Build for Photoshop CS3

I'm going to be building a computer partly for running Photoshop CS3, and I would welcome any feedback on the following spec's:

OS: Windows XP Pro SP2
Overclocking: No

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Deluxe
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Memory: 4 Gb Corsair "Dominator" (DDR2, 1066 MHz)
Video: Sapphire Radeon 3850
Primary HD: WD VelociRaptor 150 Gb
Case: Antec NSK6580B

A couple of specific FYI's and questions:

--My typical PS editing load is a single file of 100-500 Mb. I may also batch process 500-1000 13-megapixel raw files in Bridge/Camera Raw, but generally not at the same time as I am working in Photoshop (although if I comfortably could, I might do it).

--As I understand it, CS3 only makes use of 2 cores. I assume that the system will deploy the other 2 cores to run background processes, other applications running simulanteously, etc. Is that correct? Does anyone know if Photoshop, Bridge, and Camera Raw, running simultaneously, would be piled into the same 2 cores, or whether they would be spread across all 4 cores?

--Given the rest of the setup, how much advantage would there be in upgrading to the Q9550?

--Are the VelociRaptors worth it? Will I notice the difference vs. 7200 rpm drives?

--And, of course, will it all work? Are any of these components secretly incompatible with each other?

Many thanks,
alphabeta

Your system specs look good.

I agree with Johnyeah's comment about the VelociRaptors.

I used to work as a digital imaging editor for a large national firm. We used Photoshop and several other programs. Like yourself it was my undertanding that Photoshop only used two cores. I don't know if it is still true or not.

Yeah go with a bigger HDD CS3 does take advantage of 4 cores but do wait 2 more days CS3 prices will drop dramatcally scince CS4 is coming out in 2 days!!

Thanks to all for the comments.

I'll be doing two things on the machine:

1. Editing single files of 100-500 Mb in Photoshop.

2. Batch processing 500-1000 13 Mp raw files in Bridge/Camera Raw.