3rd Build Revision, comments?

June 3, 2008 2:03:55 AM

OK this is what I'm looking at. I've built 2 PCs in the past, both with help from a friend so there is a chance I missed compatibility somewhere so please let me know if something looks funky.

This PC will be a production machine running primarily Photoshop CS3/Lightroom 2.0, with lots of batch processing of large groups of large camera RAW files both color correction and various other batch processes. I will be putting Vista 64bit on the new box. Our current machine, a p4 3.0GHz hyper threading cpu with 2G ram typically takes 60-90 min to batch about 30g worth of files.

One thing I'm not sure what to do about is cooling. Will the fans that come with the case and the stock heatskink be enough or should I upgrade there? If so what would you recommend. Another thing I want to make sure of is space and being able to keep the cables in the case nice and neat.

Original Build - $1522.32 total cost
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - $224.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W - $349.99
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - $109.00 (x2 for 8g total)
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card – $189.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $89.99 (x2 for 1tb total)
NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower – $149.99
Rosewill RCR-103 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader - $14.49
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - $29.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply - $164.99

Revision 1 $1307.41 Cost
ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX – $149.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W - $349.99
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - $109.00 (x2 for 8g total)
EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 – $89.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $89.99 (x2 for 1tb total)
NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower – $149.99
Rosewill RCR-103 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader - $14.49
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - $29.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply – 124.99

Revision 2 $1407.41 Cost
Motherboard
ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX - $149.99
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W - $349.99
CPU Cooler
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - $36.99
RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - $109.00 (x2 for 8g total)
GPU
EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 - $89.99
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s - $89.99 (x2 for 1tb total)
Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply - $124.99
Internal Compact Flash Card Reader
Rosewill RCR-103 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader - $14.49
DVD Burner
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - $29.99
Case
NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower - $149.99
Case Fans
Scythe SY1225SL12M 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan - $8.99 (x7)

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shadowduck

June 3, 2008 2:15:06 AM

Let's see here...

Motherboard- good board the one I have- good overclocker and solid performer overall
CPU- Check- cache is important for your application
RAM- 8GB is good- PS loves RAM
Video- Do you plan on playing games at all? If you don't and speed is a major factor spend the money on a Quarto video card.
Hard Drive- Make sure it's the version with 32MB cache
Case- Your choice
Card Reader- Check
DVD- Make sure its SATA not IDE
PSU- More than enough

Solid build overall. Make sure you order an OS either Vista Home Prem x64 or Vista Business x64 if you don't care about the Media Center stuff.

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johnnymac13

June 3, 2008 2:26:13 AM

i doubt there will be much if any gaming on this PC, but will be some online Movie watching via netflix and some light video application work.

Monitors we have are a lacie that is hardware calibrated for color correction and a 22" LG widescreen second monitor for pallets/tools/movies/etc.

The HDs i chose are 32MB

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shadowduck

June 3, 2008 2:26:57 AM

Quarto video card is fine then if you want to spend the money (~$700) for much better performance.

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skittle

June 3, 2008 3:02:04 PM

A few notes:
You do not want or need a powerful 3d card like the 8800gt. Video editing, photo editing, movie watching do not need a high powered 3d card. Also you defintaly do not want a quatro card. These are expensive professional cards designed for high precision CAD work. It will not give you any "extra performance". It will however burn a hole in your pocket.
Go with a p35 motherboard instead. Your not overclocking, so there is no need for the OCing features of an x38.
The samsung SH-S203B is a MUCH better dvd drive than that pioneer.
That corsair is really nice, but again its still a lot more than you need. If your trying to cut costs, go with the 520hx and be happy.

Case selection is a very personal thing, but have a look at the coolermaster cm-690. It was very easy to work with, and good quality.

Cooling: Yes the stock fans and heatsink will provide adequte cooling. If they didnt, intel would have a nice class action law suit. What you will need to decide however is do you want it quiet. The stock fans on most cases and the intel HSF are not quiet by any means. I would replace them promptly. Xigmatek's s1283 and a couple yate-loon or lowspeed scythe fans.

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johnnymac13

June 3, 2008 3:56:13 PM

Thanks Skittle. I made a revision build in my original post with a different MB, GPU and PS. I'm still not sure exactly what case I'll go with yet, I like having plenty of room to tie cables back and for airflow, I'll probably make that decision last after the rest is all laid out.

I would like to buy it all from newegg and couldn't find that heatsink you mentioned. Is there another on the newegg site you, or anyone else would recommend?

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johnnymac13

June 3, 2008 4:47:48 PM

I think I found the Cooler you mentioned,
Xigmatek HDT-S1283? - priced at $36.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

If I added this Cooler and replaced the stock fans would I be correct in assuming this set-up will stay pretty cool and quiet?

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skittle

June 3, 2008 6:55:48 PM

Yeah thats the one.

Cool and quiet is an understatement, were talking near ambient sound.
If ordering from newegg, these fans... or a variant would be a good choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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skittle

June 3, 2008 8:33:20 PM

you dont need 7 fans either.

4 at most, 2 at minimum

3 recommended: one for exhaust, one for the heatsink, and one for intake to blow over the HDDs.

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shadowduck

June 3, 2008 8:42:29 PM

skittle said:

A few notes:
You do not want or need a powerful 3d card like the 8800gt. Video editing, photo editing, movie watching do not need a high powered 3d card. Also you defintaly do not want a quatro card. These are expensive professional cards designed for high precision CAD work. It will not give you any "extra performance". It will however burn a hole in your pocket.

Ohh thanks Skittle! I learned something. I misunderstood the uses of the Quarto cards. Thanks for correcting my incorrect information.

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randomway

June 3, 2008 8:56:32 PM

I've read that CS4 will depend on the graphics card more than the current versions, so I think, getting a faster card (8600GT 512 or so) is not a waste of money. Or you will upgrade later when CS4 is out... and we will now for sure if these rumours are true or not.
http://gizmodo.com/393137/photoshop-cs-4-will-use-your-...

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