowly as your excitement will allow. Don't agonize over every single detail unless you feel like you don't understand something enough to proceed comfortably, but do allocate a good chunk of time for the build. I started mine at around 10:00 pm and finished up at 4:00 am because I had to do some troubleshooting.

Do as much research as you can about the parts you've selected ahead of time (find manuals online from the manufacturers, read reviews, look at pictures and diagrams). Knowing even a little about what you'll be working with cuts down the intimidation factor considerably.

I ran the clothes I wore during the build through the dryer with an anti-static sheet, wore a wrist wrap, and worked on a desk atop a hard wood floor. I'm as paranoid about static as I am about cooling

Good luck!!

[XenaWP]

The motherboard manual usually has a great "whole system" build guide. This site has a great build guide too, but I personally like to install the power supply first, then drives, then motherboard. Lacking the hand/arm strength of guys, I find I'm likely to bump things with the heavier power supply, so I get it in there first so there's nothing fragile to bump into.

I'd put the mobo onto something sturdier than a box to install the CPU and heat sink. It's good to have something soft under the mobo because the feet of the heat sink aren't going to go through the mobo nicely if you're on something like a table surface.

[frogblossum]

I'm ordering the suggested components right now from newegg. However, the 2 of the hard drives and the motherboard are not available at this time. I've searched on Pricewatch.com for them and amazon has what appears to be the lowest price w/ free shipping. However, I notice that "others" also bought a couple of hard drive cables to go along with their purchase. Will I need to buy any extra cables or anything to make this go together? (I'm assuming duct tape is not an option )

Are there another reputable store I should be looking into?

Thanks,

Ellen

[glc]

Get the P7P55D LX, it's in stock and it's 15 bucks cheaper. I believe it comes with 2 SATA data cables so you will probably need more.

Drive subs:

OS and apps: 640 and 750 gb WD Blacks are in stock, pick one.
Data: Green 1.5 tb *IS* in stock.
Scratch: Green 640 is in stock.

[frogblossum]

I tried looking up the "P7P55D LX" number but came up with nothing. Is below what you are talking about?

ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

I want to make sure this drive is okay for the Data drive:
Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

And this for the Scratch drive:
Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AADS 640GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

And now when I tried opening the installation guides to these hard drives to find out if or how many extra SATA cables I need, the only PDF files that will open are the ones that aren't in English!!! So now how do I find out if I need to order more cables to make these drives operate?

I hate to think I'll order the necessary large components then find out I needed more connectors.

Thanks again for any help....

Ellen

[glc]

ASUS P7P55 LX LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131604

SATA data cables are SATA data cables. Order two, the motherboard comes with at least two and you have 4 SATA devices. The hard drive manuals are immaterial. The power supply has 4 SATA power connectors so you are covered there.

OKGEAR 18" SATA II Cable Model GC18AKM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812123160

[frogblossum]

So I have all of these components in my newegg shopping cart and I was going through them one by one again. The review of this video card's fan,

HIS H465FS512H Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

doesn't sound good. Almost all of them talk about fan noise or failure. I don't mind spending a little over my budget if it means less hassel in the end. Is there a different video card I can use that has better reviews?

Thanks again...

[triquee]

Take a look at this one:

HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail

It's about $30 more, but there are over 200 reviews and from reading them, it looks like a solid card. Plus, it's a decent upgrade from the 4650 and free shipping.

[glc]

You can also look at 4650's made by Asus and Diamond.

[frogblossum]

Ok! I actually have windows 7 running!!!! Not exactly sure how it all happened but it mostly did. I have the 3 hard drives as suggested but only the 1.5 TB comes up when I click on "My Computer". Were are the other 2? I am very lost about the CMOS or Bios I'm supposed to configure?

It says I have the 4.00 GB memory but how do I know how much is being utilized? Not sure if I have them in the right slots.

If Windows is running, does that mean I have everything plugged in right?

Thank you thank you thank you for all the help. I'm lovin' it! (so far).

Ellen