Need assistace with choosing components ($500 or so Build)

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Inocense

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My gaming rig is just too old to use and I no longer game...

But.. I do a LOT of photo editing using Photoshop CS & Lightroom 3.

I can go a bit over $500 but I don't want to go crazy.

I can salvage the following from my current build which will help:


1. PSU (OCZ GSX700)

2. GFX card (EVGA 8800GTS 512MB PCI-E)

3. Full Tower Cooler Master Wave Master Case

4. Windows 7 Pro

5. 2 WD internal drives that I use for backup of photo's & music (I think one is a 1200RPM and the other a 7200RPM)

6. DVD drive (Plexor)


I am leaning towards an 1155 socket CPU. Probably an i7 of some sort.. But I am open to suggestions. I also want an SSD for my primary drive and at least 8 GB of RAM.

Any and all help would be appreciated!

Thank you all in advance.
 
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Inocense

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How does something like this look?...



Intel Core i7-3770 Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I73770 ($305)


Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 AMD CrossFireX/NVIDIA SLI W/HDMI, DVI Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77X-D3H ($145)


Corsair 8 GB Vengeance Low Profile 1866 MHz (2 x 4 GB) DDR3 240-Pin Duel Channel Memory Kit ( CML8GX3M2A1866C9B) ($64)


*I have an OCZ Vertex III 120GB SSD at home also that I just purchased that I was going to return due to it not working in my current build but I can keep it and use it for primary drive on new build..... I think...
 
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zared619

zared619

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You can go with an i5-3570k and save some money, and you won't notice a difference. I would return the OCZ SSD. They are really unreliable. A brand such as corsair, intel, or samsung is the best for SSD's. I included a little better ram in this build, and if you want to game, you need to increase your GPU. Here it is

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ipPf
 
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zared619

zared619

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There are two main differences between the boards.
MSI-Supports RAM speeds from 1066 through 2800. Has one less PCI 2.0 express connector
Gigabyte-supports RAM speeds 1066, 1333,1600, and 2400. It skips a lot of intermediate RAM speeds.
So really, its not a downgrade.

Also, the RAM I chose is faster. The RAM you had chosen is also not supported by the motherboard you had picked.
 
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Inocense

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Ah ok!.. Thank you!.. I have never used MSI Mobo's.. Always Asus and Gigabyte.. MSI good boards?

I was also looking for a board with 8 USB jacks in back. This one you recommended looks like it only has 6 with the other 2 being SATA ports maybe?. MSI board you can recommend that is equivalent to this one with more USB jacks?
 
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zared619

zared619

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I personally only use asus, gigabyte, or asrock, but my friend has used msi's and his own personal board he has had for 4 years and he has had no issues at all. I've only heard good things, with the exception of a couple DOA, but that is with any electronic component.

Edit: forgot to find a board with more ports. Here you go. Just as a side note, the board may need a BIOS update to use the i5-3570k. I couldn't find a board with that many USB ports that was a z77. This is a z67.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130573
 
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zared619

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This is just as good as the RAM you picked, just a little cheaper.

Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Edition 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220707
 
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zared619

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Nice find. Looks like a great board and I really like asrock.
I personally use patriot memory in a couple of my own builds, and i never had an issue. I even have a patriot flash drive that I really like. Plus, I like helping people, its fun. :)
 
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Inocense

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I have been doing ok with my EVGA 8800 so I don't think I need to upgrade right now.. And actually after thinking about it I am gonna just put the 8GB of ram in the new build. I can always add on later.
 
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Build is up and smokin!.. boot time of about 12 seconds before purring like a kitten!..

Everything came together perfect although with the Fatality ASRock Mobo I chose I would have purchased more RAM if I would have known that it allowed you to make a RAM disk so easily for photoshop, lightroom, etc.. Could have dedicated a full 2+gb's directly to that.. I can throw another 4GB of ram in there but then all 4 slots are full. That is the only thing I would have done differently.

Other than that.. The machine runs beautifully!!!..

Thank you again!!!
 
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