Specs for Graphic Design Computer

Brazzell Marketing · 12-19-2007, 07:43 AM

Please help with advice. The biggest files I work with are when I am designing convention displays (200 dpi 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide). The Photoshop files can be 100 to 200 MB. I would like to buy a new computer in the next 15 days, and I am not sure where to accept the standard and where to upgrade to the max. I would like to spend less than $6,000 for a PC with monitor and Adobe CS3 with Dreamweaver. There will be no video games on this computer. So where should I invest? RAM, Processor, Video Card? Should I insist on XP but I understand that limits my RAM to 3GB. Is more than 3GB overkill right now?

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 12-19-2007, 01:53 PM

Well CPU, you can go for a quad core... I have the QX6850, that's a 3gb quad.

RAM yes as much as the OS will allow. If its XP, 3gb will work with a boot.ini 3gb siwtch. That's what I have. try and stay with performance RAM.

Definitely go with dual monitors.... and a video card that supports dual DVI.

HDD, go with SATA. A couple of hundred gig drive as your primary for OS and programs and a couiple of hundred gig secondary drive for storage and scratch drive. Third and fourth if you want... But two minimum.

I can go on and on but other will have opinions too.

The mac users will show up here shortly so they will chime in on that front too.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 12-20-2007, 09:30 PM

On a side note, if you decide to go with XPpro, make sure, (as you settle on your components), that you buy components that are Vista ready. That way when Vista is ready for prime-time, you can upgrade your system without too much of a hitch (relatively speaking).

You should be able to build out a sweet rig for about $3500... All the guts and monitor(s) (assuming you're not going to spend money on a LaCie or Eizo screen).

As for peripherals I highly suggest:

-A backlit Saitek keyboard (Eclipse II) About $80
-An internal card reader for all those sd's, cf and sticks... About $20
-CD/DVD burner About $50-$100
-Tablet: see Wacom.com

zeruel · 12-21-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

Well CPU, you can go for a quad core... I have the QX6850, that's a 3gb quad.

RAM yes as much as the OS will allow. If its XP, 3gb will work with a boot.ini 3gb siwtch. That's what I have. try and stay with performance RAM.

Definitely go with dual monitors.... and a video card that supports dual DVI.

HDD, go with SATA. A couple of hundred gig drive as your primary for OS and programs and a couiple of hundred gig secondary drive for storage and scratch drive. Third and fourth if you want... But two minimum.

I can go on and on but other will have opinions too.

The mac users will show up here shortly so they will chime in on that front too.

whoah... you're computer must be really fast eh? Mine is just a 1 gig Dual Core...

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 12-21-2007, 04:52 PM

Yeah it's pretty fast.

And I just got FiOS, 20mbps / 5mbps... Now everything is fast!

Brazzell Marketing · 01-02-2008, 01:54 PM

Thanks. That will help.

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 01-06-2008, 12:34 AM

No problem. I hope you'll post your specs once you've built your rig.

webrehash · 02-26-2008, 11:54 AM

You'll get a screamer for 6 grand. I just built a Quad Core with 4GB ram, GeForce video for around $1,100. I already had the dual monitors.

CaffinePhil · 02-27-2008, 02:20 AM

Damn, I only paid $800 for my PC and it does the jobs I need, little things in Photoshop and had 2gig RAM. Wish I had 6000$ to spend on kit though.

WOuld be nice to hear what you decided on and maybe a pic?