Photo editing pc

[JKimbo]

Its time for a new pc since my current pc is really not up for it anymore. I use my it mainly for photo editing (photoshop) and i really need something quicker to improve my workflow. I've already got a case, monitor, hard drives for it and all i need is to replace the core components:

Motherboard
CPU
Memory
Graphics Card*

*has to be passively cooled.

My budget is £400. Any suggestions?

On a side note can anyone tell me how important a graphics card is for photo editing?

Cheers

[chuckskull]

On a side note can anyone tell me how important a graphics card is for photo editing?

Depends on the size you work at mainly, avoid onboard but you wont need a top end gaming card either.

[JKimbo]

Depends on the size you work at mainly, avoid onboard but you wont need a top end gaming card either.

will something like this do:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=470934

also is there any difference in getting nvidia or ati?

[chuckskull]

will something like thsi do:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=470934

also is there any difference in getting nvidia or ati?

it wont be neck snapping, but it will be much better than onboard.

[JKimbo]

it wont be neck snapping, but it will be much better than onboard.

alright thanks. i might get something beefier when dx10 comes along.

what about the rest of the system?

i was thinking pentium d 805 with 2gb of memory. should just about fit in the budget.

any suggestions for the mobo?

[toolsong]

One of the main things a graphics card will give you for 2D is a stronger output so it will drive your monitor properly and give a better picture.

I have a dual LCD setup at work, one onboard and one off a card. Getting them looking even using monitor settings and display control panel was hard. Both are analog VGA into Dell 17" @ 1280x1024.

[BUFF]

any suggestions for the mobo?

unless you get something really cheap try to get 1 that also supports the Core 2 CPUs for a future upgrade (something like an abit AB9 or Gigabyte P965 -S3 or DS3).
Get as much RAM as you can.

[JKimbo]

unless you get something really cheap try to get 1 that also supports the Core 2 CPUs for a future upgrade (something like an abit AB9 or Gigabyte P965 -S3 or DS3).
Get as much RAM as you can.

i really only have £60 to spend on the mobo so those are abit over budget.

found this mobo: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=443861
it seems to have good reviews and is in budget.

i've also found this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=458379
which seems pretty cheap for a 965 motherboard but i can't seem to find anything about it on the web apart from the manufacturers website! does anyone know anything about it?

i also need the motherboard to support up to 4 gb of ram (planning to upgrade in the future) and sata raid 0 for a scratch disk.

[FInalD]

Wouldn't an AMD 939 setup run things better than a Pentium D?

The onlt problem is that it would remove future upgradability to C2D if you want to get that at some point without chaning motherboards.

FinalD

[BUFF]

i've also found this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=458379
which seems pretty cheap for a 965 motherboard but i can't seem to find anything about it on the web apart from the manufacturers website! does anyone know anything about it?

I believe that Anandtech may have a review on it shortly.

[JKimbo]

Wouldn't an AMD 939 setup run things better than a Pentium D?

The onlt problem is that it would remove future upgradability to C2D if you want to get that at some point without chaning motherboards.

FinalD

AMD 939 would require ddr memory and i would like to upgrade to conroe or AM2 in the near future. i was thinking of an AM2 set-up because they do seem better at photo editing but there don't seem to be any decent cheap AM2 motherboards available. (according to custom pc that is)

I believe that Anandtech may have a review on it shortly.

thanks, i'll keep and eye out for it.

[BUFF]

i was thinking of an AM2 set-up because they do seem better at photo editing but there don't seem to be any decent cheap AM2 motherboards available. (according to custom pc that is)

If you can afford £60 for a mobo the abit nF-M2 is £58 on Today Only over the weekend at Scan. It's decent.

[JKimbo]

If you can afford £60 for a mobo the abit nF-M2 is £58 on Today Only over the weekend at Scan. It's decent.

looks good. hows it for overclocking?

[BUFF]

very good for an mATX, does over 300 external clock & has 2.5V for Vdimm.
There's a screenie kicking around of 1 running an x2 3800+ @3.2GHz.