Topic: Need Opinions from Hardware Heads

[webwhy]

One of my guys needs a new workstation.  We've always leased or bought from IBM or Dell, but he's very eager to build his own.  He's a web/graphic designer; he also does some low end video work.  It's been several years since I've attempted to build a computer. I really don't know what he's requesting to buy.  Any feedback?

Monitor - http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&sku=222-7315 - $800
Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025 - $140
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128078 - $60
Processor - http://www.tankguys.com/product_info.php?products_id=1791 - $330
Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098 - $45
Video - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085 - $90
Main HD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033 - $150
Secondary HD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148136 - $80
DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018 - $33
Windows XP w/ SP3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116515 - $140
Mousepad - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817114182 - $17
Keyboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126013 - $7
Mouse - (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105026) - $10

[Mike]

Would a mac be a better fit for him?

[ober]

If he's spending $800 on the monitor (fucking yikes), I'd spend a touch more on the video card.  He can probably find XP for much cheaper and just DL SP3.  I'd get a nicer keyboard and mouse too.

I don't see a power supply.

[webwhy]

I'm interested in going mac.  My partner is totally against it, and his vote carries more weight.  Plus I don't think the budget is there for a mac with comparable specs. 

Forgot the power supply on my cut and paste job:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

I agree ober.  $800 bucks for a freaking monitor!  Here's the second option for a monitor:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=320-6272&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=27530&lid=627063

Still very expensive, and I don't really know enough about a graphic designer's daily routine to know if that makes a difference.  I mean if more than half the world is viewing your work on shitty monitors, why do you need an awesome monitor to make the design? 

I think he's cheapin' on the video card because we're grumbling about spending the money...

Now he wants to overclock it using these heatsinks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

This is getting scary.  I work on two crappy dells from 2004...one builds code...the other runs outlook and a browser...i hate buying hardware, which is why i like going with trusted OEM with support contracts...

[Mike]

Would a mac be a better fit for him?

I don't understand how Apple has the reputation of building
better stations for graphic design.

TBH I don't know.  I do know that a lot of the graphics people I know prefer macs.  So I whenever I see someone looking for a graphics computer I include macs as a possibility.

[hans]

Is how much it costs important?

You could swap a couple of things out like the case:
Antec Sonata III case
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0257459
Cheaper price on the quad core
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0287628
Q6600
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0283289

You can probably use those to deal with whomever you're buying from.

[ober]

The power supply is an excellent choice.  I have a very similar one in my PC at home.  I love PC Power and Cooling.

$600 for a monitor is still insane.  Why do you need to overclock a 2.6 Ghz dual core cpu?

[Mike]

Now he wants to overclock it using these heatsinks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amdahl's_law
I've never seen the point of overclocking as your CPU is generally not the bottleneck.

[webwhy]

Is how much it costs important?

You could swap a couple of things out like the case:
Antec Sonata III case
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0257459
Cheaper price on the quad core
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0287628
Q6600
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0283289

You can probably use those to deal with whomever you're buying from.

Cost is always very important thanks for the links.  I've passed them on to him.

I'm also concerned with the quality of the end product.  I'm having to trust this guy on this.  I mean i trust him as a designer, but that's about it at this point.  I don't want something to fry, crack, spark, etc...and then we have $2000 piece of junk; the blame game begins.

thanks for the feedback so far; makes me feel a little better that the components are decent.  I just hope the sum of those components works as expected...

[Steve]

Mac has always been considered to have the better, smoother editing programs for graphic design, film editing, and music applications. I think thats come to pass over the last few years, but it was true for a long time. Just a matter of when people will stop saying it i guess.