Build check...photo editing rig.

[mgh-pa]

Followed mfen's guide for most of it. I'm not a pro, just a hobbyist. I work in PS CS5.1, Camera Raw, and Bridge. I don't game, but I may get into some video editing in the future as well.

I wanted to keep this under $800 if possible, so is there anything necessary in this build that could be trimmed or changed to cut costs?

The OS isn't included, because I get it at a discount through my educator credentials.

Antec Three Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded 2 x USB 3.0


ASRock Z77 Pro3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard


GIGABYTE GV-N56GOC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card


PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 600W Modular 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 ...


Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K


SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)


G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-16GBXL


SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive


LG Black 14X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 12X BD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA BDXL Blu-ray Burner WH14NS40 - OEM


Total comes to $1038.41.

 

[Ken g6]

I suggest you just forget the discrete video card for now. It might be useful for CUDA in Premiere, but PS doesn't use CUDA, and doesn't use OpenCL below CS6.

Might as well go with Corsair ValueSelect for RAM. Note that you can't use more than 16GB unless you get a Windows above Home Premium. So 2 PNY 2x4GB packages would work just as well if you're sticking with Home Premium.

I don't see a CPU cooler here. Do you intend to overclock? Edit: There might be a few other [thread=80121]questions[/thread] you missed too.

 

[lehtv]

I wanted to keep this under $800 if possible, so is there anything necessary in this build that could be trimmed or changed to cut costs?

Sure, drop the video card and use integrated video, then cut corners here and hunt for deals (well I'll do that for you). You really don't have any use for the video card with the possible exception of CUDA, but the number of applications that really benefit from CUDA is pretty limited and it's in no way necessary for fast processing.

Antec 302 $60 @ NCIX
Asrock Z77 Pro3 $100 @ newegg
Integrated video $0
PCP&C MK III 400W $30 AR AP @ newegg
i5-3570K $220 @ newegg (+ Hyper 212 Plus $23 @ NCIX)
Crucial M4 128GB $120 @ NCIX (samsung is faster but you'd never notice the difference)
Mushkin 2x8GB 1333 $90 @ newegg
Samsung F3 1TB $80 @ newegg or Seagate 2TB 7200RPM $110 @ NCIX (faster and much better $/gb)
LG Blu-ray burner $70 @ newegg

= $800 with the bare minimums, $853 with aftermarket cooling and 2TB HDD. $30 rebate on the PSU.

Photo editing is much nicer on an IPS monitor. Do you have one?

 

[krnmastersgt]

I don't see the logic behind getting a 3570K + Z77 motherboard for the intended uses, I think you'd be better off getting an i7 with an H61 board just for the hyperthreading as that will likely give you better returns for roughly the same cost for your applications. I also see no reason to get a GTX 560 when you don't even plan on gaming.

CPU: i7-2600K $300 (w/ $20 gift card)
Motherboard: ASRock H61 $57 w/ shipping
Those combined with dropping the video card would give you the best returns I believe.

And regarding the SSD, if you can spend a bit extra here: Crucial M4 256 GB with promo code: EMCYTZT1768 for $180. Twice the capacity for ~%50 more cost, if you can bear to go over the budget a little I think it'd be an excellent pick-up.

 

[Ken g6]

There are a couple of minor problems with H61 boards. One is that they don't support more than 16GB RAM. Another is that most such boards don't have a SATA3 port, so your SSD would be slightly slower. B75 boards support both those things, but they cost $75 - $77, at a minimum, unless you find one on sale.

Then, if you want hyper-threading, which is good, but don't want to overclock and don't want the cost of an i7, look at the Intel Xeon 1200 series. They may not be officially supported on consumer boards, but they fit, and I haven't heard any reports of them not working. The one most similar to that i7 is the E3-1235. 200MHz slower, but only $261. Then there's the E3-1245 V2, same speed as that i7, but with an Ivy Bridge core so it's faster, plus HD4000 graphics, for just $285.

 

[mfenn]

CPU: i7-2600K $300 (w/ $20 gift card)
Motherboard: ASRock H61 $57 w/ shipping
Those combined with dropping the video card would give you the best returns I believe.

I like this idea. There are some definite compromises in getting an H61 chipset, such as the lack of SATA 6Gb/s support and no overclocking. However, the $67 ASRock H61M/U3S3 gives you the SATA 6Gb/s support for the SSD and the lack of overclocking support doesn't matter if you don't intend to do it.

As for the processor, even though you can't take advantage of the unlocked multiplier on the 2600K, it is still a better deal than the 2600 right now on Newegg once you factor in the promo. If you want to take a small risk in terms of CPU support, then the Xeon E3-1235 is an even better deal.

 

[krnmastersgt]

I like this idea. There are some definite compromises in getting an H61 chipset, such as the lack of SATA 6Gb/s support and no overclocking. However, the $67 ASRock H61M/U3S3 gives you the SATA 6Gb/s support for the SSD and the lack of overclocking support doesn't matter if you don't intend to do it.

As for the processor, even though you can't take advantage of the unlocked multiplier on the 2600K, it is still a better deal than the 2600 right now on Newegg once you factor in the promo. If you want to take a small risk in terms of CPU support, then the Xeon E3-1235 is an even better deal.

That's a nice find regarding the board; and yes there are limitations to the H61 chipset, but I still see it as being the more efficient route for the OP's purposes. As always I stand by just grabbing the cheapest reputable board that has the necessary features for the intended uses.

And I do like the price of the Xeon E3-1235, but I would still recommend the 2600K over it on the basis that should the OP ever want to sell the system, a well known processor tends to bring in a higher resale value. That being said, if this system is just going to be used until it breaks down beyond being cost effective to repair/given away I suppose just going for the Xeon would be the wiser choice.

 

[lehtv]

I like this idea. There are some definite compromises in getting an H61 chipset, such as the lack of SATA 6Gb/s support and no overclocking. However, the $67 ASRock H61M/U3S3 gives you the SATA 6Gb/s support for the SSD and the lack of overclocking support doesn't matter if you don't intend to do it.

Or a $75 B75 board.

 

[sm625]

Keep in mind that a 3770S non K version will easily overclock to 4GHz with just the move of a slider. That is equivalent to a 4.3GHz 2600k. (At least that's how easy it is on a GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H) So if you can get a deal on the S version then its a good deal. Any higher clocks and you need a cooler, so its diminishing returns anyway....