Project Graphic Design Build Suggestions.

[profane]

I’m currently in the process of making hardware decisions for my new build based on graphic design as the main focus. This system will be running Adobe Photoshop CS, 3D Studio Max, as well as some other programs that will need a 586 Limited Edition 72 Chevy Nova engine instead of a lawnmower engine. Here is what I have come to so far decision wise on which processor and ram to get.

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 640 Prescott 800MHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 EM64T Processor

RAM: Two pairs of Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) – (4GB total)

Suggestions on a different CPU/RAM would be appreciated. Or letting me know if those are a good match for what I am basing the build on. Thanks

 

[chemist_slime]

Opteron 170 and 4 gigs of ram.

 

[ho72]

Opteron 170 and 4 gigs of ram.

CS can't make use of the extra RAM like CS2 can*. I would strongly suggest ANY dual core processor (I prefer AMD) over a single core unit, Hyper-threading not withstanding.

*It is possible to append the Large Image bit to the CS binary header to allow the use of extra memory on a machine with 4GB of RAM, 3GB of which will be available to Photoshop if the /3GB switch is invoked in the boot.ini file. There is info available on how to do this, but you'll have to find it yourself as I will not be responsible for borking your system. Suffice it to say, a suitable recovery strategy should be adopted prior to editing either your boot.ini file or your CS exe.

If you really are building a graphics workstation and don't want to cut corners, go with dual Opterons. Even two single core Optys will outperform X2s in Photoshop, and probably in Max as well. Further on up the road, you can drop in two dual core Opterons for a QUAD setup (and stuff it full of RAM if your budget can tolerate it). I would expect Max to be able to use this sort of processing power in the near future. Another neat trick is that CS2 (I know, you're running CS, but this might be a reason to upgrade)... anyway, CS2 under a 64bit OS can utilize memory above 4GB for caching as opposed to writing immediately to the Scratch disk. This can speed up operations with large files tremendously. Right now, 6GB is the sweet spot for Photoshop's RAM needs under XP64.

 

[santaliqueur]

Opteron 170 and 4 gigs of ram.

i wouldnt limit him to socket 939. he should go socket 940, with future expansion up to quad cores and 16 GB memory. a bit pricey, but the performance and expansion is about the best you can buy.