New PC Build.. Looks OK?

[dexta]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB)

GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB

WD Raptor 74GB for system disk

Storage im still debating on. Either 3x 1.5tb w/ raid 1 or just 3 or 4 seperate 500-750 drives.

Not sure to stick with xp pro or take the plunge and go for vista yet either.

And on a seperate note, can someone please explain to me what the scratch disk is used for or its purpose is for photoshop? lol

[Tareq]

OH BOY, that computer issues again ;-)
It seems to me a great machine, believe it will work fine, i have an old PC and i still try to work on it with games and Photos, i have Mac laptop that helping me much not to put my PC over load, but with my simple old machine i can work properly most of the time, and the specifications is about 1/3 or 1/4 of your machine, so it will be amazing of yours.
My opinion, go with larger size drives, but just to be in safe side i prefer to have about 500 or 750 in my machine and i can use even 10TB as external to connect when i want, just don't make your machine to be for everything and when it will have a problem then you will sacrifice the whole drive, keep your internal drive for minimal work and no need for huge storage and buy external HDD that can handle all your important files, i bought 2 500GB external drives and they saving my life, and i have few old 80-120GB HDDs that i may use them sometimes, and i was thinking to buy another 500GB or 1TB, and i think i will be all fine.

Good luck and congrats!

[Moppie]

If you can still find a Q6600 for sale, then grab it. They have been discontinued, and the replacement Q8200 is not as good.

In terms of HDD, try and keep your photos on seperate discs from everything else.
This makes back ups, migrating to a new machine later on, etc, much easier.

I have:
1 80GB for the OS and programs.
1 320GB for games, music, movies etc etc
1 500GB primary photo hdd. This is were the photos get downloaded to, worked on etc.
1 500GB copy of the primary photo hdd. A copy of all the photos and file structure on the primary photo drive is made using Karens Replicator.

2 x External 500GB drives, also back ups of my photos, and also kept up to date with Karens replicator.


A scratch disc is the physical harddrive space a program will use to write data to and from when it runs out of RAM to use.
This gets used a lot by photoshop when working on very large files, or lots of files at once.
Since it is using a physical harddrive, which works slower than your system RAM, being able to use a different physical drive to the one photoshop is installed on, and the one your photos are stored on, can make a difference in performance.

In my case I point it to the 320GB used for extra stuff, as when running photoshop I know that drive won't be use for other things.


With 6 SATA connectors on your board, add as many drives as you can, and also try and budget for a couple of externals for back ups.

Forget about using RAID.
It is not a reliable way of backing up and protecting your photos.
It is designed for server level operation, where it is used with separate back ups. The idea is it provides redundancy encase of disc failure, so the system can continue to operate. It is not designed to provide safe and secure back up of data.

[MaxxuM]

WD Raptor 74GB for system disk


Not worth while IMO unless you already have one laying around. A 500GB drive will get you as much data just as fast I believe. The Raptor just has a slightly faster access time.


Not sure to stick with xp pro or take the plunge and go for vista yet either.


The only real reason to stay with XP these days is compatibility. Vista can be very fickle with older software, hardware and some setups. If everything is new then Vista is fine.

[tim]

Agree re no need for raptor.

[dexta]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm currently using a 36gb raptor as system drive, I might as well just stick with that then. It's not even 1/2 full so I think it will work fine.

So, everyone thinks separate drives is the way to go huh? My board will have a lot of sata ports that's for sure, the case I'm looking into can hold 6 drives as well :D

Newegg is still selling the Q6600, $189 I think that's not bad at all..

[Tsmith]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm currently using a 36gb raptor as system drive, I might as well just stick with that then. It's not even 1/2 full so I think it will work fine.

So, everyone thinks separate drives is the way to go huh? My board will have a lot of sata ports that's for sure, the case I'm looking into can hold 6 drives as well :D

Newegg is still selling the Q6600, $189 I think that's not bad at all..

Tigerdirect has the Q6700 OEM (no heatsink) for $199.95

[fitzfitz]

As someone mentioned, RAID isn't meant for backup.. RAID provides for HA (high availability) not DR (disaster recovery). There is a big difference between HA and DR. :) All RAID levels except for RAID0 will provide availability in case of single disk failure. It is not to be considered a backup option.

If you want proof as to why data mirror should not be considered a backup option, read this (http://journalspace.com/this_is_the_way_the_world_ends/not_with_a_bang_but_a_whimper.html). In particular, the entry from Tuesday.

The system is itself will be fine. As mentioned, you can and should probably just reuse your 36GB Raptor for system disk. You mentioned 3x1.5TB wRAID1. I'm assuming you mean 3 drives - but you can't create a RAID1 array with 3 drives - has to be multiples of 2 to do RAID1. You may mean a RAID0 stripe which I suggest against as it provides for zero data protection.

your space needs and budget will drive your disk. If you setup two drives in a mirror, your usable space is halved - ie: 2x500GB drives only gives you 500GB usable space. If you have the money for 2x1TB drives, that would give you 1TB space in a RAID1 array.

[ChasP505]

Good advice here. I just built a system with the same motherboard and the Q6600. It's a great machine. Don't forget about your power supply. Get at least 650 watts.

[GregSteer]

Agreed on the Raptor, using two atm since I have them (used to be a RAID1 Stripe) - one as the OS drive and one as the LR Database/Previews/Scratch disk for PS.

Once a new system gets built they'll be used but a new 500+ will be put in place for the OS, will prob use them as a stripe again for LR.

As Fitzfitz said - RAID is for high availability not backup - I'd use single drives and spend the extra on a decent backup solution of external drives rotate with offsite drives.

[tim]

Toms hardware (I think) did an article on power supplies recently, choose based on that.

[dexta]

Awesome, and thanks about the PSU I have an antec 550 but I was thinking I would need more... I will probably go with at least a 650 if not more now ;)

[Richgsr]

Might wanna go with a 64 bit OS (vista or XP) if you plan on adding more RAM in the future.

[dexta]

what would the benefit of a 64bit OS be compared to 32?

[fitzfitz]

If you ever put in more than 4 GB of memory, the 32bit version won't be able to use the extra memory. It maxes out at using only 4GB of memory (and that's with some hacks).

64-bit can make more memory available to the OS and the applications.

[dexta]

oh awesome, in that case I might go with vista 64 w/ 8gb ram then.

[iceman1]

Not too many reasons not to go with Vista 64.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/ is a awesome site to get PSU reviews. The best, IMO.

[dexta]

so with vista 64, should I expect any problems running any of the current software I have installed on my 32bit xp machine?

[iceman1]

so with vista 64, should I expect any problems running any of the current software I have installed on my 32bit xp machine?

As long as the software developer is doing its job by updating their software to support Vista 64.

Speaking of the Windows OS, Windows 7 beta came out today for the public. It suppose to be out for purchase as early as this summer. There is also a rumor that those that purchase Vista in July or after get a free upgrade to 7.

[GregSteer]

As long as the software developer is doing its job by updating their software to support Vista 64.

Speaking of the Windows OS, Windows 7 beta came out today for the public. It suppose to be out for purchase as early as this summer. There is also a rumor that those that purchase Vista in July or after get a free upgrade to 7.

Various US vendors have mentioned that the free upgrades maybe available from this July but do not count on it.

Windows 7 will not see the light of day until 2010 most likey if they want to do it properly, anything rushed out this year would be a mistake after the balls up they made of Vista.

[BrantG]

Running Vista 64 bit on my new desktop and laptops and have no issues.

[form]

Out of frustration with my ancient macs (was 533mhz G4, and my current system is a dual 800mhz G4), I just bought a dell system for $569.99:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4ghz

3gb DDR2 800mhz ram

ATI 256mb HD 3650 card

500GB sata HD

2x DVD-RW drives

Winblows, etc. specs

All I want is lightroom 2 to respond instantly to my changes. I use lightroom ALL the time, and I have a 40D and 20D, plus I'm thinking about a 5D II. Will that system do it for me? BTW it's a refurbished system for that price.

[Moppie]

All I want is lightroom 2 to respond instantly to my changes. I use lightroom ALL the time, and I have a 40D and 20D, plus I'm thinking about a 5D II. Will that system do it for me? BTW it's a refurbished system for that price.


Absolutely perfect for LR. :cool:

I have a Q6600 and it works very, very well.

[form]

Great! Because that's what I need.