Web Designer 'Puter from Hell

[mtnguy]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next two weeks, up to $1,200 max budget

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: use several graphics programs at once, photoshop, macormedia, multi task a lot. I am a website designer, host and maintain sites. I can see that videos are going to be important in the future and want to get into some editing.Not a gamer, no 3d or cad-cam

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: not worried about mouse, keyboard, etc.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, ncix.com, tigerdirect.com, whatever you all recommend

PARTS PREFERENCES: no preferences, although I've had great success with AMD Athlon 64

OVERCLOCKING: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, - not sure here Will use dual monitors!

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: work out of a home office, very confused about the graphics card, will want to upgrade from my Windows XP Pro, I think.



As I'm not a gamer, I'm not looking to go crazy, but I do a ton of multitasking and need some beef. Present computer is over 3 years old and has been used every day, drove hard and put away wet.

Thanks,
Don (mtnguy)

 

[skora]

I only had time to spec out one system, but here's one option.

Intel i920 with Asus P6T SE mobo combo: $415-$15 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213702

12 (6x2) GB DDR3 Patriot Ram Cas 7 (2 kits): $194-$20 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220367

2x 1tb WD Caviar Black HDD: $200 (Being a business comp, suggest raid for backup)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Sony DVD Burner: $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032

COMBO: 4670 1gb GPU and Windows Vista Business 64bit $220 - $10 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205093.14-125-277

Antec 300 with 430w basique power supply $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065

Total with Shipping $1206.75 - $45 mir

Heres the thinking on these. You'll definately want a 64bit OS so you can use the ram. I spec'd out 12 gigs so you'll be set if you get into heavy video editing along with all the multitasking you do. Raid will allow for a backup. The case and power supply will get the job done. The power supply though isn't enough to upgrade the vid card on, so if you decide to go heavier, might need a different PSU. The vid card will be more than enough to support 2 monitors for the work you do. Probably overkill, but great price/performance ratio.

The other option being AMD might be worth exploring if you want a Blu-Ray burner for the work you do. Not sure if its something you'd use, but its about $170 so you'd have to cut other options. Hope this helps. I'm sure theres others that can offer further advise and refinements and maybe someone can spec out the AMD side so you can compare.

One other thought, might be worth posting in the CPU section, even though its a dead socket, would a Q9550 system be better with the extra L2 ram? It would be cheaper and probably allow for a Blu-Ray burner also if needed.

 

[mtnguy]

I blew off the Intel i920 right away, bad thinking there, I'm going to re-look at it.

Heres what I had an idea for:
CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad @ $220
Mobo - Asus PQ5-EM @ $125
RAM - 8 GB Corsair DDR-2 800 @ $90 (room for more)

Video Card - EVGA Geforce9400 GT @ $55.00
Sound Card - Diamond XS51 @ $20
HD - WD 7K100.b 7,200 SATA @ $80
Cheapie CD/dvd @ $30
Blu Ray player w/cd-dvd-rw combo @ $90

Haven't picked out monitors (2) est total @ $220

Case & PSU (750watt) @ $130
Vista version OEM, I dunno....

But I'm around $1060 + the Vista OEM whatever version
Haven't got a clue if this is the right stuff, hoping I'm in the groove.
Won't squawk if a few more $ really makes a big difference.

Thanks!
Don

 

[skora]

The q9550 is a very capable processor. Some will say go for the i7 or wait for the i5. The only real issue is that you won't be able to upgrade the system. When the processor no longer is suitable for your needs, you will need a new system. Now, that CPU will last a very long in my opinion.

As far as the 9400GT, it is a very weak card. See it way down there with 3 generations old tech. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-price,2323-6.html
Check this link for the 4670, less money and WAY higher on the list.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127415

750w for your system is some serious power for a system that will do just fine with an entry level PSU from any of the big 3. Corsair 400, Antec Earthwatts 380, or PCPower and Cooling silencer 370.

There's 2 sku's for each flavor of Vista. One is $10 more but comes with the Win 7 upgrade. Worth the 10 bones.

Not sure if you have a backup plan set, but a second drive might be worth including in the initial purchase and setup in raid 1.

Mind if I ask why the sound card and not use the onboard sound?

For the mobo, since you're not OC, you can pick any. If you want an option for more than 8gb of ram, you'll have to go with a P43 or above. And depending on what the sticks are, there's only two on the egg that have 6 ram slots. So if you have 2x 2x2gb kits, the board you picked will be physically maxed and you'd have to replace with larger chips as opposed to adding for either of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280+1070509908+1072710689+1388027177&QksAutoSuggestion=&Configurator=&Subcategory=280&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

A few more things to think about. If you want me to spec out a Q9550 rig, I can do that. Just give a hint at the case you like. I find that to be the most personal since you have to look at it.

 

[mtnguy]

Plain black case, saw some for around $50 that would do it, I think. It sits down low and only the dog sees it, not into fancy bells and whistles or rad styling. Thought I was doing right to have more power than I need in a power supply, so I'll think smaller than 750, thanks for that one.

I'll work the stuffin's out of this new computer and be more than happy to build another one in 2-3 years, I've always felt that the available software and new demands called for an upgrade that often at least, there is now a heavy empahsis for video with my website clients and I want to try doing a bit of editing as soon as I can so I'm in the groove. Used to be a pro photographer and have had experience in movie photography, but not editing, especially on a computer, we did it back then splicing film, yipee. Time for this old dog to learn some new tricks, and I see a lot of video coming via the Internet, now if only we could get some decent broadband in places other than a few select cities. Us mountain folk are way at the back of that pipeline, so what I do get I gotta squeeze as best I can.

I have some back-up hard drives in my existing computer which I can use for backing up in the new one, may buy another external one for back-ups and maybe another internal when I need it. I'm betting videos will require more storage and a second drive is cheap enough.

My computer geek in town will help with the build, I've done it before, but it's handy to have him around. I'm of backstopping his advice on which equipment is best for me, he builds some computers and is a terrific fella, but I'll get some 2nd opinions here and try to make the best system I can.

The Vista and the extra 10 bucks was a good tip, I'm thinking I'll upgrade to W-7 fairly quickly, stayed with XP-Pro and ignored Vista, but might as well go the route.

Somewhere I got the impression the sound wasn't any good with that mobo, probably really don't need a sound card then, I'm not looking for theatre quailty sound, my Bose does that on the home theatre system.

Just need to hone in on the cpu and mobo and a video card. Probably should go for 12MB RAM as well for all the crap I do at once. Too much RAM with that system won't hurt.

So bottom line, can I go withe Intel q9550 and a better mobo for more ram and get through a couple of years or three? Or should I play safe and get more power (i920) now for future processing requirements? I always thought I was clever buying 2nd gen AMD and saving a bunch on cpu cost, that's not the case anymore with everything advancing so fast in tech applications?

Thanks to you all for the great input!
Don

PS, for the record, there isn't much out there in the way of guidelines for users like me, it seems there are cheapie home systems, affordable office systems and gamer systems. Might be worth a stickee post or article.