Skip navigation
Currently Being Moderated

bulding a custom computer for CS3

Aug 9, 2008 8:07 AM

I had been using a computer custom built as a digital audio workstation, but started adding my images and processing software such as Photoshop, also Scanner, Tablet, 11 hard drives, etc. I've been having problems with a conflict with the audio card I think and had to disable it, so now I can't use it for its original purpose.
This was built years ago and is PEP4, 2G Ram, 2.4 Ghz Win XP Pro.
I am having lots of trouble with slowness and repaated "Photoshop (or Bridge) must close" It takes ages for it to reindex folders with hundreds of images.

I am thinking of building a custom computer specifically for CS3 and all the related hardware and would like advice on components that should handle everything well, and be fast.

I don't know how much things have improved on off-the shelf computers. It seems that the speed has not improved much at all beyond the 2.4Ghtz of this older one, but I just received a brochure from Dell with 4G Ram, 640 G HD and a monitor (not needed) for $1600. I don't know about the number of USBs etc and space inside for expansion, like mine.

I just need advice on a course of action
 
Replies
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 9, 2008 10:19 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    The processor speeds have pretty much stayed the same but they are improved by multiple cores , larger/faster L2 cache (12mb now)and smaller 45nm production process.

    Get loads of Ram and the fastest processor and raid10 those 11 hard drives.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 11, 2008 11:07 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    You can build or just buy one, you'll do well either way. But I'd go with Vista 64, quad-core CPU, 8GB RAM, 120GB 10K primary, 320GB 10K work drive, 9800GTX+ video card, and a 500GB external for backup that you turn on, backup, then turn off. If you want to spend a little extra buy a third hard drive, 10K at whatever size and use for a dedicated PS scratch disk. Not a huge performance booster but it helps.

    Most mid-range motherboards will include 6-8 USB port plus another 4 on the motherboard and an external SATA port.

    BTW, the 9800GTX+ is to optimize the use of CS4 apps that can take advantage of the GPU. It's about as powerful as the GTX280 but costs less. You can always opt for a much less expenisve card, but I wouldn't use anything less than an 8800GT.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 12, 2008 7:22 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Hi Sid-

    Is there a specific advantage to an external HD that you turn on only for backup and then turn off, rather than leaving it on all the time?

    thanks,

    Chris
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 12, 2008 9:16 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Sid could have noted that after you turn off the drive, you can remove it from the system so that it does not suffer the same possible fire, theft, flooding, tree fall, etc that the computer system receives.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 12, 2008 11:35 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Jim has a good point, off-site backup is a very good thing.

    From personal experience (with eight external hard drives) the only way to be relatively sure they aren't going to fail is to power them down between use. I have two that still survive, one that's almost four years old now. The other six, which ran 24/7, died at the worst possible time (of course).

    External drives with fans might fare better, but I wouldn't feel secure without powering them down between use. And I would not trust my data to tape or CD/DVD backups, either.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 8:25 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    >it had my name and was asking for a password though I had never set one, and it wouldn't accept me, the sole user even. This will be my third day of trying to get this thing working.

    Are you stuck at the log in screen?
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 9:25 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    if you can't log in, and it's asking for a password you didn't set, either 1) someone else has access to your system and set a password, or 2) you have something doing malware-like things on your system.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 10:11 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    If you can't log in, change your password using your Windows CD and product key.

    Boot up from your Windows CD. When you get to the Welcome screen press ENTER to Setup Windows. On the license agreement page, press F8 and continue. Highlight the Windows installation you want to log into and press R to begin repair.

    Let repair do it's thing. After it copies some files, your machine will need to be rebooted. After the reboot, setup will continue (you will NOT need to press a key to boot from the CD!). Look out for "Installing Devices" in the middle left side of the screen. When you see it, press SHIFT+F10 to call-up the command prompt. Now type NUSRMGR.CPL and press ENTER. Choose any account and change the password to whatever you want. If you don't want to be asked for a password, type CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2 at the prompt and select log on without being asked for a password.

    Close your command prompt window (and the user account window if you have that open). Let repair continue. You will be asked for your product key. Type it in as necessary and hit NEXT to allow repair to complete.

    Once it's done, your machine will reboot and you can log in using your new password.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 11:25 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Some Asus motherboards (mine, for instance) aren't really happy with 8GB. Everything works fine with 4 GB, but strange symptoms show up when you put in more. I resolved mine by "downclocking" RAM to 667 MHz, and it's been stable with that.

    But I really believe it's a BIOS issue, and that a BIOS update is what it takes. Be careful, though, a failed update will kill your board (ask Chris Farrell...) and DON'T update from within Windows.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 12:00 PM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Current BIOS schemes do allow BIOS update from within Windows with no problems. I do this frequently with Vista 64 and 32, XP 64 and 32.
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2008 12:14 PM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    I'll take your word for that, Lawrence. It's certainly more convenient.

    As long as my system is stable, I keep procrastinating. But if I had serious problems like the OP, I'd do it.

    EDIT: Found this on Wikipedia:

    >For an individual, procrastination may result in stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of personal productivity, the creation of crisis and the disapproval of others for not fulfilling one's responsibilities or commitments

    B-)
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 14, 2008 3:40 AM   in reply to (D_Rob_Curtis)
    Bad RAM can happen. But I'd be interested to know what happens when you replace it and populate all slots again.

    Installing with 2GB will of course get around the immediate problem, but sounds like a cheap bail-out to me. Maybe I'm wrong.

    I think it's time for one more fresh Vista install. If you do, let us know what happens.
     
    |
    Mark as:

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)