Need ideas for $5500 budget

That looks like a solid build that etsa put up but I would switch those monitors out with the samsung 226bw and get dual 8800gtx instead of ati cards. would add like 200 bucks to the price but I think it would look better.
 
cheburns said:
That looks like a solid build that etsa put up but I would switch those monitors out with the samsung 226bw and get dual 8800gtx instead of ati cards. would add like 200 bucks to the price but I think it would look better.
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why is everyone even mentioning these gaming cards? If you want a good work station business class video card, get a matrox. They make the best multiple display video card out there, and they are solid cards.

High end video cards do pretty much nothing for digital photography work, those applications utilize mostly CPU and RAM, and Hard drive.
 
ComputerGuru64x2 said:
You'll probably want a Quad Core, So im going to get you a pretty good workstation build.

ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115027

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231110

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136131

LIAN LI PC-65B Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112040

ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135146

XFX PVT80GGHE4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card - Retail x 2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102007

LG L245WP-BN Black 24" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 500 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail x 2
Windows Vista Certified

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005089

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

Creative Inspire P7800 90 Watts 7.1 Speaker - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836116153

Lol, That will be a good build
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Em. No A 320mb can't handle an NG 2006 game
 
ETSA said:
True, I guess my influence was in there..

:-)

However, you are telling me the card here that costs 1500.00 outperforms the 500.00 one..?

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=389&card2=518

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195005

Besides, photo shopping, not exactly the most intensive gpu usage....

Its not like they are running auto cad...
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No, people are listing gaming cards, not work station cards. If you were to compare that Fire GL card to a Nvidia Quadro, then yes you can compare those. You can have an 8800 and a 7900 both running photo shop and a 7600 and the photo shop will run the same regardless because gaming video cards do nothing for any kind of design work.

Now, developers of photoshop, after effects, video toaster, 3Dsmax, maya, autocad, etc can take advantage of Quadro hardware to render. They don't really take any advantage of gaming cards, because they are designed for gaming.

Then again, photoshop work doesn't really utilize GPU that much anyways, it is mostly CPU/RAM/HD usage. You are just crunching number, not rendering in real time.
 
Yea but more graphical power means a better image, granted this is overkill.

Can you be more specific in how those specialty cards do so much more than gaming cards in those instances you listed.
 
ETSA said:
Yea but more graphical power means a better image, granted this is overkill.

Can you be more specific in how those specialty cards do so much more than gaming cards in those instances you listed.
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Not really, 1280 x 1024 is 1280 x 1024 regardless of what video card you use. Most graphic arts programs will not utilize any technology in a video gaming video card. Why would Nvidia make the Quadro series if that were the case?

Buying a video gaming card is a waste of money, especially since they can get expensive. You are much better purchasing a work station card. Which is why I recommended a Matrox if the OP was going with a PC.

I still recommend a Mac Pro though overall.
 
No, he's right. I'm a graphic designer as well and gaming cards are made for gaming, the workstation cards are for workstations. Which is why most sites that let you customize your own computer when you order it make you select between Workstation and Gaming.

As some others would say I would highly recommend a Mac Pro. They're sturdy, long-lasting, ultra powerful, reliable, etc. Especially with Adobe products. If you want a top-of-the-line Mac Pro though with 3 HDD's and everything it'll be a bit more than $5500. I think the dual-monitor setup like you want would be a huge waste. Instead of getting a 24" and a 22", skip that and get a 27 or 32" and have a swivel for it.
 
I understand these cards are used for 'workstations' but no one has yet explain to me how they do what you say they do so much better than a normal GPU.
 
damn you must be rich!!! if you have any money left of i sure could use the cash!LOL! and whats the difference with a work station card?
 
Cheese said:
damn you must be rich!!! if you have any money left of i sure could use the cash!LOL! and whats the difference with a work station card?
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It's a business = Tax write-off :D

Anyway, I am going with a workstation card... I don't want a Mac, I am going with Dual 22" like mine below, QX6850 CPU, NO ATI CARDS!!
 
ETSA said:
I understand these cards are used for 'workstations' but no one has yet explain to me how they do what you say they do so much better than a normal GPU.
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It has to do with how you utilize the tools given to you. Devs are given different sets of APIs which have direct access to hardware resources. A gaming GPU is made for real time rendering, physics, texture mapping, pumping out video at high frames per second. This is because video games can execute instruction sets that are specially developed for it. Since gaming has gotten so big it has its own set of APIs, called Direct X.

Other applicatins have their own.

So, when you put in a work station card it is designed from the hardware level to crunch numbers, not render video and sound for a video game.

I still think the Mac Pro is the best bet, but Matrox Card is the best multi display
 
INTELCRAZY said:
It's a business = Tax write-off :D

Anyway, I am going with a workstation card... I don't want a Mac, I am going with Dual 22" like mine below, QX6850 CPU, NO ATI CARDS!!
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What does your client want? You have to realize when consulting its not about what you want it is about what your client wants. I always give my clients the choice of platform and tell them the advantages of each. If your client is interested in a Mac, all you need to do is have them buy it with an Apple care plan and the rest is just setting it up. They will have three full years of software/hardware support and extended warranty with the apple care plan. That way you don't have to support the machine.

It sounds like this is not your business and not your money, therefore you should be giving your client tons of choices. Like I said earlier, custom built PCs for business is not a good idea for the most part.
 
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