Building a new PC: Any other computer geeks out there?

[andrewr]

It's time for me to replace my desktop computer and I'm wondering if any of our members have any recommendations regarding components for a new Windows based machine. I've had several systems since my first DOS based machine and I've always preferred to build a custom system, rather than buying something off the shelf. I've never actually put the pieces together, but I've always picked the components that I want in a system.

I'm just starting my research, but if anybody has any suggestions regarding AMD vs Intel, dual core, motherboards, video cards, cases, etc, I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

I've also been looking at some Dell systems, but whenever I've looked in the past I could usually build a better custom system for much less. Although their extended support and at-home service is tempting.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Darrol]

I had a new workstation built last year. I went with the new (at the time) AMD dual core processor. My system consists of the following:

AMD X2 64 bit processor
Gigabyte SLI motherboard
2 - 128MB ATI video cards
3 - 300 GB Western Digital HD's
1 - 120GB External HD
USB 2 - 7 in 1 Card/Floppy drive
1 - 52X CD-R/ 8X DVD combo
1 -8X DVD-R
4GB RAM
Wacom Graphire 4x5 tablet
1 - 21" NEC AccuSync 125F Trinitron Monitor (new)
1 - 17" NEC MultiSync FE700+ Trinitron Monitor (old)
Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard
ColorVision Spyder 1
Windows XP Pro

There were a couple of things I considered when I had this built. First of all, I believe in building the biggest, baddest, most fully plugged up machine you can possibly afford, while trying to leave yourself with an upgrade path, if you can. Realizing that I was coming from an 800Mhz (!) laptop as my workstation, I didn't need to get the fastest processor out there...any improvement was going to be huge compared to what I had. Therefore, I prolonged the lifetime of my system by getting the lowest or next to lowest processor in the X2 line (4200+). When you build a new machine, all you are looking for, really, is improving (i.e. speeding up, gaining more storage or memory, etc.) what you already have. Going from an 800Mhz box to the X2 meant a huge increase in speed, relative to what I had. That means in a couple of years, when this box seems to be sluggish, then I can upgrade my processor to the fastest my motherboard will support, double or triple my operating speed and get a "new" machine for a fraction of the cost. Even thought it may not be "state of the art", it will still be much faster than what I'm used to, which is the ultimate goal.

The other was dual monitor support. I decided to go with a SLI motherboard and two video cards for two reasons...cost and colour management. Everyone talks about the Matrox Dual Head video cards and how wonderful they are...and I'm sure they are wonderful. However, I didn't want to spend $700 or $800 (or more) on a single card to get dual monitor support. Add to that the fact that Windows XP doesn't support separate monitor profiles on a single card and I think we have a problem. So I went with the SLI board, got two $129 cards and have a fully colour managed system!

The rest of the specs are ready for 64 bit computing when it finally gets here, for real. Its a nice system, cost me around $3000 and should live for about 7 years, which I think is about 3 times the norm, from what I've heard. :D

[Glen C]

I upgrade as I need too and install myself to prevent spending money on unnecessary parts or pointless upgrades. The supplier is as important as the parts. Here in Halifax I buy from PC Medic and they have a lifetime warranty. Last year when my graphics card burned out they replaced it with a new one free of charge. and even upgraded it.

My system is plenty for what I need and it costs next to nothing. Shop around...

[DPOD]

I'm in the same boat right now and am thinking (dreaming) of upgrading my computer system. After looking at what's out on the market for pre-built systems, it quickly becomes obvious that building your own is the way to go. Of course if you have the money you can always sink it into a Voodoo PC (http://voodoopc.com). I shoot some of their commercial stuff and am in awe at some of the machines that they put out. With extra options some of their machines top out at 25 - 35K.

Anyway, if you're building your own machine and looking at increasing your workflow, you have to be thinking AMD 64 dual core processor. There's just no other way to go. If you're looking for that extra speed it has to start at the processor and motherboard. For motherboards I like Asus. More specifically the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe. Extra ports, more usb, 2 firewire, and dual PCI Express x16 slots to help those dual graphics cards fly.

After you have a good base like that to build on, you can add and upgrade other parts and pieces at will. A mother board and processor combo like this will only cost around 500-600 and is a fantastic foundation for a killer system. No more staring at that "processing" bar in Photoshop. I'm not sure where you buy your parts from but here in western Canada you can't beat Memory Express (http://www.memoryexpress.com/). I know you can order online from them as well. I've found them to be very helpful and extremely knowledgeable about their products as well as having the best prices on system parts.

[andrewr]

Thanks for the replies. I've used Asus motherboards in the past as well and usually buy my stuff from Canada Computers (http://www.canadacomputers.com/)here in Toronto. They have great prices and tons of stuff in stock. Their service used to leave a bit to be desired, but I've noticed some improvements lately since they started opening new, bigger, and nicer looking stores.

Cheers.

[andrewr]

So I've almost nailed down the components of my new system. I was all set to go with AMD, but the recent announcement of the new Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs changed all that.

Here's what I'm thinking about:

mb - Asus P5W DH Deluxe Socket 775 Intel 975X
cpu - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13 GHz
ram - 2x1GB Corsair DDR2 PC2-5400 667MHz Value Select 1GB
hd1- 80GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA NCQ 3.0Gb/s for os/apps
hd2 - 2x250GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 configured in RAID 1 for Photoshop scratch and working files.
case - Antec P180B
ps - Antec TruePower 2.0 TPII-430 Power supply ATX12V 2.01 430 Watt
video - BFG GeForce 7300GS OC 256MB DDR2(575MHz) DVI-I VGA TVOut SLI Ready
mobile racks - 2x Kingwin KF-91-BK SATA Mobile Rack w/ Bottom Fan
os - Microsoft Windows XP Professional (OEM)
floppy - Mitsumi 7-in-1 Internal Floppy Drive w/ Card Reader
optical drive - LG GSA-H10L 16X/16X DVD-RW BLACK INTERNAL, SUPERMULTI + LIGHTSCRIBE

I will be running dual CRT monitors with a dvi to vga adapter for the second. I don't know if there are any advantages to running dual video cards instead.

I'm also undecided about the benefits of running two 250GB drives in RAID 1 for photoshop scratch (20GB partition) and working files.

This system is already pushing the limits of my budget, so I really can't afford much else, but if anybody has any suggestions please let me know.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Darrol]

The biggest advantage to running two video cards on a Windows system is that you can colour manage both monitors. If that's not an issue, then one card should work. Make sure that you've got enough video memory to drive the monitors you have at the resolutions you want.

Looks like a decent system! Have fun!! :D

[andrewr]

The biggest advantage to running two video cards on a Windows system is that you can colour manage both monitors. If that's not an issue, then one card should work. Make sure that you've got enough video memory to drive the monitors you have at the resolutions you want.

Looks like a decent system! Have fun!! :D
Right now the video card(s) is the only thing holding me up. Almost everything written out there is for hardcore gamers, so it's hard to find accurate information regarding the needs of photographers working with 2D applications like photoshop. I'm sure two cards is probably the best way to go for colour management, but I was reading the article below on the dual monitor calibration and it said: "Technically only dualhead AGP card owners need to use the applet to be able to assign separate profiles. PCEe cards don't need it sinse Windows XP sees them as two cards (and obviously systems with two separate cards don't need it either)".

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/dual_monitor_calibration.html

It's all very confusing :confused:

[Darrol]

Well, Andrew, the other consideration is $$. I believe you can find two ATI 128 MB cards for a lot less than 1 dual head 256MB card. At least that's what I found when I built my system.

As for 2D applications, you only need enough RAM to drive the resolution you want to have. So, if you were running a monitor at, say, 800x600 with a refresh of 75 Hz, then a 64MB card would probably be fine. Don't pay any attention to the gamer specs of any of these cards, 'cause photographers just don't care about anything 3D or about frame rates. I chose 2 - 128MB ATI Radeon X300 PCIe cards because they were under $80.00 each.

[andrewr]

Well, Andrew, the other consideration is $$. I believe you can find two ATI 128 MB cards for a lot less than 1 dual head 256MB card. At least that's what I found when I built my system.


I know true dual head cards are expensive, but even the cheapest PCIe cards have a DVI and a VGA output. So you can run two CRT monitors by using a DVI to VGA converter for the second monitor. This would be the most cost effective route, but I can't figure out if both monitors can be calibrated this way.

[Darrol]

oh, okay that's a good question. I'm not sure, but I think not, at least on a windows system. But I'm really not sure...:confused:

[imageswest]

After many years of building my own PC's, I've decided my next computer will be a dual-core Mac... :D

[ChrisP]

Hi Andrew:- What's happening with the new machine. My desktop is in the process of dying and I've been talking to a couple of different suppliers. I am waiting (not so patiently) for the Core2Duo chips and motherboards to be available. Both of the suppliers have said middle of September. What are you hearing on your end?

On the dual monitor thing - I am running two Acer 19" LCD monitors on an Ati card. being that they are the same monitor, even though I am only profiling one monitor the other one seems to be really close. I keep the open photo on the profiled monitor and the toolbars on the other one.

Cheers
Chris

[andrewr]

I am waiting (not so patiently) for the Core2Duo chips and motherboards to be available. Both of the suppliers have said middle of September. What are you hearing on your end?

I don't who you're talking to, but they've been in stock here in Toronto (http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=010885&cid=CPU.84) for a couple weeks.

It sounds stupid, but the only thing holding me up is the video card. Almost everything made now is for gamers and they all seem to have fans on them, and apparently many of them are quite loud. I'm also trying to build a quiet, energy efficient, machine, so I don't want dual video cards with loud, power sucking fans if I don't really need them.

I'm actually going down to College Street this afternoon to visit a few computer shops to see if I can figure this out once and for all.

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,

Andrew

[silverwindstudio]

Lineups are change again, both Intel and AMD have announced quad-cores in the works for 2007 :)