Photoshop Rig

[swanysto]

I haven't built a PC since my Q9550, so I have no clue what parts are good anymore. I have a mac for at home, but I need something for at work. My work computer is a dell with crap in it. The computer works fine for my actual work, but sometimes I stay late and do some Photoshopping and stuff to avoid traffic. I don't think there is much I can keep from the Dell besides my HD and DVD drive. I am looking to upgrade to something that will run Photoshop and Lightroom without having to look at the loading sign after every adjustment.

I would like to stay between $300-400, but I might be able to go a little past that. I am very close to both Microcenter and Fry's. And I don't mind ordering off internet. Can you guys point me in the right direction?

TIA

 

[tweakboy]

The Q9550 with a powerful video card and minimum 8GB ram. That is a perfect machine for photoshop. Also SSD would help big time. Also go to adobe preferences,, and say NEVER SAVE FILE, in file handling section......

Your not going to be WOWed with a new computer for PS unless you couple it with a good video card 460 1GB or better...,,, cuz PS uses gpu now

 

[dbcooper1]

You don't say which version of Photoshop you intend to use but if it's fairly current, get a 64 bit Windows and Photoshop so you can use more RAM. I'm running an i5-2400 and am happy with it; Photoshop tends to benchmark better on Intel CPUs because it runs best with high single core speed because much of it doesn't make use of more than one or two cores with the exception of many of the filters and turbo boost serves that need nicely. Also consider at least a small SSD for swap/scratch. Video card will make little difference so don't waste your money there; if you go with an 1155 CPU and board, the onboard video is just fine. Hyperthreading is worth somewhere between 10-25% of an additional core, depending on what you're doing. i3 is good, i5 is better, i7 is overkill for the most part; go for single core top speed and get a Z68 board so you can increase the speeds when you have time to tweak.

 

[Ken g6]

The Q9550 with a powerful video card and minimum 8GB ram. That is a perfect machine for photoshop.

Eh, it's an OK machine for PS. It might be the best you can get depending on what parts you have to replace.

Also SSD would help big time.

Totally!

As for turning off auto-save...I don't recommend it for general programs, so I won't quote it.

Your not going to be WOWed with a new computer for PS unless you couple it with a good video card 460 1GB or better...,,, cuz PS uses gpu now

Common misconception. Some PS plugins use GPU. Adobe Premiere (for video) uses GPU. PS does not.

So you're saying you want to replace your work computer? How does your IT department feel about this? Would they like to have you working on a computer that has a support contract?

Otherwise, can you fill us in as to what parts you have available? Is that Q9550 available, or is it a home PC? Is the Dell's mobo a standard Micro-ATX, so that the case could be reused? Is its power supply a standard ATX size, and how powerful is it?

 

[swanysto]

I guess I should clarify. I don't have the 9550 any longer. All I have right now is an old dell inspiron and a 30 gig ssd vertex.

 

[swanysto]

And I am the IT dept. It is a small company, so our computer needs are not very high.

 

[Ken g6]

OK, then, Micro Center bundles...

Given that you have a HDD, a DVD, and that tiny SSD you mentioned:

CPU: i5-2500k, $180
Mobo: Gigabyte Z68 mobo, $35 AR with the above processor.
Case: HAF 912 $55 AR with shipping - or pick out a full-ATX case at Micro Center yourself, such as this one.
RAM: 16GB for $70 at Micro Center AR.
For PSU you can either go cheap ($17 AR AP!) or go bronze ($55 with shipping).

So that's $357 ARs, or $395 if you paid extra for the nicer PSU.

Your existing SSD is probably best used as a cache drive, so that if it fails it won't take your data with it. At some point in the future you might want a big, reliable SSD like a Crucial M4 128GB. But it's clearly not in the budget today.

 

[mfenn]

Ken's list looks good to me. I would like to point out that when he says the 430CX is "cheap", he really means "inexpensive". It's not going to blow up on you like most $17 PSUs would.

 

[cantholdanymore]

For PS I second win7 x64 and 16GB of memory

 

[swanysto]

Ken, thank you that sounds great. I have a case, just have to get some fans for it. The cpu has the graphics on chip correct?

 

[Ken g6]

The cpu has the graphics on chip correct?

Yes, as long as you get a board that supports it.

Just one problem: This Z68 board doesn't support the onboard graphics! :$ Here's one that does. And the $50 off applies to any Z68 @MC.