Building a new PC...thoughts?

Hi all, I wanted to get some advice on building a new machine (PC) for working on, and storing pictures. I will have to pay with a CC for now...and will hopefully take about 3 months to pay it off.

My current machine is slow as hell, and barely has enough RAM to keep up with today...let alone tomorrow. It's a P3 1GHz Dell, with 768MB of RAM. The card reader is hanging out of the front panel...which sucks...and it basically has a 4X DVD reader/burner which is not even worth the time. It has 128MB of Video RAM, and not much else. Even the USB 2.0 is a little shady...and some devices work, others don't.

So, here's my thoughts on a new machine...which will sort of future proof me for a few years, or so I hope:
1 - Quad Core Intel Processor (2.4 GHz)
1 - Asus MB built to handle Quad Cores, SLI Ready, RAID Ready, etc.
4 - Gigs of RAM (2 x 2048 )
1 - 512MB Video Card (SLI ready)
1 - Case that can support it all (which I already have) -- it already has 3 SG Barracuda 80GB drives...I will add the fourth, and have two raid mirrors.
-- VISTA, PS CS2 or 3(if I can afford it, otherwise, CS2 will be on this one for a while), and other related software...
-- DVD Drives/USB 2.0 Card Reader/other peripherals.

The machine I have now takes about 1 minute or so to open a RAW file, because it's so slow. Used to be fine with 20D pics, but the 5D pics are just huge...and take lots more processing power. Not upgrading the camera any time soon, but in a couple of years, I might...but don't see the benefit, just yet.

Sound like a plan? Any other recommendations? I know it's an expensive box, but this will be the second machine I have ever bought for myself...and others have been hand me downs (company throws away machine...I pick it up, and rebuild to the best of my ability). I will be building this as well, so, the sooner the better. I would like to rid myself of the old machine rather quickly.

Thanks for your time/suggestions.

Don't get Vista for at least 12 months. Aside from the fact it's not yet ready for prime time, there's nothing wrong with XP. There's nothing Vista can do that XP can't while using less resources.

What you can do is to get a 64 bit CPU, run XP 32 bit (unless you can get 64 bit drivers for all your devices and software that uses the 64bits), 2GB of ram (at least) and get a cheap DVD reader/writer as HDDVD is ony just around the corner.

I would recommend scavenging your old PC for most of the parts. I personally would not upgrade your DVD writer as I have never ever found disks that actually burn at more than about 2x for the entire duration of a burn.

For extreme economy just put a new CPU in your current machine if the mainboard will take it. Also add some extra RAM if the mainboard will take it. Otherwise put a new mainboard, RAM and CPU in. That's not going to cost much at all. Don't bother about future proofing. We all did that yesterday and today everything's out of date.

Looks like a great set up,

You might want to reconsider spending on an INtel "Quad core" for a while.

Unlike the current dual core's, the current "Quads" are actually two Dual cores on a single circuit board.. this means that the communicatin between each of these dual cores is sent across the MoBo..
Where as the Dual cores are two Cores on the same processor die.. and this can communicate with eachother much faster.

Yes, it's still nice to have have 4 cores instead of 2, but the added investment may not pay off as much as it will in another 6 months or so when the truly "monolithic" Quads are available.

The other thought, is the Graphics card and emphasis on SLI ... but you don't mention the PC being used for gaming.
None of that graphics hardware will add to your RAW processing... it only helps for games, and of course for VIsta's silly 3D "aero glass" gui.

You could save a lot of $$ if you don't need that 3D Horsepower.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #2831112
Unlike the current dual core's, the current "Quads" are actually two Dual cores on a single circuit board.. this means that the communicatin between each of these dual cores is sent across the MoBo..
Where as the Dual cores are two Cores on the same processor die.. and this can communicate with eachother much faster.

I didn't know that. Just for fun I wanted to see what a motherboard supporting Quad core would cost and noticed immediately 2 slots on the Asus board I found. So I actually thought the motherboard supported 2 Quad cpus giving 8 cores. In any case I don't want to upgrade my pc until in about 8-10 months (need the money for something else ) but when I do upgrade I want a really really fast pc becauseafter I got 5D I have definately noticed longer load times compared to 20D or 1D raws.

I watch movies on the computer...and even though they are a tad slow, I figure a better card will help the cause.

Thanks for the tips...I figure I can always sell some parts, add new ones, trade for others, down the line...but for now, this setup seems OK.

The old case/board is all old...no SATA capability, all IDE, I mean, it's almost 6 years old. Just tired of it...and it's time to move on.

For the DVD drives...I have two already, one in the new case, one from the old case, so I should be OK there. I already have card readers, etc. and will add a 4GB SD card to the ready, for ReadyBoost to make things a bit quicker as well.

I know technology always changes...but the Quad Core will be decent enough for me. I don't replace machinery all that often...so, as long as this one serves it's purpose for 4-6 years, I should be OK. The one I have right now is a slouch, from 4+ years ago...so, it's about time...RIP old machine.

tommykjensen wrote in post #2831139
Ibut when I do upgrade I want a really really fast pc because after I got 5D I have definately noticed longer load times compared to 20D or 1D raws.

That's my point. The 5D files are rather large (12-16 megs) -- depending on the image. They take forever to open up for me...and that gets annoying...as I feel less compelled to work on images late at night, when I am getting tired of waiting for files to open, etc.

I pieced together the machine, and it's specs....comes in at a little under 1700, so I think I am good to go. I could prolly lose the video card, and save about 250 or so...but once I connect this thing to the HDTV/Home Theatre it should be just about worth the extra expense.

Thanks again.

One thing you might consider. I realise you have 3 HD's already but for speed you could get 4 74 GB Western Digital Raptor 10.000 RPM. That should give you lots of speed.

I think the Seagates in the new case are already 10K+ RPM drives - SATA - so I should be good on that front. Adding the fourth one, just for another mirror. This way, I will have to mirrored raids...in case one fails, I have the second. And the 250GB external that I have will remain as the backup to all backups.

Windows speed is affected by the following in order of priority:

1. CPU speed
2. Physical memory (RAM) - the more the better until you reach XP's limit of about 2GB.
3. Virtual memory (the swap file). Adjusting the size can help as can putting it on a faster disk drive or if possible onto a USB memory stick.
4. Disk speed. As windows always uses the swop file whether it needs to or not, the fastest disk should be used. If you can get the swop file nearet to the centre of the disk, that should give faster access times.

Of course because many other O/Ss don't use swop files, it could be time to consider an alternative to Windows.

Right, so I figure a Quad core with 4 GB of RAM, a 4GB SD card (for the swap file, or ReadyBoost in Vista), and 10K+ RPM drives should just about do it. I would consider a MAC, but that means buying all new software...which is just horrible, and no, I don't want to run windows off of a mac -- call me crazy...but...whatever with that.

I think for now, I should be good with the order I am about to place. Little pricey I know, but hey, I am not going to change it for a few years, so might as well get something decent now...and just run it into the ground.

Thanks for the help.

I went ahead and placed the order. Ended up costing about 1600+ change. Not bad...and hopefully, it will last a few years, like the runner-up, at home.

Quad Core CPU, ASUS MB designed for QC's, 4GB Ram (2x2048 ), and a 512MB NVidia Graphics card w/ DVI and HD out/in. They threw in 'for free' the Tom Clancy Ghost Recon A. W. game...so, I will have to give it a whirl, once everything is cased up, and running.

I will let you know how it goes...though, the shipment doesn't get here till next week...so, by the time I put it together, it will be next weekend. Ah, heck, whats another few days...where for years I have been using what I have.

While this thread is here, I have a somewhat OT question: If I get a new 64-bit system with Vista pre-installed, can I dump it and install XP until such time as I might decide to run Vista?

i have a dual core p4 d920 media center pc 250gig hard drive and 1 gig ram with nvidia graphics and it works a treat , great for watching dvd's and for my editing with cs2 , got it 3 months ago as i had the same probs , old slow pc , made up i changed now

subtle_spectre wrote in post #2843422
While this thread is here, I have a somewhat OT question: If I get a new 64-bit system with Vista pre-installed, can I dump it and install XP until such time as I might decide to run Vista?

Yup...but you would have to install a 64-bit version of XP...and then get drivers for most things, in your system. Though, I think XP in 64 bit mode would work just fine.

mrmacca wrote in post #2843513
i have a dual core p4 d920 media center pc 250gig hard drive and 1 gig ram with nvidia graphics and it works a treat , great for watching dvd's and for my editing with cs2 , got it 3 months ago as i had the same probs , old slow pc , made up i changed now

I hear ya...and thus, my decision to say 'toast' it, I am going with a new machine. All these late nights attempting to open/wait/process/open​/wait/process was getting to be a nuisance. So, Figured I might as well build something that will at least be 'current' for the next couple of years...even if new technologies emerge.