Can't decide if I want to build or buy!

T

tbfoto

New Member
Hi guy's.....I've been reading and asking questions here for a couple of weeks now and I'm totaly at a dead end! I really need to replace my old computer but I cannot decide if I should build one myself (with your help) or just go buy one off the shelf. I've posted my problems with my old computer being so slow that I can't do two things at once. I want something faster...much faster and that will last me several years to come. I've tried to compile a list of parts on my own but I get lost in compatibility issues so I'm going to ask for your help.

I'm a photographer and I need to be able to run photoshop programs and burn fast CD/DVD's. I need to be able to open several images at a time and run software on them. I dont play video games and I rarely listen to music but do want to on occasion. I have a budget of around $600-700. I will continue to use my current monitor ,keyboard,mouse,speakers. I use a cable modem for internet.

Please suggest a list of componets for me build.
I dont know whether to use AMD or Intel.

I know that want a:
CD/DVD burner
1 gig ram
3.0 or faster GHz ??????

Thanks for your help.
 
Last edited:
well running two things at once, for instance diting two pictures at once, would be in the realm of a dual core processor. It's by no means necessary and it'll be more expensive, but it'll help out with multitasking. As far as a dvd burner, anything will work roughly the same, just buy one from a brand you've heard of and you're probably fine. I'm a fan of Intel more so than AMD, and Intel's are generally better for multitasking anyways so I'd definitely suggest Intel, but I'd also say get a pentium over a celeron, they're more expensive but it's a much better processor. Building a computer isn't that hard, troubleshooting it when something goes wrong can be quite difficult. For this reason you might be better with an off the shelf one cause you can get customer support and not have to stop working cause your computer's down. On the other hand, one you build yourself could be built much cheaper and you'll be able to partition your hard drive or get multiple drives with a lot less setup, since most out-of-box ones have the OS pre-installed so your stuff you want to keep safe would need to go on another hard drive or you'd have to format and then partition as soon as you get the new one. If you want a specific list of parts, look at the Pentium D 2.8Ghz processor (built a comp for my mom with this and it runs circles around my 3.2 Hyperthreading) and a 945 chipset motherboard, the two of which should make up almost half the cost of your computer, the rest can all be lower budget stuff.
 
I'd say go with a Pentium 4 3.2Ghz w/HT
1GB DDR2 Dual Channel
16x DVD+/-RW DL DVD Burner

With the Hyper Threading, your CPU acts like a dual-core cpu, and is better multi tasking then a non HT single core cpu.

I wouldnt go with a Pentium D, i'd say go with the 3.2Ghz P4 w/HT.
 
Well said! Building usually means you get more bang for your buck, and you know exactly whats in your computer.
Also, you get the knowlage and experience for it too!
 
I'm a photographer and I need to be able to run photoshop programs and burn fast CD/DVD's. I need to be able to open several images at a time and run software on them. I dont play video games and I rarely listen to music but do want to on occasion. I have a budget of around $600-700. I will continue to use my current monitor ,keyboard,mouse,speakers. I use a cable modem for internet
Click to expand...
MSI K8NGM2-L ($65.00)
AMD Athlon64 X2 4200 [S939, Manchester, ADA4200DAA5BV] ($364.00)
Buffalo MAJOR 2x512 CL2.5 ($71.95)
NEC 3550A DVDRW ($39.75)
Logisys Area51 Case + 450W [12V@25A] ($37.50)
Maxtor DiamondMax10 250GB 16MB SATA ($120.99)
Subtotal: $699.19

The above system will handle quite well.... now if you are doing serious photoshop/photography stuff, you're gonna want a boatload of RAM (for anyone who doubts, a quick photoshoot with say a Canon EOS1DS will chew out 512MB CF card in no time, so if this is all postprocessing, Photoshop is gonna have to cycle through well over 1GB of data no sweat). Here's an alternative (which is cheaper too)
NEC 3550A DVDRW ($39.75)
Logisys Area51 Case + 450W [12V@25A] ($37.50)
Maxtor DiamondMax10 250GB 16MB SATA ($120.99)
PQI Power Series 2x1GB CL4 ($129.91)
MSI 945GM2 HF ($92.00)
Intel Pentium D 920 [LGA775, Presler, BX80553920] ($266.00)
Subtotal: $686.15
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top