Looking to get a new Desktop PC for under $1000

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/16/2009 06:38:25 PM · #1

Hey everyone,
I need a new computer! I am currently running an Dell XPS 400 with a gig of ram and some cheap video card that is trying to run a 22 inch monitor and grinding my computer to a halt. I can only run CS2 on it so I have yet to work with a raw file from my new camera because CS2 can not open them. As far as what I use the computer for, it is just for photo programs, CS4, Lightroom, Photomatix, and Neat image probably. I read through the recent thread from

JulietNN but she was working with a larger budget than I have. but it seems like I may have found a decent compromise. This computer is on newegg.com.
Gateway LX6820-01 for $879.00
Here are the nuts and bolts.
Brand Gateway
Model LX6820-01
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400(2.66GHz)
Processor Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Cache Per Processor 6MB L2 Cache
Memory 8GB DDR3
Hard Drive 1TB SATA
Optical Drive 1 18x DVD +/- RW Super Multi-Format Dual Layer Drive featuring Labelflash Technology
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT230 Graphics, with 1.5GB Discrete Video Memory
Power Supply 500W
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit <--Comes with Free Windows 7 upgrade
Special Features Analog/Digital TV Tuner

Does this look decent? Is there some tweaking I will need to do? From what I gathered in the other thread, it is a sound investment to have a second Hard drive in the computer, even though I could get external drives. Do I need a RAID system, can that be put in this box? I am not sure what a RAID system does exactly to be honest. Just looking for any advice. I would like to purchase something in the next couple of days, so any input would gladly be accepted. I am not going to a Mac, so please fight that battle somewhere else, I am aware they are excellent computers. :)
Thanks for any advice.
Joe

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

12/16/2009 07:10:30 PM · #2

Not bad, though I would up the power supply. But thats just me. I like to make sure I have enough power.

Yeah, not bad, just reviewed from off the site. 4 DIMM 240-pin slots. 8gb in 64bit mode, 4gb 32bit. Least that is what I am assuming. 6 USB 2front 4rear but doesn't say what type they are, again I would assume 2.0.

Biggest issues I see is poor airflow within the case, case isn't all that great for air. Second, I already stated, power supply. A lot of people seem to have great luck on newegg, though I always go through tigerdirect.com myself. All in all not bad, just needs a couple minor tweaks.

EstimatedEyes

Fujifilm X-T5

Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR

12/16/2009 07:12:51 PM · #3

Looks like a pretty good setup at a decent price. newegg rocks. I built a system from parts ordered from there, much easier to do than you'd think, and more bang for your buck. But 8 GB RAM and a quad core MB for under $900 sounds pretty good. I would definitely think about adding a second hard drive though ... 1 TB is nice for storage but I'd throw another one in there to backup the data and guard against failure.

RAID gives you more protection by striping data across multiple drives, so if one HD files the data can be reconstructed from the remaining drives. I've found that just a bunch of disks (JBOD) works just as well and easier to set up. Get a program like superflexible and the backups are automatic. (I prefer backing to a second internal drive because its much quicker than over a home network or USB external connection).

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/16/2009 07:15:42 PM · #4

That sounds like a reasonable deal for a pretty powerful PC. I roll my own and built my current system about a year ago, so I don't have a yardstick to compare offhand. I *think* Gateway uses standard components in their systems, which is a good thing. If something fails down the road, you can fix it cheaply and more easily.

RAID is Redundant Array of Independent Drives and what is does essentially is is automatic mirroring of a drive and it's contents. It can be more complex if you want to get technical details, but I thin that's what you need to know. Coprorate IT likes RAID because if a drive fails they have little or no downtime. RAID is nice, but a good backup scheme will also work for you.

As I mentioned in the other thread, having OS/apps and data on separate drives definitely minimizes the hurt when you have a drive failure, as I learned the other day. My files are backed up and the system is still running. I think it's worth the extra $$. Get another big drive for backup as soon as you can, but if the budget won't allow it at the moment, then you can get that in a month or so.

EstimatedEyes

Fujifilm X-T5

Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR

12/16/2009 07:18:10 PM · #5

Just noticed that one comes bundled with Vista as its operating system ... you might want to look at prices for one with Windows 7. Vista had so many bad reviews I stayed with XP, but the reviews so far on 7 are very good.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

12/16/2009 08:08:34 PM · #6

Thanks for the responses, it seems like I am on the right track.

@

littlegett, is it difficult to replace a power supply? how much would that run? Also how would a larger supply help me? I have a cousin of mine who I think could do it if I have it here by Christmas, probably add a hard drive too. But I think those additions would put me over the $1K mark. Also nice to see you around again.

@

Yo_spiff, Your post in the other thread made me think that I should consider hard drive failure more seriously. I think I would look at a drive to purchase at the same time, and thanks for explaining RAID to me a bit. How is this different then two drives and using the "superflexible" drive which

estimatedeyes posted?

@

estimatedeyes, this system comes with a Free upgrade to windows 7, and thanks for the linnk to that software, I would not have found it. :~)

Any suggestions on a backup 1 TB drive?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/16/2009 08:34:52 PM · #7

Originally posted by jdannels:

is it difficult to replace a power supply?

If it uses a standard power supply is is fairly easy. A good name brand p/s will run about $50-75, perhaps less on a nice sale. If it uses a proprietary model, good luck getting one at a reasonable price,as those come from the OEM.

Originally posted by jdannels:

How is this different then two drives and using the "superflexible" drive which estimatedeyes posted?

The software he suggested appears to be a backup solution, but not raid. Real raid is a hardware based duplication of data across multiple drives, and requires a raid capable hard disk controller. There is also software based raid. Not as preferable, but certainly better than not having it.

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/16/2009 08:51:57 PM · #8

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by jdannels:
is it difficult to replace a power supply?

If it uses a standard power supply is is fairly easy. A good name brand p/s will run about $50-75, perhaps less on a nice sale. If it uses a proprietary model, good luck getting one at a reasonable price,as those come from the OEM.

What he said. L()L It is actually quite simple to replace the power supply. 4 screws to attach to the case and everything else is plug specific. Meaning, everything has a different size plug for where it goes and the cables (depending on brand) are clearly identifiable.

Ultra X4 at Tigerdirect.com is the most recent psu that I picked up. I prefer Ultra because of the limited lifetime warranty and they are solid products. This perhaps may be more then you need but it is a solid unit. I suggest nothing under 800-Watts. Depending if you get more drives, you may want more power. I run several drives, two graphics cards and stuff so I like the extra power.

Thanks, its nice to be back. Been one very long year for me.

(edit) forgot to make linky L()L)

Message edited by author 2009-12-16 20:53:35.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/17/2009 02:18:17 AM · #9

My cousin found this HP Elite e9260f for $869.

Here are the specs.
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Processor Intel Core i5-750 Processor
Memory 8GB
Memory speed PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM memory (4x2048MB for ultimate performance)
Total memory slots 4 DIMM (240-pin, DDR3) (occupied)
Maximum memory expansion Expandable to 16GB
Graphics card Nvidia GeForce GT230 graphics card with 1.5GB DDR2 dedicated graphics memory,
Hard drive 1 Terabyte 7200RPM Serial ATA hard drive
I/O ports Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader:

Any thoughts? Seems to have everything I need, and come with Windows 7 already installed.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

12/17/2009 02:26:18 AM · #10

Joe, I've had a Gateway and a couple of HPs and they've all worked fine for me. I would echo what a couple have said about having dual drives - you want one not too terribly big one to put all your programs on, and another to keep your data and "scratch disks" on (for temporary files - last I knew, keeping those on a separate disk helped Photoshop work faster/better than if they share the disk with the program itself. That could have changed, though.) Definitely add a desktop "backup" drive, though, just for your data files.

The TV tuner in the Gateway might be fun, but I have no idea what you'd do with it. :-) Let us know what you end up with!

Oh - also meant to add that NewEgg is a very good company to deal with. And building your own computer isn't that hard - heck, I've done it. :-)

Message edited by author 2009-12-17 02:27:10.

George

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

12/17/2009 04:55:23 AM · #11

That Q9400 is old. Get an i5-750 instead. Same GHz (2.66), but it's a newer architecture so it's a bit faster. It also makes it a bit more future-proof. Here's a comparison of the performance of an i5-750 and a Q9450:

//www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-desktop-cpu-charts/compare,1398.html?prod[2884]=on∏[2621]=on

Note that for some tests, lower is better (e.g. rendering time), and for others, higher is better (e.g. score given by program).

Unfortunately, you're still stuck with dual-channel memory and no hyperthreading with the i5 (the more expensive and better i7 supports tri-channel DDR3 and hyperthreading). You could get an i7, but you'd need to build it yourself for it to cost under $1000.

Here's a computer (also on Newegg, but HP this time) that's exactly like the Gateway, except it has the newer/better processor and no TV tuner. It's $999.99:
//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883147037

EDIT: Parsed URLs

Message edited by author 2009-12-17 04:58:46.