Advice re CPU and MB

[bigROBOTbill]

Hi guys, a good friend wants to upgrade his machine. He needs a good CPU and MB combo, and perhaps faster RAM, what would you advise.
He doesn't play games but uses video and photoshop handling very large files. Money is not too important.
Cheers...

[swindle]

https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=19365

A combo like that would really bring him up to date. Ton of CPU processing power with some nice fast RAM and plenty of it.

[bigROBOTbill]

Ah yes that's the stuff, though he doesn't need the case or power supply. The main reason he's upgrading is because his machine refuses to start randomly, he's had it to Playtech and they say there's nothing wrong with it. I reinstalled win7 for him after Playtech mucked that up but it still plays up again when starting.

[Mayhem_Lee]

Can he wait approx 6weeks? Haswell release be coming up.....

Assume he will just be running everything as stock?

[bigROBOTbill]

Don't think he can wait that long, it's driving him crazy.

[Mayhem_Lee]

Fair enough, I realise Playtech may not be in the good books currently but they have better pricing on hardware (mobos). Sandy Extreme as noted by swindle really isn't needed... considering the 3820 vs 3770 are evenish, And your associate won't require quad channel ram etc etc of sandy e.

• CPU 3770 non k - $409
  
• Ram Corsair 16GB 2 x 8 - $259
  
• Motherboard Asrock Z77 E4 - $219
  
• Total = $897

Normally I would say get the 3770k + a cpu cooler of sorts but is it really needed/will he overclock? He could also treat himself to a mini itx build? Only need to change mobo & get a case.

#Everything looks expensive to me until i realise AUD vs NZ $$ :)

[Lias]

I disagree with ya Mayhem.

Primary use of the machine is Photoshop with very large files. RAM is god here. Sandy-E/Socket 2011 is the way to go, because that way he can have 64gb of RAM.

i7 3820 (Cheapest 2011 i7)
Asus P9X79 (cheapest 2011 mobo with a minimum 3 year warranty)
64gb (8x8) Kingston Value Ram (reasonably cheap, lifetime warranty, overclocking is not an issue here)

Also Bill, if he's not using an SSD and a decent Photoshop supported GPU, slap him upside the head and make him buy those as well.

[bigROBOTbill]

Thanks guys I shall pass all this on, no he won't be overclocking and quietness isn't too important, he's older than I am...

I wish it was for me!

[Xenolightning]

64GB RAM is ridiculous, 24-32GB will suffice for anything not running Crysis.

Sandy-E, sure why not.

SSD a must have, RAID 0 those bitches if you can too

[Lias]

64GB RAM is ridiculous, 24-32GB will suffice for anything not running Crysis.

Depends on if Bill meant _large_ when he said large.. I know people that edit 20gb files in photoshop.

I guess he could go with 4x8 now and upgrade later if needed.

[Mayhem_Lee]

If more ram is needed then bump up to 32gb. Sandy E is a waste if you only run a 3820 cpu.

+11 to the SSD & GPU goodness

[Hmmmgood]

Mayhem_Lee is spot on,you really need a hex core to benefit from 2011.

Depending on how big the dudes files are the money would be better spent on 1155 + ssd/gpu.

[Lias]

I favour 2011 for the ability to go to 64gb of ram, but hey lets get the guy to buy a hex core 2011 :-) It's not our money i spose :-)

[Mayhem_Lee]

I favour 2011 for the ability to go to 64gb of ram, but hey lets get the guy to buy a hex core 2011 :-) It's not our money i spose :-)

Trims the beard, buys flashy clothes.... Now advising on excessive pc hardware! What happened to the noobtube/CG troll Lisa we all grew to love?

[O-L-W-A-G]

64GB RAM is ridiculous, 24-32GB will suffice for anything not running Crysis.

Sandy-E, sure why not.

SSD a must have, RAID 0 those bitches if you can too

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-raid-benchmark,3485-13.html

Would be cheaper to buy one larger drive than two and spend extra money on the GPU if he doesn't have one

[Emrico1]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-raid-benchmark,3485-13.html

Would be cheaper to buy one larger drive than two and spend extra money on the GPU if he doesn't have one

This, photoshop uses the GPU as well these days.

[bigROBOTbill]

He's gone for much of what you reccomended Mahem, I suggested he send his case PSU and GPU to Computer Lounge to install the new stuff including an ssd drive and test it and install win7 and ship it back.

[Mayhem_Lee]

He's gone for much of what you reccomended Mahem, I suggested he send his case PSU and GPU to Computer Lounge to install the new stuff including an ssd drive and test it and install win7 and ship it back.

No worries, Let us know how he gets on with it all.

[bigROBOTbill]

Update so far, I convinced him to send his case/GPU/PSU to Computer Lounge and get them to install all the new toys and win7 64 and an SSD and make it all go well. He's 72 and just wants it to humm.  

[RCranesNZ]

I got the peripherals from here: http://www.wiseguys.co.nz/computer-hardware/. Always follow Reviews and Ratings for best buy.

[Mayhem_Lee]

Update so far, I convinced him to send his case/GPU/PSU to Computer Lounge and get them to install all the new toys and win7 64 and an SSD and make it all go well. He's 72 and just wants it to humm.  

So any update for us on how he finds the system? Assuming it made it out of CL in one piece

[bigROBOTbill]

Yep it all came back and he's pretty happy, other than having to install everything of course. Says it does open programs real fast though. He got all his pld [parts back which he thought were causing all sorts of problems. I have installed his slightly better old MB into my machine, as well as his 550Ti and they have been running real well for me ever since. I'm now trying to sell my MB, CPU (q6600) 8GB of ram and a pair of matching GTX 460's if anyone is keen. $600 the lot freight free...