Time to upgrade desktop

K

kmria

Suspended / Banned
Messages
10
Edit My Images
No
Hey guys,

It's about the time to upgrade my desktop and I am looking some thing with dedicated graphic card. I use following on regular basis,
Photoshop
Illustrator
ACDSee
Bridge
Although I do some graphic designing I use it 95% of time for photo enhancing.

My budget is around £500 - £600. The reason I am asking is because I have no idea about PC hardware and specially graphic cards so if any of you guys can point me right direction I will be very grateful.
 
You don't need much in terms of graphics for photo editing. Graphics cards come in useful when video editing with programs (like Premiere Pro) that can take advantage.

For that price look for i5-2xxx or i7-2xxx (the 2xxx mean it's second gen Intel processor which is good). 4GB but preferably 8GBytes memory. Any Nvidia graphics in the low nujmbers (Nvidia increases numbers to show increasing graphics performance, the first digit being the generation of graphics). so an Nvidia GTx20 < GTx30 < GTx40 etc. The lowest (GT420 for example) you can get will give you plenty for photoshop.

I assume you have a monitor you can reuse...
 
If you're any good at jigsaw puzzles you should have a think about building the PC yourself. You'll get a good spec for your budget, but if your looking to maximise output you could get a great spec by buying the parts and putting it together.
An AMD FX-6 6100 Black Edition 6 Core 3.3Ghz goes for just over £140 and thats the most expensive bit, a decent motherboard, 8GB of DDR1600 memory, a 1 TB hard disc and a decent graphics card should leave you with lots of change for the other bits.
 
modchild said:
An AMD FX-6 6100 Black Edition 6 Core 3.3Ghz goes for just over £140
Click to expand...
Which is what an i5-2300 which benchmarks the same goes for.

IMHO, there really is NO compelling reason to go AMD these days. I wish it were different, but until AMD get their act back together, Intels core ix range have AMD beaten...
 
Thanks guys for just a detailed replies. Arad85, one thing I never understood was the difference between graphic cards and thanks to your simple explanation it all make sense now. I do have monitor but while I am upgrading might as well get new one ;)

Modchild, My current computer is built at home (me and friend of mine built it. Well, he built it and I had beers!!) I agree with you about the better built and cheaper price, only problem is time. But I will add up all the component cost and beers cost! and will go for it.

Mean time, I have found this workstation that I really really like on paper, what you guys thing?
http://www.box.co.uk/Acer_Predator_G5_1087022.html
 
kmria said:
Thanks guys for just a detailed replies. Arad85, one thing I never understood was the difference between graphic cards and thanks to your simple explanation it all make sense now. I do have monitor but while I am upgrading might as well get new one ;)
Click to expand...
Don't forget that (in general) the next gen GFX are a bit faster than prev. gen, so GT450<GT540 (ish)... (although a 420 will do you fine!) You get the idea...

kmria said:
Mean time, I have found this workstation that I really really like on paper, what you guys thing?
http://www.box.co.uk/Acer_Predator_G5_1087022.html
Click to expand...
Not bad on paper... Older gen i processor, but still pretty performant. Will probably be a big speed up on what you currently have.
 
If your going to be photo tinkering use on-board graphics save the money on an unessential card (which will only produce more heat)

Use on-board graphics with a I7 2600, nice cheap motherboard. Use the stock cooler (unless your over-clocking) 8gb ram will do you unless your editing 6+photos at a time with light-room and a photo-matrix running in the background.

PSU one of corsairs low budget range will do.

That should bring you to 400 ish throw in windows 7 64 bit for 450 ish then spend your money wisely on HDD's. SSD for the OS then some form of VelociRaptor drive with one for backup with the opportunity to get more in the future.

I cant stress enough how much current mechnical HDD slow down software, it is one of the best overall performance gains possible a quicker HDD.

arad85 said:
(although a 420 will do you fine!)
Click to expand...

Does not need a graphics card for what his doing at all, more ££, wasted electric and unwanted heat and noise.
 
Last edited:
daza said:
If your going to be photo tinkering use on-board graphics save the money on an unessential card (which will only produce more heat)

Use on-board graphics with a I7 2600, nice cheap motherboard. Use the stock cooler (unless your over-clocking) 8gb ram will do you unless your editing 6+photos at a time with light-room and a photo-matrix running in the background.
Click to expand...
In which case you need to understand which board you're buying... You'll need H6x or Z68 boards to output Gfx. I'm not a fan of H6x boards personally as they have too many limitations IMHO.

I'm also not 100% confident on the HD3000 graphics drivers - my laptop (i7-2360QM) doesn't render video correctly if running off internal gfx. It's fine when the GT525 is running. This could well be an issue with the Nvidia/Intel Optimus drivers but.... My i7-2600K is on a P67 board, so doesn't have onboard Gfx.


daza said:
PSU one of corsairs low budget range will do.
Click to expand...
Overspec your PSU. It works better when it's running at 30-70% load.... Corsairs are fine tho (running 3 PCs on Corsair TX 650s here)

daza said:
Does not need a graphics card for what his doing at all, more ££, wasted electric and unwanted heat and noise.
Click to expand...
See above...
 
I'd say its down to the drivers its not the first I've heard of the optimus fail. Good idea poorly implemented as software let it down again.

I've heard nothing but good reports form the GPU in the 2600 line done a couple of tests with it and its quite happy running 2d applications.

If there's a desire to go with a pci graphics card due to wanting 2 or more monitors (my case) Id go something stupidly low powered and possibly a couple of generations old due to the cost saved. Same reason why Ive got a 7900gt coupled with a 5990
 
daza said:
If there's a desire to go with a pci graphics card due to wanting 2 or more monitors (my case) Id go something stupidly low powered and possibly a couple of generations old due to the cost saved. Same reason why Ive got a 7900gt coupled with a 5990
Click to expand...
Which is why I suggested a 420... Perhaps a 210 may be cheaper.

BTW, optimus works nicely...
 
daza said:
I'm thinking much older gen for that try 7 series or 8 9 at a push.
Click to expand...
8400GS/512MB = £22.52
GT210/512MB=£22.00

:shrug:
 
hey guys, thanks a million for your replies (I must admit I will have to read it few more times before I understand it!)

I have a friend, (same guy who built my current PC) he will be helping me to build my next PC too. I have told him about what I want and now that will let me know when he is free.

Daza, thanks for the link it helped me the great deal. I am glad i posted this here *** otherwise I would have gone for ready built pc and get reaped. I am going for 420 graphic card. However, if my budget goes up I might get 460.

Once again, thanks. You guys rock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top