Configurating for Professional Still Photography

Hey guys! Shouts from Los Angeles!

I am a photographer here in LA and is in the market for a new performance PC primarily for editing professional still photography, listening to music, and maybe lightly video editing (rendering my images into video for presentation purposes, etc).

My current system is an oldie Dell from 2004 (P4 w/HT @ 2.99 GHz + 4 GB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM). I think it is ancient compared to today's standards, but it has worked out for my needs, but would like an extra "Oomph!" for 2009.

I have several questions and I'd some some customers to help me out if you can.

1) This is the current system I ordered from DELL: http://www.ronaldntan.com/temp/XPS-STUDIO-TAN.pdf

Do you guys have experience if DS does any competitive deals or matching?

I am pretty much tech. savy regarding computers. and I know enough computer talk to keep up the discussions. =)

2) I don't think I need all those fancy lights and cooling for my system like some of you gaming fanatics.

This is the system that I was thinking to match my DELL configuration above. I'd like any thoughts, insights, pointers, substitutions that you can help me with.

Thanks!

--Ron

Chassis Model: Antec Nine Hundred Two
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 (3.2GHz) (Quad Core) (Black Edition) (8 MB Cache) AM3 Socket
Motherboard: Asus M4A79T Deluxe (AMD 790FX Chipset) (Socket AM3)
System Memory: 8GB DDR3 1333MHz Corsair DHX (High-Performance)
Power Supply: 650W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Card Reader: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: - No Thanks
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVDąR/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT 512MB) (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: Standard Factory Heat-sink and Fan
Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: - No Thanks, Please test my memory, I will be responsible for software based support
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

@DST4ME: the system that I tried to CANCEL but too late cost $1,932.44.

You can see the specs on my PDF here: http://www.ronaldntan.com/temp/XPS-STUDIO-TAN.pdf

That is being built right now and can't cancel it. I was thinking that for something competive that DS can give me, I am going to call up Dell's Cust. Serv. to arrange a full refund and buy into DS.

I was browsing http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/ for their custom built systems. I like what I am reading about DS hence I am on here trying to get a better feedback and insights.

I am a professional photographer so the system is mainly for my still photography editing. I will also be using the system for listening to my music, and rendering into HD videos my images for video slideshow presentations.

rntan, this system is much stronger and much faster then the dell you have, it has better quality product and you can upgrade this system any time you want instead buying a new PC. this system has is going to be much faster then the Dell system, I mean editing and everything is going to be much faster, you have faster better quality ram, better quality PSU.. etc, etc, and the GPU is much more powerful also for your graphic needs:

here you go Ticket# 281460 --- Price: $2056 (To see this build click here) Price after current promotion $1956

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 3X SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Triple SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz Mushkin (Highly Recommended) (Digital Storm Certified)
Power Supply: 750W PC Power & Cooling (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silencer Edition)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 896MB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Cooler Master V8 (Compatible With i7 Processors)
Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Red)
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Requires Air Cooling Upgrade)
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

your photo editing video encoding and stuff are going to be so much faster on this system its not even funny.

this system will be faster and better then amd also.

Edited by DST4ME - 12 May 2009 at 4:15pm