Photoshop Rig for £500ish

Martin SH · 22 May 2008 at 22:56

I am currently putting together a computer for Photoshop and Lightroom use. I am a photographer.

I posted a similar request a few months ago but have held off..... unfortunately my current machine is on its last legs

My budget for just the tower is £500.

Some musts:

Minimum 4 gig ram.
64 bit Vista Home?
What do you think, duo or quad core?
One 750 gig HD disk (I have others for backup).

I have considered an iMac 24 inch but think I can put a better machine together for less money.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Martin

Dark_Angel · 22 May 2008 at 23:04

Q6600 = 130
4GB ram 60
1TB samsung 100
Whatever GPU (30 pounds or so)
Antec Sonato 3 case and 500 earthwatts PSU bundle 90
OCUK DS3 G31 50

A small rough idea. You could save money by dropping to the 500 GB or 750 GB Samsung.

4GB of ram = Vista 64, because 32 bit can't address the rest of the ram.

Quad core is very nice - I use the Q6600 and it basically rocks for Photo / video work.

I did build myself a cheapo machine for work though having said that. Based around an E2180 and overclocking it to 3.1GHZ with a DS3 motherboard. Seems to run fine, but depends on the size of images, the amount of filters and if you are going to be doing other stuff with it.

neoboy · 23 May 2008 at 00:32

I can imagine something on these lines would be good?

Martin SH · 23 May 2008 at 14:00

Thanks Neoboy

Looks good I am just not sure about the motherboard.... a few reviews refer to bios issues.

Is there any other MB anyone else would suggest?

I will probably go with Vista Home 64.

Cheers

Martin

neoboy · 23 May 2008 at 14:27

Well this would be good and a good overclocker.

Martin SH · 23 May 2008 at 14:49

Thanks, but I don't intend to overclock.

I will check it out

Cheers

Martin

mp260767 · 23 May 2008 at 14:53

depending on whether you're apps use quad core maybe look at the gigabyte p31 mobo and a wolfdale 8200/8400.

go for a sata dvd-rw drive rather than ide.

MiNxYyY · 23 May 2008 at 18:10

Dark_Angel said:
4GB of ram = Vista 64, because 32 bit can't address the rest of the ram.

my 32-bit vista sees all 4gb of my ram :s

Happy · 23 May 2008 at 18:16

LOL ^^^^, it can see all the ram; but it can't use it all

Devil_Spawn · 23 May 2008 at 18:50

go for the ip35-e.

Dark_Angel · 23 May 2008 at 20:19

kieranwesley1 said:
my 32-bit vista sees all 4gb of my ram :s

I said it can't address the RAM - as in it can't access it. It can see it by the patch, but it is basically tapping its fingers unable to do a thing about it.

Martin SH · 24 May 2008 at 15:50

Any other suggestions I want to buy next week.

Thanks

Martin