Hey all,
Over the next few months I'm planning on saving for a computer to run PS and all other essential graphics programs and HTML editors etc. I'm hoping to get a desktop (already have a laptop). I want to get something that will run fast, I'd also like to use this computer for recording music. I'm wondering if it'd be cheaper to just build a pc? Either way if you guys have suggestions on either parts or computers I'd love to what you suggest. My ideal budget would be $1000-$1200 dollars. Although if it's really worth it to spend more I may save up.

Thanks,
Kevin

Edit:
I did a little more shopping and built what seems to be an amazing pc, it would cost about $1800 more than my initial budget, but I could hold on off on getting 8gigs of ram and get 4, and start off with 1 monitor. I've worked on pcs before, replaced motherboards etc, but never have fully built a pc. I'm not sure if i should or not, I'm figureing that I'll never buy a pc as fast as this for the price.

2x G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

2x Acer AL1717 FB Black 17" 5ms LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 800:1 Built in Speakers

POWERCOLOR AX4870 512MD3-RM Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

OCZ EliteXStream OCZ800EXS 800W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Intel BOXD975XBX2KR LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

BELKIN F9H710-12 12 Feet 7 Outlets 1045 SurgeMaster Home Series


I already have these monitors, so I probally wouldn't buy speakers.
Event-TR8XL

Setup looks good, but you could probably shave off 2 GB of RAM and use it for a bigger monitor, around 21-24". Anyhow, good luck.

Case is a bit expensive... I bet you could find a better one if you do not have your heart set on that one.

For that budget you can also look into a Mac. I know some people that absolutely love theirs. They are not necessarily the most powerful machine you can get for the price though.

The case is good i has that one lol
and yes Mac is good although im not a big fan of macs.

thanks for the advice guys, the case i really like I think it will work well, id rather spend money on something that will work and last.

Ive never been a mac fan, simply cus ive always used pc. I dont think im ready to switch to mac. . Although in the future i might get the mac book pro or wat ever it is. It would be good for portable recording.

Thanks,
Kevin

I'm sure it is a great case, just if you have not browsed all the cases on Newegg I suggest doing it. I happened to find a case that was on sale, had a mail-in rebate, and had free shipping! I ended up paying $30 for this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811146025

Great case for me.

Also as far as the monitors go. Since the speakers are probably shitty and you would have to work with having dual monitors with speakers, I would go with dual:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824009091

The prices turn out roughly the same due to free shipping and you get much more screen space. Again, just my opinions, everyone has there own reasons/motivations when building a computer.

nice finds cmain i really like the monitor, speakers dont matter to much though, ive got a very nice pair of studio monitors but still i get your point.

Im thinking about buying this computer in pieces I cant afford it flat out right now, but id like to buy pieces and start putting together while working to save up for the rest.

Any suggestions on what i should buy first?second?third?
mother board, cpu and ram? since Id install those first?

again this is the first computer ill be fully building myself.

Yea i wouldn't worry about anything that you already have now that you can use, like your monitors and hard drives and such, just get the main pieces like the mobo cpu ram and maybe graphics card if yours wont fit


Then you'd have a pretty awesome computer right there, and you could addon the less necessary stuff later.

thanks for the advice trippin, any buddy no about sound cards? im looking for a good sound card for recording, i heard creative makes some good ones, but they make alot of sound cards

Don't forget, need money for graphics programs (unless you know me... >.<) heh heh heh

i just purchased a copy of PS like a month ago, would they allow me to transfer my account to the other pc?

they might... but if not I can help you

nice, would it be a legit copy?

The Antec 900 is about the most retarded thing I've seen. Get either the 300 or something in the P18X series.

Don't buy a 10,000 rpm hard drive unless you want to pay 3 times as much to have photoshop load 1.02 seconds faster.

no... that is the problem...

I'm interested in what you plan on doing which is going to utilise 8GB of RAM... That's ridiculous.

ya ive been talked down to 4 gigs of ram, since the 32bit hard drive i was looking at only can go up to 3.5 and im not planning on overclocking , I guess i wanted 8 because Im a man, and I love power!!!! lol same reason I would buy the 500 watt speakers instead of the 300s when i really wouldnt even be turning it up loud enough to tell th e differnece

you don't need more than 2GB unless you're running a 64-bit OS, in which case, no more than 4GB.

i want to run a 64-bit OS but ive been told that its not a good idea because not a lot of software is compatiable with it. Is this true? All i really need is PS and Protools

Here's the build I'm going for so far.


CPU

MotherBoard

RAM

Power Supply

Video Card

Case

Hard Drive

CD Drive

CPU Cooler

OS 64-bit

Sound card still undetermined, I'm going with 2 of the acer 19" monitors aswell. This is going to be almost twice my original budget, but I don't mind paying for quality.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kevin

I find the 900px height too small on a 19"

Get as big as you can now and buy a second one later.


Have you looked at the new 28" monitors 1920x1200: They have had big price reductions recently.

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/Search...&Sku=143496

hmmm,thanks for theinput prixat, ill defenitely consider that!

Get

Vista 64-bit.

2x Acer X193W+BD

G.Skill RAM

ib why should i get vista? im just curious your reasoning behind it, i almost got vista on my lap top but no one could give me any real reasons to upgrade.

Thanks for your info,
Kevin

If you want a 64-bit OS get Vista unless you like not having any applications running.

I personally like Vista, I've never had any problems with programs not running on it (granted I have the 32-bit edition but still everyone was complaining about programs not running) and yea It does use more ram than XP did, but you can make it use alot less than the default installation.

And I definitely second prixat's suggestion of getting one larger (or at least better screen resolution) monitor first, rather than two less qualified monitors to start with. I have a 1024x768 lcd monitor and I HATE having that small of a resolution, working in photoshop absolutely sucks. I used to have a mammoth crt with 1280x1024 and even that wasn't the best resolution.

The complain wasn't about programs, it was about driver support. But if you're buying something new it'll definitely work in Vista (no too sure about XP though)