Need some guidance on a new computer for lightroom 3 and PS5

[Drayken5]

Ok, I have an OLD machine. I would like to build one. I plan to get a new monitor later, so right now, I have a CRT that I use to edit, and a cheaper LCD for PS tools and such. I would like to try to keep the cost to about $600. The computer will be strictly for photo editing and some video editing, but not much at all.

1) First question, will I get ANY benefit by getting a video card, over using an integrated one? If so, will I still benefit from a cheap $50 vid card? I will NOT EVER be playing video games.

2) It seems the i5 chip is great for the money, any suggestions on a decent mobo? I want usb 3.0, and plan to get a ssd at some point for the OS.

3) Will I see much increase in performance if I go from 8 to 16 gigs of ram?

4) Anything else I should really look for?

5) Oh, is the window 7 pro, using XP worth it at all? I have the X-rite puck for calibrating, and thought I may need XP for that, but have been reading that I may not.

 

[digitalshooter]

You should install a separate video card so that, that function is carried out on the card using its processor and memory and not robbing resources from the mainboard.

More memory is always better, so long and the board and software can use it.

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter

 

[Brent Allen Thale]

I've never used motherboard video, just make sure it can drive two monitors simultaneously like you want to do.

I don't see how to keep the budget for a photo and video editing machine below $600, especially when talking about upgrades like 16GB of memory and SSDs. I'm also in the market for a new photo machine (although I also play games), and I'm having trouble keeping the cost below $2500!

 

[Simon Garrett]

1) First question, will I get ANY benefit by getting a video card, over using an integrated one? If so, will I still benefit from a cheap $50 vid card? I will NOT EVER be playing video games.

Yes, worth a separate card, but doesn't need to be expensive.

3) Will I see much increase in performance if I go from 8 to 16 gigs of ram?

In my opinion and experience, not much. If you edit huuuuuuuuuuge images in Photoshop with lots of layers and at the same time have dozens of browser windows open, a dozen other big applications open, Lightroom and maybe a few virtual machines then maybe. Otherwise, 8 probably enough, especially if you're on a budget.

More important, remember that memory banks are in pairs for i5 processors. However much memory you get, buy them in pairs and put them in the corresponding paired slots on the MB. It runs faster that way.

5) Oh, is the window 7 pro, using XP worth it at all?

I don't reckon W7 pro is worth it, especially if on a budget. You can get XP mode for free with "Virtual Box" (Google for it), although you need an existing XP license. It's really pretty easy to use, and all the software I can't run in W7 64 bit works fine in XP in Virtual Box. In fact, I find Virtual Box more stable and faster to load than W7 Pro XP mode.

I have the X-rite puck for calibrating, and thought I may need XP for that, but have been reading that I may not.

Do you mean the X-rite Eye One Display 2? That runs fine in W7 64 bit on my machine.
--
Simon

 

[Bob Collette]

I agree with everything Simon mentioned, including his statement that 8GB is probably sufficient. I would suggest that you start with 8GB of RAM (2x4GB modules). If, after using the machine for awhile, you find that more memory would be helpful, you can always add another pair of 4GB modules.

I use an i1Pro with the i1 Match software, and it runs fine under Win7 x64 (as Simon mentioned).

 

[Drayken5]

I think I will hold off on SSD for now. I will do as you guys said and go with 8gigs for now. If I am in PS, I usually don't have alot of other things running, so....

I have the DPT puck, and software. It was before X-rite took over eye1. They discontinued the software support when they merged companies. I read somewhere, that I could use other software with that puck, which is still regarded well, but not sure. It is 4yrs old, do I need to worry about it still being within calibration specs?

 

[Tom_N]

1) First question, will I get ANY benefit by getting a video card, over using an integrated one? If so, will I still benefit from a cheap $50 vid card? I will NOT EVER be playing video games.

On your budget, I don't think you can justify spending much on the video chipset. Go with integrated video or (my preference) a low-end video card.

2) It seems the i5 chip is great for the money

FYI, there are both dual-core and quad-core versions of the Core i5.

any suggestions on a decent mobo? I want usb 3.0, and plan to get a ssd at some point for the OS.

Considering that your budget is $600 total, it is far too early to start purchasing SSDs. By the time they're cheap enough that you'd consider them, you might be replacing the computer. If you dream of SSDs anyway, look for a motherboard that has one or more SATA-2 or SATA-3 (preferred) ports left over after making provisions for internal HDs and optical drives.

3) Will I see much increase in performance if I go from 8 to 16 gigs of ram?

For editing photos, I doubt it.

4) Anything else I should really look for?

You may want to get an external HD that you can use for backups. This can be a cheap external USB 2.0 notebook drive – unlike a Photoshop scratch disk, it doesn't need to be super-fast, because you will only be writing it once every so often.

After you make a backup, take the external drive and put it someplace safe, away from the computer (preferably off-site). (If your house burns down but your backup drive is in a bank safety deposit box or a drawer at a relative's house, it will suck that you've lost your house and computer, but at least you'll still have your photos.)

 

[Simon Garrett]

I have the DPT puck, and software. It was before X-rite took over eye1. They discontinued the software support when they merged companies. I read somewhere, that I could use other software with that puck, which is still regarded well, but not sure. It is 4yrs old, do I need to worry about it still being within calibration specs?

If you can't get modern X-rite software to drive it, see if it's supported by the Argyll software on the list at http://argyllcms.com/doc/ArgyllDoc.html , and then you need to download both the main Argyll software http://argyllcms.com/ and the GUI http://hoech.net/dispcalGUI/ (may sound complex but it's easy to use once installed, it runs on W7 and it's free).
--
Simon

 

[Simon Garrett]

You may want to get an external HD that you can use for backups. This can be a cheap external USB 2.0 notebook drive – unlike a Photoshop scratch disk, it doesn't need to be super-fast, because you will only be writing it once every so often.

After you make a backup, take the external drive and put it someplace safe, away from the computer (preferably off-site). (If your house burns down but your backup drive is in a bank safety deposit box or a drawer at a relative's house, it will suck that you've lost your house and computer, but at least you'll still have your photos.)

Good point. Whatever your budget, make sure you backup your photos. The only people that have never had a total hard disk failure are very young or very lucky.
--
Simon

 

[Richard]

Ok, I have an OLD machine. I would like to build one. I plan to get a new monitor later, so right now, I have a CRT that I use to edit, and a cheaper LCD for PS tools and such. I would like to try to keep the cost to about $600. The computer will be strictly for photo editing and some video editing, but not much at all.

1) First question, will I get ANY benefit by getting a video card, over using an integrated one? If so, will I still benefit from a cheap $50 vid card? I will NOT EVER be playing video games.

2) It seems the i5 chip is great for the money, any suggestions on a decent mobo? I want usb 3.0, and plan to get a ssd at some point for the OS.

3) Will I see much increase in performance if I go from 8 to 16 gigs of ram?

4) Anything else I should really look for?

5) Oh, is the window 7 pro, using XP worth it at all? I have the X-rite puck for calibrating, and thought I may need XP for that, but have been reading that I may not.

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 6 core processor 3.2 ghz turbo 3.6 $160
M5A87 Socket AM3+ 870 ATX AMD Motherboard $99
Vid card of your choice $50
8gb memory $50
60 gb SSD 120
Case/powersupply/sataCD/dvdwriter $120

The motherboard has USB3 sata6 raid (raid some cheap 1tb disks together for faster speed instead of the SSD maybe look at 4 500mb WD blue sata6 drives for about 500mb per second ($40 each), no single SSD will beat that.)

Remember, only XP 32 pro will even be able to use 4gb of ram other versions less. So you need to run a 64 bit version of windows to see 8-16gb in that case I would go windows 7 64.

 

[Richard]

At least mine does, forget about an external drive, get them in the box and raided so they are fast, back them up over the network at night to your ISP.

You may want to get an external HD that you can use for backups. This can be a cheap external USB 2.0 notebook drive – unlike a Photoshop scratch disk, it doesn't need to be super-fast, because you will only be writing it once every so often.

After you make a backup, take the external drive and put it someplace safe, away from the computer (preferably off-site). (If your house burns down but your backup drive is in a bank safety deposit box or a drawer at a relative's house, it will suck that you've lost your house and computer, but at least you'll still have your photos.)

Good point. Whatever your budget, make sure you backup your photos. The only people that have never had a total hard disk failure are very young or very lucky.
--
Simon

 

[Richard]

I've never used motherboard video, just make sure it can drive two monitors simultaneously like you want to do.

I don't see how to keep the budget for a photo and video editing machine below $600, especially when talking about upgrades like 16GB of memory and SSDs. I'm also in the market for a new photo machine (although I also play games), and I'm having trouble keeping the cost below $2500!

If you build your own, you can do it, see my other post in this thread.

For your gaming system, you could build one for 700 to 800 depending on the vid card.

 

[Brent Allen Thale]

I don't doubt that a low-end PC can be built for less than $600, but he did specify it was for photo and video editing, the machine you spec'ed in your other post is totally unsuitable for those purposes, especially with the 60GB SSD option. Plus your spec does not include an OS, Windows 7 would bring the price significantly above $600.

 

[Steve House]

All computer users fall into one of two categories, those who have had a complete hard-drive failure and those who are going to have a complete hard-drive failure.
...> Good point. Whatever your budget, make sure you backup your photos. The only people that have never had a total hard disk failure are very young or very lucky.

--
Simon

 

[Tom_N]

Plus your spec does not include an OS, Windows 7 would bring the price significantly above $600.

Does Microsoft still offer a much better price for an OEM copy of Windows, purchased at the same time as the motherboard, than they would on a standalone copy?

Otherwise, yes, you could spend half (or more) of the total hardware budget on a single copy of one of the fancier versions of Windows 7.

 

[Richard]

I don't doubt that a low-end PC can be built for less than $600, but he did specify it was for photo and video editing, the machine you spec'ed in your other post is totally unsuitable for those purposes, especially with the 60GB SSD option. Plus your spec does not include an OS, Windows 7 would bring the price significantly above $600.

I made two assumptions, he has the OS already. The other was he has some older hard drives laying around he could throw at this box. If not, then the 40 dollar 500gb raid would work and stay within budget. Assuming he has the OS

The OS is 68 dollars

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 6 core processor 3.2 ghz turbo 3.6 $160
M5A87 Socket AM3+ 870 ATX AMD Motherboard $99
Vid card of your choice $50
8gb memory $50 1333 ddr3

60 gb SSD 120 Remove this and add a 1tb drive 50 dollars on sale newegg and the OS for 68 bucks.
Case/powersupply/sataCD/dvdwriter $120

So this is not a low end PC. This is a 6 core (not a 4core with hyper threading like intel.) And will run photoshop well. It is sata 6 which is fastest and is raid capable. It can more than photos and video.

If you add a couple 1.5 tb drives for 50 bucks each

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152287&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL081611&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL081611-_-EMC-081611-Index-_-InternalHardDrives-_-22152287-L03B

You could keep the SSD for the OS and put all the temp, program files and vid photo files on the 3tb raid for 100 bucks more.

So you get this HIGH END system for 600-700 dollars. You were saying that it would be around 2500 dollars for a photo machine, that is clearly not the case and this system will run up there with any intel box. With and 60gb SSD and a couple raided spindle drives this would be orders of magnatude faster than what the OP has now, and not too much slower than your 2500 dollar machine.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=745525&sku=SYX-1086&SRCCODE=WEM2783TT&cm_mmc=email-_-Main-_-WEM2783-_-tigeremail2783

 

[Richard]

Plus your spec does not include an OS, Windows 7 would bring the price significantly above $600.

Does Microsoft still offer a much better price for an OEM copy of Windows, purchased at the same time as the motherboard, than they would on a standalone copy?

Otherwise, yes, you could spend half (or more) of the total hardware budget on a single copy of one of the fancier versions of Windows 7.

100 dollars, I have found cheaper but I was leary of the company. So I would have to revise my above post but still, you can get a smoking system for 600 without OS, 100 for OS.

If I get budget memory which would be 38 bucks and skimp and scrap on some of the other componenets (cheap case and power supply. I still could make the 600 dollar mark but if you skimp on the powersupply, you risk blowing it up if later you raid 3 spindle drives together..
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I

 

[Drayken5]

I just purchased the OS. OEM windows 7 pro from newegg. I got it for $114, used a coupon code. I don't mind going over budget a little, I knew I would. I don't want to go SSD quite yet. This will be a huge jump from my old computer, I can wait almost a yr to get the SSD, and then see another little jump in performance, lol. Cost will go down by then. I know it costs more, but I want to stick with Intel i5 quad core 2500k. It just doesn't seem the AMD can keep up, and this will allow me to upgrade the CPU if I get a good mobo. I plan to just stick with 8g RAM for now. I can add 8 more, even if it is in like 6 months.

 

[Richard]

I just purchased the OS. OEM windows 7 pro from newegg. I got it for $114, used a coupon code. I don't mind going over budget a little, I knew I would. I don't want to go SSD quite yet. This will be a huge jump from my old computer, I can wait almost a yr to get the SSD, and then see another little jump in performance, lol. Cost will go down by then. I know it costs more, but I want to stick with Intel i5 quad core 2500k. It just doesn't seem the AMD can keep up, and this will allow me to upgrade the CPU if I get a good mobo. I plan to just stick with 8g RAM for now. I can add 8 more, even if it is in like 6 months.

The SSD is the largest performance jump you will see, when we are talking processors, speed diffs are small jumps, the I/0 is the bottle neck. I mentioned that the AMD was 160, and for multicore it is better than the intell, but if your gaming, then the Intell is the better way to go.

But you make a good case to get an Intel but the AMD was 50 dollars less and you sounded like you are on a budget. I have an intel myself.

I would say more than the processor, get a single SSD or raid a few 40 dollar (I have seen them on sale for 25 an newegg keep watch)sata 6 drives together. The speed difference you percieve will be profound, much greater than the processor jump from your old system. Again, I/O or hard drives have always been the bottle neck, booting, opening photoshop, opening photos will have a huge difference. If you double your proceesor speed, can you really notice double the processor speed? Takes photoshop 2 seconds instead of 4 to do a heavy process? Every time you boot, open photoshop or load a an image into photoshop, you will notice a 4 to 5 times difference very easily IMHO.

Another thing, again, upgrading a cpu using the old mother board is not good. Almost always better to get a new chip and motherboard together because the tech on the board advances just as fast or fast than the chip. IMHO

Good luck on your system, sounds like no matter how you go, it is going to be a good system, just don't skimp on the hard drive(s) though.

 

[Barry Fitzgerald]

Ok, I have an OLD machine. I would like to build one. I plan to get a new monitor later, so right now, I have a CRT that I use to edit, and a cheaper LCD for PS tools and such. I would like to try to keep the cost to about $600. The computer will be strictly for photo editing and some video editing, but not much at all.

1) First question, will I get ANY benefit by getting a video card, over using an integrated one? If so, will I still benefit from a cheap $50 vid card? I will NOT EVER be playing video games.

LR 3 won't use the GPU for acceleration (though future versions might) PS does to a degree.

There are other advantages such as having a built in memory, helping with offloading work from the CPU and video encoding. It's IMO worth getting a reasonable cost one. Even a Radeon 6450 512Mb will outdo the built in Intel HD graphics by some margin

2) It seems the i5 chip is great for the money, any suggestions on a decent mobo? I want usb 3.0, and plan to get a ssd at some point for the OS.

Yes for the money it's a great chip..if you're working on a tight budget also look at the Quad core AMD CPU's which are pretty dirt cheap right now they'll mash through LR nicely far quicker than an oldie dual and single core.

3) Will I see much increase in performance if I go from 8 to 16 gigs of ram?

Bottom line no you would not notice it I can't even max out 8Gb let alone come near to touching 16Gb of ram. Though ram is dirt cheap has to be said.

8Gb is sensible right now and loads for that kind of work

4) Anything else I should really look for?

Consider the quality of all components some things like a power supply it's easy to cut costs on but it might not be a good idea in the long run. You don't have to spend a ton on one but get something reasonably decent (corsair CX builder series is good and affordable)

Cases might not be important to some but again I'd stay away from the $30 case and PSU stuff you'll know you won't get a lot for that kind of outlay.