how to choose

[Guest]

I am a computer newbie with a simple question for which there is no easy answer. My main interest is photography, and I use Adobe Photoshop a good deal, with file sizes of about 120MB. I would like to build a machine to run Photoshop quickly, and am overwhelmed with the choices. The easy part was deciding on SCSI hard drives, and a firewire port for my scanners. Also, I need 1G of RAM. Those choices should allow me to move data quickly- which is most important to Photoshop.
A bigger problem was CPU- Pentium 4 vs AMD Athlon. When looking at benchmark tests, there is a slight, altho probably not noticeable advantage to AMD. Some of the functions I use most are actually faster with a P4. When I factored that into the cost (I need more fans for AMD), the size of the case to allow better ventillation, and my need for RAM, I decided on P4. (Most P4 boards have 4 RIMM slots, while most AMD have either 2 or 3, meaning 1G RAM can be had cheaper with P4- 4 x 256MB is cheaper than 2 x 512).
But then I started raeding about chipsets. And the problemsa began. Obviously, moving data at high speed is what I want. So I started looking at PCI speed, bit size, etc. And got totally confused. To make it worse- I could find no testing on motherboards with SCSI hard drives.
So, does anyone know- does PCI speed, bandwidth, bit depth, etc. make a big difference? Has anyone done any tests?
Thanks for the help.
Mark

 

[HolyGrenade]

are you sure, the p4 is cheaper? the p4 (1.7GHz $328) and the motherboard will be more expensive than the athlon (1.4GHz $154) +mb. Difference = $174. The rdram for the p4 will again be expensive.

Here is the price list for the ram:


<b>RAM Type, Capacity (512MB, 256MB)</b>

RDRAM, 299, 98
PC2400, NA, 76
PC2100, 195, 35
PC1600, 421, 36
PC150, 86, 26
PC133, 36, 19
PC100, 38, 19

Well RDRAM ($392) and PC2100 ($390) will end up costing similar amounts. PC133 ($144) will save you $248.

Although some of the filters in photoshop have been enhanced for sse2, so those will have a slight gain with the p4. But the total savings with an Athlon 1.4GHz with pc133 ram, over a 1.7GHz P4 with RDRAM will give you $422 extra spare cash.

My guess is that when loading and saving and also for the virtual memory the HDD is critical. so for huge images, thats where investments need to go. When processing images, The CPU is the bottlneck, I'm not certain how or when memory speed becomes critical for photoshop. But one thing for certain, you will need a lot of it.


<font color=red><i>Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say
today itself's too late; the wise lived yesterday

 

[Guest]

I was looking at the Gigabyte GA7DX motherboard (heard good things about it). On the Kingston site, 512 of RAM is $478. That's a lot. So I guess you would recommend a different board.
I do recall reading a test of Photoshop using Athlon 1.3 processor with PC2100 and 133 RAM with little difference in speed, so I guess if I knew the right motherboard which uses 133 RAM, I could save some dollars.
Which goes back to my question- which motherboard would you recommend I check out- assuming Athlon 1.3 CPU and PC133 RAM- which has the fastest PCI bus?
Thanks
Mark

 

[HolyGrenade]

The prices I gave you are from <A HREF="http://www.pricewatch.com" target="_new">http://www.pricewatch.com</A>. But apparantly the modules are generic brands. sorry... You should get infineon or cruicial brand memory. I've always found them to be reliable. I'm not sure how much extra they'll be, but it shouldn't be too much.

Motherboard... I haven't baught any motherboards lately, I've Just got a Slot A Asus K7v, with no problems. So I would say get an Asus A7V133 or 133MHz version of the Abit motherboard (I think it might be a KT7A or something). Sorry I couldn't be of much help, but If you do a search in the forum, you'll come across several opinions.

Also, I know tom did a review of these motherboards, so you're likely to find some good info there. Asus and Abit seem to be the most liked motherboard brands amongst AMD users.


<font color=red><i>Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say
today itself's too late; the wise lived yesterday

 

[HolyGrenade]

If you don't get help from anyone else in this section, try the CPU section. The only problem is you might just start another AMD/INTEL flame war in there, but if you get the answers you require, you can just ignore the rest.


<font color=red><i>Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say
today itself's too late; the wise lived yesterday

 

[FatBurger]

Ok, this is two threads in a row where I saw photography and thought it said pornography. I hope it doesn't happen in the next thread I go to.

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Whoever thinks up a good sig for me gets a prize

 

[Guest]

Well, from this forum, and others, it looks like AMD with PC 133 RAM is the way to go (registered, non-ECC seems to be the consensus). Last two questions:
1- If I use PC133 RAM, will I be able to select the 266FSB, or be stuck with 200FSB. Or does it matter?
2- Is there a motherboard for AMD that has 4 DIMM slots? (I need 1 GB for Photoshop, and 4x256 is chaeper than 2x512)?
Thanks all.
Mark

 

[stable]

marksro,
I would read my reply to the post

Which combo'?

This goes a REAL long way of addressing your questions.

Steve

Stable Technologies
'The way IT should be!'

 

[FatBurger]

Stable, he's obviously trying to save money on this (going with PC133, not PC2100), I wouldn't start recommending quad x15's, like you do in that post.
Just a thought.

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Whoever thinks up a good sig for me gets a prize

 

[shuke]

pornography and photography - they go hand in hand.

It don't come easy.......not always.

 

[HolyGrenade]

Found Siemens (Infineon] 512MB PC133 Ram Modules for $80.95 each. So thats $161.90 for 2 modules.

<A HREF="http://www.axiontech.com/cgi-local/prdtinfo.asp?prdt=MESI512PC133" target="_new">http://www.axiontech.com/cgi-local/prdtinfo.asp?prdt=MESI512PC133</A>

<font color=red><i>Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say
today itself's too late; the wise lived yesterday