Rig Strictly for Heavy Photoshop Use

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njjuliano

New Member
After much exhausting reading, I've pretty much ended up with thebeginning's computer rig as below:


CASE:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

MOBO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150330

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

RAM (2 of these sets):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

2 dvd drives, and Vista 64.

My question is regarding the GPU, and how it will fare with PS CS4/3. I will not be doing any video here. Will this be overkill at all?

Additionally, I had an original budget of $3000 but am happy with this config. Any other things that I can change that can make me much happier? If you were to use it specifically for CS4, are there other things you would change from here that will make a noticeable difference?
 
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Eatskittens

New Member
You can gain performance increases from running a scratch disk for sure. I run a 160g scratch. I think what you have here will run it no problem at all. Personally I think it is a little overkill. What are you considering for a monitor? All the performance in the world doesnt mean a thing if you cant get a stable calibrated view of what you are working on.
 
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njjuliano

New Member
Yep, I have separate raptor drives from my current one that will be imported to this new one. I have a separate drive for the scratch and a separate one for the images. Though with CS4 and Vista 64, I dont think I'd need that as it can access theoretically all of the 12 gigs of ram. I say theoretically cause some poster on a photo forum saw that the rig was trying to access the scratch drive even though only 4 gigs of his 16 gigs of ram was being utilized.

Concerning the monitor, I have calibrated LCDs (as much as they can be).

Thanks for all the input so far.
 
Cleric7x9

Cleric7x9

Active Member
well, correct me if im wrong, but photoshop is a 32bit application, which means even though you are running it on a 64bit OS, it can still only use 2gb of RAM
 
Mitch?

Mitch?

banned
CS4 will be 64 bit, and CS3 will be 32 bit. Assuming you're running Windows, otherwise both are 32bit.
And if it is 32 bit, you can enable up to 4gb of ram in Vista.
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2238&page=13 said:
Force 32-bit Windows Vista to use all your memory by enabling PAE

As we stated above, the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista will only recognize a maximum of a little more than 3GB of memory if you have 4GB of RAM physically installed. It is possible, however to gain access to the rest of your 4GB of memory by enabling Page Address Extension (PAE) mode within Vista.

This feature works with 64-bit Intel and AMD processors to add an extra memory address space over and above what is usually available to the operating system. This will not allow enough headroom to access much more than 4GB of physical memory, so you'll have to move to Vista 64 or Linux to go further, but for users who have 4GB and would like it all to be used by Vista, this tip is worth a try.

One caveat; the extra memory addresses added by PAE require some extra work by Vista in order to use them, so you need to balance the benefit of the extra memory compared to this extra overhead. When it comes to apps that are not really memory hungry, enabling PAE may only slow your computer down. Still, it's easy to enable and easy to remove again, so why not try?

To enable PAE mode in Windows Vista:

Open an administrative command prompt (see Tip #20 for instructions on doing this)

Type the following: 'bcdedit /set pae forceenable'. Restart the computer.

Vista should now see your full 4GB of memory.

If you find performance has not improved the way you would like, you can disable PAE again by opening the administrative command prompt and typing 'BCDedit /set PAE forcedisable' followed by a restart.
Click to expand...
 
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njjuliano

New Member
Mr J is correct. CS4 is 64 bit and with Vista 64 can access all of the memory. If I were to plan on sticking with CS3, my plan is to get install a ramdrive with 6 gigs of my ram.
 
Shane

Shane

Super Moderator
Staff member
bcoffee20

bcoffee20

New Member
the patriot viper looks like a good deal. i've also read that people are having trouble with ocz ram
 
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Justin Horne

New Member
You just built a very similar setup to what I just built (well, ordered, newegg boxes arriving monday.) Photoshop was a big factor in my build, and here's my final list:

920 Core i7. (With plans for overclocking to ~~3.0)

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130221

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121288

HDDs x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335

Processor cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
 
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njjuliano

New Member
Thanks for the info on the ram. I'll check up on that.

Hmmmmm.. forgot about the CPU cooler. Is that necessary? I do plan on overclocking, but from what I've read, the 920 can easily go 3.2 on air. Any other reports or personal experiences?
 
Mitch?

Mitch?

banned
"On air" refers to an aftermarket cooler, "stock" is with the basic Intel cooler. I'm not sure what coolers are best for i7, i'm sure others can help you out alot more than I could on that matter.
 
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zer0_c00l

Active Member
Justin Horne said:
You just built a very similar setup to what I just built (well, ordered, newegg boxes arriving monday.) Photoshop was a big factor in my build, and here's my final list:

920 Core i7. (With plans for overclocking to ~~3.0)

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130221

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121288

HDDs x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335

Processor cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
Click to expand...

its not nice to jack other peoples thread ... but nice setup hope you learned your lesson :D
 
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Justin Horne

New Member
zer0_c00l said:
its not nice to jack other peoples thread ... but nice setup hope you learned your lesson :D
Click to expand...

It wasn't meant as a thread jack at all... I just ordered a system, and Photoshop usage was a pretty important factor in deciding parts. Therefore, I just listed everything I had. Easier to make one post with most all of it, than a few posts with various parts if it was asked... :confused:
 
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njjuliano

New Member
Hmmm, so on air is aftermarket. Things I learn. Thanks.

No "jack" felt here. Matter of fact, looking into the cooler you listed Justin, thanks. How did you end up with that decision?
 
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Justin Horne

New Member
njjuliano said:
No "jack" felt here. Matter of fact, looking into the cooler you listed Justin, thanks. How did you end up with that decision?
Click to expand...

There really didn't end up being a lot of choice, for one. Secondly, the other 'good' option is this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

I think that one is probably a littttle bit better, but it was also more $$$. I may have even gone for the higher one, if not for the reviews. The hyper 520 had 100 % (11) 5 star reviews, while the V8 had 81% 5star. I'm sure that's related to the fact the v8 has way more reviews, but still, for the cost difference, I think the 520 will be just fine.
 
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zer0_c00l

Active Member
Justin Horne said:
It wasn't meant as a thread jack at all... I just ordered a system, and Photoshop usage was a pretty important factor in deciding parts. Therefore, I just listed everything I had. Easier to make one post with most all of it, than a few posts with various parts if it was asked... :confused:
Click to expand...

mostly kidding dude see the smiley :D
 
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njjuliano

New Member
Looked into the cooler that Justin suggested above, and the V8 seems like a bit on the larger side. I'm a bit ignorant on how to check if this will pose an issue with my case. Anyone advise on how to measure this, more specifically, where in the specs will this be listed?
 
J

Justin Horne

New Member
Just wanted to throw an update out for you. I got my system (as listed above,) built tonight. Rinning Windows 7 beta, I ran the Retouch Artist's PS Speed test (Run it on your current machine for a referance.)

I actually pulled a faster time than ANYTHING they have listed, including the (albeit older now) 4x3.00 GHz Zeon Mac Pros, with a completion time of 18 seconds. I was blown away, this thing rips.
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
njjuliano said:
Looked into the cooler that Justin suggested above, and the V8 seems like a bit on the larger side. I'm a bit ignorant on how to check if this will pose an issue with my case. Anyone advise on how to measure this, more specifically, where in the specs will this be listed?
Click to expand...

Id recommend the Xigmatek S1283 over the cooler master V8, its about half the price and performs better than the coolermaster V8. Can be found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
 
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