Optimal CS Computer Configuration

JR
Posted By
Jen_Rose
Apr 9, 2004
Views
393
Replies
8
Status
Closed
We’re getting a new design computer. What’s your dream machine?

I’m capable of building my own from component parts, but will consider "already-built".

Must be WinXP

Jenrose

MacBook Pro 16” Mockups 🔥

– in 4 materials (clay versions included)

– 12 scenes

– 48 MacBook Pro 16″ mockups

– 6000 x 4500 px

RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 9, 2004
Search the forum Jen. It’s been discussed quite a bit.

Bob
JR
Jen_Rose
Apr 9, 2004
wrote in message
Search the forum Jen. It’s been discussed quite a bit.

Bob

I’ve been searching…

Jenrose
DP
Daryl_Pritchard
Apr 9, 2004
Jen,

As Bob said, this is a common question in the forum, and one I’d have thought should be fairly easy to search for related threads on. However, the forum’s search engine has never seemed particularly effective to me and my own attempts to find multiple threads on this topic turned up very little. My own "dream" system wish list should satisfy all I’ve never done but keep saying "someday" to, inclusive of audio and video projects, and maybe some gaming as well. If anything is overkill based upon how I use my current system, it is the expensive ATI graphics card and 250GB drives. But, dreams are subject to being tailored down to reality when the time arrives that I’m actually ready to buy/build a new system. In any case, here’s what my dream system might be comprised of if I stick to a single-CPU system (I run a dual-P3 system now):

1. Gigabyte GA-8KNXP i875P motherboard
2. 3+ GHz Pentium 4 CPU (possibly Prescott favored to Northwood)
3. 2GB (4x512MB)Dual-Channel matched OCZ or Mushkin DDR400 memory
4. ATI 9800XT 256MB video card
5. Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum sound card
6. Plextor 8X DVD-RW/+RW drive
7. Samsung 52x32x52x16 DVD/CD-RW combo drive
8. 2x 74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000rpm SATA hard drives (RAID)
9. 2x 250GB Wester Digital 7200rpm SATA hard drives (maybe RAID)
10. Adaptec SCSI Card 19160 (for external SCSI film scanner) 11. Linksys Wireless-G PCI card
12. US Robotics 56K modem (when broadband inoperative)
11. CoolerMaster ATC-201 mid-tower case
12. Antec True550 Power Supply
13. 19" Iiyama Monitor (existing CRT used for color-critical work) 14. 19" LCD monitor (secondary display, possibly Samsung) 15. Windows XP Professional
16. Wacom Intuos 4×5 tablet
17. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro (keyboard & mouse)

Well, that’s a start. 🙂

Daryl
MM
Mick_Murphy
Apr 9, 2004
Given the recent news from ATI not supporting 3rd party monitor calibration, including Adobe Gamma, that might not be a good bet. And caution with the dual channel DDR RAM. Various reports of problems and slow downs. Two 1 Gb sticks might be a safer bet.
DP
Daryl_Pritchard
Apr 10, 2004
Mick,

Thanks for the heads-up on the ATI cards…I’d not heard of the calibration issues. As for the DDR issue, I am aware of that and wasn’t sure if two 1GB sticks are a "sure bet" or merely, as you say, "safer". If they are a sure bet, then I’d agree with you. Otherwise, at least 4 sticks of 512MB gives me the opportunity of removing 2 and still having dual-channel support until Adobe fixes whatever is causing the problems you refer to. Or, I might simply go with 1GB DDRAM until I felt upgrading to 2GB would work.

Regards,

Daryl
MM
Mick_Murphy
Apr 10, 2004
Daryl

I haven’t yet seen anybody state that 2 is better than 4 and I’m not going to splash out just now to find out but 1 Gb sticks of DDR400 seem to be getting more common and cheaper so they may be a safer bet. Just guessing really.
BC
Bill Crocker
Apr 10, 2004
An ATI 9800XT would not be the best choice for Photoshop. It’s optimized for 3D games, primarily…and way over priced, even for that!

Bill Crocker

wrote in message
Jen,

As Bob said, this is a common question in the forum, and one I’d have
thought should be fairly easy to search for related threads on. However, the forum’s search engine has never seemed particularly effective to me and my own attempts to find multiple threads on this topic turned up very little. My own "dream" system wish list should satisfy all I’ve never done but keep saying "someday" to, inclusive of audio and video projects, and maybe some gaming as well. If anything is overkill based upon how I use my current system, it is the expensive ATI graphics card and 250GB drives. But, dreams are subject to being tailored down to reality when the time arrives that I’m actually ready to buy/build a new system. In any case, here’s what my dream system might be comprised of if I stick to a single-CPU system (I run a dual-P3 system now):
1. Gigabyte GA-8KNXP i875P motherboard
2. 3+ GHz Pentium 4 CPU (possibly Prescott favored to Northwood)
3. 2GB (4x512MB)Dual-Channel matched OCZ or Mushkin DDR400 memory
4. ATI 9800XT 256MB video card
5. Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum sound card
6. Plextor 8X DVD-RW/+RW drive
7. Samsung 52x32x52x16 DVD/CD-RW combo drive
8. 2x 74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000rpm SATA hard drives (RAID)
9. 2x 250GB Wester Digital 7200rpm SATA hard drives (maybe RAID)
10. Adaptec SCSI Card 19160 (for external SCSI film scanner) 11. Linksys Wireless-G PCI card
12. US Robotics 56K modem (when broadband inoperative)
11. CoolerMaster ATC-201 mid-tower case
12. Antec True550 Power Supply
13. 19" Iiyama Monitor (existing CRT used for color-critical work) 14. 19" LCD monitor (secondary display, possibly Samsung) 15. Windows XP Professional
16. Wacom Intuos 4×5 tablet
17. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro (keyboard & mouse)
Well, that’s a start. 🙂

Daryl
BC
Bill Crocker
Apr 10, 2004
Make sure your system board is designed to handle it. Also, with some systems, you can actually have too much RAM, and things slow down.

Bill Crocker

wrote in message
Mick,

Thanks for the heads-up on the ATI cards…I’d not heard of the
calibration issues. As for the DDR issue, I am aware of that and wasn’t sure if two 1GB sticks are a "sure bet" or merely, as you say, "safer". If they are a sure bet, then I’d agree with you. Otherwise, at least 4 sticks of 512MB gives me the opportunity of removing 2 and still having dual-channel support until Adobe fixes whatever is causing the problems you refer to. Or, I might simply go with 1GB DDRAM until I felt upgrading to 2GB would work.
Regards,

Daryl

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