Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] $1000 Photo and Video Editing, Software Dev PC

[Solved] $1000 Photo and Video Editing, Software Dev PC

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] $1000 Photo and Video Editing, Software Dev PC

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Best answer from 1898.

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
Within a month

BUDGET RANGE:
$1000 before rebates. I could reluctantly stretch to $1200

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:
Regular raw photo editing with Lightroom and Photoshop CS4
Regular software development with Visual Studio 2008 and Eclipse
Minimal video editing with Adobe Premiere. Probably 3 times a year, with consumer camcorder. I just need the system to be usable enough.


PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:
Newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA

PARTS PREFERENCES:
Intel CPU

OVERCLOCKING:
No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:
No

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
Have one already. Currently set at 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Thanks in advance. I built my first system about 7 years ago, crashed last year, and been using laptop (vista, AMD64 AthlonX2, 1 Gig RAM) with an external monitor.

  • Xigmatek MIDGARD
  • ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58
  • Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield
  • ASUS EN9500GT/DI/1GD2/V2/A GeForce 9500 GT
  • G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
  • SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3
  • Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model
  • CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX


$992.92
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] r=12410812


I chose the Xigmatek because I like the design, however, Antec Three Hundred or COOLER MASTER RC-690 will do fine as well.
Decent motherboard.
Socket 1336, more power (Arrh, Arrh, Arrh!) and supports triple channel.
El Cheapo video card but you don't need more.
G.SKILL, good price/performance ratio.
F3 = teh w1n
DVD Burner, do you actually need one?
450W should be enough.

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Intel Core i5 Lynnfield Central Processing Unit

Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB

Corsair 550watt Power Supply Unit

Not really sure whats the best motherboard and ram to get, some else will take over.


Message edited by blackhawk1928 on 11-15-2009 at 05:54:29 AM
Reply to blackhawk1928

Cool, thanks. I guess I'm getting 2 of those hard drives. I like my OS and data on separate drives.

Reply to jls_online
Best answer

  • Xigmatek MIDGARD
  • ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58
  • Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield
  • ASUS EN9500GT/DI/1GD2/V2/A GeForce 9500 GT
  • G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
  • SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3
  • Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model
  • CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX


$992.92
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] r=12410812


I chose the Xigmatek because I like the design, however, Antec Three Hundred or COOLER MASTER RC-690 will do fine as well.
Decent motherboard.
Socket 1336, more power (Arrh, Arrh, Arrh!) and supports triple channel.
El Cheapo video card but you don't need more.
G.SKILL, good price/performance ratio.
F3 = teh w1n
DVD Burner, do you actually need one?
450W should be enough.

Reply to 1898

Also keep in mind that more and more Adobe products are using compatible graphics cards for accelerated rendering - zooming/panning/etc - and that the utilization of these resources will only increase. If you're going to be stitching large images together, this can really improve the feel of your overall workflow, specially zoomed in 1:1, looking for blemishes, sensor dust, etc.

------------------------------ AMD PhenomII 940 BE/CPNS 9500 - DFI LP DK 790FX - 4*2GB Patriot DDR2 800 - 2 x VisionTek HD3870 - PC P&C Silencer 610 - WD RaptorX - BenQ FP241W - CM Stacker 830 Evo - Razer Death Adder & Tarantula - Wacom Intuos 4 Medium
Reply to WhyFi

Certainly, but all those gimmicks don't really tax the graphic card that much. As long as it supports Shader 3.0 and OpenCL 2.0 it should be running smoothly.

Reply to 1898

Yeah, it's more like the CPU that does the most work, right? Including in Lightroom when it applies changes to a photo.

Anyway, I think I'm placing the order tonight, for next weekend project. My laptop has been testing my patience too much.

Thank you so much for the suggestions.

Reply to jls_online

The CPU does all of the final calculations at this point, but a GPU handling the "gimmicks" makes for a much less tedious experience if you're busy with your post processing for hours at a time.

Side note - have you downloaded the LR3 beta?

------------------------------ AMD PhenomII 940 BE/CPNS 9500 - DFI LP DK 790FX - 4*2GB Patriot DDR2 800 - 2 x VisionTek HD3870 - PC P&C Silencer 610 - WD RaptorX - BenQ FP241W - CM Stacker 830 Evo - Razer Death Adder & Tarantula - Wacom Intuos 4 Medium
Reply to WhyFi

I see. I don't use Lightroom heavily, mostly just adjusting the white balance and sharpness, so I should be good.

I haven't downloaded the beta, though I'm curious with the upgraded noise reduction because I've been holding off getting Noise Ninja.

Reply to jls_online

jls_online wrote :


  • G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)



Are you suggesting that should install 64-bit OS? Because 32-bit only supports up to 4 gig of RAM, right?

Reply to jls_online

Absolutely! Totally forgot to mention that.

Reply to 1898
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