help with computer decision - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Paq · 02-06-2004, 06:26 PM

Hola happy peeps
got a quick q for ya

basically, i have pIII 450 with 224 MB of ram and not enough of anything...

I do, however, have teh software i need, so i'll be sticking with windows, probably win xp. I have photoshop CS currently, but not installed on this computer, just PS7 here.

Anyway, i am going to build another computer that will be my photoshop only computer. Basically, i want a CD burner, which i have, a largish hard drive to store pics for editing, enough ram and processor power to make it scream in photoshop as it is taking entirely too long to do what i need now. by entirely too long, i mean, i'm working on 22MP pictures from a med format camera along with interpolated pics from a 10D, so most of hte pics are in the 50-500 meg range uncompressed and doing something like batch sharpening or batch anything takes hours.

Sooo, if you were going to build a computer just for photoshop, what would you get.

Doh, forgot one thing, it does need a modem for dialup, no real nic or network support, just a modem. Mouse/graphics pad is already taken care of, I'll pick up a cheap keyboard, monitor will be a flatscreen, but not LCD, i can't stand those bc of the fixed resolution..

I have also been toying with a double monitor setup idea, but not sure on that yet. i find i need speed more than deskspace. Mobo integrated sound is fine.

umm
ok, so from ground up, could you help me pick out what to buy that would make a good computer for this purpose? I can and have built computers before, but it's been a while and i'm not up to date on what is new, what is fastest, etc. For instance, i know the 800 FSB is something i'd want in a pIV chip, but i'm not sure how the AMD processors relate in terms of power. If they work just as well, the money savings would sway me towards that direction.

So, thanks again, and lemme know if i left anything out

Lasereth · 02-06-2004, 06:50 PM

How much money do you want to spend?

-Lasereth

Paq · 02-06-2004, 07:11 PM

Oh, less than $500, cheaper is better as i have a couple cameras to pay off and an NYC trip coming up and i don't like to spend money unless i have to.

for instance, i think i'd be happy with a PIV 2.4 800 fsb with 512 megs, at least 4 usb ports (for cameras, scanners, printers, and memory readers) more would be better in that regard, 80 GB or more, possibly 2 HDD, one 10,000 rpm, the other standard and keep the OS and current files on the fast one while keeping backups/not so current/etc on the 2nd, a cd burner minimum for turning in work, and..ummmm..not sure what else i would need.

So i would like something like that or comparable for the least amount possible. The main thing i have probs with is the mobo/processor combination and what features i need and things i am overlooking and other possibilities, i love options and the AMD line has remained a mystery to me

nanofever · 02-06-2004, 07:30 PM

AMD:

Abit NF7-S V2 - 90 dollars
Barton 2500+ - 80 dollars
1 Gig Geli 3200 - 175 dollars
BFG fx 5900 - 175 dollars
any 7200 SATA drive with an 8MB cache - 150-ish
WD Raptor - 100
Lite-on CD burner - 50
Cheapie Case and PS - 100

950 total

I'm think that the rig you described is going to be in the 1000 area, under 500 is simply unrealistic. Also, I was under the impression that PS was REALLY, REALLY ram intensive. If that is true, why aren't you wanting to get a full gig f ram ?

Paq · 02-06-2004, 07:39 PM

shouldn't be unrealistic, my friend's full comp was only $600 including a 9800 vid card...

i've been trying to get specs from him, but it's basically what i typed up above, i just don't know exact names.

Lasereth · 02-06-2004, 07:52 PM

Well, Paq wants to spend less than $500, so I don't see that combo working. $500 is a bit low to put together a nice PC, but I'll give my opinion on the best solution for under $500.

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ at 1.83 GHz
Abit NF7-S Revision 2.0 Motherboard
512 MB PC3200 Corsair RAM
Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA
Generic Case + PSU
NVIDIA GeForce 4 TI4200 64 MB
CD-RW 52x24x52

That's right at $500 from NewEgg. If you want a better videocard, you'll simply have to spend more. $500 is a small budget for a fast, up-to-date computer. You'll get a very nice PC, but $500 isn't enough for the best videocards, hard drives, and extra RAM.

-Lasereth

sailor · 02-06-2004, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nanofever
AMD:

Abit NF7-S V2 - 90 dollars
Barton 2500+ - 80 dollars
1 Gig Geli 3200 - 175 dollars
BFG fx 5900 - 175 dollars
any 7200 SATA drive with an 8MB cache - 150-ish
WD Raptor - 100
Lite-on CD burner - 50
Cheapie Case and PS - 100

950 total

I'm think that the rig you described is going to be in the 1000 area, under 500 is simply unrealistic. Also, I was under the impression that PS was REALLY, REALLY ram intensive. If that is true, why aren't you wanting to get a full gig f ram ?

Knock the vid card way down, he wont need it for PS. Also, I dont think he needs a 10k drive. I know he said he wants one, but I doubt he will see enough benefit to justify the cost. One drive of 160gb or so should do him fine, and cost about $120.

Other than that, I agree with you. He could start off with one stick of 512 RAM though and then upgrade when he gets the money--thats what I would do.

Those three things could knock $200 off the price, easy.

Paq · 02-06-2004, 08:31 PM

good point about the 10K drive, i was really looking at one with an 8MB cache instead, sorry, so hard drive is at $80 for 160GB from staples special

as for a gig, 512 is a start now, $80, I have a CDburner, so unless i find a steal, i may just scavenge that one. I'm not planning on doing much 3d work, if any, so a really high end vid card is not necessary. i was thinking a 128 mb card AGP w/just directx compatibility, basically an OEM card unless there is a significant advantage of getting a better vid card, but i don't think photoshop really needs one that can do billions of triangles per second...Also, i can upgrade a vid card later if it's totally necessary.

Umm...what else.....not sure really.

I don't mean to be so difficult, but i'm trying to narrow down options and weed away the fat.

Lasereth · 02-06-2004, 08:44 PM

Just switch the hard drive I suggested with the Staples one you're gonna get and take out the CD-RW I suggested. Upgrade the TI4200 I recommended to a 128 MB card. That'll be well under $500 and will supply everything you need.

-Lasereth

02-06-2004, 06:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paq Junkie Location: South Carolina	help with computer decision Hola happy peeps got a quick q for ya basically, i have pIII 450 with 224 MB of ram and not enough of anything... I do, however, have teh software i need, so i'll be sticking with windows, probably win xp. I have photoshop CS currently, but not installed on this computer, just PS7 here. Anyway, i am going to build another computer that will be my photoshop only computer. Basically, i want a CD burner, which i have, a largish hard drive to store pics for editing, enough ram and processor power to make it scream in photoshop as it is taking entirely too long to do what i need now. by entirely too long, i mean, i'm working on 22MP pictures from a med format camera along with interpolated pics from a 10D, so most of hte pics are in the 50-500 meg range uncompressed and doing something like batch sharpening or batch anything takes hours. Sooo, if you were going to build a computer just for photoshop, what would you get. Doh, forgot one thing, it does need a modem for dialup, no real nic or network support, just a modem. Mouse/graphics pad is already taken care of, I'll pick up a cheap keyboard, monitor will be a flatscreen, but not LCD, i can't stand those bc of the fixed resolution.. I have also been toying with a double monitor setup idea, but not sure on that yet. i find i need speed more than deskspace. Mobo integrated sound is fine. umm ok, so from ground up, could you help me pick out what to buy that would make a good computer for this purpose? I can and have built computers before, but it's been a while and i'm not up to date on what is new, what is fastest, etc. For instance, i know the 800 FSB is something i'd want in a pIV chip, but i'm not sure how the AMD processors relate in terms of power. If they work just as well, the money savings would sway me towards that direction. So, thanks again, and lemme know if i left anything out __________________ Live. Chris

02-06-2004, 06:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	How much money do you want to spend? -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

02-06-2004, 07:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paq Junkie Location: South Carolina	Oh, less than $500, cheaper is better as i have a couple cameras to pay off and an NYC trip coming up and i don't like to spend money unless i have to. for instance, i think i'd be happy with a PIV 2.4 800 fsb with 512 megs, at least 4 usb ports (for cameras, scanners, printers, and memory readers) more would be better in that regard, 80 GB or more, possibly 2 HDD, one 10,000 rpm, the other standard and keep the OS and current files on the fast one while keeping backups/not so current/etc on the 2nd, a cd burner minimum for turning in work, and..ummmm..not sure what else i would need. So i would like something like that or comparable for the least amount possible. The main thing i have probs with is the mobo/processor combination and what features i need and things i am overlooking and other possibilities, i love options and the AMD line has remained a mystery to me __________________ Live. Chris

02-06-2004, 07:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
nanofever Huzzah for Welcome Week, Much beer shall I imbibe. Location: UCSB	AMD: Abit NF7-S V2 - 90 dollars Barton 2500+ - 80 dollars 1 Gig Geli 3200 - 175 dollars BFG fx 5900 - 175 dollars any 7200 SATA drive with an 8MB cache - 150-ish WD Raptor - 100 Lite-on CD burner - 50 Cheapie Case and PS - 100 950 total I'm think that the rig you described is going to be in the 1000 area, under 500 is simply unrealistic. Also, I was under the impression that PS was REALLY, REALLY ram intensive. If that is true, why aren't you wanting to get a full gig f ram ? __________________ I'm leaving for the University of California: Santa Barbara in 5 hours, give me your best college advice - things I need, good ideas, bad ideas, nooky, ect. Originally Posted by Norseman on another forum: "Yeah, the problem with the world is the stupid people are all cocksure of themselves and the intellectuals are full of doubt." Last edited by nanofever; 02-06-2004 at 07:43 PM..

02-06-2004, 07:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paq Junkie Location: South Carolina	shouldn't be unrealistic, my friend's full comp was only $600 including a 9800 vid card... i've been trying to get specs from him, but it's basically what i typed up above, i just don't know exact names. __________________ Live. Chris

02-06-2004, 07:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Well, Paq wants to spend less than $500, so I don't see that combo working. $500 is a bit low to put together a nice PC, but I'll give my opinion on the best solution for under $500. AMD Athlon XP 2500+ at 1.83 GHz Abit NF7-S Revision 2.0 Motherboard 512 MB PC3200 Corsair RAM Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA Generic Case + PSU NVIDIA GeForce 4 TI4200 64 MB CD-RW 52x24x52 That's right at $500 from NewEgg. If you want a better videocard, you'll simply have to spend more. $500 is a small budget for a fast, up-to-date computer. You'll get a very nice PC, but $500 isn't enough for the best videocards, hard drives, and extra RAM. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

02-06-2004, 08:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paq Junkie Location: South Carolina	good point about the 10K drive, i was really looking at one with an 8MB cache instead, sorry, so hard drive is at $80 for 160GB from staples special as for a gig, 512 is a start now, $80, I have a CDburner, so unless i find a steal, i may just scavenge that one. I'm not planning on doing much 3d work, if any, so a really high end vid card is not necessary. i was thinking a 128 mb card AGP w/just directx compatibility, basically an OEM card unless there is a significant advantage of getting a better vid card, but i don't think photoshop really needs one that can do billions of triangles per second...Also, i can upgrade a vid card later if it's totally necessary. Umm...what else.....not sure really. I don't mean to be so difficult, but i'm trying to narrow down options and weed away the fat. __________________ Live. Chris

02-06-2004, 08:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Just switch the hard drive I suggested with the Staples one you're gonna get and take out the CD-RW I suggested. Upgrade the TI4200 I recommended to a 128 MB card. That'll be well under $500 and will supply everything you need. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert