Help me upgrade my desktop

[heedpantsnow]

Hi, guys, I need a little help deciding if/how to upgrade my current desktop.  I'm pretty happy with this rig; it has a ton of memory bandwidth and a pretty fast CPU, though the per-clock efficiency is lower than current models.

Usage: massive amounts of Photoshop and Lightroom, no gaming whatsoever.

Current Specs:
Core i7 960, Rampage II Extreme (X58), EVGA 8800 GTX

It's got a modest overclock to 4GHz on a 164MHz Base clock, rock solid stable (HT off).  Temps never get over 55.  I originally had a 920 but burned it up about 3 years ago; then the 960 went on closeout from Microcenter so I went with that.

6GB (2x3GB) of Muskin Blackline ram @1333MHz, 6-9-7-24 1T.  I don't usually max out the RAM usage as I don't often open more than one photo at a time in Photoshop.

2x OCZ Vertex, 1x WD Raptor, 1x 2TB WD Green

Watercooled 1 Aquaero, 2 loops, 3 rads, CPU (on its own loop), GPU, NB, SB, VRM

So I could spend $200-$300 on a small upgrade to this machine.  I'm thinking my options are:
1) More RAM ($100-$180) - even though it's 3 channel I would probably just buy a 4 channel kit and use 3 sticks alongside my current ones; that way I could carry it to the next build at some point and it's not really more expensive.

2) New PCIe SSD ($250) - The newest Kingston Predator is fast and confirmed to work on my motherboard.  A SATA SSD is probably not an option since my controller doesn't support the newest speeds, but the PCIe models get around this limitation.

3) Save the money towards a new rig in 18-24 months

4) Something else?  I don't think a new video card would help me, but maybe I'm wrong?

Thanks for the help!

[tp4tissue]

Pretty much nothing would improve your Photoshop speeds except M0ar CPU power..

That would mean 4790k + z97  which is a whole new build..

m0ar ram would only help if you use bigger raws. or if you have massive projects with uber-many layers. (so you can keep it buffered)


Graphics card wouldn't help much unless you use the specific filters that are now tuned to use GPU acceleration..


^^  also, NONE of the things listed above will be easily perceptible in real-time..    UNLESS you had a Batch load and needed to git'r'done TODAY,    This is quite rare an event outside of 3D.

[tp4tissue]

I mean.. Over time,  collectively  even something like 1% increase in raw performance is WORTH IT.

But, that's only assuming computer use occupies a large portion of your lifestyle..


If you don't actually Like-to-use or Have-to-use the Computer that often..  You might as well save the cash to bribe females for sex @ the bar.

[mdmcaf]

Photoshop is actually GPU accelerated depending on the version of Photoshop you're using, so a new video card might be the way to go: http://www.nvidia.com/object/photoshop-cs6.html and http://robertoblake.com/blog/2014/01/best-video-graphics-card-photoshop/

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/gpu-opengl-features-preferences-photoshop.html: that link states that CS4 and CS5 are also GPU accelerated. It looks like you'd be limited to an NVIDIA graphics card.

But I think the main question to ask is what's inadequate/frustrating about your current machine? It could be that a new load of Windows would be the best/cheapest thing to do. I had a three year old install of Windows 7 on my gaming machine and it was slowing to a crawl. I did a fresh install of Windows 8.1 and the system was much more responsive afterwards. Not saying you have to load Windows 8.1 (I just did it because I had an extra copy lying around), but a fresh install can work wonders.

A new CPU wouldn't necessarily give you that much of a performance gain, the 960 is still a pretty decent CPU, maybe not as efficient, but still a pretty beastly chip. More RAM would let you do more with the system simultaneously. I'm not too familiar with the specifics of Photoshop and Lightroom as I don't use them. But I would look into a video card upgrade to see if you think that would help you.

[tp4tissue]

^^^^^^^^

You're not looking at the 1% performance increase OVER TIME..  That's how one should properly evaluate CPU performance boost.

Lets say you complete 1 task, 1% faster today..   Doesn't feel much faster at all..   BUT what if here on out EVERY task is 1% faster..    You wouldn't feel it now..   but over time,  this turns into hours, and days..

We're all dying faster than we'd like to be aware of.. hahaha.. 1 day in life is worth an extra $100 on a cpu..



The OPengl acceleration actually only worked on AMD cards in the beginning..

And the ENTIRETY of photoshop is NOT accelerated by GPU,   ONLY certain features.. things such as the -liquify-

[mdmcaf]

^^^^^^^^

You're not looking at the 1% performance increase OVER TIME..  That's how one should properly evaluate CPU performance boost.

Lets say you complete 1 task, 1% faster today..   Doesn't feel much faster at all..   BUT what if here on out EVERY task is 1% faster..    You wouldn't feel it now..   but over time,  this turns into hours, and days..

We're all dying faster than we'd like to be aware of.. hahaha.. 1 day in life is worth an extra $100 on a cpu..



The OPengl acceleration actually only worked on AMD cards in the beginning..

And the ENTIRETY of photoshop is NOT accelerated by GPU,   ONLY certain features.. things such as the -liquify-

I agree with you, 1% performance increase is usually worth it if you make your living off of your computer, especially when it comes to things that halt the computer - rendering, compiling, etc.. But my logic was that with $200-300 to spend on the upgrade, a new CPU is really feasible; at least not one that would see any performance gain (especially having to factor in not only the new CPU, but also a motherboard and, likely, RAM).

I didn't know it wasn't the entirety of Photoshop that was GPU accelerated. With that in mind, unless the OP uses those features of Photoshop extensively, it makes sense for them to save up their money and get a whole new machine. I don't think they'd see that big of a difference with more RAM, depending on the use case, and storage would only really effect opening large files.

[heedpantsnow]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

PS acceleration has not really evolved since my 8800 GTX, and it's mainly select features like zooming in/out and some of the filters.

Adobe has updated GPU acceleration in LR6 and even includes Intel integrated GPU's!  But there's not a ton of documentation on that right now.

I don't make a living off my photos, but I do have a wife and kids and 5 minutes less processing photos is 5 minutes more I get to spend with them.  I'm thinking if I can get a 10% increase in actual performance in LR then it would be worth it.

The PCIe SSD's really have my eye right now.  The reviews on them have been stellar.  A LOT of what you're doing in LR is reading from disk and if I could speed that up then maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it.

Do you guys have any experience with those PCIe-based SSD's?

[tp4tissue]

Let's get one thing straight..

m0ar-computer  correlates negatively with "Family Time"


Buying more computer stuff will only take you away from your family.. It is out of that "deep seated" wish to LEAVE your family and escape into Our machine world that you're considering upgrading in the first place.

[heedpantsnow]

Show Image

Let's get one thing straight..

m0ar-computer  correlates negatively with "Family Time"


Buying more computer stuff will only take you away from your family.. It is out of that "deep seated" wish to LEAVE your family and escape into Our machine world that you're considering upgrading in the first place.

Lol

[tbc]

ssd first

gpu second

a meaningful cpu upgrade is going to be WAY out of your budget


make sure your OS, programs, and import/export folders are on the SSD.  move them to your storage after you're done PPing

[fohat.digs]

ssd first

gpu second

The fresh clean Windows install is probably a good idea, too.

Where are you guys getting extra slots?

I feel like I have been short-changed on the last several motherboards I have bought!

[tp4tissue]

ssd first

gpu second

a meaningful cpu upgrade is going to be WAY out of your budget


make sure your OS, programs, and import/export folders are on the SSD.  move them to your storage after you're done PPing

Not true.

He can find 2600k or 3770k  + mobo  for ~300

Both of those cpu overclocked are roughly 3x as fast as his current,  2x as fast @ stock.

[tp4tissue]

ssd first

gpu second

The fresh clean Windows install is probably a good idea, too.

Where are you guys getting extra slots?

I feel like I have been short-changed on the last several motherboards I have bought!

Most  Z-platform full atx come with at least 8 sata..

the ghetto budget boards at least 6..

Smaller matx at least 4..

[tbc]

ssd first

gpu second

The fresh clean Windows install is probably a good idea, too.

Where are you guys getting extra slots?

I feel like I have been short-changed on the last several motherboards I have bought!

he should only need 2x 16x slots.  not too bad for mainstream is it?  i like having the option to OC, so I usually get highend mobos

ssd first

gpu second

a meaningful cpu upgrade is going to be WAY out of your budget


make sure your OS, programs, and import/export folders are on the SSD.  move them to your storage after you're done PPing

Not true.

He can find 2600k or 3770k  + mobo  for ~300

Both of those cpu overclocked are roughly 3x as fast as his current,  2x as fast @ stock.

links please.

but seriously...no one in their right mind sells a good sandy bridge chip anymore (2011 right?).  the ones that are passed around sre penny-hoes and worn out by bad OCers; you can risk it if you want...but ya.

[tp4tissue]

ssd first

gpu second

The fresh clean Windows install is probably a good idea, too.

Where are you guys getting extra slots?

I feel like I have been short-changed on the last several motherboards I have bought!

he should only need 2x 16x slots.  not too bad for mainstream is it?  i like having the option to OC, so I usually get highend mobos

ssd first

gpu second

a meaningful cpu upgrade is going to be WAY out of your budget


make sure your OS, programs, and import/export folders are on the SSD.  move them to your storage after you're done PPing

Not true.

He can find 2600k or 3770k  + mobo  for ~300

Both of those cpu overclocked are roughly 3x as fast as his current,  2x as fast @ stock.

links please.

but seriously...no one in their right mind sells a good sandy bridge chip anymore (2011 right?).  the ones that are passed around sre penny-hoes and worn out by bad OCers; you can risk it if you want...but ya.

Mkawa around here sold a 3770k i believe..

Are you saying you don't trust - The Kawa--

[mdmcaf]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

PS acceleration has not really evolved since my 8800 GTX, and it's mainly select features like zooming in/out and some of the filters.

Adobe has updated GPU acceleration in LR6 and even includes Intel integrated GPU's!  But there's not a ton of documentation on that right now.

I don't make a living off my photos, but I do have a wife and kids and 5 minutes less processing photos is 5 minutes more I get to spend with them.  I'm thinking if I can get a 10% increase in actual performance in LR then it would be worth it.

The PCIe SSD's really have my eye right now.  The reviews on them have been stellar.  A LOT of what you're doing in LR is reading from disk and if I could speed that up then maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it.

Do you guys have any experience with those PCIe-based SSD's?

Whatever excuse you need to use to upgrade your computer

I've only read about PCIe SSDs but what I've read makes me really jealous that I don't have one yet. Read/Write speeds of over 1GB/s...sign me up!

The only problem with PCIe storage is how freaking expensive it is. I just checked PCPartPicker for prices on PCIe x8 storage and they were nearly or above $1000. PCIe x4 is a bit better, you can get a Kingston 240GB drive for $250 from NewEgg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

The next cheapest one listed is an Intel 400GB, but it's $100 over budget.

[tp4tissue]

The PCIE storage isn't faster UNLESS you can hit those high queue depth..

Look at the random read/write at low queue depths,  it's really no better than sata..

YOU WILL NOT be able to feel the difference..

[IvanIvanovich]

I have a pci-e ssd... and everything is faster. Even at low QD 4K mixed random is still something like 7x as fast as my Seagate 600 SSD which was a pretty decent sata III model. They are nice... but I will agree that the price to the everyday performance gains you get out of them is not quite there. To get something same performance for a much cheaper cost, you could get an add in pci-e card like this one (I have one of these too, but I am using it for journaling/caching for my 14TB storage array in my home server) and strap in 4x budget but good performing sata III msata disks and set up a 4 disk raid 0 array.
If you are interested in decreasing your power use, swapping out your gpu for a 750ti could be justifiable. Otherwise, I would probably wait at least another generation before a platform upgrade, or at least until Skylake E drops.

[tp4tissue]

If you want to spend money NOW.. just buy m0ar harddrives..  You can never have enough harddrives..

4K bluray's coming.. probably gonna be 70-80gb per movie after remuxing..


I estimate 30% of my existing bluray collection 200movies will be released on 4k bluray within 2-3 years.

That is 200*80 = 16TB..   So next year I'd need to spend about $400 on drives..