Custom Work Photoshop Build

[mjkovis]

Hey all -

I'm piecing together a custom PC build for me to use at my new job for web design and development. The main need is going to be for Photoshop and Fireworks. As of right now, the laptop they purchased me is GREAT for being mobile and taking home, but definitely isn't cutting it for all day use. With what I'm using now, I'm no where near as productive as I could be.

So far, I have pieced together something I would sell one of my clients for the same use, but posted it here to get feedback in case I missed something. Always looking for "best bang for buck." Any comments welcomed as usual!

Monitors: ASUS MS Series MS228H Black / Blue 21.5" 2ms(GTG) (x2)
Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black
Motherboard: ASUS P7P55 LX LGA 1156
CPU: Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield or Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100292DDR3L Radeon HD 5450 1GB or ASUS EAH5450 SILENT/DI/1GD3(LP) Radeon HD 5450 1GB
Hard Drives: (1) WD 500GB Black and (1) WD 500GB Green
Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Burner
OS: Win7 Professional 64-bit

I may purchase a keyboard/mouse combo for this build myself, unless they would want to purchase it. Usually I would go with the 3 HD theory, but there isn't much of a need as I won't be running much else on this machine. I would partition the main HD and use an external drive as a backup. Our server backs up our desktops and My Documents files during log on and log off, but with 4 different websites and gigs of storage I would be better off backing up externally myself. It would slow the server down too much trying to back up all that data from my work.

Thanks for any help!

[Nuclear Krusader]

If you're going to be running PS and doing graphic design, you really need to steer away from TN monitors and get an IPS or MVA monitor. This monitor is a better choice for graphic design.

[mjkovis]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader If you're going to be running PS and doing graphic design, you really need to steer away from TN monitors and get an IPS or MVA monitor. This monitor is a better choice for graphic design.

I'm not too worried about delving into graphic design 100% of the time. I'm in need of better productivity than I am with having a better panel technology from the monitor. It is a valid point that you bring up and thank you. I highly doubt I could convince them to purchase a pair of IPS monitors, nonetheless a pair of MVA's. Doubt there are any cheaper than the ViewSonic you linked to.

I used to have a bookmark to a site that did reviews on monitors, TV's, etc. For some reason it is no longer in my bookmarks. It has an overseas domain name with a .be or .de but I cannot remember the URL for the life of me... Anyone have any clues?

EDIT: Nevermind! Found it. PRAD.de is the website I was talking about.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Oh, I see, it's not you who are buying this. Fair enough. If it's web design, I guess it's OK. Don't mean to harp, but I was setting up an Asus 24" LCD panel yesterday here at the shop and I just couldn't get the pictures to shew the right colours. I played with the controls long and then with the profiles, but the image was totally dull (some of the monitor's presets made it pop, but at the cost of detail). Weird since the photo had already been converted to sRGB from ProPhoto; and the same picture had the right colours on the cheap Philips LCD that I have on my bench. Just something you may want to consider.

[mjkovis]

@NK - If you have any other suggestions on monitors, I am all ears. I haven't had that much trouble with some of the ASUS monitors that I have used in the past for clients. As mentioned though, throw me a few other bones on recommendations that would be around the $200 range.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Asus makes good hardware, hence my shock yesterday. Other than Asus, Samsung is the brand to go. I wouldn't trust any other brand in the mainstream monitor market. Samsung has recently come out with LED monitors, maybe look into those?

Here's one a customer ordered in the last few days.

Newegg's monitor page

[mjkovis]

@NK - Always have liked Samsung as a brand myself. These I may just like. What monitor did you set up that was ASUS? Do you remember the model and could you give me a link to it? That may help in my decision as well.

[Nuclear Krusader]

It was a VH242.

[mjkovis]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader It was a VH242.

Hmmm, comparable specs to the monitor I chose, except the monitor I chose has a much, much better contrast ratio and has a little bit lower brightness. Wonder if that makes a difference at all? Otherwise, I may be going with the Samsung you linked. Very competitive price!

EDIT: Although, after comparing the Samsung and ASUS I chose, they have the exact same specs besides the contrast ratio.... Decisions, decisions.

To anyone else - Which video card and which processor? Go with the i7 to utilize the hyperthreading technology or the the i5?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Which versions of the Adobe software are you going to be running?

Any of those cards is good, but my vote goes for the Asus.

[mjkovis]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Which versions of the Adobe software are you going to be running? Any of those cards is good, but my vote goes for the Asus.

Running Web Design Premium as CS4 right now.

I was leaning towards the ASUS, but the Sapphire has a much better memory clock speed at 1600MHz compared to the ASUS at 800MHz. I'm so picky sometimes... Doubt it would make that big of a difference with this card.

[Nuclear Krusader]

What I'm most concerned with here is the quality of the craftsmanship. I had a Sapphire card once, ATi Radeon 9600 Pro, and it performed flawlessly. I just don't know how good Sapphire is nowadays, because I ditched ATi back in AD 2008 and switched to nVidia; but Sapphire was so good that ATi had the company manufacture cards for them. Many video cards labeled as ATi were in fact built by Sapphire. So, unless Sapphire has gone the way of Shuttle and become the ECS of video cards, I don't foresee you having any problems with one of its cards.

It's just that Asus has become quite the top dog lately, but just because its products are great it doesn't mean anything else made by other companies is crap.

[glc]

the Sapphire has a much better memory clock speed at 1600MHz compared to the ASUS at 800MHz.

It's DDR ram - Sapphire is advertising DDR speed, Asus is advertising base speed. SAME effective memory clock.

[Nikon]

speaking of ASUS, and quality, check this out.

Report: Asus Has 'Off the Charts' Reliability Score

[mjkovis]

Here is the final build. Sounds like the company I am working for now will be approving this for me!!!

Let me know what you think! Thanks guys for all the help!

Monitors: Samsung BX2235 21.5'' LED BackLight LCD (x2)
Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black
Motherboard: ASUS M4A785T-M/CSM AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) (x2) - 8GB total
Video Card: ATI 100-505606 FirePro V4800 1GB GDDR5
Hard Drives: (1) WD 500GB Black and (1) WD 500GB Green
Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Burner
OS: Win7 Professional 64-bit