64 bit windows

[arthurking83]

I'd go with Win7 Pro(sorry.. make that I went with Win7 Pro!! ) .. I found a few of the extra admin features I use all the time(I think $150 or so for the OEM version)

Macca's idea of forgetting the BlueRay burner makes sense, intially at least, unless you think you may ultimately want to burn to BR discs that is.

I got a seriously cheapo graphics card(I'm not a gamer either) and it runs both of my two screens, a 24"@ 1920x1080 and a 17"@ 1280x1024 at the same time with ease.
I watch the odd video every now and then too(not much tho).
They say men can't multitask.. but give' 'em two screens and watch them fly, I say! I'll have three or four apps running concurrently and continuously(or so it seems). made so much easier with dual screens tho.

Mine cost about $70 and is a Asus 1Gb ENGT 220(low end in the Nvidia lineup).. you don't need that much graphics power for photos and videos.

if you drop a few hundred here and there(easily done with your specs) you could easily set yourself up with two screens too.

If you go with the LG W2353 screen(I have the W2442, 24" as my main screen!!) plan to get yourself a calibrator too!

You may seriously need it. The difference between the default setup of the LG screen and how it subsequently looks when calibrated to match the older 17" screen is startling!
I stupidly purchased a Syder3 Elite.. for the software, but it turns out that the software is barely acceptable. I subsequently got BasicColor display which calibrates them a lot better.
The Sypder software does a much less efficient job of calibrating the two screens properly. It seemed to do one or the other ok, but setting the correct Gamma was an exercise in frustration.
Once I learned a little about BasicColor4.. I was sold on it.
The beauty of the basicColor software is that it will calibrate with just about any hardware calibration device.. Spyder's, Huey's and so forth. And I think you can purchase the BasicColor software with a hardware device, so saving a few dollars in going the integrated route.

Also, I'm not massively into Office type applications, so I never thought to bundle a cheaper Office suite into my purchase, but I do need access to various Office file formats and be able to create them for others to use too.
I tried out OpenOffice, and was very impressed at how well it handled MS Office files(so far), I resent various edits of Office file formats to my sis(who uses Office 2010) to confirm OO's ability to handle MS's file formats and she was happy with them.
My only issue with not having MS Office is that I can't sync entirely with my old PDA(WM2K3), and I haven't found any way to sync the PDA to OO. It syncs perfectly with the PC and I can access all files on the PDA, but I continuously get an error message that no associated email program is available(for the PDA to sync too). I don't use the PDA for emails tho.. the error message is just annoying.

Finally. make sure that the case is user friendly. Antec!! .. I got a cheaper but very cool looking case with huge 40cm side fan(for super cooling on the cheap )... and it blows a gale onto the hardware.. keeping it very cool(in my about to get super heated study(I have no ventilation )
Problem is that the case was designed by monkeys on hallucinogenics!! adding hard drives is a pain in not only the bum, but on the fingers as well. Coming from a series of Antecs, who's hard drive bay designs were a pleasure to use, this Aero Cool case is a pile of junk. I now have all hdd bays filled. Not all drives are connected, but I don't want to go through the ordeal of adding a hdd to this case again.
(actually it's nto that bad as a case.. pumps a lot of air through itself, and once setup, is more than acceptable(9/10 in fact).. just adding hdd's is so painful, even when empty!
I should have spent the extra $100 on the Antec!(live and learn, I guess).
I'm not saying that you will be looking to add any more hdds into any PC case, but if the need ever arose, and the case was badly designed.. you'll regret it(then).

anyhow.. just a few other thoughts to share.. before you totally commit.
Just remember as you take more and more photos, and start filling the hdd's with 1Tb of images in 2 or 3 years... that Antec case will be an extra $100 that you'll be happy to have wasted away

[Cheach]

Concur with King Arthur and Maccas.

Windows 7 pro x64
Don't skimp too much on the case. get a decent case and it will give you better cooling etc. Antec is a very good case. i got one and can't fault it
On board sound card is more than enough if you are not a gamer.
If you want good video card for apps rather than games, i would go with nVidia Quotro range.
Personally I would go with Seagate HDD.

Have looked at www.msy.com.au ? they generally have very good prices.

Cheers
Rob

[jbee]

Thanks once again for the comprehensive assistance from you all in reviewing the specs and suggesting changes. I have the price down to $2240.00 now including monitor an LG 23" LED.
I down speced the graphics card to a Gigabyte ATA HD 5750, cut windows back to W7 Pro. 64bit and changed the case to an Antec Dark Fleet DF30 with a 600W PWS. The case looks realy well made from the specs and has plenty of easily accessable bays, i really liked the Antec server case too, but it was just way too deep at 26", but boy does it look like it would be easy to work on.
I kept the Blue ray burner, just in case I ever need one and because i like the LightScribe feature, it will save me looking for a printer with a CD tray.
That price still includes the same version of Office, but i plan to shop around for that tommorow and cut that price back too, so i should come in at less than $2K including frieght
Thanks in large part to you all reviewing the specs and pointing out where i have gone over the top.

A HUGE THANK YOU

[jbee]

A huge thanks to everyone who reviewed my specs and post. I got my new PC on Friday and spent about 5 hours on Sunday transfreing everything to it and getting my software installed, the only issue i had was with the belkin wireless dongle and that was cured with a quick 64 bit driver download from my laptop.
It's an awsome bit of kit and the advice and opinions I got was a great help.

A special thanks to arthurking83 & maccaroneski for comprehesvily rewiewing the components i selected, it is always great to have second opinions on stuff like this no matter how much you think you know - The Antec Darkfleet DF 30 case for instance is a work of art, with no sharp edges, superb internal access without even removing the sides, filters on the fans, a hot swap drive bay etc etc. I have worked on some really bad cases in the past as i work in IT support and i wish other case manufacturers took a look at this one.

Thanks agian - boy does CS5 fly now

[arthurking83]

..... The Antec Darkfleet DF 30 case for instance is a work of art, with no sharp edges, superb internal access without even removing the sides, filters on the fans, a hot swap drive bay etc etc. I have worked on some really bad cases in the past as i work in IT support and i wish other case manufacturers took a look at this one.

...

OK, OK!! settle!.. No need to rub salt into my wounds! .. My stupid AeroCool case is mow stuffed to the brim with hard drives(and that includes one spare) so that I never have to delve into it's recesses for a long time. if I ever do tho, it'll be to rip everything out and place it (much more easily) into a new Antec case.. maybe even a Lian Li case(who knows??) but Antec make great value for money cases.

[nissanman]

A huge thanks to everyone who reviewed my specs and post. I got my new PC on Friday and spent about 5 hours on Sunday transfreing everything to it and getting my software installed, the only issue i had was with the belkin wireless dongle and that was cured with a quick 64 bit driver download from my laptop.
It's an awsome bit of kit and the advice and opinions I got was a great help.

A special thanks to arthurking83 & maccaroneski for comprehesvily rewiewing the components i selected, it is always great to have second opinions on stuff like this no matter how much you think you know - The Antec Darkfleet DF 30 case for instance is a work of art, with no sharp edges, superb internal access without even removing the sides, filters on the fans, a hot swap drive bay etc etc. I have worked on some really bad cases in the past as i work in IT support and i wish other case manufacturers took a look at this one.

Thanks agian - boy does CS5 fly now

Great work, i should have read that before i posted

What system did you end up with?

Cheers,
J

[nissanman]

I am currently running 64 Bit Windows 7 along with CS5 64bit with Lightroom 3 64bit. No problems.

To be honest you wont have any problems, Windows 7 is fine with all x86 (32bit software)

As for a build of PC, the more cores you have the better you will be able to process videos and images.

Honestly, you wont need more RAM then 4gb. Look at speed of your ram more so.

Ive run a Q6600 (quad core clocked to 2.9ghz) 4gb of 800mhz ram with a 4670HD GPU with CS5 LR3 etc and it is perfectly quick. Fast loading, fast encoding, fast exporting.


My brother runs the 1090T black AMD 6 core cpu. For the money it is the best bargain CPU ive used and seen. It is very eaily clocked (if wanted later) and for the price nothing can touch it. (again, for the price) Real world youll find again 4-6gb RAM is fine. Anything above this is overkill and useless.

$2,600 for that machine is silly.

If you want performance, Ditch that Overkill of RAM, downgrade that GPU and buy 1 SSD (Solid state drive) you will load anything in a near instant. Dont believe me, google them, youtube etc.

[Cadnium]

Hey mate,

one small issue with Windows 7 64bit (and other versions?) is that explorer cannot display thumbnails of RAW images. You can buy a seperate package to do it (which i did) if you want.

Other than that, it works a dream.

In regards to RAM, make sure you get good stuff and consider the CPU/MOBO before working out how much you want. Some can do triple channel and others double channel. I have a dual channel board with 2 x 2GB (4GB total) and find it perfect. If your board can do triple channel, 3 x 2GB is probably a better option than 8GB.

[arthurking83]

Hey mate,

one small issue with Windows 7 64bit (and other versions?) is that explorer cannot display thumbnails of RAW images. You can buy a seperate package to do it (which i did) if you want......

which raw file type?

if any non Nikon type, then I can't help due to a lack of experience and knowledge. BUT! if you are referring to Nikon's NEF or NRW raw file types, the 32bit codec works well even in 64bit Windows(7). I've yet to see any problems with the 32bit codec on Win7 x64 after 6months and many thousands of NEF files.

[Cadnium]

Must be only Canon *.crw files then. Perhaps Nikon works?!? CRW's definately didn't work for me in Windows 7 64bit, but you could get a 32bit codec from windows site if you have that version. The 32bit wouldnt work for me.

[Philr]

I run Win 7 on 64bit and don't really have too many issues with it for what I do. With 8gb ram its good to be able to take full advantage of it!!