$800-1000CDN Photo Editing PC

[jasonp12]

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP


Budget Range: 900-1100$ CDN (the less the better) 1100=max with taxes if possible


System Usage from Most to Least Important: editing/compiling digital pictures, burning DVDs (movies), surfing, general purposes.


Parts Not Required: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca tigerdirect.ca ncix.com


Country of Origin: Canada


Parts Preferences: Whatever you recommend (was looking at SB but it just got recalled so I have no clue? Should I wait till they re-launch?)

Overclocking: No (well prob not its a PC for my dad)


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: hes currently on a 19" 1280x1024 but he may upgrade one day he likes what he has. But if nething hell upgrade one day or Ill give him my 22" 1680x1050 and ill grab a new one. (so assume its 1920x1080)


Additional Comments: This is a PC for my father...he uses it to edit pictures (almost professional grade) and rip movies and such. listen to music, conference calls etc for work. I assume he needs a discrete GPU but a very basic one. Otherwise im open to all builds/recommendations.
HE DOES need win 7 64bit.
Also he currently has a PC with a harddrive (the current primary drive) and he has files/programs on it that he wants to keep. I know the files he can keep easily by using this drive as a secondary drive and then copying the files onto the new drive and formatting the old drive (this is what I did on my PC) however is there ANY way he can keep the programs from his old drive (he does want a new hard drive)

he uses Photoshop Elements and Adobe CS5 i think or some other adobe photo editing program

i heard the only way to keep his old program is to run the old HDD in a dual boot mode as the 2nd OS which he has no problems doing. (i just have no clue how to do it so advice is fine)

my main questions

1) for him an i5 750 or an AMD Build is better (he doesnt care 100% either way....im just not sure which is better bang for his buck for his needs)

2) What kinda GPU does he need

3) Suggestions for a PSU on a build like this? (i personally prefer semi-modular as I will be building the PC and i like cable management)

4) 4gb of RAM enough at 1600mhz?

 

[jasonp12]

top still need some help?

suggestions? Should i get a i5 750/760? or like a Phenom II X4 or X6? advantages/disadvantages of either for his purposes (I have a Phenom II X4 955 OCd to like 3.8ghz and loving it!)

 

[WR2]

Monitor Resolution: hes currently on a 19" 1280x1024
he uses it to edit pictures (almost professional grade)

I think you want to handle this right now. 1280x1024 and pro grade photo editing not go together.
And I think your budget will stretch that far with a new i5-760 setup. What editing software is he using?

 

[jasonp12]

mainly photoshop i believe....not 100% sure any help is appreciated. If you can make a build with a monitor in that budget then please do he'd be happy!
im more used to reading up on gamging rigs and such so i know which CPUS/MOBO combos are good etc. (in which case a Phenom II X4 would be perfect but for him i duno if an i5 is better or a 1090 or 1055t?) also what GPU would he need and size of a PSU (im more knowledgeable about PSUS 750w and higher not so much on lower end.

 

[jasonp12]

ohh yah its SEMI pro photo editing not professional

 

[jasonp12]

ohh and any advice on his harddrive/software question/dilemma?

 

[WR2]

What OS is he using now? XP or VIsta?

 

[jasonp12]

hes on Vista 32bit :/

 

[jasonp12]

if you can also suggest a build or at least what is better i can make the build myself

only things im not sure on for his uses

1) Intel vs. AMD (intel is obviously an i5 750....but if AMD which AMD a Phenom II X4 or an X6 and if x6 which x6?)

2) MOBO pretty simple i think (just a standard mobo with the basics should do it

3) 4gb of RAM should be plenty?

4) What GPU does he need?

5) What kinda PSU will he need? (im pretty sure a 750w is gonna be overkill? though there arent many modular PSU's as smaller sizes)

 

[WR2]

With Vista you can do an in-place upgrade - but only to Win7 32bit 32bit to 32bit.
For Win7 64bit you'd need to do a clean install, or a dual boot setup using the current 32bit HDD as the 2nd OS.

 

[WR2]

What kind of case do you think he'd like? Is size an issue?
A micro-ATX build could give him extra room for that big monitor I'm picking out.
He will have room for a 23-24" LCD monitor?

 

[WR2]

Is he a LED light and Alien type of case guy?

 

[jasonp12]

1)na no LEDs thats forsure as for case size i dont think he cares that much at all...as for monitor...i gitta check but he shuold be fine with 22-24" but he may not be used to it so a 20-22 may be better for him so long as its HD LOL?

worst case I can give him my 22" LG (its like 2 years old a W2242TQ) its only 1680x1050 and upgrade mine if need be but i only got room for a 22" max.

2) how do you do a dual boot setup with his current HDD as the 2nd OS is it complicated or hard? I am an amateur builder

 

[jasonp12]

Ok i found out

he uses Photoshop Elements and Adobe CS5 i think or CSB he said something like that lol... (these can be installed he has the discs)

hes fine with getting a new monitor...as for the dual boot hes cool with doing that he just has a FEW older programs on his old HDD with vista 32bit that he will rarely use but still wants to use (and doesnt have the download files or install discs anymore) he is also ok with have a dual monitor setup by keeping his old 19" LCD if need be and using that to boot the 2nd OS (if that helps at all?)

 

[WR2]

Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Quad-Core CPU $210
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067

GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2V LGA 1156 H55 Micro ATX Motherboard $85
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128457

G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600 RAM $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

ZOTAC GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB PCI-E $80 $20 rebate
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500177

LITE-ON 24x DVD burner $16
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

CORSAIR CX430 CMPSU-430CX 430W Power Supply $45 $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017

Antec Three Hundred Mid Tower Computer $70
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Windows 7 32bit OS $110
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

LG W2343T-PF 23" widescreen 1920x1080 LCD Monitor $200
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005129CVF

Optional:
Crucial RealSSD C300 2.5" 64GB SSD $130
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148357


$1050 & $30 rebates - that might stay under $1100 with tax and shipping.
And there are probably ways to trim the cost a bit once you figure out the tax and shipping.

 

[WR2]

Setting up a dual boot Win7 64bit / Vista 32bit option will be easy. There is a good guide to lead you through it.
Just the one monitor is fine - you won't need a 2nd monitor for a dual boot system. It's just one OS at time... you can pick the OS at boot up or have it wait a few seconds, then go on and boot the default OS (probably Win7).

 

[jasonp12]

ahh ok if you can find me the guide that would be great!

your build is almost 100% identical to the one I chose except I had a bit bigger PSU (550w Rosewell at 80+) and a Samsung Spinpoint 1TB HDD.

anyways that helps a lot so that kinda GPU would be fine? something around the 100$ Price Point

also my build was an AMD....any suggestions of whats the advantages for him between

an i5 vs. X4 vs. and x6? i know the i5 is faster then the X4 but for nearly 50$ Less is it worth it (cuz i know for gaming it is not) and what about the X6 I dont know much about them if X6 is an option which X6?

 

[WR2]

How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

Windows Boot Manager screen:

 

[WR2]

Comparions between AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE and Intel Core i5-760

 

[jasonp12]

ahh that seems simple as hell....but his OS is already installed on another disc so techincally i wont need to do anything at all? it should already be there...all i will need to do is install 7 onto the new HDD?

 

[WR2]

AMD Phenom II X6 1075T vs Core i5-760 from the same site. There are more benchs to look at. I just a few at the top.

 

[jasonp12]

yah i know the i5 is the better CPU but is it worth the 50-60$ price range over say an X4 for his purposes?

 

[WR2]

Since you'll be moving the Vista 32 OS out of the old machine and into the new one - it won't have the correct drivers installed for Vista/new PC. You'll be able to do a repair install and get the right drivers for the new hardware.

You'll want to install the OS (and photoshop or other editing programs) on the SSD if you buy that...or on the new HDD if you dont. If you skip the SSD get the 1TB model. Either Samsung Spinpoint of the Seagate will be fine.
Do the install with just the boot disk in at first.
Then install the old HDD or follow the guide.

 

[WR2]

I believe it is.

 

[WR2]

What are the taxes and shipping charges?