First Computer Build, Browsing, Photoshop, Advice Required

[themackay]

FIRST COMPUTER BUILD: First Computer Build, Browsing, Photoshop

Approximate Purchase Date: as soon as possible

Budget Range: Up to $2000 with some wiggle room

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Surfing the net, photography, Blu-Ray playback

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: New Build from scratch

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: UK based, so Amazon, Overclockers, Scan, Dabs

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Scotland, United Kingdom

Parts Preferences: as below

Overclocking: Maybe (but probably not for this build)

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (but probably not for this build)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: as below

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Old computer packed in!


Hi everyone,

I've been an enthusiast for years, and made regular ugrades to previous off-the-shelf or pre-built machines, but this is my first from scratch build myself. This one is primarily for my Dad. He is an above average web browser, and a keen photographer, so Photoshop and the odd Blu-Ray or 1080p video online is about as intensive as it'll get. Any advice is much appreciated. Below what we're leaning towards at the moment. Still undecided on most of the components. Leaning towards the Gigabyte motherboard, but not 100%. Leaning towards the WD hard drive as it's got a 5-year warranty, wasn't sure about the warranties of the Hitachi or Seagate. Graphics card, we're debating what offers the best value, not necessarily best performance. Adobe list the 570 and 580 as approved, but have not yet reviewed the 670 from what I can tell. SSD, I wonder if the 840 Pro or Vector are overkill for our use?

Thanks,

George



Processor:
Intel Core i7-3770K CPU (4 x 3.50GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155, 8Mb L3 Cache, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0)
http://ark.intel.com/products/65523/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz


Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4145#ov
OR
Asus P8Z77-M PRO
http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77M_PRO/
OR
MSI Z77MA-G45
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z77MA-G45.html


Case:
Fractal Design Define Mini
http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&category=2&prod=58%22
(Micro ATX)


RAM:
Dual Channel DDR3-1600, 16GB


Graphics Card:
GeForce GTX 570
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-570
OR
GeForce GTX 580
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-580
OR
GeForce GTX 670
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-670


Hard Drive:
2 x WD Caviar Black 1TB (5-year warranty)
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=760
OR
2 x Seagate Barracuda
http://origin-www.seagate.com/internal-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/barracuda/specs/
OR
2 x Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.D
http://www.hgst.com/internal-drives/deskstar/deskstar-7k1000d


SSD:
OCZ Vertex 4, approx 256GB
http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-vertex-4-sata-iii-2-5-ssd.html
OR
Crucial M4, approx 256GB
http://www.crucial.com/store/m4ProductFlyer.aspx
OR
Samsung SSD 840 Pro, approx 256GB
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/memory-storage/MZ-7PD256BW
OR
OCZ Vector, approx 256GB
http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-vector-series-sata-iii-2-5-ssd.html#overview


Optical Drive:
Blu-Ray Writer


Power Suppy:
Waiting to finalise the rest of the build to calculate power consumption, although thinking at least 600W?


Additions:
CF/SD Card Reader; (particularly CF)
Wireless Network Adapter
TV Tuner, Dual, Satellite
Sound card?

 

[dragonlord12832]

DON'T FORGET TO PICK A "BEST ANSWER"
Cut back on the CPU (get an I5 3570k instead) and go with a better graphics card with the savings GTX 670 looks good. You don't really need an SSD, but if you get one, then get a smaller one and load windows on it. Save your other programs for the HDD.
Website for power calculator: http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/

 

[blake1243]

DON'T FORGET TO PICK A "BEST ANSWER"
Cut back on the CPU (get an I5 3570k instead) and go with a better graphics card with the savings GTX 670 looks good. You don't really need an SSD, but if you get one, then get a smaller one and load windows on it. Save your other programs for the HDD.
Website for power calculator: http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/

Smaller SSD's perform pretty bad, and yes they make a difference. On a $2000 build you would be stupid not to get a SSD.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($192.16 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl ATX Mid Tower Case ($125.30 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHES112-29 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Optical Drive: Lite-On ihes112-04 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1357.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-23 00:37 EST-0500)


no real reason to spend more.

 

[manofchalk]

Dont even need to spend that much for a build like this, the GPU isn't even going to play a factor in this build since Photoshop doesn't exactly make much use of it. Far more important the CPU is powerful than GPU anyway.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£217.94 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£66.11 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£52.98 @ Aria PC)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card (£117.98 @ Aria PC)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case (£60.73 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£49.98 @ Novatech)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer (£47.09 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £612.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-23 06:06 GMT+0000)

EDIT: Changed the case to the Arc Mini you originally wanted, and the board was M-ATX anyway.

 

[blake1243]

My bad, i missed the part where you live in the UK.

 

[themackay]

Thanks folks, advice is much appreciated.

I'm pretty set on having an SSD, and 256GB seemed like the best trade-off for price/GB and performance.

You guys have sold me on the better video card, 670 it is. Now just to choose between the various iterations! Any advice on memory v clock/engine speed?

I liked the Caviar Black because it had a 5-year warranty.

I looked at the G.Skill RAM, lifetime warranty, very encouraging.

My aim is to build something that will last my Dad at least 4 years. Perhaps overambitious (?) but that's why I've tended to maybe sway towards higher spec than I maybe really need.

I stumbled across this BD Writer and like the sound of it...
Pioneer BDR-207MBK
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Computer/Computer+Drives/BDR-207MBK