$2000 (or a little more) to build a photography/video editing/gaming power pc?

[supanamu]

My current comp is dying a slow, painful death. The fan has been dead on the CPU for almost a year and I kept thinking the cpu would die, too, but it still hasn't (cpu runs around 65c when not processing much, and around 85c when playing MW3 or editing video. The comp freezes regularly or shuts down when the cpu gets too hot). I know, I know...should've replaced the fan a long time ago! :/

I use my computer mostly for work, but also for MW3 a couple hours a night. I need a system that can handle high level video editing (especially rendering long, effects-heavy videos in Premiere), sound editing (I need high quality microphone vocal recording), large file size professional photography editing and video gaming. I've saved up $2,000. If I can salvage anything that's worth keeping from the old comp, to keep costs down, that'd be great.

MY CURRENT COMP:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit OS (I'd like to upgrade to Win7)
Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67mhz processor (may be damaged from no cpu fan for almost a year)
12gb OCZ Triple Channel DDR3 ram
ASUS P6T LGA1366 motherboard
GeForce GTX 295 dualcore graphics card (896mb)
300gb Western Digital Raptor drive (for OS - needs replacing)
1tb Western Digital SATA drive (for file storage - this one's almost full and won't be moved to the new comp)
Pioneer DVD-RW DVR 116D (SCSI)
Realtek Audio soundcard (horrible)
Temjin Silverstone case (don't remember what the model is)

Now that I've found this forum, I'm definitely willing to try to build it out myself, I just want to make sure I get the right set up so I don't get a few weeks into it and think, "Damn, I can't do high end work OR gaming on here!" because I'm a noob, haha.

So, what can/should I salvage from my old comp? I know that's asking a lot, but I thank you, in advance! :D

[RickyTick]

If you like your Temjin case, you could re-use that. You didn't list a power supply, but if it's a high quality unit, you should be able to re-use that too. You will probably want to salvage the 1TB storage drive, and the DVD rom.

With $2k to spend, this can be a great setup. I'll throw a few suggestions up here in a little while.

[supanamu]

Hey Ricky, thanks for the fast response! I do like my Temjin - it's the SST-TJ03S ( http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/15-case-power-tower-round,821-53.html ).

My power supply is the Corsair TX850. As for the 1tb drive, I'm going to pull and store it because it's almost full (it mostly has archived photos and video on it) and start with a new storage drive.

[ARchamps]

For $2000 you could probably build a nice socket 2011 system with the new Sandy Bridge-E processor (probably the best option). That will likely drive you closer to $2000 with everything. Alternatively, you could build with an i7 2700K (socket 1155) with a Z68 chipset. Lastly, IvyBridge is around the corner as well and could be worth looking into as well. It isn't significantly better than the current SB lineup, but from what I have read has better onboard graphics and power consumption.

For MW3, I think a 560 Ti will be enough for MW3 (not that graphically demanding). Your PSU should be good to use as well. I think a 120GB or 256GB SSD would be good for OS, games, and applications. The case seems fine, but the only thing that would worry me is the airflow. How were temps inside your system when everything was running well?

I'll post some suggestions when I get a chance tonight or tomorrow.

[supanamu]

ARchamps, thanks for the reply. When the comp was running well, it still ran pretty hot, even with 5 fans. The case is cramped for space inside, definitely.

[RickyTick]

CPU $339 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115095
MOBO $205 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
RAM $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231486
GPU $310 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127615
SSD $200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147134
HDD $250 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136792
Sound card $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

Comes to just over $1500. I didn't include any rebates or shipping charges. You could add a Blu-ray player if you wanted to. Don't forget, you can sell all your old stuff on ebay to recoup some money too.

[supanamu]

Thank you for taking the time! Some questions:

1. I need a sound card that can accept XLR (professional mic) inputs...I was thinking about this one - http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496.html - besides the XLR input, is there anything else I should consider when choosing the sound card?

2. If I decided to get a new case, what would you recommend?

3. Finally, should I just get Windows 7 from from NewEgg or is there a better place? And what is the main difference between Home and Professional?

When I buy everything, I'll take photos or video of the entire build process and put them up here. Maybe they'll be of some help, and maybe they'll help me if I need help troubleshooting, lol.

[RickyTick]

If you click on the second link in my signature below you'll see a few of my favorite cases. That would be a good place to start.

I would suggest Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. It doesn't matter if you get it from Newegg or not,

I'm not an audiophile and don't know much about sound cards, but that one looks great.

[supanamu]

Yeah, I read through that before I made my first post. Very useful!

I think I more meant if there was one you thought would work better with the buildout you listed, but I'm guessing they'll all work. I own a Silverstone already, and think I might want to stay with the brand - what's your opinion on this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163120

[RickyTick]

Excellent case

[supanamu]

OK, final question and then I'm off to order parts! Is my Corsair TX850 power supply strong enough for this new build?

[RickyTick]

Yep. More than enough.

[zburns]

I would have posted these links on video editing from Adobe earlier had I remembered them, but you should read them. Adobe recommends to load your RAM up to the max, in order to get fast access times to memory while video editing. You might read the Adobe recommendations and see the forum comments. At least you should be aware of their reasoning. Look for 'Max Out on Ram'.

Here are the links: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404439.html This one is an adobe forum on the subject: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/784009

[supanamu]

Thanks zburns! That's a great read.

[supanamu]

Scratch this post, I just remembered the list Ricky posted was around $1,500! Thanks

[supanamu]

Hey Ricky, if I want to fill up all four slots in the motherboard you recommended, can I use this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231490

[RickyTick]

Well, yeah that would work, but that seems like a lot of money for ram.

How about the ram I listed previously and just by 2 kits. That would only be about $216.

[supanamu]

I think the price difference has to do with the 32gig pack being DDR3 1600 instead of DDR3 1330. What's the difference between the two?

[Bryon]

A few things that may be the reason.

1: Its a Quad Channel Kit - Compared too: Dual Channel Kit
2: DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) - Compared too: DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
3: Cas Latency(10) - Compared too: Cas Latency(9)
4: Timing(10-10-10-30) - Compared too: Timing(9-9-9-24)

zburns would be a better person than me to tell you exactly what those mean and why one is better, leading to a price increase.

Bryon

[RickyTick]

DDR3 1600 instead of DDR3 1330

Yep, missed that part. Plus the motherboard does not support quad channel, so after a little more detailed research, this might be a better choice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231569

[zburns]

The primary reason for the cost of the RAM is the fact that each stick is for 8 gigabyte. Most RAM on this forum has been max 4 gb per stick. Most motherboards max out at 24 gig or 32 gig. In this case 32 gig in four slots represents 'high end' any way you look at it. Large dollars probably justified in that so much RAM capacity has to be put on one stick. Individual DIMM chip cost high because of GB capacity.

It is a Quad Channel kit which means some 'matching process' between the sticks.

Most important, it is 1.5 volts RAM as compared to 1.65 volts. You can find in the INtel spes for the cpus, for example, that voltages over 1.5 plus a few 'hundredths of a volt' are not welcomed by Intel, like 1.59. Intel has some limits not much larger than 1,5 plus just several 'hundreths' of a volt. I am under the impression that 1.65 volts may affect the life of a cpu. A year ago, Intel was ballastic over RAM volts greater than 2.0 for OC purposes. A lot of these comments are from Intel papers I read a year ago, that I can no longer find on the internet.

[zburns]

My comments above are ref the Quad Channel RAM. Also, I was assuming quad channel RAM which in turn caused me to assume that the mobo of choice was Quad Channel also. The build is for a fast Photoshop build where the 'scratch disc' for photoshop is mostly or entirely the RAM; that is the purpose of loading up to max 32 gb RAM -- in editing video frame by frame, your edits, frame by frame will go faster if you do not have to access the hard drive for the 'frame by frame edit data'.

So using 32 gig of RAM is important. If your mobo is four channel, that also means that the mobo/four channel RAM combo will be faster than a dual channel mobo/dual channel RAM. Before Supanamu decides on all this, I suggest he talk to someone at Adobe about the final build. It is an assumption right now that a four channel system vs a dual channel system is faster. The question is how much faster frame by frame and what are the pluses / minuses of four channel vs two channel.

This is a large expensive build with high anticipation as to the final video editing results.

[supanamu]

Thank you all, again...this has been one of the best forum experiences I've had in twenty plus years of using the web! I'll contact Adobe and see if I can get some input on the quad channel issue.

[supanamu]

OK, so Adobe says there would be a significant speed increase if I used a motherboard that supports quad channel RAM and used 32gbs (as long as I'm using 64bit OS), so how about a suggestion for an ASUS mobo that would support the quad channel RAM? I confess, I tried to find it on NewEgg but didn't know how to search for it.

[Bryon]

Here is a link too Asus Mobo's on newegg. However I am unsure which ones are Quad Channel. Give those a look and see if you notice one you like and I will try and find out which one it supports =]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?bop=And&Submit=StoreIM&N=100006519%2050001315&IsNodeId=1&Depa=1&Category=20

Bryon

[supanamu]

Thanks for the offer Bryon, but I already looked through the ASUS mobos on NewEgg, and I don't see any specs listed that tell if it supports quad channel RAM, or not. I think I just don't know the right specs to look at.

[Bryon]

Ok, I went through and checked all of the Asus Mobo's on Newegg, they are all either Dual channel or Triple Channel. No Quad channel.

Bryon

[zburns]

If you will google, 'Asus Quad Channel Motherboards' you will get a google page with these three listed at the top and there is one cheap one that should show up. Here are the ones you will get: P9X79 Deluxe mobo, Rampage IV Extreme/Battlefield 3 mobo, and X79 Republic of Gamers Motherboard. There are at least 4 Quad Channel Asus mobos.

Supanamu, you are talking a lot of bucks, and a lot of opportunities to make expensive mistakes. I cannot recommend this level of technology being part of a new build by a new builder. You are easily approaching the cost of doing a photoshop bona fide 'workstation'. My recommendation would be to make a simpler build as originally planned, learn from the build and the experience of using it a year or two and then if you want to increase speed, do it then. Again, my recommendation!! It is an 'honest recommendation. I hope Ricky Tick will add his comments!

[Bryon]

I would suggest going dual channel and then just getting 2 dual channel kits :)

Bryon

[RickyTick]

For the quad channel, the only option is the X79 chipset (or Sandy Bridge E).

[supanamu]

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread...my build parts arrived just now and I'm steeling myself to get started. I'll take pics and cry a lot along the way...wish me luck!

[ARchamps]

Good luck! Let us know if you have any questions.