Building New Photoshop Machine

[Jooce-Bocks]

I have recently discovered and begun frequently viewing these boards. I have wanted to try advancing more into digital painting for a while now, but my computer is an ancient POS that is incapable of doing anything in Photoshop once I start entering a reasonable resolution range (this computer is really building dust on my Intuo3). I hope to begin using Photoshop (and maybe OpenCanvas) to begin practicing in digital pieces, and hopefully, assuming I can build the confidence to post my work, become an active member of these boards.

I am currently in the process of building a new machine for Photoshop. My current machine is ancient and I definitely need an upgrade if I plan to seriously begin practicing digital art. My current budget is $1500 USD and I plan to build this computer within the next month. I have a decent amount of knowledge concerning computer hardware and I've been doing a little bit of research on what kind of hardware I would like to purchase, but I do not possess a lot of knowledge concerning Photoshop software. Therefore, before purchasing anything, I would like to hear opinions from those with experience digitally painting in Photoshop.

I sure hope I can display links, but my current build can be found here: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=6618265

Now I know I could get a slightly cheaper graphics card, but I want my card to have a decent amount of 3D and video capability (for personal use), as well as dual-DVI support (an actual hardware need). I eventually plan to get 2x LCD monitors, but for now I plan to dig up a little more money to just get one. I would highly appreciate any information or suggestions on a good, but not highly expensive (preferably widescreen) LCD display. For now I will just plug in an old ATI Radeon 9200 card and use an old 19" CRT monitor for secondary display.
EDIT: Scratch that about the LCD monitors. I decided to spend a few minutes searching and I just need some DVI-VGA adapters, which conveniently come with my Graphics Card. I prefer CRT over LCD.

Also, with 8GB of RAM and a 64-bit Vista Ultimate, will I likely be benefiting from the secondary internal Hard Drive to run as a scratch disk? Concerning Hard Drives, is it overall worth it for performance to add about 60-80$ and to sacrifice about 570GB of storage space in order to purchase a 10,000 RPM Hard Drive to run my OS and applications (I already have a 500GB External Hard Drive for storage)? Concerning RAM in a technical aspect, does Photoshop benefit more from focusing on bandwidth or speed (not sure if DDR2 1000 at 5-5-5-15 would be better than something like DDR2 800 at 4-4-4-12)?

I am quite set on which Motherboard and Processor I wish to get, although I am still willing to consider alternative suggestions from someone with more experience. I am probably installing more fans and a more expensive Heatsink than is necessary, but I wish to OC my 2.4 GHz Quad-Core to a stable 3.0GHz on air (no money for Water Cooling at the moment).

My last concern is my Power Supply. Will I likely need higher than a 750W PSU in order to run the machine I am considering? I am hoping that the Corsair CMPSU-750TX that I have been considering will be able to handle operating my machine without any trouble.

I hope to have a new machine up and running within the next few weeks, so any advice/suggestions would be highly appreciated.

[JIVA*SOUL]

Sell it and buy a Mac Pro.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Sell it and buy a Mac Pro.

I so wish I could purchase a Mac Pro. The problem is that I just don't currently have the money for it. Even if I dropped one of the processors and kept it at the standard 2GB of RAM, that would still run $2,299 USD. That's $800 over my current budget for a single 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Processor and 2GB of DDR2 800 RAM.

I would really like a more educated opinion on such a decision though. What are the system specs that a digital painter should really have/aim for to handle high resolution images? Would a minimum spec Mac Pro like the one indicated above be a better investment than a higher spec, custom made PC (note that the upcoming CS4 is planned to be 64-bit for Vista only)? Also, does anyone have experience painting with an Intuos3 on a 17" MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM and the 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo Processor (I wouldn't personally pay $250 for the extra .1GHz)? Feedback from someone with more experience using Photoshop with different system specs would be greatly appreciated.

[frog from itchy]

There's no reason a Mac Pro would perform any better than a similar specced PC, the hardware inside is identical and once you're in Photoshop the differences in OS are also pretty negligible.

The most important components for decent Photoshop performance are:

3 or 4 GB of RAM
A fast scratch disk (a dedicated 36GB Raptor is ideal)
A fast Dual Core processor (Quad core makes little difference in Photoshop)

Add a good enough gfx card and that's it.

[Jooce-Bocks]

There's no reason a Mac Pro would perform any better than a similar specced PC, the hardware inside is identical and once you're in Photoshop the differences in OS are also pretty negligible.

The most important components for decent Photoshop performance are:

3 or 4 GB of RAM
A fast scratch disk (a dedicated 36GB Raptor is ideal)
A fast Dual Core processor (Quad core makes little difference in Photoshop)

Add a good enough gfx card and that's it.

First off, thanks a lot for responding. The amount of time I have to make the final decision is running low.

I have seen quite a few articles indicating those similar important component recommendations, but these articles tend to be from around 2006. What I have a harder time finding these days is how well the latest Photoshop performs with 8GB of RAM and a scratch disk no faster than 7,200 RPMs. According to Adobe concerning Photoshop CS2, "the RAM above 4 GB is used by the operating system as a cache for the Photoshop scratch disk data." If I had about 3-4GB of RAM available to Photoshop outside of the 3 to 3.7GB Photoshop CS2 uses for itself, would I likely reach the point to where I would need the Hard Drive Scratch Disk to support more cache data? I would appreciate a response from anyone with experience using Photoshop CS2/CS3 with a 64-bit Windows OS and around 8GB of RAM.

As far as the Processor is concerned, I just decided to stick with Intel's Q6600 (2.4GHz Quad Core). I figure later releases of Photoshop will only be getting better as far as multi-threading is concerned. If I feel it is lacking a little bit in speed for many processes then I'll just try and OC it to around 3.0GHz (the Q6600 should be able to handle this easily on air cooling).

As far as graphics are concerned, I just wanted one with a little bit of 3D capability and 2x DVI ports for dual-monitor display. I figured the EVGA 8800GT was a perfect match.

Sorry if my questions seem a little more technical than they should be. I just figured this would be the best place to find people with knowledge and experience painting with Photoshop and the system specs they feel are required for best performance. That's not the easiest thing to find on a tech forum that expresses hardware gains with benchmarks and numbers not really noticeable to humans.

[frog from itchy]

Well, at this stage 64 bit is not quite ready for prime-time, Photoshop still runs in 32 bit and very few people are running 64 bit operating systems - because for most people we're not quite at the point where it's worth it.

I think you might be trying to slightly over-egg the pudding, or maybe you're worrying too much about future-proofing your new system. I think at this point in time a 32 bit system is still the best option, it's much simpler, cheaper, and will still provide you with a very fast machine. 64 bit will make sense in a couple of years, just not right now unless you unless you have a very specific need.

Bear in mind that most normal Photoshop files will easily fit into 2 or 3 Gb of RAM, but your scratch sizes can still run into tens of gigabytes depending on how many history states you have etc...

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well, at this stage 64 bit is not quite ready for prime-time, Photoshop still runs in 32 bit and very few people are running 64 bit operating systems - because for most people we're not quite at the point where it's worth it.

I think you might be trying to slightly over-egg the pudding, or maybe you're worrying too much about future-proofing your new system. I think at this point in time a 32 bit system is still the best option, it's much simpler, cheaper, and will still provide you with a very fast machine. 64 bit will make sense in a couple of years, just not right now unless you unless you have a very specific need.

Bear in mind that most normal Photoshop files will easily fit into 2 or 3 Gb of RAM, but your scratch sizes can still run into tens of gigabytes depending on how many history states you have etc...

Thanks for responding. I wasn't aware that Photoshop would go through so much scratch space. Since I don't know a lot about scratch space I was just hoping that a few GBs would suffice, and if it did, I was quite sure RAM would be more suitable for that role. I suppose I'll be investing in a 10,000 RPM Hard Drive. I suppose I should ask new questions while on this topic: How noticeable is the performance gain in Photoshop when assigning a 10,000 RPM HD as a scratch disk instead of a 7,200 RPM HD? If the gain is high, how much of a performance boost would I be looking at if I assigned 2x 10,000 RPM HDs in a RAID configuration rather than a single 10,000 RPM HD?

As far as future-proofing my system goes, yeah, I may be going a bit further than I need to. I've been considering cheaper motherboards, but I want one that supports up to 16GB of DDR2 RAM (in hopes that there are cheaper 4GB RAM sticks available within the next few years), has a 1600MHz FSB, supports Intel LGA775 Quad Core Processors, and standard RAID support. I suppose I'll try and drop some money off by looking at a cheaper motherboard and dropping a 7,200 RPM hard drive then look at investing that money into a 10,000 RPM hard drive.

I also agree that 64-bit may not be the most important thing as of now, but it does seem to be making its mark relatively fast. The main thing that got me deciding that I wanted a 64-bit system is that Adobe has already announced that there will be a 64-bit edition of their new CS4 for Vista. Seeing how quickly Adobe tends to release their Creative Suites it's likely we'll be seeing their 64-bit software some time 2009. Since I have to get a new computer and OS anyway, I figured I would just knock that out of the way and get the latest 64-bit Vista.

[frog from itchy]

Well I have a 10 000RPM raptor as a dedicated scratch disc, I would say it is an improvement over a 7200RPM, but a subtle one. Can't comment on RAID, that's an expense and a hassle too far for me.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well I have a 10 000RPM raptor as a dedicated scratch disc, I would say it is an improvement over a 7200RPM, but a subtle one. Can't comment on RAID, that's an expense and a hassle too far for me.

Thanks again for responding. Unless I see news otherwise indicating that 10,000 RPMs has a significance performance gain over 7,200 RPMs, I will just stick with 7,200 RPMs at this moment. I will likely increase to faster hard drives in the future, but I prefer the GB/dollar gained on a 7,200 RPM HD.

I do still plan to get 10,000 RPMs at some point in time if I feel I need to enhance my PC's performance. Can anyone comment on the increase in performance gained by using 2x 10,000 RPMs in a RAID setup in comparison to a single 7,200 RPM HD, 2x 7,200 RPM HDs in RAID, and/or a single 10,000 RPM HD?

[AdamR]

8GB of RAM for Photoshop is a waste, you won't utilize it. Just a waste of money. Likewise, Vista Ultimate is another waste of seventy bucks. Home Premium 64-bit is perfectly fine. And you're building a computer -- it's the best thing you can do. Don't wish you could buy a Mac Pro. I really, really don't want to get into the whole Mac vs. PC crap but you're making the best decision you could here.

Any case you like. The one you already have picked out is great.
Corsair 520HX PSU
Gigabyte P45-DS3R mobo
Q6600 CPU
Tuniq Tower heatsink
HD4870 GPU
Asus Xonar DX soundcard
Samsung Spinpoint F1 500GB HDD x2
The RAM you picked out is fine, but drop it to just 2x2GB

Will cost you around $1300/1400 USD

edit: Also seems you didn't add in an optical drive. Make sure you pick one out. There really isn't that much difference between them so just pick whichever one looks good to you. And if you're into that trackball mouse hey, more power to you. But since you've got the money you may as well just buy something with more comfort and accuracy in its technology.

As for your inquiry as to the speed difference, just stick with the 7200. You're not really going to notice too much of a difference. As for RAID, it's more of a hassle than a performance gain. And as for you talking about 64-bit versions of your OS, if you intend to use more than 3.5GB of RAM then you have no choice but to get it. Like I said though, paying 270$ for a mobo to get 16GB of RAM for Photoshop -- it's pointless and extremely wasteful. If you want to get into serious 3D modeling at some point then there may be a need to work on that; for someone who just wants to digital paint (and in this case just starting to digitally paint), 4GB is all you need.

Have any questions feel free to ask.

edit 2: to the person who said that going with the 32 bit equivalent of Vista is much "simpler," "easier," and "cheaper" -- it's the same OS, it's the same OS, and it's the same price. The difference that pertains to this is the way it handles memory -- which has nothing to do with the user's end. There's nothing simpler or harder about it. It's the same exact software with differences in the underlying portions of the software.

- Adam

[Jooce-Bocks]

8GB of RAM for Photoshop is a waste, you won't utilize it. Just a waste of money. Likewise, Vista Ultimate is another waste of seventy bucks. Home Premium 64-bit is perfectly fine. And you're building a computer -- it's the best thing you can do. Don't wish you could buy a Mac Pro and never listen to anyone that tells you to. I really, really don't want to get into the whole Mac vs. PC crap but you're making the best decision you could here.

Any case you like. The one you already have picked out is great.
Corsair 520HX PSU
Gigabyte P45-DS3R mobo
Q6600 CPU
Tuniq Tower heatsink
HD4870 GPU
Asus Xonar DX soundcard
Samsung Spinpoint F1 500GB HDD x2
The RAM you picked out is fine, but drop it to just 2x2GB

Will cost you around $1300/1400 USD

edit: Also seems you didn't add in an optical drive. Make sure you pick one out. There really isn't that much difference between them so just pick whichever one looks good to you. And if you're into that trackball mouse hey, more power to you. But since you've got the money you may as well just buy something with more comfort and accuracy in its technology.

As for your inquiry as to the speed difference, just stick with the 7200. You're not really going to notice too much of a difference. As for RAID, it's more of a hassle than a performance gain. And as for you talking about 64-bit versions of your OS, if you intend to use more than 3.5GB of RAM then you have no choice but to get it. Like I said though, paying 270$ for a mobo to get 16GB of RAM for Photoshop -- it's pointless and extremely wasteful. If you want to get into serious 3D modeling at some point then there may be a need to work on that; for someone who just wants to digital paint (and in this case just starting to digitally paint), 4GB is all you need.

Have any questions feel free to ask.

edit 2: to the person who said that going with the 32 bit equivalent of Vista is much "simpler," "easier," and "cheaper" -- it's the same OS, it's the same OS, and it's the same price. The difference that pertains to this is the way it handles memory -- which has nothing to do with the user's end. There's nothing simpler or harder about it. It's the same exact software with differences in the underlying portions of the software.

- Adam

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I have been doing a little bit of searching on the OS and mobo myself over the past few days, and I finally got myself (after your suggestion) to accept that they were an unnecessary waste of money. I'll go with Vista 64-bit Home Premium Edition, but I decided to take the mobo even a step lower to the cheaper P35-DS3L that I have been considering. I figure if I ever DO need to upgrade to more than 8GB of RAM, I'll be able to get a much better board for that at a much cheaper price than I'll get today. As for the RAM, I figure I'll still stick to 8GB anyway. It's incredibly cheap to get the little extra boost, and if Photoshop can utilize up to 3-3.7GB of RAM, I would like more than .3-1GB left for other processes (including Vista, which I hear can be a RAM monster).

As far as my HD is concerned, I'm just going to stick with the Western Digital's 640GB model on that one. I've had nothing but good encounters with WD products up to date, so I'll stick to the brand I feel I can trust. Also, it seems kind of worth the extra 15$ for an additional 140GB.

I went with your choice of the Tuniq Tower heatsink. That heatsink seems cheaper and has much better reviews. As far as the sound card, I just plan to stick to onboard audio unless it has like the most horrible audio I have ever heard. I probably should have indicated that I already have some extra optical drives, but thanks anyway for the warning (I could see that being an annoying piece to forget).

Also, I am just going to give the trackball mouse a shot. For precision I've got an extra optical mouse, plus the mouse option on my Intuos3. I've just heard good things about the trackball mouse once you can get used to it, so I figured it may prove to be a great investment for around 15$.

Now for a question: I don't have too much knowledge concerning PSUs. How can I figure out how much wattage I am going to need to power my machine? What makes the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX a better choice over the CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX?

[AdamR]

Well Vista, especially with the release of service pack 1, really has shaped up since it's inception into the world. It does utilize more resources than say XP, but when we're talking the level of 4GB+ you won't be noticing any differences at all. RAM is dirt cheap so I mean you could go with the 8GB for sure but assuming you get Photoshop to utilize 3GB of RAM, I promise you there's nothing you're going to be running in the background (unless you can tell me otherwise, of course. I can only assume you'll just be running your usual winamp/AIM/MSN/Firefox/etc etc) that is going to make use of 5GB of RAM, so it just ends up being un-used memory for more money than you needed to spend.

If your heart is set on it then fine, just saying, you could easily save some money.

As for knowing exactly how much you're going to need, there are websites with calculators where you actually input the individual power requirements for your different parts and it'll add it all together and tell you the amount of power needed. I've been building people computers for a decent amount of time and when you get the hang of it you just kinda get the feel for what you're going to need.

I mean a high end overclocked quad w/ 3xGTX280 + 6HDDs @ full speed, the entire thing under full load will only be about 750w. For something that we're getting for you, 520-550 will work perfectly fine.

And my friend has one of those trackballs. I can't say I'd ever take it over my logitech mice myself haha but as far as mice goes it's pretty much whether or not you feel comfortable with it so if it's what you want then hey, to each his own.

edit: I've got that mobo. Sound quality is great, nothing to worry about. Just wasn't sure if you were an audiophile as well which is why I suggested the sound card to give you the option if you wanted it.

- Adam

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well Vista, especially with the release of service pack 1, really has shaped up since it's inception into the world. It does utilize more resources than say XP, but when we're talking the level of 4GB+ you won't be noticing any differences at all. RAM is dirt cheap so I mean you could go with the 8GB for sure but assuming you get Photoshop to utilize 3GB of RAM, I promise you there's nothing you're going to be running in the background (unless you can tell me otherwise, of course. I can only assume you'll just be running your usual winamp/AIM/MSN/Firefox/etc etc) that is going to make use of 5GB of RAM, so it just ends up being un-used memory for more money than you needed to spend.

If your heart is set on it then fine, just saying, you could easily save some money.

As for knowing exactly how much you're going to need, there are websites with calculators where you actually input the individual power requirements for your different parts and it'll add it all together and tell you the amount of power needed. I've been building people computers for a decent amount of time and when you get the hang of it you just kinda get the feel for what you're going to need.

I mean a high end overclocked quad w/ 3xGTX280 + 6HDDs @ full speed, the entire thing under full load will only be about 750w. For something that we're getting for you, 520-550 will work perfectly fine.

And my friend has one of those trackballs. I can't say I'd ever take it over my logitech mice myself haha but as far as mice goes it's pretty much whether or not you feel comfortable with it so if it's what you want then hey, to each his own.

edit: I've got that mobo. Sound quality is great, nothing to worry about. Just wasn't sure if you were an audiophile as well which is why I suggested the sound card to give you the option if you wanted it.

- Adam

Thanks again. I wasn't really expecting a reply so quickly.

As for the PSU, does the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX offer any actual advantages that I am not aware of over the CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX? The reason I ask is because the 750TX is a 750 Watt supply for 5$ less (due to the current 70$ discount) than the 520 Watt 520HX. If the 520HX has true benefits over the 750TX and will run the system I wish to make then I will spend the 5$ and take the 520HX.

Thanks for the update on Vista with RAM. I suppose I can just purchase 4GB of RAM at first since it seems most people say I only really need 4GB. If I feel I need enhanced performance then I suppose I can just purchase 4 more at a later date.

As for the trackball mouse, I'm just going to try it out for a bit. I used one once and everyone I know who has given them a chance has told me that I should give them a chance. I figured it'll only set me back 15$, so it's worth a shot.

Do you know of any sites that have an accurate PSU Watt calculator that I could use? I'll look it up as soon as I am back home so that I don't hog my friend's computer here too long, it would just be convenient if anyone here has a link that they use and know is fairly accurate.
EDIT: I found some sites that are popular and rated to be pretty accurate. It does seem like 750W is a bit more than I need, but I need a more knowledgeable opinion on whether or not it's worth it to get the 520HX for $114.99 over the 750TX for $109.99. From what I can tell the 750TX seems like a better deal, but I'm no expert on this so I may be horribly mistaken.

As for the mobo, have you encountered any problems with it? From what I hear it's a pretty solid board for its price, just lacking a few features, which aren't features I'll likely need.

EDIT: Had prices backwards on PSU units.
EDIT2: I just realized that the GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L doesn't have a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot for the EVGA 8800GT GPU I plan to get. PCI Express 2.0 x16 is backwards compatible with a PCI Express x16, correct? I am 99% sure this is true, but I would feel better with confirmation as you seem to be more experienced with this.

[AdamR]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence.

I was unaware of the load-based efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp?

The items I am considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT right now. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today. I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use, so I'll be looking at it in this perspective (I am not a hardcore gamer/3D modeler; the games I usually play on a computer tend to have low requirements, but I would like them to run stable with decent settings). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest?

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp?

The items I am considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT right now. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today. I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use. Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest?

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp?

The items I am considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT right now. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today. I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use. Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest?

[Jooce-Bocks]

The boards seem to be deleting my messages pretty quickly at the moment. I suppose I should try again later as it is not allowing my posts to survive for even a minute. I got one quick reply through, but it got deleted as soon as I clicked Edit, so I suppose I'll hope this message remains if I don't try to Edit it.
EDIT: This post seems to be the only new one not vanishing on me, so lets hope I can add to it without it disappearing.

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Apparently I only get to use the Quick Reply function. If I use the Post Reply or Quote options, my message gets deleted immediately now. If I use Quick Reply, it seems that it posts, but it then gets immediately deleted if I try to Edit the post. I suppose I will just hope this post survives.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp?

The items I am considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT right now. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today. I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use. Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest?

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question. Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question. Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence. This is getting annoying. I WILL GET THIS TO POST!

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question. Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence. This is getting annoying. I WILL GET THIS TO POST!

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question. Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence. If it fails this one last time I suppose my only option is to contact an administrator about my inability to post.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the amount of energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question. Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. I am considering the EVGA 8800GT GPU at the moment. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for me ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some looking into on the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

This is my last time trying to get this message to stick around today until I get a response from an administrator.

Yeah, rather strange that my post decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seems to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished without touching it. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the most energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question: Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment? I kind of like the single 41A +12V Rail

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. The GPU I am considering at the moment is the EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (also conveniently packed with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for my needs ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some more looking into the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec requirement games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Brashen]

Never listen to anyone who suggests that you buy a mac. And if someone here says they are an industry standard you can tell them to go stick that where the sun don't shine.

The specs you've picked out are quite good and will net you great performance.
As for the os Vista 32bit can requisition up to 128GB of ram. Yup you heard that right Microsoft introduced a fix for that. I think its pretty simple to follow and apply but if you dont want the hassle and since Photoshop cs4 is coming out that will be 64bit than it wont be a bad idea for you to purchase that version instead.

On another note there are no 3D programs that work on Macs at least not any industry certified ones.

[AdamR]

On another note there are no 3D programs that work on Macs at least not any industry certified ones.

Maya works on OSX. As does Cinema4D I believe. Regardless, he hasn't shown an interest for 3D modeling.

And while I agree that Mac's are POS, I think we're a bit beyond the establishment that he's not getting one lol

[Jooce-Bocks]

I just got back for today. I am hoping that my account is done screwing with my mind and will allow me to make a post without immediately deleting it like it has been all of earlier today and last night. Lets hope I can finally begin responding in my own thread again.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Well your post randomly disappeared lol but I got most of it.

The 520/550w will be better because a PSU is most efficient at 50-75% load. So while they are around the same price, this machine won't get near 750w, thus making it inefficient compared to something lower.

Which model were you looking at exactly? The HD 4850 may be a better choice for price/performance. Haven't checked for any drops in a bit though myself.

- Adam

Yeah, rather strange that my posts decided to vanish from existence. Most of my posts seemed to be vanishing earlier. If I used the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappeared instantly. The only post that seemed to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished without touching it. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well, which got rid of the post earlier that survived for a few minutes. I suppose I'll just continue to post this message until it decides to continue its existence.

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the most energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

If that is all true, then I have a new question: Do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment? I kind of like the single 41A +12V Rail

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. The GPU I am considering at the moment is the EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (also conveniently packed with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for my needs ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some more looking into the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec requirement games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Apparently I can only respond with so much text at a time, so I will try to keep my responses short, which may require me to use multiple posts. Most of my posts seem to be vanishing. If I use the Quote or Post Reply options, my thread disappears instantly. The only post that seemed to have remained is one I posted using Quick Reply. Apparently that's not guaranteed though, as the latest Quick Reply post I made has vanished without touching it. As soon as I Edit a post, it vanishes as well, which got rid of the post earlier that survived for a few minutes.

[Jooce-Bocks]

I was unaware of the load efficiency on a PSU. I was just looking at getting a trusted manufacturer and the most energy efficiency/wattage/+12v rail amperage I could get for my money. How much would you trust this PSU calculator: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp? If it's accurate then it seems you're completely correct on my wattage consumption. According to the calculator, all components at 100% load (assuming I put 4x DDR2 slots into my computer instead of the 2x DDR2 as well as OCing a Q6600 G0 to 3GHz at 1.25V) would still only consume 383W (not including monitor). Even then I don't believe I've reached 75% of a 520W PSU. Though it is pretty darn close to exactly 75%, I highly doubt all of my components will ever simultaneously reach a 100% load.

[Jooce-Bocks]

The items I am currently considering can still be found in the link in my original post. The GPU I am considering at the moment is the EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT. It just seemed to have good reviews and a good price for a decent 512MB GPU with dual-link DVI support (also conveniently packed with 2x DVI to VGA adapters for my CRT monitors).

I looked at the HD 4870, and they are too pricey for my needs ($280 was the cheapest I noticed). I'll do some more looking into the HD 4850 when I get some more time later today (they have a much more reasonable price at around $180). I know a GPU isn't too important for Photoshop, so the GPU is more for personal use (which is why I don't want to invest $200+ into it). I doubt I'll be doing any hardcore 3D rendering, and I only do minimal gaming with lower spec requirement games anyway (highest spec game I will likely play in a long time is Diablo 3/Starcraft 2 when they are released). Are there any noticeable benefits that you're aware of an HD 4850 having over an 8800GT? If there are, which HD 4850 model would you suggest? I don't mind investing the extra 40-50$ in my GPU if it's going to have noticeable benefits.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Appears this works. I can only submit Quick Reply responses, and they must be kept relatively brief or the site starts hating on me and deleting my posts.

[Jooce-Bocks]

Almost forgot to ask something concerning the PSU. If everything above is true, do you think the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W or the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W would be a wiser investment?

EDIT: Testing to see if the forums will allow me to edit posts yet.

[AdamR]

Either one will be fine, it's not really that large of a difference for it to really matter from an efficiency standpoint. Just go with whichever one is better on the wallet. And that calculator looks to be fine. Like I said though I kinda just know what's gonna be necessary for the most part so I've never had the need to use one of those -- if you want to use it just to double check and be sure then yeah it should do perfectly fine.

As for the video card yeah you can just stick with the 8800GT. I've got it, great card. If you are just going to play an occasional casual game though don't worry about it, you'll be straight.

Overall looking like you'll have a pretty solid rig mate :)

- Adam

[Jooce-Bocks]

Thanks a lot for all of the information and suggestions provided. The 550VX is cheaper on the wallet, and I prefer the idea of the single 41A +12V rail idea over the whole combined 40A triple +12V rail setup, so I'll be sticking with the 550W. I believe you that you pretty much just know what is going to be necessary, I was just wondering if perhaps you had any experience with that calculator (since it seems to be pretty popular) or if you would be able to tell if it was rather accurate. It seems to match up pretty nicely with the information you provided though, so I'm going to trust it.

As for the video card, I suppose I will just stick with that 8800GT then. All I really wanted was the 2x DVI support and 2x DVI to AVG adapters, and the 8800GT seems like a very good candidate at $135.

I really appreciate the feedback. I'll be ordering this build within the next few days and just hope I don't have to perform any RMAs.

[AdamR]

Best of luck with it mate. Feel free to post back or PM me if you have any questions/problems in the building phase.

- Adam

[Brashen]

Ah okie good choice on not going mac.....And I'm sorry i was thinking of 3d Studio Max and ZBrush!! Who uses Maya????? hehe just kidding!!

[Brashen]

Some one ban this user..

[Jooce-Bocks]

Some one ban this user..

I sure hope you're not referring to me. I know I responded in more posts than I should have, but the forums weren't giving me much of an option that day. I indicated why before I began posting my comments. Whenever I made my posts past a certain length, or used any method aside from Quick Reply, they would vanish within seconds of me posting them. My posts were also disappearing within seconds of me editing them, so I couldn't just add more content to previous posts. My post vanished so many times that I had the entire response I was trying to post copy/pasted into WordPad, which is why I made so many posts so close to each other in such a short period of time. I had to cut out each section and post it individually or the post would instantly disappear. Heck, post #13 in this thread was mine, but it apparently disappeared after AdamR read it, but before he was able to respond to it, which made his response post #13. Normally I would have likely waited for my account to stop tripping over itself before responding, but I ordered my computer the day after my last post, so I wanted feedback as soon as possible.

[Brashen]

LOL not you dude there was some Jackass advertising the Warhammer game!!

[AdamR]

Haha Jooce, sometimes we get these bots that spam "gold for WoW!" and stuff. Their post got deleted but one of them made a reply in this forum. No worries.

[Jooce-Bocks]

That's good, for a second there I thought I was already on bad terms with someone. The spam apparently got deleted before I spotted it, so the only thing I thought was possibly being referred to was my multi-posting. I know some boards are picky about people making more posts than necessary, so I just wanted to indicate that I was having technical difficulties and not just posting like a douche bag.

Now for a question while I'm here: What are some good LCD monitors for around $200? Since I am just beginning and not doing any professional work or anything like that, it doesn't have to be a top of the line monitor, but I was curious which brand would be the best bang for my buck in that price range.Turns out the whole dual CRT monitor thing doesn't work out in my room due to the interference they produce on each other and my television unless I space them too far for it to be worth it. I suppose I'll just use one CRT and one LCD.

Now for a funny note: Turns out all of my computer components are estimated to be delivered on 9/04, except one piece is set to be delivered on 9/05, which is a pretty important part. Apparently the case is set to be received one day after everything else since it was shipped from a different state. It's going to be fun looking at all of them boxes for a day.

[AdamR]

The case thing happens a lot. Happens to me too.

As for LCDs there's quite a number of reputable manufacturers. For 200$ I'd suggest something like this. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009094) Very popular display.

- Adam

edit: Just as a note, I'm not sure if this is your first build or not but just in case it is: rtfm, RTFM, RTFM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read. The. Fucking. Manual.

Will save you a lot of trouble :p

[Jooce-Bocks]

The case thing happens a lot. Happens to me too.

As for LCDs there's quite a number of reputable manufacturers. For 200$ I'd suggest something like this. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009094) Very popular display.

- Adam

edit: Just as a note, I'm not sure if this is your first build or not but just in case it is: rtfm, RTFM, RTFM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read. The. Fucking. Manual.

Will save you a lot of trouble :p

Yeah, I'm quite sure it happened the last time I ordered from them when I built my friend's machine. Just kind of annoying having to wait an additional day for that one important piece.

Also, thanks for the monitor suggestion. That is a pretty nice looking monitor at exactly the budget price that I specified. I'll just have to look at how much I got after I finish purchasing all of my supplies for this semester and hope that I can purchase a new monitor soon. I'm using a Dell CRT monitor right now, which isn't the worst monitor, but it's relatively small and like 10 years old so I really want an upgrade.

This isn't my first build, although I will still read the manual(s). I was pretty certain that I knew what I was doing on my last build as well, but that didn't stop me from having a manual glued to my hand for every step of the process. I'm not going to spend this much money and not read the instructions before putting things together, no matter how certain I am of what I'm doing.

[Brashen]

Man I love looking at boxed components for some reason...Take a pic please!!

Anyway on another note I myself will be building my dream machine in the next couple of months. Still waiting for Nehalem or as it's now called (Core i7). I'm really excited about this processor too bad you couldn't wait for it as it would have been kickass!!

[Jooce-Bocks]

Man I love looking at boxed components for some reason...Take a pic please!!

Anyway on another note I myself will be building my dream machine in the next couple of months. Still waiting for Nehalem or as it's now called (Core i7). I'm really excited about this processor too bad you couldn't wait for it as it would have been kickass!!

Looking at the boxed components while waiting for the case is the best part...it builds suspense! Newegg is a master of suspense!

I wouldn't really call this computer a "dream machine," but I suppose it could be considered such in comparison to my current machine, especially if I get a 22" wide screen LCD display for actual work space.

As for waiting for the next processor, I pretty much reached the end of my patience after I gathered the money to buy my new machine. Hell, I'd have to wait for the new processor's release, then probably wait again for its price to drop into a range that I could reasonably afford (along with motherboards that support its socket type). I'm just hoping that by the time everything gets where I can easily afford it (assuming I ever really need to upgrade to handle later editions of Photoshop), that all I'll have to spend is enough to pick up the new processor and motherboard and any upgrades I may want to add on to what I already have. I suppose I'll also hope that DDR3 RAM improves in performance/price, which I suppose would make me glad that I saved the 80$ and only got 4GB of DDR2.

[Brashen]

Right you are!!

As for me I can wait a bit of time as my current one is pretty decent (8800GTX, Q6600, 4gb ddr2). And I'm hoping a decent 30inch screen pops it's head before the end of the year!!

[AdamR]

How's it going Jooce? Get the packages yet? :D

[Jooce-Bocks]

How's it going Jooce? Get the packages yet? :D

It's going horribly. Luckily it's not the fault of the computer, but my brother's car. This is why I don't make plans; they never go as planned because the days get ruined.
I was supposed to go to school for an hour, head out by 1:00 PM, and be home before 2:00 PM and spend the day setting up my room/computer. My brother's car decides to die the day before that. We go to the same school, but he goes in a few hours before me, so I end up having to wake up early and wait at the school for my class for 4 hours. Turns out that this semester the recreational room doesn't open until noon (which is when my class begins, go figure), so I am just stuck with nothing to do as I wait. Then after driving the 45 minutes of distance home, I have to drive about 45 minutes in the other direction to pick up someone to help with his car. A lot of bad things happen, I end up having to drive people around, next thing I know I'm finally getting home at 9:00 PM, realizing I was stuck driving for like 8 hours. At least I was finally home.
At this point I finally work on getting my computer together. I stopped working after I got it put together and had all of the hardware in because I was so damn tired, so I decided to handle the cord management this morning. That apparently didn't want to go well either, as I have to do more driving, and as I type I am awaiting a phone call to have to go pick someone up to work on the car. I've had all of my components for over 24 hours now and have had practically no time to work on it, which is really annoying. Now that I got my ranting out of the way, I'll comment on how the computer process went.

All of the hardware went in relatively easy. The only problems I had was with 2 case fans (a 120mm and an 80mm), the Tuniq heatsink knob, and I have a quick question or two about my SATA HDs.

I can't use one of the fan slots on the left panel because the CPU heatsink (the Tuniq) goes too close to the case. The 80mm fan that goes on the right side of the case was too thick on its own for the side panel of the case to slide back on. Not really problems as I still have many 120mm fans inside my case, so I suppose I'll just hold onto them as backup fans.

The problem I had with the heatsink is with the little adjuster that comes with it. I may have to leave it inside my case as the knob that is used to adjust the fan is too thick to fit through the PCI slot on the tower. I suppose I'll just have to attach it somewhere inside and just slide open my case to adjust it.

The one question that I would like to ask concerns my SATA connectors. I have 2 SATA cords that came with my motherboard. On the first cord one of the connectors is shaped like an L, and the other end is straight like a traditional connector would be. What I mean by that is that the actual end of the cord, which plugs into the SATA HDD, is bent at a 90 degree angle so that it points downward while plugged in. The L shaped end says HDD on it, the straight one says SATA, and the manual indicates that I connect the L end to the hard drive, so that was pretty straightforward. The only problem I have is that the other SATA cord does not have the L shaped end. The manual does not indicate that this cord should be different, and neither end says HDD. Both ends are the same SATA connector that the other cord indicates must be plugged into the motherboard. Do you think this cord will pose a problem if I just connect one end to the hard drive and the other end to the motherboard?

The only other real question I have also concerns my SATA HDs. My HDs came wrapped in bubble-wrap and had nothing with them. They also don't have those little black covers that you put onto the pins on the back of the HD to indicate which is the master and which is the slave drive. This is my first time putting multiple HDs into a machine, so will I encounter any problems by not being able to set them as a Master/Slave combo, or can I do that through the motherboard's settings?

[AdamR]

The cable will be fine, don't worry about it.

As for the second hard drive, the reason why it came in bubble wrap and nothing more is because it's OEM, meaning it's just the core component w/o the retail box or manual, and ends up being cheaper. SATA is only one device per channel, meaning that the whole HD master/slave thing is nonexistent. Just plug it in and you're ready to go :)

[Jooce-Bocks]

The cable will be fine, don't worry about it.

As for the second hard drive, the reason why it came in bubble wrap and nothing more is because it's OEM, meaning it's just the core component w/o the retail box or manual, and ends up being cheaper. SATA hard drives is only one device per channel, meaning that the whole master/slave thing is nonexistent. Just plug it in and you're ready to go :)

Thanks again for the quick reply. I knew the HD wasn't going to have cords or anything, but I assumed that wouldn't be a problem since my motherboard came with 2x SATA connectors. I wasn't sure if SATA HDs used the master/slave combinations, so it's good to know those little black covers are no longer necessary. I suppose I'll be working on reformatting my current computer and getting it ready to pass down to someone else. I'll post an update once I am done with everything that's left to be done.

[Brashen]

Congrats!!

[Jooce-Bocks]

I am typing this from my new computer and I must say it runs awesome. Only made one mistake while building it, and that was placing the cable for the Power LEDs onto the Power Switch pins and placing the Power Switch cable onto the pins for the LEDs on the Front Panel Header. Removed the case, switched the cables around, booted it right up. Process went smoothly and luckily has encountered no problems thus far. I was planning to OC my Q6600 G0 to 3.0GHz, but it seems so unnecessary at the moment that I'll just leave it alone for now and stick with stock settings. I would like to thank everyone in this thread for their feedback during this process. I suppose all that's left is to run a MemTest tonight for the final test.

[AdamR]

Glad to hear it's running smoothly. If you have any problems you know where to come :)

- Adam

[ozan]

We expect to see something in the finished forum within a week! :lifedrawing: