Budget Photo Editing Build

madtaxi

Distinguished
Feb 9, 2011
36
0
18,530
A family member asked me to build a budget Picture editing PC.

Budget: $500

It will be running: loghtroom 3

Here's what I have so far:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2310 2.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 Pro 36.7 CFM CPU Cooler ($3.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Biostar H77MU3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($86.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL Black Dragon 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 160GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 5450 512MB Video Card ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Wired Network Adapter: Rosewill RC-401-EX 10/100/1000 Mbps PCI-Express x1 Network Adapter ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TRENDnet TEW-424UB 802.11b/g USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Xion XON-180 ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Apevia CF12S-BK 57.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($5.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Apevia CF12S-BK 57.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($5.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Logisys 480W ATX12V Power Supply ($19.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $482.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-04 11:56 EST-0500)

I have a few optical drives laying around so that wont be a problem. Can I get some feedback on this?
 
Solution
Ok here's a few changes I would make

1 forget the aftermarket cooler its not necessary
2 for memory I recommend G-skill rather than GeIL
3 depending on the amount of photos you'll need to store you may want to think about more than 160Gb and step up too at least 500.
4 spend a little more on graphics and shoot for something in the geforce gt 610 to 640 range
5 no need for extra fans or the wired adapter, your motherboard will supply.
6 going with a cheap power supply could end in $20 worth of a campfire in your office.
7 perhaps consider a good i3 too keep your overall cost down.

rayy1212

Honorable
Mar 4, 2013
52
0
10,660
Ok here's a few changes I would make

1 forget the aftermarket cooler its not necessary
2 for memory I recommend G-skill rather than GeIL
3 depending on the amount of photos you'll need to store you may want to think about more than 160Gb and step up too at least 500.
4 spend a little more on graphics and shoot for something in the geforce gt 610 to 640 range
5 no need for extra fans or the wired adapter, your motherboard will supply.
6 going with a cheap power supply could end in $20 worth of a campfire in your office.
7 perhaps consider a good i3 too keep your overall cost down.
 
Solution