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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Pigslilspaz on October 19, 2011, 10:48:02 PM

Title: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 19, 2011, 10:48:02 PM
Friend wants me to build them a comp, that can run CS5 flawlessly. Also need a monitor as well, any suggestions? I need to try and keep it around 500-700.

Also, if it works well, will be my second convert to windows from mac, lol.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 19, 2011, 11:02:53 PM
Windows 7 x64 w/ Quad Core and lots of disk space is likely all that really matters but there are a few other bits of info that might make a difference.

Are they learning CS5 or using it professionally? What is the focus of work going to be? Flash? Photoshop? Illustrator? If the focus is Premiere Pro then memory requirements could go up also. If they want true color then LCD isnt really all that good and so on.

EDIT: Oh, I fogot the most important part. Go INTEL.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 19, 2011, 11:15:56 PM
quad core anything with 6gb ram will run it flawlessly. my gf uses cs5 on an asus dual core laptop with 4 gigs of ram and it's fast. make sure you have a 20gb partition for the scratch drive.

amd or intel won't matter...
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 19, 2011, 11:41:02 PM
Alright, going to probably go with AMD to keep it cheap. So, graphics card doesn't need to be that powerful I assume?
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 20, 2011, 01:14:44 AM
Graphics card no. My impression was that the Illustrator Path interpretations were better calculated with Intel especially in technical modes but Im pretty sure that when it comes to Premiere AMD has the advantage.

I said x64 because Premiere and After Effects both require x64 or you will be stuck with version 4.

I use it every day (Master Collection 5.5 - Photoshop/Illustrator/Acrobat/Fireworks/Dreamweaver).

EDIT: I stand corrected. Intel runs Premiere better.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: BigR on October 20, 2011, 03:43:47 AM
A decent graphics card does make a real difference in the newest versions of photoshop. PS5 has a hardware accelerated interface, and is so much more snappy and useable if you have a decent video card. There are also other rendering features that use your GPU because it can be a lot faster than the CPU for certain functions.  Check these links out...

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405745.html (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405745.html)
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html)
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/831/cpsid_83117.html (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/831/cpsid_83117.html)

Now, having said all that , CS5 should still run decently if you stick with a basic video card, but it will definitely run better with a good OpenGL GPU. If you dont want to go all out right away, you can always add a good card later.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 20, 2011, 09:54:07 AM
if you're going to go quad core 3+ghz with ddr3 1333mhz+ that system will be more than enough with something like a radeon 5450 1gb or geforce gt430 1gb.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 27, 2011, 01:49:36 AM
They aren't the overclocking type, so I'm looking at the i5 2500 (not 2500k). quadcore with 3.33 I think that should fit the bill.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 27, 2011, 03:13:42 AM
Here's the parts list, any way I can make it cheaper without sacrificing part quality? Also, I put regular price, not current because newegg deals sometimes disappear on ya from time to time.

Qty.   Product Description   Savings   Total Price
1       EVGA 01G-P3-1441-KR GeForce GT 440 1024MB (Fermi) DUAL DVI PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
$79.99

1       Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
79.99

1       GIGABYTE GA-Z68M-D2H LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$104.99

1       APEX AL-D500EXP 500W ATX12V Power Supply
$44.99

1       Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500
$209.99

1       G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR
$48.99

1       Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
$99.99

1       XCLIO Nighthawk Color Black 0.6mm SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$79.99

1       ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$19.99
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 27, 2011, 03:22:02 AM

1       APEX AL-D500EXP 500W ATX12V Power Supply
$44.99


You have got to be kidding!
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: guncrasher on October 27, 2011, 07:32:18 AM
order the hard drive now.  they're going up in price hourly. 


semp
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 27, 2011, 08:27:06 AM
that power supply is not going to work, especially with that video card and cpu...the only way you're going to get the total price down is to go with an amd phenom quad core and minimum psu rating of 550 watts with single +12v rail.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 27, 2011, 09:51:17 AM
order the hard drive now.  they're going up in price hourly.  


semp
I noticed, it's been pissing me off. I got my 640gb for less than $70 you can't even get 250 for that now

You have got to be kidding!
You do not have to be rude

that power supply is not going to work, especially with that video card and cpu...the only way you're going to get the total price down is to go with an amd phenom quad core and minimum psu rating of 550 watts with single +12v rail.
That's why I posted here. The one thing I admit I know near nothing about are PSUs.


Would this work at all? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016)
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 27, 2011, 10:20:56 AM
ok see how this works out...

Here's the parts list, any way I can make it cheaper without sacrificing part quality? Also, I put regular price, not current because newegg deals sometimes disappear on ya from time to time.

Qty.   Product Description   Savings   Total Price
1       EVGA 01G-P3-1441-KR GeForce GT 440 1024MB (Fermi) DUAL DVI PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
$79.99

1       Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
79.99

1       ASRock 890FX Deluxe4 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
$133.50

1       Corsair Builder Series CX600 600 watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel and AMD Platforms
$69.99 (amazon)

1       AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
$129.99

1       G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR
$48.99

1       Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
$99.99

1       Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case Fully Black Powdered Interior
$49.98

1       ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$19.99

ok i believe that would bring it to $712.41 versus the original $768.91...assuming the hard drive price doesn't go through the roof. check amazon and tigerdirect.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Pigslilspaz on October 27, 2011, 12:31:23 PM
Just curious as to why prices have been exploding for hard drives?
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on October 27, 2011, 12:37:14 PM
Just curious as to why prices have been exploding for hard drives?

Flooding in Asia and China manipulating rare-earth production to ramp up the price.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: 715 on October 27, 2011, 03:10:17 PM
If it's for CS5 and graphic design is important wouldn't they want accurate color and don't accurate color LCDs cost $500 by themselves?  I know I replaced my old CRT with a very highly rated LCD (Asus VW246) and I was shocked at how inaccurate the color was: no matter how I adjusted the monitor or software it couldn't create accurate color.  For example it just won't do a good red- it's always orange/red.  When I checked into accurate color P-IPS panel displays they were about $500 (like the ASUS PA246Q).
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: RTHolmes on October 27, 2011, 04:28:33 PM
I use a HP zr22w IPS 22" (about $250), colours pretty good and its just about usable for AH.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 27, 2011, 05:50:24 PM
You do not have to be rude

Im not being rude. Im pointing out that putting that PSU with the equipment you add to it will result in a loss of the other equipment. Dont be one of the people that puts a piece of junk PSU on a system. Its one of the most important components you put into a system.

@715: If you found a true color LCD for $500 please tell me what it is.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 27, 2011, 06:10:26 PM
@715: If you found a true color LCD for $500 please tell me what it is.
:lol  i think he pointed out one example...

When I checked into accurate color P-IPS panel displays they were about $500 (like the ASUS PA246Q).
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 27, 2011, 09:58:58 PM
Which I know is NOT good for true color unfortunately. I am not working in the advertising industry but I understand that if you do art for print the only monitor currently manufactured that is capable of true color is the Sony 21". I would love to find out that isnt true.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 27, 2011, 10:38:18 PM
how about one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VP2365-LED-23-Inch-Monitor-Black/dp/B0053YKE72%3FSubscriptionId%3D05YCYKW7BZ6ZSVJR4ZR2%26tag%3Dwhere2getit-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0053YKE72 (http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VP2365-LED-23-Inch-Monitor-Black/dp/B0053YKE72%3FSubscriptionId%3D05YCYKW7BZ6ZSVJR4ZR2%26tag%3Dwhere2getit-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0053YKE72)

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=320-2676 (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=320-2676)

Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 27, 2011, 11:55:34 PM
Try here:

http://www.colorhq.com/Default.asp

or more precisely:

http://www.colorhq.com/Professional-Series-Monitors-s/100.htm

Notice the good ones start at around $3000.

Or you could go to Nerds and get a Lacie for a little more than $800 and get close enough for learning color printing techniques.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: RTHolmes on October 28, 2011, 07:15:34 AM
what are the LaCie flatscreens like? I had a LaCie Blue 17" crt ages ago which was way better than anything else for the money. I calibrated it manually then later borrowed a hardware calibrater and it was almost spot on :aok



edit: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk) is a good site for monitor reviews.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: 715 on October 28, 2011, 02:29:02 PM
how about one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VP2365-LED-23-Inch-Monitor-Black/dp/B0053YKE72%3FSubscriptionId%3D05YCYKW7BZ6ZSVJR4ZR2%26tag%3Dwhere2getit-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0053YKE72 (http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VP2365-LED-23-Inch-Monitor-Black/dp/B0053YKE72%3FSubscriptionId%3D05YCYKW7BZ6ZSVJR4ZR2%26tag%3Dwhere2getit-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0053YKE72)

That does look good.  Apparently there are more affordable IPS panel LCDs out now than there were when I was looking about a year ago.  (Or, more likely, I'm incompetent in looking for them.)

When I said "accurate color" I meant in a layman way- i.e. as opposed to the "horrifically inaccurate color" of my current non IPS LCD.  I'm sure even most IPS panels won't meet strict professional requirements.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: RTHolmes on October 28, 2011, 02:49:45 PM
If you found a true color LCD for $500 please tell me what it is.

if you mean truecolor as in 24bit sRGB theres plenty about like mine. the newer HP IPS monitors are 30bit iirc.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 28, 2011, 02:52:55 PM
If you will notice: most "accurate color" manufacturers list their monitors as 100,000:1 contrast ratio or better (gyrenes is 20,000,000:1) while the true color monitors are 800:1 give or take. If they take that kind of latitude with the measurement of contrast ratios how can their color standards be any better?

@RTholmes: actually I think they are 12-bit with 16-bit interpolation processing on the monitor side. Not sure where the extra 2 bits comes in.

And before you go there: 10-bit video output:

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/index.php?t=product/aja_kona-3g

I tried a search for the Quadro FX 4800 but couldnt find one in your area.
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: gyrene81 on October 28, 2011, 03:07:18 PM
actually chalenge i found links to those monitors from 3 different "professional photography" monitor reviews. according to the mfg specs they fit the industry standard for adobe rgb color 24bit (8+8+8).
Title: Re: Looking up parts for graphic design build
Post by: Chalenge on October 28, 2011, 03:16:54 PM
Yes but thats only the first stage. You can deliver the same RGB values to a less than stellar monitor and have fine results but does it display them from a table of 68 billion colors or is it limited to the standard 16.7 million? Thats where most monitors fall short and yes the human eye can tell the difference.

You dont need this for learning graphics anyway. I think I already said that. But you need to be aware there is a huge difference.