photo processing system...

[globalkiwi]

hey all,
I've been learning a lot from the posts on this site - but most of them are oriented towards gamer builds. I'm wanting to build a kick-butt desk-top but one oriented towards fairly intensive image processing - Lightroom 2, Photoshop CS4 - as well as some data processing, & the usual web browsing, word processing etc. I am curently thinking about a combo that includes:
EVGA E758-A1 Mobo
EVGA GTX 260-216 O/C edition
18-24 MB OCZ DDR3 1600
Samsung SSD 256
Velociraptor 300GB
2x WD CAviar Green 1.5 TB
Any suggestions as to what I should be doing differently? I'm very much feeling my way here.
thanks in advance!

 

[S0ULphIRE]

I think you mean 18-24 GB of ram, not MB
And you won't need more than 12Gb max. Heck, even for big projects 6Gb should work fine. I work at a printing company, we use CS4 a lot and most machines have 4Gb.

Don't get the velociraptor. You've already got an SSD there, what would you need it for?

 

[Hefemeister]

With the inclusion of the ssd there is no reason for the velociraptor. Actually there never is a good reason for a velociraptor.

12gb should be plenty of ram to start. I have 6gb and will use most of it with a cs4, illustrator and lightroom combo. If you want more go for 24gb in a 3x4gb x2 but I would go for 12 to start and see if you need more. Ram will just get cheaper.

The 260 is a great gpu for photoshop. You could also look at a ATI 4870 to save a little cash. You do not need any more power than those but it is nice to have a better card with cs4. Plus you can play most games at high settings if you wish.

I am assuming you are getting an i7 920 correct?

edit: poached by soul

 

[S0ULphIRE]

Kinda funny how close our posts match
That could mean one of two things...

 

[Hefemeister]

Yes I waited for you to post then copied your answer.

Wait we have the same ip. [/not]

 

[globalkiwi]

Hey SOULphIRE & Hefemeister,
Thanks for your thoughts! Yes, of course, I did mean 18-24 *GB* memory. My thinking on the Velociraptor was that I could use that as a supplemental software drive, but particularly as a rapid scratch drive for CS4(?). Yes, I am basing this around an i7-920. Sorry for the lacking info. But my main sources of anxiety at this point are really the Mobo & GPU - continually find myself vacillating between ATi & NVidia choices ...
Anyway, your advice is much appreciated.

 

[Nubbleet]

Your mobo and GPU are good choices.

 

[globalkiwi]

Thanks again for the feedback - one more question: do you think I need a CPU cooler with this set-up. I am putting the above gear in an Antec 1200 case.

 

[Hefemeister]

If you plan to OC much over 3.0 then yes. If not the stock one will be just fine.

 

[globalkiwi]

Ok, thanks - I was thinking in terms of O/Cing to 3.5 - can you recommend any I should consider?