HELP! Please - Need opinions on new Photo Editing build

Artemis42

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Jul 9, 2011
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I've submitted some of this build before. I've made changes per suggestions. I need to know if I'm good to go. Or does it need more adjustments. My current laptop is dying and I had to do some of the research for the changes on my smartphone because the laptop kept freezing. HELP please.

Approximate Purchase Date: Next few days. I've got to get this built.
Budget Range: $1600 - $1700.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Editing photos and movies (like Adobe CS6), watching TV, email, the internet.
Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, newegg.com

Country: USA

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Micro Center-walk-in Only)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388575/Core_i7_3770K_35GHz_LGA_1155_Processor

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103099

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V DELUXE ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($257.98 @ Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-P8Z77-V-DELUXE-Intel-Motherboard/dp/B007G51VEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350520244&sr=8-1&keywords=Asus+P8Z77-V+DELUXE+ATX+LGA1155+Motherboard

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory F3-1600C10D-16GAO
($69.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231558&name=Desktop-Memory

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($159.99 @ Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digi [...] Hard+Drive

Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Prod [...] 6820147163

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127699&name=Desktop-Graphics-Cards

Case: Gigabyte GZ-ZLM10BS ATX Mid Tower Case ($78.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233110&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GZ-ZLM10BS%20ATX%20Mid%20Tower%20Case

Power Supply: SeaSonic 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($149.99 @ Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087&name=Power-Supplies

Optical Drive: Pioneer Electronics USA Internal BD Writer (BDR-207DBK) ($71.99 @ Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Electronics-Internal-Writer-BDR-207DBK/dp/B0075WEPJI

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($127.72 @ Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Prof [...] nal+64+bit
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Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: (already own) HP ZR22w H-IPS panel w/ 1920x1080

Additional Comments: This build needs to last 4-6 years.

TIA for looking. All replies needed and welcome.
 
Solution
Everything looks good, won't really change anything unless you want to cut costs.
Though yes, +1 to BreadWhistle. You don't need 750w if SLI is a no.

evilqueens

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Sep 17, 2012
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Feedback:

1. Motherboard - excessive. You can easily save ~$150 here. Get a -V LK from ASUS or an ASRock Extreme3 instead

2. Storage - overpriced. Since you already have an SSD. A Caviar green will do the job. A similar sized-drive will save you roughly $50-60

3. Video card - for about $30-40 you can grab a Radeon HD 7950 that is much better than the 660.

4. Power supply - grossly excessive. Since you are not going to be SLI'ing or CFX'ing, a 550W PSU will be more than enough for your needs. 80Plus Gold is also not essential. You can get a very good Seasonic, Corsair, or XFX 550W power supply for about $50-60

Other than that, a good build.

P.S. I had no idea that Gigabyte made cases...
 
A couple of suggestions: Your mobo is overpriced. Get this one instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128546
There's no need for most of the extra features, and I don't see thunderbolt gaining importance any time soon. It's a gimmick.

That PSU is overkill. A good 550W will work fine assuming you don't intend to SLI (or CF)

I'd maybe suggest a 7870 instead of the 660, unless you need it for CUDA. Up to you though.
 

Artemis42

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Jul 9, 2011
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18,510



I actually want to thank everyone who replied. The suggestions were thoughtful and I appreciate them. I think I'm ready to do my build. I knew I had over-engineered it with longevity in mind. Yes, right now it's overkill. In 2-3 years it will be about right. In 4-6 years it will be an antique. I need it to last that long. The current mobo does not have Thunderbolt. The Asus mobo's that have it, have it as part of the title. What it does have is the better audio and LAN chips available to mobo manufacterers. I still can't figure out why the "higher" end boards in a line have the lower feature chips.

The power supply I purposely chose to allow me room to grow (more hd's). Video editing eats space. Oh, and the video card needs to be from the GeForce GTX line to give Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro the extra bounce for rendering. It's also the only one line I can afford. I'm not buying a Quadro.

Again, thank you all for your suggestions. It tells me I finally have it just about right and can go ahead with the build. I'll probably be back with configuration questions after the parts arrive. :)