I7 920 advice for photoshop system

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next two weeks

SYSTEM USAGE:
I'm a professional photographer, so my priority is Lightroom usage then Photoshop, after that, some light video editing, but I'm not intending to use the system for gaming

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

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ALREADY PURCHASED/RE-USED PARTS:

OS Windows 7 Home 64-bit
Dual booting with Ubuntu Linux (if possible--not an absolute priority)

PSU (re-used): CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W
(don't know if it's enough wattage)

HDD's: 2x Intel x-m g2 80GB SSD (one for the OS Win7 64-bit... the other for the Lightroom Catalogue/scratch disk) & 3-5 7200RPM SATA backup drives

DVD drives:
2 separate PATA burners (one plextor, one samsung, I think)

CPU Cooler:
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler

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PARTS I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING:

CPU ($280)
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

MOBO ($140) - I need more than 6 SATA ports
GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3R LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

RAM ($190)
G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9T-6GBTD - Retail

GPU ($60)
EVGA 01G-P3-N964-LR GeForce 9600 GSO 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail

I don't have too much time to compare/check many different configurations (tight schedule), so I'd prefer to stick to the easy road as much as possible :-). Please feel free to suggest any system tweaks. I don't want to go much higher than my present budget (price estimates included above) & I'm hoping to overclock above 3GHz but below 3.6--we'll see.

Lets start with your mobo and cpu, first thing is they dont work together the mobo is s1156 and the cpu is for a s1366 mobo

I would say a s1156 with a i7 860 would be a good way to go

SAPPHIRE 100283-2L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102864
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$164.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102864 dx11 gpu ATI HD 5770 dx11 http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2446.html http://www.amd.com/us/products/tec [...] inity.aspx < THIS MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE FOR PHOTOWORK .
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OCZ Diesel 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model OCZUSBDSL4G - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227331
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$13.99 Saving $13.99
$0.00



GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128405
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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-$5.00 Instant $109.99
$104.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128405 Grate mobo for 109.00 and good for OCing under 4 gigs http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3652



Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115214
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
-$15.00 Instant $289.99
$274.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115214 i7 860 review http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipse [...] spx?i=3641
1
Intel Gift - INTEL LYNNFIELD KIT - OEM
Item #: N82E16800995081
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
-$39.99 Saving $39.99
$0.00
Subtotal: $544.97

RAM CL7 1600 DDR3 8 gigs http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227482 Ram will help alot with rendering, went with this ram for the low CL and low profile so it wont be a problem with a aftermarket HSF like the CM v8

You'll need a non TN panel monitor to get any level of color accuracy...... entry point is Dell U2410 (IPS Panel) ... if spending more ...... visit Eizo and be prepared for sticker shock

You are right you really dont need a fast GPU for photoshop programs, less you are doing 3D stuff or CAD work or games your fine with any GPU that suports your monitors rez and has the right connection for your monitors if you use more then one.


Also look for combos deals, and if you live by a microcenter you can pick up the i7 860 for 229.99 walk in only


BTW I picked that card for an all around balanced system with DX11 to match your OS and for future programs that might use DX11

Also i dont see a budget

My post above ^ point out about the grate deals microcenter has on there CPUs, to get that deal tho its walk in only

A few thoughts:
- Your main considerations are going to be fast processor and fast HDD access then large quantity of RAM.

- If you are happy to overclock, take the lower model processor and overclock it rather than buy a more expensive one. It could be argued that there is more headroom in an higher spec processor - but probably not that you'll notice after an overclock.
- Ensure you use a decent cooler.

- NVidia supports CUDA for CS4, not sure if this is your version or not. You definately should look at the "green team" for additional rendering power. Check the NVidia website for details.
-There seems little point in a DX11 graphics card (ATi 5000 series) at this point as you are not gaming and nothing else is making use of the new DX in the short term.

- 2x2Gb RAM modules will allow for further extension at a later date. If there is remaining money in your budget you may want to go for 8Gb straight off.

See if you can find out what CS4 recommends you use for graphics accelleration. It's probably worth a good boost if you use the right cards. NB: Any NVidia card will support CUDA regardless of manufacturer - pick on price!

Edit: Cards applicable for graphics acceleration in photoshop: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405711.html

My earlier thought was to save money by overclocking a i5 750. You can probably overclock the 750 and 860 almost equally. At 4GHz for example you really won't notice the 750/860 difference. (except you'll have more change in your pocket...)

If the mobo dont have the features you need then yes get a differnt one

Come to think of it i dont think the CM-V8 will fit the s1156 anyways thats for a s1366 This HSF gets recomened alot http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065 I myself used my old Xiggy Drak Knight off my 775 build, hade to call them for the new brackets tho.


As for the ram, i said in the other post i think to use low profile ram if going with 8 gigs so the heat speeders on the ram dont get in the way

Bummer--you're right. Oh well, I guess that answers my Q about space :-)

Have you considered a lower price workstation graphics card? Or to the gaming cards provide the same but more?
http://www.nvidia.com/page/qfx_el.html

not if you get low prfile ram let me show you

low profile = heat spreders not sticking up to far

look at this ram on the top you see the heat spreder sticking up http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231276

on this ram its not http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227482

OK, so I've got the system up and running. Install went smoothly enough.

However, I've had two bluescreens so far without overclocking, so my first question is what's the best place to get some accurate minidump readings.

I'm guessing it's the RAM. The Mobo had it at 1.5 V, and running at 1066, so I upped it to 1.64V & 1600 (it BSOD's at 1600). The only other guess is that it could come from some Intel G25-M's that I'm running on the Windows AHCI controllers (the Intel iastor driver doesn't support TRIM yet).

Anyways, I'll start with getting a read on the minidumps: any suggestions where's a good place?

Yes, updated to F5 & newest INF/audio driver

by search for .dmp, you mean google? It just seems a bit of a hit & miss for people who can actually read minidumps

Thx for the tip about RAM speed too :-).

Also download memtest86+ ver 4.0 or newer ( make a ISO CD, change your boot order in bios to First boot cd/dvd with the cd in reboot and run it over night to check for memory errors

I have only had one BSOD, That's when i tried to mess with OCing my CPU

I have had app-hangs tho, but after going to ( msconfig ) Services and turning everything off but MS services and start-up turning all off but my MS stuff and GPU control panel and sound ( all is fine )

Also If you are using AV I heard Win7 is picky about it, maybe try to uninstall any AV for a few days to test ( I use MSE ATM without problems ) http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

not really there was only like 7 services and 8 or 9 start-ups besides MS ones ( just don't turn off MS ones )

By the way, here's the beast before it went in the box :-)

Hi there you got a reply on the win 7 board did you look into it ? just thought i would let you know because i dont think a e mail is sent when you get a post

I looked @ your specs and you went with the OCZ plat ram did you get the one for I5/I7 with the lower volts 1.65 or the 1.7 volt kit ?

You don't want to put to much volts on the ram 1.65 is max i think mines @ 1.64

I should probably post this in the over-clocking forum, but I wanted to get some ideas together for overclocking once the system is stable.

@niklas_13
this might be taking the shortcut, but I'm not sure why you went for 180x20 for the CPU & then 1440Ghz for the ram. Was this simply because doing 1620Ghz for the RAM (9x180) would overclock the RAM?
I'm a complete noob with overclocking, but thought it would be good to know where to aim when I actually get to doing the overclock.
I'm guessing that you went with 180 for the CPU (getting this as high as possible), then tuned the RAM to an even multiple of this later on, as high as you could go--was that the general idea?

Thanks.

I am sorry i didnt see a email you posted back

Yes that's right because i didn't want to OC the ram + with the ram @ a lower speed i get 7-6-6-20 CL

So did you get the BSOD worked out ? what became of the minidumps ?

Sounds good hope you get many good years out of it

Grate PSU if you do happen to need a new one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151087 the Corsair should be good also maybe just a bad apple, it happens

GL with the OCing just watch temps dont need any smoke coming out of the case

Please indicate what you ended up with for your final build. I am putting together a similar system for Photoshop.

Specifically, are you happy with your GPU choice? Can Photoshop take advantage of if?

Thanks!

Mike