Budget Desktop for photo editing $400-$600

[ComputerNewbie1963]

Hi All,

I am currently unemployed right now so my budget has to be $600 or lower.

I wanted to build a PC for photo editing with CS5. I only have budget $600 or lower for a bare bone system that not included the monitor. I find an Acer PC on sale for $398 with AMD FX4100 3.4G and wonder if this FX4100 can do the job.

Any suggestion would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[James McKeane]

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H61M-VS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($22.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.08 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 380W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($20.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Lite-On SK-1788/BS Wired Standard Keyboard ($14.97 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Rosewill RM-C2U Wired Optical Mouse ($8.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $439.95
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-17 00:33 EDT-0400)

 

[ComputerNewbie1963]

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H61M-VS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($22.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.08 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 380W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($20.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Lite-On SK-1788/BS Wired Standard Keyboard ($14.97 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Rosewill RM-C2U Wired Optical Mouse ($8.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $439.95
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-17 00:33 EDT-0400)

Thanks James for your detail reply. I am currently using a dual core at 2.2GHz and it takes forever to open RAW picture files. I wonder, if I opt for i5 from Microcenter combo, do you think is a good ideal. Would it bring my PC to next level.

Thanks

 

[James McKeane]

Thanks James for your detail reply. I am currently using a dual core at 2.2GHz and it takes forever to open RAW picture files. I wonder, if I opt for i5 from Microcenter combo, do you think is a good ideal. Would it bring my PC to next level.

Thanks

CPUs are not made equal. A dual core i3 performs leaps and bounds over the 4100, but the i5 should outperform both. May I ask what model i5 comes with the bundle?

 

[ComputerNewbie1963]

CPUs are not made equal. A dual core i3 performs leaps and bounds over the 4100, but the i5 should outperform both. May I ask what model i5 comes with the bundle?

Sorry I forgot to mention it from my last post.

i5/2500k and Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Z68 = $284.98

Thanks

 

[James McKeane]

Sorry I forgot to mention it from my last post.

i5/2500k and Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Z68 = $284.98

Thanks

JEeez...they are REALLY trying to get the sandyB stuff out the door. if you go that route, you're going to need at minimum a 80 plus 600w PSU. If you can make it work to meet your budget constraints, i say go for the i5 big time.

 

[ComputerNewbie1963]

JEeez...they are REALLY trying to get the sandyB stuff out the door. if you go that route, you're going to need at minimum a 80 plus 600w PSU. If you can make it work to meet your budget constraints, i say go for the i5 big time.

Thanks James! You have been very helpful and I will take up your advice to move up to i5.

 

[AMD X6850]

JEeez...they are REALLY trying to get the sandyB stuff out the door. if you go that route, you're going to need at minimum a 80 plus 600w PSU. If you can make it work to meet your budget constraints, i say go for the i5 big time.

May I ask why he needs a 600W PSU?
Adding the Processor + Motherboard Combo to the parts list you gave above, he still wouldn't need anything more than a 500W PSU to power the system.

 

[Plasmid]

Seeing those prices make me wish I lived next to a micro center. I'd go every day to that place would be like my adult version of disneyland.

 

[James McKeane]

May I ask why he needs a 600W PSU?
Adding the Processor + Motherboard Combo to the parts list you gave above, he still wouldn't need anything more than a 500W PSU to power the system.

I'm under the impression that future expandilbilty is somewhat in mind? If not, then go for less.

 

[AMD X6850]

If he can fit a good 600W PSU into his budget, it should be fine then.

If the price between a 500W and 600W is negligible (or the OP doesn't mind spending that little big more for future expandibility), then yes, going for the 600W gives you that bit of headroom.

But otherwise, even if he did upgrade the graphics card, a 550W would still be suitable at most. But unless he's gaming, there isn't a need to. Any Sandy/Ivy Bridge Processor should work fine with this as well.