PC Build for Photo/Video Editing

After 5.5 years of good service, my 21" iMac is starting to take a dump. iSight no longer works, same with the superdrive. Now the monitor is flickering, and is now the top part of the monitor is 30% dimmer than the bottom part. Could be just the monitor, but may be the mother board. And on an iMac, thats as good as dead.

So, begrugingly, I am building a PC around an i7. Not a big fan of Windows; but I am a big fan of money, and a new i7 iMac will cost a butt load.

I got a sweet deal on an i7 3770K via the Intel Retail Edge program, so it made it an easy decision to build a PC. I have never built a PC from the ground up, so it should be a fun expierience. I going to use Windows 7.

Using a Corsair 200R as the case, I want a lot of space for additional hard drives, it seems to have plenty.

For the mother board I am using a ASRock Z75 Pro3 LGA 1155. As I have never built a PC, I refered to a friends suggestion for this. Seems to have a lot of feature for the money. I will be using Corsair Vengance Ram, 8GBs. Seems like enough for right now.

I am gonna use a bargain basement HP 2071D monitor for right now, but want get something a little nicer eventually.

Starting off with a 2TB Seagate Barracuda, but would eventually like to get an additional 2TBs and a SSD for the OS/Programs.

My question is: Will the onboard graphics processor be enough to run Lightroom and Photoshop?

If not, anyone have a reccomendation on a good graphics card? I dont really plan to game too much, I have consoles for that, but would want something which will last a while.

Jay-Bird wrote in post #15975882
My question is: Will the onboard graphics processor be enough to run Lightroom and Photoshop?

Those applications mostly rely on the CPU, and not GPU. Your 3770K will most definitely be able to handle both.

Thank you. I am pretty illiterate when it comes to the nuts and bolts of a PC! I need to start learning this stuff!

Make sure you buy a quality power supply as well. You don't need a powerful one, 450-500 watts will be more than enough, but get a good one. I recommend Corsair, Seasonic and Antec.

Jay-Bird wrote in post #15975882
I will be using Corsair Vengance Ram, 8GBs. Seems like enough for right now.

As your title reads, for photo and video editing. You'll need 64bit windows and a LOT more then 8GB of system RAM. As inexpensive as memory is, I'd say you should have 32GB. IMHO.

the jimmy wrote in post #15977406
As your title reads, for photo and video editing. You'll need 64bit windows and a LOT more then 8GB of system RAM. As inexpensive as memory is, I'd say you should have 32GB. IMHO.

32GB wow I got 12 lol

patrick023 wrote in post #15976656
Make sure you buy a quality power supply as well. You don't need a powerful one, 450-500 watts will be more than enough, but get a good one. I recommend Corsair, Seasonic and Antec.

I purchased a Thermal Take TR2 430W.

the jimmy wrote in post #15977406
As your title reads, for photo and video editing. You'll need 64bit windows and a LOT more then 8GB of system RAM. As inexpensive as memory is, I'd say you should have 32GB. IMHO.

Holy cow, 32! I will have to start pricing it out.

patrick023 wrote in post #15976656
Make sure you buy a quality power supply as well. You don't need a powerful one, 450-500 watts will be more than enough, but get a good one. I recommend Corsair, Seasonic and Antec.

Hi Patrick,

How about those silverstone power supply? are they also good/reliable brand?

I think what others have already mentioned is get a quality power supply...450 watts is enough.

16gb for ram is also enough or maybe more than enough.

For LR the built-in HD4000 graphics of the 3770K is enough.

For P.S. you can use a dedicated gpu that has open cl because I think that PS uses that and it will add speed espescially if you're doing 3d stuff, using mostly the liquify tools (there are others that utilize the open cl ones but i forgot). But my suggestion try it out first also just the HD4000.

Like others also said, an SSD will also speed things up! (like opening the apps LR or PS).
If this a normal ATX chasis/casing then adding a 72000 rpm HDD will be good or another SSD then used it as a scratch disk for you PS.

I think that's it...

I prefer Seasonic first, Corsair (that are made by Seasonic) second and that's it. See SilentPCReview for evidence, you may also find other ideas too there.

I would recommend you go to the manufacturer's website and see if your memory is on the compatibility list.....as I understand it, that mobo may be a bit touchy with memory.

I will second what Keema said, try the board based video first, then if you need more monitors or need a real video card, get one only after you see what you have won't work.

With 64 bit Win7, 16GB should be wonderful.....doubt if any more will give you THAT much more performance.

Final comment: Any reason you won't or didn't consider a Mac Mini? Being a PC guy most of my life, I am actually considering a MacMini just for the photography stuff.....

Bob E.

@safetybob..

I am also deciding between macmini base i7 or mini itx build desktop. Is because of the O.S thats why you want a macmini? Hardware/spec wise the pc still wins here though...the cpu of the macmini even you choose the i7 2.6ghz is still slower than i5 3570/k (base on cpuboss site)

The actual go to source for reviews on power supplies is Jonny Guru and his faq is worth a read.

Keema wrote in post #15978162
Hi Patrick,

How about those silverstone power supply? are they also good/reliable brand?

Their older Strider series of PSU's were fantastic. Silverstone generally only puts out quality stuff so I'd recommend those too.

Suggest you get an SSD to start with, it will make it a much nicer machine to use. Also 16GB for video editing. If you do a lot of video then get an nVidia based card.

If you choose the right parts you can run Mac OS on the machine you build. Google "hackintosh" for more info - I've never tried it, I just know it's possible - but can be a bit tricky.

Safetybob wrote in post #15979619
Final comment: Any reason you won't or didn't consider a Mac Mini? Being a PC guy most of my life, I am actually considering a MacMini just for the photography stuff.....

Bob E.

I did consider it, but given the fact the i7 version is going to set you back over 1000(needing a monitor), I couldnt justify spending that money, to get its performance.

After having my iMac, I am starting to see the limitations of its form factor. Just to change a hard drive involves getting the glass off, removing a ton of screws, pulling the monitor, and digging around behind this.

The mac mini is kind of the same thing, very little room for expansion. The OS itself is more intuitive and elegant than windows, but I really only need this thing to edit photos and such, so I doubt I will need to know more than just basic operation.

Cost was a factor as well. I work for Best Buy(dont hold it against me), so I get PC compenents for a song. I currently have 560 dollars into the build, and the only other thing I need is a wireless card and the OS itself.

****
Thank you all for your advice. An SSD and additional ram are planned for the immediate future, and I will see if my current ram is compatable with my board. I have recieved everything sans the processor. I am waiting on Intel to send it directly.