NickPapageorgio Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 1st Hacintosh build (relying heavily on Kaido's guide - http://www.######.com/w...ce12/files/DS3Lkit.zip ) I do a lot of photography work using Aperture and Photoshop. I am probably going to buy the P35-DS3L Rev. 2.0 motherboard. For the processor, its between these three: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor ($165), Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4 GHz 2 x 4Mb L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core ($185), Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGa 775 95W Quad-Core ($315) Having a hard time (mainly because of ignorance) choosing one. I am totally lost on the video card. I don't game on the computer (prefer the XBox360 for that) but for my photography I want something good. I have $350+ in BestBuy gift certificates so even though their prices are too high, it's 'free money' so I'd like to see what my options are. I was looking at the BFG - GeForce 8800 GTSOC2 Graphics Card at BestBuy for $379.99 (free to me). http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1177718060394 Suggestions?! As far as HDs, I am looking at 4-5 Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s HDs ($100 each). I may get a smaller capacity faster HD for the OS and use the TB HD's for storage and backup. Not sure yet as I like the 'drobo' (http://www.drobo.com/) or something simiiar to that. Backup is essential for me. Anyway, I have a lot of choices to make and would love suggestions - especially with the processor and video card! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaaseyRacer Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 As far as processors I would look at the Q9550 if your budget can handle it. Otherwise it is a coin toss between the Q6600 and E8400 with a slight lean towards the Q. However, the E8500 is usually fairly close in price to those two and is one of the best processors for the money. As far as a graphics card, save your best buy card for something else, $380 for an 8800GTS is about $300 more than you should pay for that card. As for hard drives, the Samsungs have some of the worst performance ratings out there. For $10- $20 bucks more you can get a much faster seagate drive. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1015132 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickPapageorgio Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 As far as processors I would look at the Q9550 if your budget can handle it. Otherwise it is a coin toss between the Q6600 and E8400 with a slight lean towards the Q. However, the E8500 is usually fairly close in price to those two and is one of the best processors for the money. As far as a graphics card, save your best buy card for something else, $380 for an 8800GTS is about $300 more than you should pay for that card. As for hard drives, the Samsungs have some of the worst performance ratings out there. For $10- $20 bucks more you can get a much faster seagate drive. Thanks, I wanted to try and use the BestBuy 'free money' because that's $350-$400 that did not come out of my wallet and I can use the savings for the Q9550 and HDs (which will come out of my pocket!) Do you have a suggestion on a good graphics card? And are you talking about the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive on newegg for $110? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1015454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaaseyRacer Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Same price but this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822148274 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1015537 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 $380 for a 8800GTS is crazy! It should be $150. Go for a Quad core CPU. The Q6600 or Q9450 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1015683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickPapageorgio Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 How about a GOOD graphics card to go wt the P35-DS3L Rev. 2.0 motherboard and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGa 775 95W Quad-Core processor? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016232 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vbetts Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 $380 for a 8800GTS is crazy! It should be $150. Go for a Quad core CPU. The Q6600 or Q9450 Not even! 8800gts normally go for around $80-$90, $100 for the g92 version. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaaseyRacer Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 There is an MSI 8800GTS on newegg right now for $89.99 (USD). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814127328 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 Er, there are two 8800GTS cards, the 384mb 8800GTS is G84 core, the 512mb 8800GTS is G92 - the overclocked 8800GT. Either way it's too much. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016508 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khan_Man Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 How's about VisionTek - ATI RADEON HD3870 OC 512MB GDDR4 PCI Express Graphics Card $130.00 or the PNY - NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX OC 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express Graphics Card $190.00 Proly U can get any of the 9800 GT (X+) to work Khan Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaaseyRacer Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 I got my 9800GTX+ for $175 ($155 after rebate) from Newegg. You can get one with 1GB of RAM for around $220 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130416 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130429 Also I have seen 3870s for around $90, brand new with a warranty, here is one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102752 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016572 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicalUser Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 get something else from best buy, something they dont overcharge as much for... hard drives perhaps? a monitor? you can usually get a pretty good deal on HDs from bestbuy/futureshop/etc... during sales my local future shop has 1TB drives that come in an external case for $120 canadian, and its a 7200RPM SATA drive inside Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/143054-a-little-help-video-card/#findComment-1016812 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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