custom build advice

[jPadilla]

edit: we have determined that we will be going with 8gb ram max, changing the mobo and 512mb ddr3 vid card.

i started loosely with the set-up recommended on this thread

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...t=700+computer


since my comp guy is MIA, i turn to the forum to find some advice.

here is a basic list of what i'm looking at. this comp is going to be used 75% for photo using CS4, the other 25% will be spent doing autocad/sketchup, illustrator CS4, and basic computer tasks.

my original plan was to give me room to upgrade to a fast quad core and 16gb of ram.

is this necessary or even reasonable? keep in mind, i've never actually put together a computer but i am very comfortable around electronics.

in the end, i'm looking for something that is going to be sufficient "out of the box" but gives me room to grow without building a new comp for a while.

budget is not necessarily an issue but i'd like to get it in the 600-700 range.

COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB
LG 22X DVD±R DVD
EVGA 512-P3-N956-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3
2x CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800
COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3 500W
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit

after rebates, shipping, tax, picking up the case and a keyboard/mouse locally, this should run right around 600

[tim]

Sounds decent, and pretty good value. I'd get more than one disk. There's a cooler that's meant to be better, but I forget what it's called.

[OdiN1701]

Don't get the LG burner - get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106282

Same price, also does lightscribe. LiteOn products tend to hold out better than the LG's when it comes to optical drives.

[ChasP505]

I like it. It's almost identical to the system I'm building (parts already purchased and received). I went with 2 of the 500gb HDs, one for a data/scratch drive. I felt I needed at least a 650 watt power supply and newegg.com had an Antec on sale for $49 USD. I second the advice about LiteOn drives. I've used them for years, never a problem, foolproof firmware updates.

[jPadilla]

thanks for the responses team. i appreciate the feedback.

i originally had the liteOn but i don't remember why i changed.

i plan on getting another HDD but i'd like to get something faster and the budget doesn't facilitate that right now. i figure this is enough to get me started.

also, i won't be purchasing for a week or two so i'm sure things will change.

you guys have any thoughts about the mobo? should i consider nvidia S/N bridge or does it matter for photo? i'm not a gamer whatsoever

[OdiN1701]

Stick with Intel chipsets - they built the CPU's, they know them best. They are in my experience the most stable chipsets, vs. the third party vendors that make them.

[BottomBracket]

Your build looks good. A few comments:

- The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is an excellent CPU cooler and I readily recommend it. However it is quite tall and may be a tight fit for the case you are looking at. I have a Cooler Master CM690 and the Xiggie fits with barely enough room to spare. The CM690's width is listed as 8.4 inches, while the case you are looking at has a width of 8 inches. It may fit, but barely. Your options are you can chance it, or change the case or the CPU cooler. A good shorter cooler is the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7.

- If you decide to stick with the Xigmatek, you can do yourself a favor by getting the retention bracket for it. With this it is easier to install than the arcane push pins the Xiggie comes with.

- I like that motherboard. You can pair it up with the nvidia based GPU that you selected. However, I would recommend an ATI GPU, if only to have the ability to Crossfire it with another ATI card should you so decide in the future. You don't really need a Crossfire (or SLI setup for that matter) for photo editing, but having an ATI card on that mobo keeps your options open.

- Don't forget to get a tube of you favorite thermal compound. I use AS5 (Arctic Silver 5) and only because it 's the one I have handy around here. There are other choices, such as OCZ Freeze, MX-2, all good stuff.

[ChasP505]

For my motherboard, I went with the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, which uses the Intel chips. I've built a couple gaming PCs with Gigabyte MBs and they rocked!

[jPadilla]

thanks for all the great responses.

the case was just a selection of necessity. i actually plan on picking up a case locally to save on shipping. i'll def keep those dimensions/notes in mind.

i have also looking at this power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182030

as for the gpu, i just need something that is decent enough to do cad work (which i don't do very often as i do it in the office every effing day).

i don't plan on playing games, pretty much ever. and i do very, very light video

thermal compound is on the list of local buys. and the retention bracket has been noted.

[OdiN1701]

If you want to get a better PSU than the CoolerMaster, then look into Antec, Enermax, or Sparkle.

I wouldn't get the Rosewill.

[jPadilla]

thanks for the info.

would the CoolerMaster be sufficient for what i've got going?

[OdiN1701]

It should be fine. They aren't the best brand, but not the worst by any means.

[ChasP505]

Here's the Antec PSU I'm using. It was at $49 when I bought it. Half the price of what it sells for in the big electronics stores, no tax, free shipping.

I can't stand PC components or cases with the dopey blue "bling-bling" lights built in. Seems about half of the PSUs available today have the bling lights.

[jPadilla]

so...i've decided to go with this board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359
for the fsb and 16gb ram capacity

and this psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015


i want to get the most for my money but have something that is expandable to last me a few years.

like i stated before, this will be used primarily for photo editing and graphic design, but i also do some architectural design. i'm also entertaining the idea of putting in an hd/blu ray drive and using it as a media center.


i'm kinda lost

[Motley]

Originally Posted by jPadilla

so...i've decided to go with this board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359
for the fsb and 16gb ram capacity

and this psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015


i want to get the most for my money but have something that is expandable to last me a few years.

like i stated before, this will be used primarily for photo editing and graphic design, but i also do some architectural design. i'm also entertaining the idea of putting in an hd/blu ray drive and using it as a media center.


i'm kinda lost

I would reccomend this power supply is way better for a few more bucks...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703005