$1000 Programming and Photoshop PC

[janeks]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2009

BUDGET RANGE: 1000-12000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Photoshop, programming, database, surfing the internet, watching movies (don't play games)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: hard drives, keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, case (Reusing:

Tower case: "Antec Plus 1000 Series",

2 Hard drives: Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s

PREFERRED WEBSITE FOR PARTS: newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel Core i5-750

OVERCLOCKING: No, CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Nothing fancy but enough power to take care of large photoshop files. Need advice on: motherboard, viceo card, power supply and processor cooler.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of any parts already selected (only processor for sure, other parts maybe):

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W

SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ReadyCrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9D-4GBRH - Retail

 

[Proximon]

I want to start out by encouraging you to upgrade the case and hard drives.

Raptors are quite outdated now, and a Caviar Black (or Samsung F3) will match the speed and provide more storage. Or, if HD speed is really important to you, buy an SSD.

I realize the case was very nice at one point, but it too is outdated. 120mm fans will be quieter and push more air. Your budget range can certainly accommodate this.


Have a look at this deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273732
This is truly exceptional and quite a few of us jumped on this even though we didn't need the parts

You would do far better on the memory to get 1333 CL7:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

The 4850 would probably be overkill for your needs. I recommend a 4670. Still overkill really but gives you that margin and the card won't be working hard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855&cm_re=4670-_-14-102-855-_-Product

This OCZ 500W is enough power for you and is quiet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012&cm_re=OCZ500SXS-_-17-341-012-_-Product
Quality level is adequate.

If you would like to step up to something more serious in the PSU area:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371020
More efficient so it will save you a bit on the power bill. Modular cables keep a bit of the clutter out of the case.

On to the board:
This Gigabyte UD2 is about all you need, unless you have some need for more PCI slots.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128405&cm_re=UD2-_-13-128-405-_-Product

Having said that and given your budget, a stronger processor would not be out of the question here. CPU power is after all you PRIMARY need.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.270428

The stock cooler will be fine if you are not overclocking.

 

[janeks]

Proximon
Your advice was outstanding. Just ordered all the parts you suggested. Paid around $850 for all of them including i7-860 and 8GB of memory.

You are my hero. Thank you.
Voytek

 

[Proximon]

NP, let me know how it all goes.

 

[SkipG]

@Proximon

I saw this thread when it first came out, and "re-found" it a few days ago. Some, if not all, of the combos have expired, so it's hard to figure out what parts are being recommended, and the PSU has been discontinued.

Could you post an update, listing parts?
THG also did a recent article comparing memory and named Crucial's 1333MHz, CAS-9 4GB kit as the best of show. I'm no expert, so here's a link to the article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr3-4gb-p55,2462-7.html

--skip

 

[janeks]

I can recommend the parts listed in the original response. Finished building my PC 2 weeks ago. Windows 7- 64. No problems, no glitches everything just works.

Like the video card: SAPPHIRE 100296HDMI Radeon HD 4670 1GB – very quiet.

The case COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP is a good deal. Not the perfect case but has good ventilation and would be very quiet if not for the left side fan. It makes high pitched noise. Not the fan itself but the air passing through the side grille. I think the holes are too small for this amount of air. Other 2 fans are almost noiseless (grilles have bigger holes).

The motherboard seems to have all features I need: GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2.