New Computer for Design - Core i7

[Gamerhomie]

Hello everyone. First off, I've never built a computer before but in order to lower my level of noobiness, I've been scourging forums to find answers to most of the questions I've had. So anyways, some basic info:

- I will be using this computer for Photoshop, Illustrator, browsing, music, and playing games from the past few years. Nothing high end.

- I live in the US, I have been using Newegg for all my parts.

- My budget is around $1,000 - $1,200 for all parts.

- At first I didn't plan on doing it but I read it's really easy. If a slight overclock will help out, I'll do it.

- I have no current parts, all I have is an old Gateway laptop, hence the new build lol. Besides that, I already have a mouse, keyboard, and speakers.

- I really have no preference in companies. I already have a Core i7 920 sitting on my desk from Microcenter.

- I plan on ordering all this as soon as I can get my credit card which should be this week.

My build so far:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishL...ishListNumber=10421731

Only other thing I will be getting is the Dell S2209WA monitor.

I have a few questions: Should I stick with the case/psu combo or go for something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139004

The things I have been debating are which motherboard to go with. This is a computer I don't plan on upgrading too much over the years, I want it to last me a while. The only thing I can think of upgrading down the line is going from 6 to 12GB of RAM if I ever find the need for it. So I'd rather not get a board that only has 4 slots, yet I don't want a board made for overclocking. The one I chose seems to be a little overkill for me but I've read it's a very reliable board.

Second, if I do slight overclocking, I can still stick with the stock heatsink right?

One last thing. I had some trouble deciding on hard drives because I wanted to maximize performance out of them. So I went with two 640GB, one for the OS and programs (I would have went with a SSD, enough space for the OS and progs but still too expensive for me) and one for the pagefile, swapdisk, and data. Is this the right way to go about it?

 

[krnmastersgt]

No doubt the board is very nice, but unless its got some features you find you really need, I'd say save yourself around $80-100 by getting a different board (unless you have company loyalty or something leading you towards that board), plenty of sub $200 boards that work very well. Also you mean 6 memory slots and not 4 right?

On the PSU/Case, if the shipping isn't too much (which it probably will be) of a difference, I'd say just stick with the combo, Seasonic is just about one of the best names for PSUs around (not sure if they make that Corsair as well).

Otherwise, I like the choice of parts :thumbsup: Have fun with your first build

 

[Gamerhomie]

^ Well, when I started building this computer I originally went with this Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128375

But I noticed it only had 4 slots for RAM. I'll be getting 3 x 2 GB so if I ever wanted to upgrade to 12, I could just pick up 3 more sticks instead of having to buy 3GB or 4GB sticks.

I think I'll stick with the combo, thanks.

Oh, I forgot to add, I have $200 in credit from Amazon. I wanted to use that for part of this build, I think I'll order the hard drives or RAM from them.

 

[mmntech]

Have you considered a Phenom II? According to Anand's benches, the Phenom II X4 955 is faster than the i7 920 for most design applications. It's 28% faster than the i7 in Photoshop CS4 for example. It's also $35 cheaper at Newegg.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=47&p2=88

Intel has the gaming edge right now but I've found AMD's processors to be better for professional applications, particularly design work. I need my system for video editing, which is why I went with the Phenom II.

 

[Gamerhomie]

I got the 920 already for just a little over $200. And the benchmarks you linked me to showed the 920 performs a little better in Photoshop.

 

[soccerballtux]

So, you have no cash, you're just going to dump it onto a credit card? Yeah that's real smart. :/

 

[Gamerhomie]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
So, you have no cash, you're just going to dump it onto a credit card? Yeah that's real smart. :/

lol, I actually have all the cash on hand. I want to get a credit card so I can start building up my credit.

 

[M0RPH]

I don't know why you're going with such an overpriced motherboard, the normal ASUS P6T is only $195 AR, nearly $100 cheaper.

There's also a MSI X58 for only $170 AR that would likely work fine for your build.

 

[Gamerhomie]

I'm going to go with the normal ASUS P6T.

 

[elconejito]

Originally posted by: mmntech
Have you considered a Phenom II? According to Anand's benches, the Phenom II X4 955 is faster than the i7 920 for most design applications. It's 28% faster than the i7 in Photoshop CS4 for example. It's also $35 cheaper at Newegg.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=47&p2=88

Intel has the gaming edge right now but I've found AMD's processors to be better for professional applications, particularly design work. I need my system for video editing, which is why I went with the Phenom II.

I'm sorry, but I think you are reading the chart wrong. Specifically for Photoshop CS4 the i7 is at 17.4s and the X4 955 is at 22.3s. The lower number is better in the CS4 test. Some of the benchmarks are "Higher is Better" and some are "Lower is Better"

Just skimming the whole chart, it looks like the i7 is better in all but a couple of the games at the bottom of the chart. The i7 is in a class by itself right now. The PhenomII competes mainly with intel's C2Q.