Computer build questions

I haven't built a computer in 15 yrs. But I'm tired of my 2008 mac taking forever to load my programs and then forget about running PS and LR together. Can't afford a new mac right now and want one right now.

First question is i5, i7, or AMD's (AMD is a lot cheaper)
What motherboards are highly recommended I am seeing a lot of gigabyte recomendations any others I need to research?
When I do the drives do I go with a smaller SSD for the OS and put in a bigger drive or drives in for storage?
I'm seeing a lot of computer at the box store have 8,12, or 16gig Ram ... When I built my computers back in the day we put in a ton of ram is this because the processors are so much better?
I want to run dual 4k monitors, still deciding on which monitors but will I need a video card or will the onboard video drivers work?
Cooling I've read some very very in depth chats on this forum about this is there an advantage to water cooled? I've read it both ways in the research I've done, I'm suspecting that this has to do with amount of load I put on the processor.
Does windows 10 work well with LR and PS CC?
I don't play any online games nor will I ever.
I also run a couple printer for printing pics and docs also.
Do most newer motherboards come with Wi-Fi built in couldn't find much info on this?
And about that, ... I do not, nor will I ever use this for anything other than my hobby I do not plan on ever rendering videos for production. But occasional video off my camera of family or wildlife. So I dont need a super machine.
I have a budget of $500-$700 but that not including monitors of course ...
I know thats not much $$ but it's what I have I figure if I get good backbone I can upgrade components later.

Also I could use recomendation on places to buy computer parts I've been to Newegg, Tiger direct, and of course Ebay

Thanks for your help

Steve

i5, i7 if you don't mind spending the few extra bucks. The generation matters more than the i5/i7 label. Ex: i7 2600 vs i5 6500 would be like three generation differences where that i5 would crush the i7, so make sure to look into that.

I'd start with no less than 16GB RAM now a days and only go up depending on your photo sizes, like if you do large panoramas, or if your gonna wanna spend that extra amount for your future video work.

SSDs are getting cheaper and cheaper, 256-512GB would take your mind off of playing musical files to not hit capacity. Then grab a HDD to store your files in mass quantities of course.

Motherboards vary like nuts. One brand can have amazing top end and mid end boards but crap low end. Do some light research. Wi-Fi can be onboard with a premium on some of the mid to higher boards that you could very well of bought the PCIE or USB version.

500-700 is a good amount to play with but you'll need to make a compromise here and there. Don't skimp on your case, get one that you can access and do updates with and it can last you for the next build and can let you open to swap or add parts as you need.

Ultra-cheap, fastest possible: i7 4770k (so you can overclock), reliable ASUS mobo, *hybrid* SSHD hard drive with included SSD so OS and commonly-used files load ultra quick. (I use a seagate hybrid st2000dx001 2tb for image storage).

If you have a bit more money, add a samsung SSD as the LR/Windows swap/cache/catalog drive. Set it up using the Samsung software so it caches the LR catalog in memory. This will decrease access times to the much-used catalog from 20 ms, down to 1-4 ms.

A bit more money, change the cpu to the 4790, which will get you a bit more MHz in the overclock.

If you go with the newer 6700 cpu, the mobo and ram are much more expensive, for only a 5% to 10% better performance.

skid00skid00 wrote in post #18008013
If you go with the newer 6700 cpu, the mobo and ram are much more expensive, for only a 5% to 10% better performance.

This part is very true. You can get some very cheap DDR3 RAM and last gen CPU for much cheaper but lose the upgradability later with having DDR3 vs DDR4 which is going to be included in all the new upcoming CPU/MB's coming out, but even by then there will be larger sized sticks of RAM so it can be a toss.

Also forgot to mention that when you buy a PSU, goto JohnnyGuru and get a good reviewed one. You won't need much more than like a 450W-500W but buy a good quality one. Brands mean crap with PSUs. Everyone of them have great and crappy ones. For instance Corsairs AX/HX/RM (If i remember) are considered good but their CX430 is highly argued.

skid00skid00 wrote in post #18008013
have a bit more money, add a samsung SSD as the LR/Windows swap/cache/catalog drive. Set it up using the Samsung software so it caches the LR catalog in memory. This will decrease access times to the much-used catalog from 20 ms, down to 1-4

Eh, probably better off just buying a SSD + HDD instead. Although I have read that using a SSHD as a data drive greatly improves things over a HDD so they could have a SSD + SSHD combo.

My i7 2600K rates maybe 25% slower than the newest i7 processors, so I haven't bothered to upgrade. So you don't need the current generation. i5 has fewer cores or no hyperthreading (I forget which), for interactive use of a single application at a same time they can be as fast as an i7, but batch and video can be faster on an i7. AMD is probably fine, but they're definitely slower than Intel - however if you're looking at value rather than outright performance they may be a winner.

16GB RAM is good. SSD for OS is essential, not a combo drive IMHO. Get one small 120GB SSD for OS/programs and another if you want data on it, or partition a larger one, so your back images are small. Video card relatively unimportant.

If your budget is $700 not sure how far you'll get. You might just want to get an SSD and see how it is. Also an OS refresh may make it faster.

Great feedback here just what I was looking for ... On drives what is the most important factor? Speed wise? Transfering photos and what not if I have a reader doesnt the speed of the drive determine my transfer rate?
Any particular brands better than the other? Brands to stay away from?

Thanks

Samsung 850, evo or pro, are what I use and recommend. Pro are likely to last longer and be more reliable, but they're so cheap now that's largely irrelevant.

Re your question, transfer speed from where? Copying from memory cards is card and card reader limited. Copying between drives is limited by the speed of your interface and speed of the drive. SSDs work by lowering latency and increasing transfer speed.

You should look into what will be required to run dual 4k monitors, you will need at minimum HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2, not sure there are any motherboards that support this with onboard graphics(definitely not without blowing your budget on a high end motherboard). You will most likely need a gpu to accomplish this, you won't need a high end gpu, just one with the required outputs.

IAbowhntr wrote in post #18008280
Great feedback here just what I was looking for ... On drives what is the most important factor? Speed wise? Transfering photos and what not if I have a reader doesnt the speed of the drive determine my transfer rate?
Any particular brands better than the other? Brands to stay away from?

Thanks

Sorry but on that buget I dont think you can afford to have dual 4K monitors.
In your position I would buy a nice case, Look at Phantek Evo relatively cheap, that stays, a decent psu EVGA are nice, that stays, a good MB ( having had 2 RMAs swopping that out is a nightmare ) so that stays.
Ram 2x 8GB is a minimum. Must be DDR4
OS HDD - has to be SSD ( you may as well get Samsung Evo 850 ITB to run it all to start.) best bang for the buck.
Archive HDD - 4TB HGST are the best reliability . That stays
GPU - one with 2x DP 1.2 min - wait and see the new Pascal ones come out next month GTX 1070 if it has 2 DP connectors?. I bought a GTX 970 its fine, but I want another Display. ( pne in portrait one in landscape) And I cant drive it as the 970 only has one DP 1.2. So I Will be selling mine a huge loss to get the new Pascal varient, my MSI is beautifully built no hassles.

Bluntly hold off on the second display, put that money into the core box - long term investment. Or you will be swapping out stuff at a high cost.
CPU suggest i7 - as you dont game why overclock!
Monitor - best value great build is the HP IPS UHD 24s - beautiful build quality, cheapest £14 get 5 year swap out on site warranty, factory colour calibrated.
Cooler - the Noctua D15 is a monster and the the build quality is Rolls Royce. £70! Dont know how they do it. Worth £150.
Convert £ to $ for lucky you guys

Re the MB despite a nightmare with Supermicro they have a new Z170 MB it has a unique bit of PCH tecHnology, and will be the best. The build quality is excellent Server quality. They do have BIOS issues but just exchange until you get the latest. The good news is its so new you wont have my problem of an older rev level board not accepting the later UEFI Bios and firmware.
As for wifi mine had none, used a really cheap Intel ac wifi card its like lightening.

Submariner wrote in post #18008550
Sorry but on that buget I dont think you can afford to have dual 4K monitors.
In your position I would buy a nice case, Look at Phantek Evo relatively cheap, that stays, a decent psu EVGA are nice, that stays, a good MB ( having had 2 RMAs swopping that out is a nightmare ) so that stays.
Ram 2x 8GB is a minimum. Must be DDR4
OS HDD - has to be SSD ( you may as well get Samsung Evo 850 ITB to run it all to start.) best bang for the buck.
Archive HDD - 4TB HGST are the best reliability . That stays
GPU - one with 2x DP 1.2 min - wait and see the new Pascal ones come out next month GTX 1070 if it has 2 DP connectors?. I bought a GTX 970 its fine, but I want another Display. ( pne in portrait one in landscape) And I cant drive it as the 970 only has one DP 1.2. So I Will be selling mine a huge loss to get the new Pascal varient, my MSI is beautifully built no hassles.

Bluntly hold off on the second display, put that money into the core box - long term investment. Or you will be swapping out stuff at a high cost.
CPU suggest i7 - as you dont game why overclock!
Monitor - best value great build is the HP IPS UHD 24s - beautiful build quality, cheapest £14 get 5 year swap out on site warranty, factory colour calibrated.
Cooler - the Noctua D15 is a monster and the the build quality is Rolls Royce. £70! Dont know how they do it. Worth £150.
Convert £ to $ for lucky you guys

Re the MB despite a nightmare with Supermicro they have a new Z170 MB it has a unique bit of PCH tecHnology, and will be the best. The build quality is excellent Server quality. They do have BIOS issues but just exchange until you get the latest. The good news is its so new you wont have my problem of an older rev level board not accepting the later UEFI Bios and firmware.
As for wifi mine had none, used a really cheap Intel ac wifi card its like lightening.

Most MSI GTX970's have a HDMI 2.0 compatible connector along with DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 supports 4k @ 60Hz monitors.

Submariner wrote in post #18008550
Sorry but on that buget I dont think you can afford to have dual 4K monitors. Yes he can.
In your position I would buy a nice case, Look at Phantek Evo relatively cheap, that stays, a decent psu EVGA are nice, that stays, a good MB ( having had 2 RMAs swopping that out is a nightmare ) so that stays. No, any case can really do and choosing by PSU brand is HIGHLY not recomended
Ram 2x 8GB is a minimum. Must be DDR4 Rubbish, you can have DDR3, nothing says you HAVE to have DDR4
OS HDD - has to be SSD ( you may as well get Samsung Evo 850 ITB to run it all to start.) best bang for the buck. Sigh... no you don't, you don't 1TB SSD drive, I mean, if you aren't under budget then you could but that throwing half the budget into the drain for a 1TB drive.
Archive HDD - 4TB HGST are the best reliability . That stays Show me any studies that say they are. One that isn't Blackblaze. I'll wait.
GPU - one with 2x DP 1.2 min - wait and see the new Pascal ones come out next month GTX 1070 if it has 2 DP connectors?. I bought a GTX 970 its fine, but I want another Display. ( pne in portrait one in landscape) And I cant drive it as the 970 only has one DP 1.2. So I Will be selling mine a huge loss to get the new Pascal varient, my MSI is beautifully built no hassles. He does not need a gaming grade GPU. HE DOES NOT NEED A GAMING GRADE GPU. a 950 is adequate given it has the ports. HE doesn't need a 970/980/980 Ti/1080/1070

Bluntly hold off on the second display, put that money into the core box - long term investment. Or you will be swapping out stuff at a high cost.
CPU suggest i7 - as you dont game why overclock! You don't need to OC to game! What the hell dude!
Monitor - best value great build is the HP IPS UHD 24s - beautiful build quality, cheapest £14 get 5 year swap out on site warranty, factory colour calibrated. There are tons of other choices and "Factory calibration means squat.
Cooler - the Noctua D15 is a monster and the the build quality is Rolls Royce. £70! Dont know how they do it. Worth £150. You don't need a $65 cooler over something like a Hyper 212 for $25. IF HE ISN'T OC'ING LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER HE DOESN'T NEED IT!
Convert £ to $ for lucky you guys

Re the MB despite a nightmare with Supermicro they have a new Z170 MB it has a unique bit of PCH tecHnology, and will be the best. The build quality is excellent Server quality. They do have BIOS issues but just exchange until you get the latest. The good news is its so new you wont have my problem of an older rev level board not accepting the later UEFI Bios and firmware.
As for wifi mine had none, used a really cheap Intel ac wifi card its like lightening.

I put notes in. He is building a budget PC, not a PC capable of making the 2017 and 2018 lineup of Pixar movies. You seem to think that overkill is the only way to go.

Again, sorry to be an ass but your fan, cooler and SSD comments would eat his budget before he even looks at any other real components.

Ok I was hell bent on building this thing but now I'm seeing factory PC's for almost less than I can build ... Budget wise would I be better off buying a Dell or HP with a solid backbone like the i5 or i7 or are the MB and PSU just rubbish? I know they take shortcuts but I can get a HP i5 4590k built with 12mb ram 2TB drive with Windows 10 pro for $450 new ... seems like a solid backbone to build off of ... Even if I add an SSD for the OS and use the drive that it comes with for storage seems like a good start. Even a better case later on still puts me under budget so far I'm having trouble finding a CPU MB combo for under $350. And then I put $80 in Ram $250 in drives and a case I'm well over that.

Steve

IAbowhntr wrote in post #18009286
Ok I was hell bent on building this thing but now I'm seeing factory PC's for almost less than I can build ... Budget wise would I be better off buying a Dell or HP with a solid backbone like the i5 or i7 or are the MB and PSU just rubbish? I know they take shortcuts but I can get a HP i5 4590k built with 12mb ram 2TB drive with Windows 10 pro for $450 new ... seems like a solid backbone to build off of ... Even if I add an SSD for the OS and use the drive that it comes with for storage seems like a good start. Even a better case later on still puts me under budget so far I'm having trouble finding a CPU MB combo for under $350. And then I put $80 in Ram $250 in drives and a case I'm well over that.

Steve

I've heard they're less expandable, more difficult to add drives (physical space and SATA ports), and yes they'll have the cheapest part that will do the job. If you buy your own parts quality may be higher, but the parts won't be tested for compatibility like Dell/HP will do.

tim wrote in post #18009304
I've heard they're less expandable, more difficult to add drives (physical space and SATA ports), and yes they'll have the cheapest part that will do the job. If you buy your own parts quality may be higher, but the parts won't be tested for compatibility like Dell/HP will do.

Good point but then the reverse could be said meaning that I believe Dell and HP have proprietary drivers which moving stuff around can be a pain from that aspect ... But back in the day I remember having to research drivers and do work around I'm sure some of that still comes into play when you deal with newer items.

Steve

IAbowhntr wrote in post #18009408
Good point but then the reverse could be said meaning that I believe Dell and HP have proprietary drivers which moving stuff around can be a pain from that aspect ... But back in the day I remember having to research drivers and do work around I'm sure some of that still comes into play when you deal with newer items.

Steve

I've never owned a Dell / HP, so not sure of drivers. I assumed they used generic stuff and generic drivers, but maybe its custom and needs its own driver. I tend to build my own machines.