Need ideas: a PC for photography

[saab]

I am looking to build a workstation for about $500 to run photoshop. I will also be using it for basic word processing and the occasional movie. I plan to hook it up to a medium sized (26") HDTV for monitor.

I am still undecided where to start. Do I go with AMD or Intel? Or am I better off just buying something already put together. Any advice or sample systems would be fantastic.

Thanks
-John

PS. my building experience is limited to upgrading machines, never before have I built on from scratch.

 

[g-paw]

editing, rendering of photos, movies, music are CPU intensive, on the upside from cost is you don't need a high end video card. If you need everything, e,g, case, hdds, DVD, as well as the CPU/mobo/RAM, it can be done for $500 but likely will mean onboard video, can always get a card later. Will likely be an AMD, which currently are not as fast as Intel but building a machine with Intel quad will add $100 plus. It will meet your needs but you'll likely start thinking about something else in a year or so depending on much time you spend on the machine. This would work for what you're doing. Some people will criticize the onboard video but given what you're doing will benefit from quad and you can get a card later, thinks it's worth the playoff. Per Gigabyte the mobo will work with this CPU. Case has a very good PSU is quiet, easy to work with, and this is a terrific price with the rebate. $40, which will bring it down closer to $500, without the rebates $557
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2547&ProductName=GA-MA69GM-S2H

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129024
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128056
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103226
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820211066
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148140
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151153

 

[LoneEagle]

Also need a monitor?
Anything that can be recovered?
Have the OS?

If no to all those questions, may be your best bet is a Dell or anything else already built. At that price, it is hard to beat.

 

[Shadow703793]

I agree with paw on all the items he selected. I would recommend you get a 8400GS instead of using the onboard graphics, its only about $30 and you can OC it quite well. (I have a 8400GS @ 690/500)

 

[saab]

Thanks guys. i have funds set aside from the $500 for the monitor. all the $500 will go towards is the tower. My biggest question is on the processor and motherboard. Even if I can, I doubt I will overclock, so don't worry about that.

I would like to have a seperate video card, so if I need to stretch a bit for it that would be alright. I just don't need to go huge. I would like to be able to watch movies in great quality. I will probably be connecting to an HDTV.

thanks again
-John

 

[g-paw]

Thanks guys. i have funds set aside from the $500 for the monitor. all the $500 will go towards is the tower. My biggest question is on the processor and motherboard. Even if I can, I doubt I will overclock, so don't worry about that.

I would like to have a seperate video card, so if I need to stretch a bit for it that would be alright. I just don't need to go huge. I would like to be able to watch movies in great quality. I will probably be connecting to an HDTV.

thanks again
-John

Actually the above Gigabyte is designed for HTPCs and has an HDMI connector. But if you want a separate video card for movies then either a 7600GT or 8600GT would work. If there is only $10 or $15 difference, I'd go with the 8600GT otherwise the 7600GT. When you say movies, do you mean editing/rendering or just watching? Makes a huge difference for the CPU

 

[skittle]

If your doing any kind of photo work... just make sure you invest in a GOOD monitor, otherwise the quality of your other hardware is essentially moot.

 

[rickpcnerd]

INTEL SYSTEM
Corsair XMS2 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 $53.04
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor$132.00
RAIDMAX Hybrid 2 530 Watts Power Supply $50.00
Cooler Master CAC-T05UW Centurion 5 Black/Silver Midsize Tower$56.20
LG Electronics GSA-H55N Dual Layer DVD±RW $32.98
GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L Motherboard $101.40
MSI GeForce 8400 GS Video Card$49.89
including TAX/SHIPPING Grand Total: $475.11

AMD HIGH END SYSTEM
Asus M2A-VM Motherboard (HDMI OUTPUT FOR HDTV HD OR BLUE RAY)$69.99
AMD Phenom X4 9500 Quad-Core Processor$205.00 (at new egg)
RAIDMAX Hybrid 2 530 Watts Power Supply $50.00
Cooler Master CAC-T05UW Centurion 5 Black/Silver Midsize Tower$56.20
LG Electronics GSA-H55N Dual Layer DVD±RW $32.98
Corsair XMS2 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 $53.04
including TAX/SHIPPING Grand Total:$462.2

on amd system you dont need a video for photo editing. MOBO integrated ATI 1250 graphics does a wonderful job, in phothoshop, pc games, and in High Defenition playback up to 1920x1080p. Intel will run faster than AMD Quad Core phenoms if overclock. You can save some money if you use some parts from an old pc (DVD ROM, CASE, Hard Drive). You save about $89 dollars if use DVD and Case from other computer u might not use anymore.

all parts come from www.pricegrabber.com cheaper than newegg prices.

 

[saab]

i have heard some bad things about the AMD Phenoms. Are they to be believed? Should I not worry about it as I will not be gaming at all?

I really appreciate everyones advice.

How would the Phenom 9500 compare to a similar priced intel?

 

[g-paw]

i have heard some bad things about the AMD Phenoms. Are they to be believed? Should I not worry about it as I will not be gaming at all?

I really appreciate everyones advice.

How would the Phenom 9500 compare to a similar priced intel?

Check out this chart focusing on the kind of software you use. I believe the major issue with Phenom is overclocking and ensuring compatibility with older mobos. There is not question that Intel is faster. Programs like Photoshop can take advantage of quad core and the Phenom doesn't lag quad core Intel in photo, movie, and music redering as much as in gaming. Given your budget and how what you're doing, I think the Phenom is your best bet.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html

 

[saab]

it looks like in that chart that the similarly priced core2duo 6750 renders a 69 mb tiff in CS3 almost a minute faster than the phenom 9500. Am I reading it wrong?

Thanks again.

 

[skittle]

Yes, your reading it correctly.

Phenom isn't all that great of a chip compared to core2

 

[saab]

is the core2 6750 a good unit? it sure looks like it from the charts. it is the same price on Newegg as the phenom ($189). i would need a different mobo and a fan it looks like. any suggestions?

 

[g-paw]

The 6750 is the best bang for the buck CPU if you're not overclocking. Either the Gigabyte P35 DS3L or ASUS P5K E with or without WIFE would be the best boards,the latter has more features, 3 PCI slots, 6 SATA connectors, and onboard firewire and eSATA. Right now if it fits you're budget, Intel would be the way to go. If you can live with onboard video, the P33 mobo would be your best bet either from ASUS or Gigabyte depending on features and price. Sorry, didn't realize there was that kind of performance difference, don't think of using the 6750 in a $500 machine but guess it can be done or at least close to that.

 

[saab]

thanks much, looks like that is what I will do. what abuot the hsf? many comments tht it is crap. if not overclocking, should i get somthing else?

thanks again.
-john

 

[Joe_The_Dragon]

If your doing any kind of photo work... just make sure you invest in a GOOD monitor, otherwise the quality of your other hardware is essentially moot.

you also need on board video with a DVI port or a video card with one as well.
and on board video still takes away much need ram way from photo apps that need it.

 

[saab]

that's a very good point abuot on-board video. would it be very noticable if I were to add a somewhat decent card?

 

[Joe_The_Dragon]

on board video can any where form 32 to 300+ of system ram.

 

[g-paw]

thanks much, looks like that is what I will do. what abuot the hsf? many comments tht it is crap. if not overclocking, should i get somthing else?

thanks again.
-john

If you're not overclocking, the standard HSF wll work fine. The problem with the G33 boards is that at least the ASUS and Gigabyte do not have a DVI connection. You can get a 7600GT or 8600GT for less than $100, if much less the 7600Gt would work and most have a DVI connection. The AMD mobo with onboard video do have a DVI connection. Going with Intel will be moving to the $600 range as opposed to AMD at the $500. So again it comes down to your budget

 

[saab]

well a big thank you to all who have helped. this is what I just ordered:

MB ASUS P5K-E P35 775 RETAIL - Retail
CASE ANTEC|SONATA III BK RT - Retail
VGA XFX PVT86JUAHG 8500GT 256MB R - Retail
CPU INTEL|C2D E6750 2.66G 65N 4M R - Retail
HD 80G|ST 7K 8M SATA2 ST380815AS % - OEM
DVD BURN PHILIPS SPD6104BD 20X LS R - Retail
DDR2 800 2GB GOLD DUAL CH. KIT OCZ

all said and done I should come out somewhere around $550. I do have a seagate 320gb 3g/s sata hardrive as well. anything else I need I will add at a later time.

any thoughts?

Thanks again
-John

 

[g-paw]

Nice build, congatulations. Depending on price I'd probably go with either a 7600GT or 8600GT, while I don't game, mainly video stuff, I like entry level gaming cards, always like a bit more than I need, but the GS will work. You'll like the Sonata.

 

[gan d]

This is a great thread thanks to all of the contributors.
Question for SAAB..........how does your PC perform? What would you change now?