Buying new system - need advice please

[effectica]

Hi,
as my 5 year old 3XS system has died about a week ago and all attempts to revive it have been unsuccesfull, I am looking into buying a new system and I would like some advice please.

I use the computer mainly for work were I make heavy use of Photoshop to design graphics and I usually have many other applications running at the same time.

In these days I have been trying to configure a 3xs system from the website but I wanted a second opinion before purchasing the system.

This is the configuration I came up with from the website:

h.t.t.p://3xs.scan.co.uk/ConfigureSystem.asp?SystemID=972

1 Akasa Omega - Black Aluminum Case
1 Asus P6TD Deluxe, Intel X58
1 Intel i7 930, 2.8Ghz, 4.8GT/s QPI, 8MB Cache
1 Noctua NH-U12P SE2 Dual Fan Quiet CPU Cooler
1 Your choice of Intel I7 professionally overclocked by our 3XS engineers to 4Ghz
1 12GB (6x2GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600) CAS 9
1 512MB PNY Quadro FX580 - 2x Display Port & Dual Link DVI
1 550W Corsair VX Series PSU (Single Graphic Card)
1 80GB Intel SSD Gen 2, (Read 250MB/s Write 70MB/s)
1 1TB Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black, SATA 6Gb/s, 7200rpm, 64MB Cache, 8 ms
1 Sony AD-7240S-0B - 24x DVDRW
1 Akasa AK-ICR-07S 3.5" Internal Multi Mem. Card Reader Incl. M2, Micro SD & USB port
1 Edimax EW-7728In 300Mbps Wireless PCI Adaptor
1 *Operating System Not required* (System Tested under Microsoft Vista)
1 Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 (v9) UK Edition 1 Year - 1 User
1 Standard 3XS System Warranty - 2 Years (1st Year Onsite / 2nd Year Return to Base)

Total: £1,591.53

Here are my questions:
1) I realize that the system has some very good specs and this might be a silly question, but I guess I just want to make sure. Are these specs ideal for heavy photoshop usage?

2) Is the 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache better than the 1TB Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black?

3) Does this system make use of the SATA 6Gb/s?

4) I have chosen not to buy the OS since I already bought a copy of Windows 7 64 bit for my current PC. In what state will the system be delivered? Will I have any difficulties in installing my copy of windows 7?

5) I didn't have much choice with regards to graphic card option, but would the 512MB PNY be good enough to play something like Call of Duty?

6) Will I have the option to add more Hard Disk Drives ( SATA from my current PC) to the new PC?

7) If I want a different component from the ones that are listed when you configure the system on the website; is that something I can discuss with someone?

8) Usually how long does it take to build and deliver the system from the day I order it.


Sorry for the long email. And thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.
Thank you.

[leepen@scan]

1) I realize that the system has some very good specs and this might be a silly question, but I guess I just want to make sure. Are these specs ideal for heavy photoshop usage?

They can be fine tuned so that you have a dedicated Scratch Disk for Photoshop

2) Is the 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache better than the 1TB Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black?
Not at all. Caviar Black's have dual IO controllers and better mechanical parts, all exclusive to WD. Less bottlenecking on a Caviar Black when reading and writing to/from the same disk.

3) Does this system make use of the SATA 6Gb/s?
Not as standard, but the inclusion of an Asus U3S6 card shouldn't be an issue, or swap the board to P6X58D Premium.

4) I have chosen not to buy the OS since I already bought a copy of Windows 7 64 bit for my current PC. In what state will the system be delivered? Will I have any difficulties in installing my copy of windows 7?
The system shall have Windows 7 Pre-installed, albeit without a licence. Simply enter your licence when prompted to register and away you go.

5) I didn't have much choice with regards to graphic card option, but would the 512MB PNY be good enough to play something like Call of Duty?
The graphics options on these machines are not intended for playing games. There are many different (and better) cards that we're happy to use in systems if you're looking for a little bit of a hybrid machine for both work and play.

6) Will I have the option to add more Hard Disk Drives ( SATA from my current PC) to the new PC?
Of course, let us know how many and we'll even lay the cables for you.

7) If I want a different component from the ones that are listed when you configure the system on the website; is that something I can discuss with someone?
Certainly, drop me an email - leepen at scan.co.uk

8) Usually how long does it take to build and deliver the system from the day I order it.
Roughly 2 weeks from the point of ordering. We're not the fastest - but we're certainly the most concise


Hope this helps,

All the very best

[effectica]

Hi,
thanks for your reply.

I am just checking if you have received my email?

Thanks.

[effectica]

I am sorry if I seem a bit impatient but as I have mentioned my old 3xs system died. I do freelance work and I am stuck at the moment without a computer.

I was hoping to get an answer by today for my question:

I use the computer mainly for heavy Photoshopping, web development and some gaming.
Would a system like this be suitable for my needs?

CASE
Antec Three Hundred

MOTHERBOARD
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R - SLI *Supports USB3 and SATA6* (£133.17)

CPU
Intel i7 930, 2.8Ghz, 4.8GT/s QPI, 8MB Cache (£196.17)

CPU COOLER
Prolimatech Megahalems Super 6 Heatpipe Tower Cooler

RAM
12GB (6x2GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600), CAS 9 (£243.90)

GRAPHICS CARD
896MB Asus GTX 260, 576Mhz GPU 216 Cores, 1998Mhz GDDR3 (£128.26)

PSU
650W Corsair Professional CMPSU-650HXUK, Modular PSU with 80PLUS Bronze Certification

HARD DRIVE - OPERATING SYSTEM
320 GB Western Digital WD3200AAKS Caviar Blue, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms

SYSTEM DRIVES
2 x 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black, SATA 6Gb/s, 64MB Cache

OPTICAL DRIVE
Sony AD-7240S-0B - 24x DVDRW (£13.59)

WIRELESS ADAPTOR
Edimax EW-7728In 300Mbps Wireless PCI Adaptor (£22.84)

CASE COOLING FANS
2 x 120mm Akasa Amber Case Fan, Ultra Quiet and Long life with NO LEDs


I came up with this spec just because they seem good components and because if I am not mistaken a good CPU and a lot of RAM is what usually works best for Photoshop.

Any advice/reccomendations please?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[effectica]

Hi,

you guys must be very busy or maybe I just got the email addresses wrong?

I have asked for advice by email since Saturday.
I phoned yesterday and then sent an email to Paul.

Can I ask someone to kindly acknowledge that my emails have been received or that someone is looking into answering my query?

Thanks.

[Philipp]

effectica,

Sorry for the delayed response, I have nudged the sales team someone will be in contact very shortly.

Best Regards

[effectica]

Thank you Philipp.