Computer Builders Step inside Please - I would like some direction

Mike D90

Senior Member
I need a new computer. I am still using this old Dell GX240 Windows XP machine that was an auction sale from Florida State.

While it does internet stuff pretty good still, it just will not handle my photo editing with any real speed.

What I plan to do is build me a photo editing box that focuses on nothing else but just that. Photo editing.

I also want to get a cheap little lap/pad thingy just for internet and email.

Now, I would really like some of you geeks to give me a list of the exact items to build with. From case, power box, motherboard, chip to monitor.

If there are a few of you that wouldn't mind spending this time for me I would surely appreciate it.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Ha... It takes me weeks to put together a fresh build from the ground up.

That being said, just about anything packing an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor and 16GB of DDR3 is going to hold you over just fine. Photo processing is not a particularly demanding process for a PC. Unless you're doing something so totally insane with Photoshop I can't even imagine... Even then, an i5 and 16GB of RAM is going to be pretty snappy.

My only other suggestion: Dual hard drives.

Keep Windows and other applications on the master-drive (C:), while the slave-drive (E:) holds nothing but data. You want to keep your data OFF the drive that contains the operating system so if (when) Windows "tanks" on you, your precious data sits calmly, and safely, away from the havoc.

....
 

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Good pints Fish, also I wouldn't get get less than a 1tb drive and as Fish said, get 2.

honestly you should be able to pick one up already made, they are so cheap these days. You might want to put a little more into your monitor selection for editing pictures.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
I7 - Any I7 chip. They are beasts and will last you for the long haul.

Agreed on the 16gb of RAM.

If it's in the budget, dual drives. I would do one as a solid state drive (operating system and a few core programs) and a second traditional drive for everything else.
 
Last edited:

Mike D90

Senior Member
@Mike d90, you should mention the budget you have for this or this will become a wish list.

There is no budget. It is already a wish list.

I was planning to try to pick up an item here and there, possibly good deals, and maybe by end of summer or end of this year or end of year it would be built.
 

Mike D90

Senior Member
I wonder if anyone on the forum has any odds and ends computer parts they would get rid of cheap or free?

I don't need terabytes just yet. Anything relatively new would be light years ahead of what I have now.
 

John!

Senior Member
Good suggestions already given. I agree, intel i7, 16gb DDR3 RAM, I would also suggest a dedicated graphics card with at least 1GB, as well as a solid state (SSD) drive for OS and apps (C drive)



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
I need a new computer. I am still using this old Dell GX240 Windows XP machine that was an auction sale from Florida State.

While it does internet stuff pretty good still, it just will not handle my photo editing with any real speed.

What I plan to do is build me a photo editing box that focuses on nothing else but just that. Photo editing.

I also want to get a cheap little lap/pad thingy just for internet and email.

Now, I would really like some of you geeks to give me a list of the exact items to build with. From case, power box, motherboard, chip to monitor.

If there are a few of you that wouldn't mind spending this time for me I would surely appreciate it.

Mike - although I would likely suggest something but I am only a mediocre in PC building. Like with our photography hobby, it is best to have a budget on how much you want to spend.

I agree about the i5 and i7 CPU and 16 gb DDR3 RAM. I would suggest getting a Samsung or Intel Solid State Drive (SSD) that is more than 120 gb for your Windows. 2 TB hard drive (Your choice maybe Western Digital Black) for your data drive (pictures, videos and miscellaneous files). Start with a good power supply which depends on how many and what kind of video cards you want to buy. If you are using Adobe, stay with Nvidia video cards. Newegg.com is a good place to start searching for parts. For technical advice, visit AnandTech Forums - Powered by vBulletin. Those guys in that forum are very knowledgeable.

Video card
Newegg.com - MSI GAMING N750 TF 1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 750 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 HDCP Ready Video Card

I7 processor
Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) Deskt77wop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX81150637I73770 - Newegg.com

Motherboard
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

DDR3 RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM - Newegg.com

Power Supply
CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready - Newegg.com

CPU cooler
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Water 3.0 Pro (CLW0223) Water/Liquid CPU Cooler 120MM

2TB Had drive
Newegg.com - WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

240gb SSD
Newegg.com - Intel 530 Series SSDSC2BW240A4K5 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Windows 7
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit OS - Newegg.com


You can select your own case and re-use your DVD drive.
 

Mike D90

Senior Member
Mike - although I would likely suggest something but I am only a mediocre in PC building. Like with our photography hobby, it is best to have a budget on how much you want to spend.

I agree about the i5 and i7 CPU and 16 gb DDR3 RAM. I would suggest getting a Samsung or Intel Solid State Drive (SSD) that is more than 120 gb for your Windows. 2 TB hard drive (Your choice maybe Western Digital Black) for your data drive (pictures, videos and miscellaneous files). Start with a good power supply which depends on how many and what kind of video cards you want to buy. If you are using Adobe, stay with Nvidia video cards. Newegg.com is a good place to start searching for parts. For technical advice, visit AnandTech Forums - Powered by vBulletin. Those guys in that forum are very knowledgeable.

Video card
Newegg.com - MSI GAMING N750 TF 1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 750 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 HDCP Ready Video Card

I7 processor
Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) Deskt77wop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX81150637I73770 - Newegg.com

Motherboard
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

DDR3 RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM - Newegg.com

Power Supply
CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready - Newegg.com

CPU cooler
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Water 3.0 Pro (CLW0223) Water/Liquid CPU Cooler 120MM

2TB Had drive
Newegg.com - WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

240gb SSD
Newegg.com - Intel 530 Series SSDSC2BW240A4K5 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Windows 7
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit OS - Newegg.com


You can select your own case and re-use your DVD drive.

Thank you! That is the kind of list I needed as I know very little of what is out there now.

I cannot set a budget as I have no idea what I can spend. I just have to go one piece at a time until I have it all done. I don't really care what it ends up costing me but it will be a matter of how long it takes to accumulate the pieces. I hate the wait.
 

pedroj

Senior Member
f it were I, I would save the money then buy all the bits together...You buy something now it may not be compatible with what you buy in the future...
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Myself, I wouldn't go spending a heap. Technology is superceded so fast these days it drops value before you even get it built.
 

Dave_W

The Dude
I second the idea of a SSD. I have my OS and programs I use a lot on a SSD and a 2 and 3 TB HDD for my data. Makes for an extremely fast system

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
iMac. Max the ram. They handle graphics and photo editing like a dream! I noticed a lot of the local photographers, the professional ones worth a squirt, seem to rely on Macs pretty consistently, so I tried one out. It's a wonder!
 

John!

Senior Member
iMac. Max the ram. They handle graphics and photo editing like a dream! I noticed a lot of the local photographers, the professional ones worth a squirt, seem to rely on Macs pretty consistently, so I tried one out. It's a wonder!

Yep, I agree. I sell, support and repair windows computers every day. However I use a MacBook Pro and an iMac with a fusion drive for my own use.
 

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Well if we are giving recommendations, then its Apple. I have a Mac Pro, Mac Book Pro, IMac, so I am a Mac. But if you want cost savings then build a Microsoft or other computer.

Now with that said, you can also look at a mac mini. The footprint is so small for the power you get.
 

Macmagoo

Senior Member
Why not build yourself a Hackintosh not as expensive as a mac but you can build it yourself. Plenty of advice on the internet on components and how to put it all together.
 
Top