School/Work Build need advice on components?

[bitperfect]

Hi everyone,

First time posting here . I am building a PC for school, work, and everyday computing. It will be replacing my main PC. I mostly use Adobe Photoshop, illustrator, Acrobat, audio tools, and Microsoft office.

Requirements:
• Fast (I am willing to spend a little more money on components if I will notice a difference in speed.)
• Stable

So far I have put together the following components:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BWhB

Questions:
• Will a moderate overclock 4.2 shorten the lifespan of a CPU?
• Which graphics card should I get? only requirement is to connect at least 2 monitors (hdmi preferred) I
am not a gamer, but do want high resolution and smooth movie playback.
• Which power supply should I get? (would like something powerful, quiet, and reliable)

Please let me know your recommendations on the components listed.

Thanks !

 

[smorizio]

i would drop the cpu down the the 3570k. i5. a lot of programs are still not written for hypertherading. your better off using the cash save there for a nvidia 660ti or the 670.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121656
260.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125438
360.00
the 660ti should be fine for a high end photoshop/ video editing rig.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040
power supply with active pfc to keep the fan off till needed..if you buy a slightly larger ps then needed it run cooler being under loaded.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151107

one thing i would do is get some online cloud storage and pick up another hard drive. use some good back up software. if your main hard drive craps out you have a back up. it a lot easer to set up to drives as data drives then raid system. also want switch the ram to the newer low power and low profile ram.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148663
if fit under the new after market heat sink without any issue and still leave you to front ram slots open.

 

[cutebeans]

660ti for Adobe Suite?

Are you serious? He can even just get a 630 and be okay.

 

[Firespert]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BXvy
This build will suit your needs just fine. Also, you can game with it too
I'm cutting down to the fx 8350 because you still get 8 cores/threads for a lot less $$$.
Tell me what you think.

 

[manofchalk]

ipower supply with active pfc to keep the fan off till needed..

That is not what Active PFC means, its a feature that automatically adapts to the power coming from the wall. You'l notice on old supply's that there's a switch between 220 and 115v, that's telling the PSU what to expect to come from the wall. Which one you should have set it too depends on where you live.
Active PFC just means that you don't have to set it manually, will figure it out on its own and adapt accordingly.

Consider Active PFC and 80+ Certification as your baseline for picking a PSU, anything that doesn't have either is not worth considering (except the Antec VP-550, but that's the exception).

Why bother with a graphics card at all?
The 3770k has more than enough grunt to throw at what the OP's doing, and has HD4000 which is sufficient for his needs.

The build you specced out will be fine IMO for what your doing, though I see storage becoming a problem with it. Might wanna throw a 1TB HDD in it.

Questions.
1. Nope, 4.2Ghz is a fairly easy overclock.
2. My opinion is you dont, HD4000 will cover your for what your after
3. Something from Seasonic, Corsair or XFX. Since you have no GPU, a 400W would be sufficient. But if you want to leave yourself the option of getting one later, a 550W would be better.

Also, getting a Define R4 with window kind of defeats the point. Thing is covered in sound damping foam, only to be betrayed by a large acrylic window for sound to leak out of.

 

[cutebeans]

That's true =(.

 

[bitperfect]

Thanks guys!

A lot of great suggestions made.
Would this hard drive be a good choice? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

Still reading up on power supplies. Will do some browsing and post a link after class.

Great point manofchalk!

I wanted the define R4 for it's silence and choose the window version because I might want to stare at my machine . Its my first build and I am enjoying the process. I will have to weigh out the pros and cons window vs windowless. It will be close to me and will be used for video/audio editing

 

[bitperfect]

I would like to change the last hard drive choice for this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Its a Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB for about $95

Power supply I can't decide between this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Or this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095
Both have active PFC and are 80+ certified.

The Corsair is 650 watts non modular vs SeaSonic 620 watts and semi-modular.

As far as GPU I will see how the stock HD4000 holds up and go from there.

 

[Firespert]

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171068
$119.99
$94.99
Save: $25.00 (21%)
$64.99 after $30.00 rebate card
+ $10 off w/ promo code EMCXVXW229, ends 2/7
Looks Good

Here are some good cases with a window:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146087
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144266

One thing to note is they all have top fan(s). This is because when hot air rises it gets blown out of the case

 

[bitperfect]

Best answer selected by bitperfect.

 

[manofchalk]

Would go for the Seasonic unit, 30W isn't much and you get semi-modularity and its cheaper. Also a better name than Corsair, though chances are if you traced both their lineages you would end up at the same factory.

I prefer Seagate Barracuda's myself, often cheaper and are just as good as the WD Blacks.
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM. $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

 

[Firespert]

Even Better Build

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CaJY

 

[bitperfect]

Thanks everyone !

Power Supply
I was browsing newegg last night and saw a $30 promo + a $20 mail in rebate for the SeaSonic SS 660XP. The sale was only active for 24 hours. It is fully modular and is 80 PLUS PLATINUM certified with up to 92% efficiency. After all discounts it comes out to $89.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151121

GPU
I was talking to a friend (tech guy and avid gamer) about my recent PC Build and told him I was going to use on board graphics and he said he recently bought a new GPU and he would give me his old one. I don't know which model he has, but I figure having a discrete GPU would be good.

Now if only I had a Microcenter nearby. I have plenty of local Fry's Electronic stores, but they won't match Microcenter's CPU prices.