Building a computer for a web designer...

onipar

Member
Hey, gang!

I can always rely on this site and the fantastic builders here to help me out (have built 2 computers based on the help here in the past), so I am here again.

My brother is a web designer. He has always used Macs, but can't afford to go that route this time, and is looking to build a quality PC for as cheap as possible.

He uses the Adobe Suite and other graphic oriented software. He needs the whole package: monitor, case, graphics card, etc.

I've never actually built a computer that needs a graphics card, so I'm a little out of my depth. It doesn't have to be for video games, but something that can handle graphic art.

I'm thinking an Intel build would be best, though I'm not sure which CPU he'd need for this.

Thanks in advance for your help!

EDIT: follow up question. When requiring all the peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, windows OS, etc) would it actually be cheaper just to buy a pre-built computer?
 
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onipar

Member
I'm in the US, no real budget, though I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible. Under $1000 would be good, even cheaper would be awesome. Thanks!
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
OK this is $995. I use the Adobe suite on a similar kind of setup (you can see in my signature that I use an i5 2500K and so on). If you want it cheaper let me know.

Intel Core i5 4670K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116899
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128617
8GB RipJaws-X 1866MHz (can always buy another set to upgrade to 16GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

EVGA GTX 760 (probably best to stick to NVIDIA for Adobe suite. I have a Radeon HD 5870 and I wish I had an NVIDIA card for Premiere Pro and CUDA) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130934

Corsair Carbide 300R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011
Corsair CX600M http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139048
Seagate 1TB HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
LG DVD-RW Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136270

I don't know if he needs an OS or not, but if he does just grab a copy of Windows 8.1 64-bit.

Otherwise, that's your lot. :)
 

onipar

Member
Awesome, thanks so much for the help! I'm prepping for work, but I'll take a closer look a little later and hit you up with any questions I might have. Thanks again!
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
No problems mate. It's a good build and I think it will serve him well. :good:
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
Well the Z77 isn't going to work with the i5 4670K since the 4670K is a socket 1150 CPU and the Z77 Extreme4 is a socket 1155 board!

I don't really recommend ASRock. Look at this cheaper Gigabyte board instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128591 or look at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128675

Or look at a proper ASUS board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131981

The 660 is an old video card which came out 2 years ago. I didn't particularly like or recommend it when it was new, so if he can I would recommend he sticks with the 760.

The one I found was a bit pricey, here is a cheaper one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130933 (it's 10 dollars less).

If he's not into the video editing side of things, I reckon he could get by with an AMD card. It's really things like Premiere Pro and After Effects which make the most use of CUDA. Photoshop and Dreamweaver less so (and I use all 4 on my AMD card - Ps and Dw work fine but Pr and Ae lag a little when playing back high resolution video, but both are usable).

One thing to note - video editing applications in CS5.5 and older are really geared towards CUDA (hence why I sometimes find Premiere Pro CS5.5 lags a little on my machine with the 5870), but CS6 and newer are less-geared towards CUDA...

Here's an R9 270X for 210 dollars: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202050 it's way better than the GTX 660.

If he wanted to go even cheaper he could get this R9 270 (non-X) for 180 dollars: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127769
 
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spirit

Moderator
Staff member
Yeah it looks good for the most part but the HAF 912 isn't a case which I particularly like or recommend. The cable management in the Corsair 300R or the Fractal Design Define R4 is better. I tend to buy cooler Master cases. But for 54 dollars it'll be OK and if he likes it then it's all good I guess.

The SSD is OK but again you can get faster ones for not much more. I think this is a better SSD for a bit more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2W01AZ5378

Remember that you can easily add an SSD later, but it's harder to replace the case, so I would forget about the SSD for now and buy a higher quality case instead.

He also only needs the aftermarket cooler if he wants to overclock, but that is a good cooler he's chosen. If he's not overclocking then the cooler the i5 comes with will suffice.

He can save 20 dollars by not buying that extra case fan too. He doesn't need it (if he buys a case with a sufficient number of fans already installed - and most have!)
 

Jiniix

Well-Known Member
Have you tried building a PC in the HAF 912, spirit? To be honest it's not that bad.
Used it for my brothers PC with 2xHD 5770 and 2500K with an Seidon 120M.
Obviously it's not as good as Define R3/4 or Arc Midi 2, but for half the price it's very good.

Look at this pretty picture :) Fully cabled.
It's all about having enough zip ties, which are virtually free.

RbtCa9FD.jpg
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
No but I remember ex-member Wolfeking hated it and went on about how cable management was difficult because there was not enough space between the motherboard tray and the side panel. Owning an NZXT Lexa S and having the same problem, I know how frustrating this is. I think the innards in the HAF 912 are silver too. It's really showings its age if so.

Wolfeking and I used to PM a lot on this forum, so I know he hated and would never recommend it for that reason. Seemed a good reason not to recommend it.
 

Jiniix

Well-Known Member
There are OEM versions of it (and the Corsair 300R) that aren't painted on the inside.
Above case is a HAF 912 I bought a long time ago (3+ years) and the build quality is outstanding. If it had better dust-proofing, I would say it's a 8/10 case and 10/10 for $55.
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
Probably worth sticking with NVIDIA for CUDA?

Only if his brother is going to be using stuff like Premiere Pro and After Effects I think. And the later versions of these applications aren't as geared towards CUDA as older versions such as the CS5 and 5.5 were.
 
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