uruquiora

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Mar 19, 2010
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Hi guys,

i'm planning to go into photo editing with photoshop as a main tool, mainly as a hobby but i don't want to sacrify too much to quality on my work and if it can bring me profesional opportunities that'd be nice so i do need a config that would allow me to work properly.

I dont' really know what the most important elements are for pics edition so if anyone can give me advice, that'd be awesome.

Here are a couple of questions that i have :

- Would it really make a difference to go for an AMD CPU, like the latest quad core ones compared to a I7 ?
- what amount of RAM is recommended, would 4 gigs be enough or should i aim for 6 at least ?
- what motherboard are nice for that purpose and would provide me with nice perfs and features ?

If anyone has a list of components i could have a look at that'd be awesome... My budget is around 700-900$.

thanks :)
 
Take a look at these articles...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-phenom-ii-x6-1090t-890fx,2613-8.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3674/amds-sixcore-phenom-ii-x6-1090t-1055t-reviewed/5
http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/processors/AMD_Phenom_II_X6_1090T_6.html

IMO the AMD 6-core would be a very good option - 1055T - cheaper than i7, can be easily overclocked to 1090T's speed, thus resulting in better performance...

- RAM :
More the better for photoshop, but as you are in the starting stages, 4GB would suffice and anyways you can add 4GB more later one...

- Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.470531

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119215

PSU + HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.469090

DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Graphic card -
GT240 - CUDA would help in faster processing...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133306
 
1. Stronger proc is always better, but the question is..can you afford them?...
X4 965 or X6 1055T should be enough, the equal from i7 should be around i7 820.

2. For pic editing 4GB is actually enough but minimal. More RAM is recommended.
For the procs I have recommended you need 4GB or 8GB...which mean take the 8GB..
If you still decide to take i7 920 or higher..you will need 3GB, 6GB, 9GB or 12GB...I say 6GB should be enough.
(note : I won't start the discussion about 2 and 3 channeled RAM)

Hmmm...for the mobo..
ASUS M4A88TD-M Evo/USB3 880G (AMD)
ASUS P7P55D P55 (Intel 1156)
ASUS P6T SE X58 (Intel 1366)

 

uruquiora

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Mar 19, 2010
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ok this is my final choice, what do you think ?

Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) 224,00 €
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R 181,00 €
Samsung 1To S-ATA II 32Mo (Spinpoint F3 - HD103SJ) 57,80 €
OCZ Gold DDR3-1600 CL8 6Go (3x2Go) 147,75 €
Akasa 500W AK-P050FG8-BK Power Green 80+ 35,00 €
Zotac GeForce GTX 260 896Mo Synergy 124,60 €
Antec Three Hundred 43,80 €
Windows 7 Edition Professionnel (Business) 64 Bits (OEM) 117,90 €
Iiyama ProLite E2008HDS-B1 129,90 €

1120 €
 
^ Good setup, but change the RAM to GSKillz or Corsair as OCZ RAMs nowadays are very flaky...

PSU - Get a better one -
500-550W from Antec/ Corsair/ CM Real Power or Silent PRO/ Silverstone/ Seasonic/ Be Quiet/ OCZ ModeXtreme or Fatality...

Graphics card - If you dont game, then you can even get away with GTS 250 if there is considerable price difference...
 

uruquiora

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Mar 19, 2010
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Seems like im ok now :)
thanks vm for the feedbacks :)

Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) 224,00 €
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R 181,00 €
Samsung 1To S-ATA II 32Mo (Spinpoint F3 - HD103SJ) 57,80 €
OCZ Gold DDR3-1600 CL8 6Go (3x2Go) 147,75 €
Antec 500W EarthWatts EA 56,00 €
Twintech GeForce GTS 250 XT OC 512Mo 95,90 €
Antec Three Hundred 43,80 €
Windows 7 Edition Professionnel (Business) 64 Bits (OEM) 117,90 €
Iiyama ProLite E2008HDS-B1 129,90 €

1112€
 
^ Better to go with a 6G kit in order to take full advantage of the Tri-Channel memory controller present in the i7 CPUs...
Or buy a single 2GB stick with the same ratings and speed as the Corsair thus in total 3 RAM sticks...