Looking for input on build

[clockworkd]

Looking to upgrade a computer that I built 3 years ago, though I've made a few upgrades along the way, so I have some components that I'll be keeping.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Significant photo editing with photoshop/lightroom, though also some MMO gaming and light video editing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

~$800-$1000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

US, near a Microcenter, but I also get taxed by newegg

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Intel

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Keeping my monitor & peripherals, a 2 TB drive, as well as a recently acquired OCZ Vertex 2 120 GB SSD for OS/programs.

I have two working optical drives as well, but they're both IDE, so probably time for an upgrade?

I could reuse my old case (Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW), but I'm leaning toward a new case.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I've never OCed before, so was planning on running it at default speeds, at least for now.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

within the next few weeks

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

I'm not!
========================

My current computer's specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
8 GB RAM
120 GB OCZ Vertex 2 SSD
2 TB Hitachi
PNY 8600GT 256 MB
Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W


I've read through nearly every thread on here, and have gotten lots of great information, as well as an itch to upgrade my system.

So far, I've been thinking about either a i7-870 (8 GB RAM) or i7-950 (6 or 12 GB RAM), though now leaning toward the former for the cheaper 1156 platform. Not sure about which MB, though I'd like to get one with USB 3 support. For a case, I was thinking about the Antec 300.

Not really sure what video card or power supply to get, so looking for suggestions there.

I won't need a windows license, and I'm set in terms of storage, as well as my monitor, so those aren't included in the budget.

Thanks for any help!

 

[betasub]

Some questions:
Is that 8GB of DDR2?
What make/model of LGA775 motherboard do you currently have?
Have you looked at whether an LGA775 quad would work as an upgrade in your current system?
What OS are you planning on using? (not a license question)

 

[clockworkd]

Some questions:
Is that 8GB of DDR2?
What make/model of LGA775 motherboard do you currently have?
Have you looked at whether an LGA775 quad would work as an upgrade in your current system?
What OS are you planning on using? (not a license question)

It's 4 sticks of 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800 RAM.

My current MB is a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3

Running 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium

 

[muskie32]

You might want to go with a AMD build...

Something like this:
AMD Phenom II X6
GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD
GTX 460
8GB ddr3 ram
Samsung Spinpoint F3 HDD
DVD Burner Drive
PSU
Case- Antec 300

 

[jaydee]

For photo editing, I would wait for Sandy Bridge.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3871/the-sandy-bridge-preview-three-wins-in-a-row/8

Note that the i5-2400 here is a mid-range chip. A Core i7-2600 should fall within your budget in January and has higher clock speed, higher turbo, full-on HT, more cache. Here's approximately how the pricing will break down:

CPU ~$350
Mobo $175?
RAM ~$100
Video card: Radeon 6850 for $175?

Total: $800

 

[mfenn]

Considering that you're carrying over a lot of components, this should be very doable for $800.

Mostly from Newegg, but you can shop around:
i7 870 $230
GA-P55-USB3 $105
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $125
6850 $180
LG DVD Burner $18 Apromo
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total: $718

Your current PSU is sufficient, so I'd just hang onto it.

 

[betasub]

It's 4 sticks of 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800 RAM.

My current MB is a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3

Running 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium

Thanks for the reply. The reason for my questions was to see if an LGA775 quad would run on that board to provide a relatively cheap upgrade until Sandybridge arrives next year with a major jump in CPU performance. You already have invested in the RAM and have an up-to-date Win7 install working with that board.

FYI, the 965P board supports the Q6x00 quads, but the newer Q8 & Q9 quads require the latest BIOS.

 

[clockworkd]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

I guess I'm now trying to decide whether to go ahead and build now (using mfenn's configuration), or whether to wait it out until Sandybridge comes out in Q1 2011.

I know there will always be something new on the horizon with better performance, but maybe this is a case where it's worth waiting another 3 months or so.

 

[muskie32]

If you can wait.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

I guess I'm now trying to decide whether to go ahead and build now (using mfenn's configuration), or whether to wait it out until Sandybridge comes out in Q1 2011.

I know there will always be something new on the horizon with better performance, but maybe this is a case where it's worth waiting another 3 months or so.

My philosophy: If you need it now, buy it now. If you don't need it now, don't buy it now. It's that simple.

 

[jaydee]

Especially for high-end budget, it's worth waiting for next gen.

When something is within your budget, <3 months away and has already been benchmarked, I would always take that into consideration.

 

[clockworkd]

Thanks again for all the input.

I've decided to wait it out until the Sandy Bridge release next year, especially after taking a closer look at the benchmark results from the preview article. I can't wait to see what sort of results the i5-2500 and i7-2600 give.