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SETUP FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER TWO

Post Date: 2010-08-04
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: SETUP FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER TWO
    Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 4:51pm
Narrowed it down to three possible builds after inputs from other forum members. I use Photoshop CS3 with Alien Skin Blow Up and Bokeh, Web Studio 5.0 and FotoPlayer for web design, ArchiCAD 7.0 for designing log homes, Chief Architect 8.0 and Autocad 2000i for designing stick built homes, Vectric Vcarve 5.0 for writing CNC programs for my CNC router, SwishMax 3.0 and KooMoves for designing flash SWF's, and various other programs for my work including the Microsoft Office Suite. These programs were all purchased to be used with Windows XP on my old Dell Demension XPS 8200 which is still cranking but slow. The GPU is a NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 , HD 1 is 80GB, HD 2 is 20GB, and external HD is 250GB. Rendering on this old rig is beautiful but slow. I will be using a large format professional Epson printer on my new rig and also a upper end Epson flatbed film scanner with my new computer build. I want to keep my budget down as much as possible because I have to buy a new NEC monitor  designed for image editing and a speaker system also to augment my system build. The reason for these three system cofiguration builds that I'm listing here is to see if the forum members can help me narrow my chices down to one, or point out any errors on my part. Thanks in advance from an old timer newbie.   Ticket Number: 426429
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,160.00
Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master CM Storm Sniper
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 Chipset)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Recommended)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) (NOTE: Disables 2 Front USB Ports)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) (Extreme Performance)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (Model: Black Edition WD1001FALS)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - 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
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: FREE: Hot-selling game with a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 or above graphics card
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Xtra Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 4:54pm
Ticket Number: 428683
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,120.00
Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master CM Storm Sniper
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 Chipset)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Recommended) 
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) (NOTE: Disables 2 Front USB Ports)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) (Extreme Performance)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (320GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: 1x (1TB Hitachi/Seagate (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - 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
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: FREE: Hot-selling game with a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 or above graphics card
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Xtra Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 4:55pm
Ticket Number: 428686
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,418.00
Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master CM Storm Sniper
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 Chipset)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) (NOTE: Disables 2 Front USB Ports)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) (Extreme Performance)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (Model: Black Edition WD1001FALS)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (Model: Black Edition WD1001FALS)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - 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
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: FREE: Hot-selling game with a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 or above graphics card
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Xtra Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
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!ender_ View Drop Down
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 6:18pm
man its just too much to look over, just list your budget and the specific needs you have for your computer, huge pages like this overcomplicate something that should be very very simple
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 6:59pm
Sorry for being overcomplicated, but due to my age and with my life experiences: I try to be as concise as possible. The amount of knowlege I have gained by asking questions on this forum is invaluable. I am not that hardware knowlegable.
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WardTheSteak View Drop Down
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Posts: 605 		  Quote WardTheSteak Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 7:30pm
Major problem, gts 250.  I don't think that will be powerful enough for all the rendering you will be doing.  Try to fit in a gtx 480, you can do it with your budget, or at least a 470.
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 8:13pm
Originally posted by bigmandutch

Sorry for being overcomplicated, but due to my age and with my life experiences: I try to be as concise as possible. The amount of knowlege I have gained by asking questions on this forum is invaluable. I am not that hardware knowlegable.
ok so..
what is your budget, and what exact things do you need your computer to do?
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 10:02pm
 Photoshop CS3 with Alien Skin Blow Up and Bokeh, Web Studio 5.0 and FotoPlayer for web design, ArchiCAD 7.0 for designing log homes, Chief Architect 8.0 and Autocad 2000i for designing stick built homes, Vectric Vcarve 5.0 for writing CNC programs for my CNC router.No gaming, Listen to music while working and copy CD's. Budget less than $2500.00

Edited by bigmandutch - 04 Aug 2010 at 10:04pm
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 11:08pm
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=429113
 
i noticed that you picked a sound card in your builds, but to my knowledge, none of the programs you listed rely on sound .. at least not sound quality like a video/sound editor
what makes you want one?
while it is in the budget, its a bit overkill for just listening to music.. unless you are very serious about your sound quality
 
 
you changed the HDDs around a bunch.. you know how much room youll need better than i do, so i'll leave that for you to change
 
you seem to really like the sniper case, that or the haf 922 will serve you well, little difference for your purposes, pick the one you think looks better
 
definitely take a 460 over a 465, the 465 was obsolete as soon as it was released lol no idea why it even was
 
you wont need more than a micro board becuase you wont use SLI
this board overclocks well, and for your purposes will be enough
 
i feel that based on the programs you listed that you are one of the few people who post here who can actually use 12gb ram, but thats a luxury, so if you wanted to keep it at 6gb*1600, that would be fine
 
not sure if it was one of your threads or something similar but i saw someone say something about your video card relating to your render ability, if you didnt already know, this work is actually done by the cpu, the only purpose of your video card will be to visually enjoy what you create, little more than that
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 at 11:51pm
Regarding the sound card, I definately do like good music sounds while I'm working and I do watch a good movie on my computer now and then. The Nvidia 460 reviews are very good compared to the 465. I wonder if the Nvidia 250 would suffice for my needs, since PhotoShop CS3 uses the cpu for all the work.  I do need a fairly good video card for rendering in ArchiCAD 7.0 and Chief Architect 8.0., and printing them out for clients The reason I chose the ASUS P6T Deluxe motherboard was that it has four onboard usb headers  which would enable DS to have all of my front usb ports connected to the motherboard regarding the media card reader installation as referenced on the DS website and it also has two pci slots instead of one for future upgrades if needed. ArchiCAD 7.0 and Chief Architect 8.0., each need to have a WIBU-KEY plugged into a front usb port for the apps to work and I also have a WD external drive that has to be plugged in a front usb port for saving important files.

Edited by bigmandutch - 05 Aug 2010 at 12:16am
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!ender_ View Drop Down
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Aug 2010 at 12:10am
i see where your head is with the USB headers, but im pretty sure that you can 2:1 any usb ports... at least it works for me on my gigabyte p55usb3, there are 2 2:1 splitters feeding the 4 usb ports on the front of my haf932....
i dont know enough about usb to know if this would work with any set up, but even if it didnt $120 seems like a hefty price to avoid reaching around to the back of your pc to plug in or getting something simple like a usb hub
 
i dont know what you mean by expanding in the future. if you dont game i cant see what you would need outside of 1 video card and 1 sound card, which the micro will hold both of + a pci express slot
 
 
im not versed enough with cad programs to know what kind of GPU power they need, but i can definitely say that the 460 is a great value, worth every bit of the 150 more youll pay. 200 series are simply outdated
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bigmandutch View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		  Quote bigmandutch Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Aug 2010 at 12:20am
I edited my prior reply to you to further explain why I need the front usb ports to work. I will look closely at your suggestins tho. I do not know how to  2:1 usb ports on the motherboard. To a newbie; what does that mean? Does DS offer any other motherboards that are cheaper and will do what I need done?  I will also welcome any suggestions for a more plausable and lower cost setup for the 3 hard drives that I need.

Edited by bigmandutch - 05 Aug 2010 at 12:36am
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Aug 2010 at 8:53am
well if you need as much space as you have listed in your configs, the only way to lower the cost would be to drop the ssd, which i wouldnt suggest based on the programs you use. are you sure youd really use 2 tb... i meant that is a tonnnnn of space
 
all i was saying is that i know you can split up USB connections, so you shouldnt need a mobo with 4 different usb headers to use 4 front usb connections
my haf 932 has 4 usb front connections but only uses 2 usb headers on the mobo
thats how stuff like this
is able to work
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