I7 920 advice for photoshop system

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640
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

------------------
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

------------------
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.
 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640
hmmm, yes, missed that...

OK, yes, change out the 920, for the 860 (thanks!)--I guess that means dual channel RAM then too (?)

Any other suggestions?
 
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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864 dx11 gpu ATI HD 5770 dx11 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5770,2446.html http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity.aspx < THIS MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE FOR PHOTOWORK .
1
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
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$5.00 Instant $109.99
$104.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128405 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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214 i7 860 review http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227482 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

 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640
Thanks so much for your reply.

Only surprise is the GPU which is more on the expensive side (I don't think Photoshop/Lightroom needs a very powerful GPU).

With a less expensive GPU, would it be worth using the cash on other components?
 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640


Indeed... I'm with a Dell 24" at the mo & it's serving me sufficiently. One day when it dies, I might go the Eizo direction--but I'm mainly concentrating on the raw processing power of the tower at the mo.

My present tower is a Core 2 Duo E6750 on a Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R, running XP with 2GB RAM (DDR2 800 CL4), and separate striping RAID arrays for the OS & Lightroom catalogue. I'm hoping to double the speed, especially with the addition of the Intel X-M SSD's.

Any other speed tweaks?
 


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 :)
 

g725s

Distinguished
Nov 1, 2009
228
3
18,695


or http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317378

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/436215?tstart=0 especially http://forums.adobe.com/thread/427772

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Photoshop/11.0/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-7489a.html
 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640


indeed, I saw the deal on the i7 920 also at microcenter--something insane like $220, but I'm in upstate New York, so can't get to a walk in :-(.

-------------------------------
Budget? I'm hoping to re-use parts, so that gets complicated, but for:
CPU
Mobo
RAM
GPU
I'm expecting to spend around $650 (wouldn't mind spending a bit less though)

-------------------------------
So at the mo, I'm looking at:

CPU:
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

Mobo (micro?--maybe a bit tight)
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

RAM:
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV4GK - Retail

GPU (mainly because it's cheaper & I'm thinking I don't need huge power--just photo/video rendering @1900x1200)
EVGA 01G-P3-N964-LR GeForce 9600 GSO 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
 

jpdykes

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2007
594
0
18,980
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.

 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640
From the looks of mwave's listing, the EVGA graphics card does suport cuda, so that's good.

If I went for 8GB RAM straight off, and overclocked the i7 860 with the coolermaster V8 I have listed above, are there any other tweaks I should consider for speed?
 

jpdykes

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2007
594
0
18,980
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...)
 
You might want to stick to the i7 860 the i5 750 dont have HT

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Performance
To measure performance under Photoshop CS4 we turn to the Retouch Artists’ Speed Test. The test does basic photo editing; there are a couple of color space conversions, many layer creations, color curve adjustment, image and canvas size adjustment, unsharp mask, and finally a gaussian blur performed on the entire image.

The whole process is timed and thanks to the use of Intel's X25-M SSD as our test bed hard drive, performance is far more predictable than back when we used to test on mechanical disks.

Time is reported in seconds and the lower numbers mean better performance. The test is multithreaded and can hit all four cores in a quad-core machine.



While the Core i5 750 couldn't beat the i7 920, the 860 can. Thanks to Hyper Threading and a higher base clock speed, Lynnfield proves to be an able performer.




You can OC them the same sure but the i5 750 still dont have HT
 


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

 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640


the mobo has the features I need. I just don't know how to measure up the space requirements for the V8 cooler against the ram slots (I'll probably go with 8GB RAM, so I won't be able to free up any).

By the way, thanks for the help you've all been giving!
 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640


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

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640


That's superb... thanks :).

Back to the original question then, if I fill all 4 RAM slots, do you think I'm going to have trouble with the V8? (I can't really tell by comparing the pics...)
 

medoomi

Distinguished
Dec 16, 2008
70
0
18,640
Cool, yes, when I also checked the reviews of the V8 on newegg, most people were saying it doesn't interfere too much...

Now comes the hard part--overclocking the system once it's in...

Thanks so much for the input you've given