cpu or apu?

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tsmith8779

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Mar 29, 2013
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I'm going to be building soon and wondering which way to go. I'm not a gamer, except for an occasional flight sim, but I do a lot of photo processing (Adobe Lightroom). The thought of the apu sounds nice, but will it work for me?
 
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kylerg

kylerg

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Nov 24, 2012
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Well it depends. As Brett has said above, it'd be better to go with a CPU and Video card if you have the money to. But an APU is very cost effective and would get the job done, just not as well as a separate CPU and Video card.

How much are you looking to spend?
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Integrated graphics should be fine.
Modern Intel and AMD cpu's include the graphics on the chip vs. the older way of including graphics on the motherboard.
The integrated graphics from either Intel or AMD is plenty to run two monitors at 1920 x 1200.
Normal processing and HD playback works well. Today, AMD has stronger graphics for gamers, but that advantage may disappear when Intel Haswell launches in June.

If you will be using higher resolution monitors, like 2560 x 1600, you may need a discrete graphics card. But not necessarily a expensive one if you are not a fast action gamer.

Some adobe apps can use the CUDA capability of Nvidia discrete graphics.
I am no expert there, but I think the capability can come from low level cards.
Check your apps.

If you will do lots of photo processing, buy lots of ram. I think your apps are 64 bit enabled, letting you use ram instead of hard drive workfiles.
Flight sim FSX is very cpu intensive, so an Intel quad would be better there.

Post your budget, and what you think you will need.
 
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tsmith8779

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Mar 29, 2013
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For cpu/apu, MB, and memory I'd like to get by for $500, that would also include a graphics card if I go that way. I've got the other parts here (HD, CD-ROM, case). Is there an advantage if I use Windows 8 or should I use Win7?

Thanks to all that have helped.
 
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Brett928S2

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Hi :)

I would go for 7.... IF you go for 8 make CERTAIN all your apps like Lightroom will work with 8....

All the best Brett :)
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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If you like windows 8, by all means buy it. I have too many windows 7 pc's to manage, so I will not bother to learn.

I see no big advantage to 8. Go to a office depot or computer store and see how you like 8. MS is pushing 8 out to everybody, and it is hard to get a 7.

Save some of your budget, and build using integrated graphics. Every motherboard will have a x16 slot, so you can always add a discrete graphics card later.
 
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