Going to upgrade my pc, just looking for suggestions on what components to use. Im trying to do it on a budget of say £250-£350 at a push

The main apps used on it are Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator and maybe the odd 3d package(Cinema 4d, silo)

Needs to have lots of usb ports, firewire and it wont be overclocked.

I already got most of it, case, hdd, etc. Just need the following:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £117.49
Ram: OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2G8004GK) £55.21 inc VAT
Mobo: Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £84.59
Graphics:Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2900 GT 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - OEM £46.99

Any suggestions on improvements for similar money?

not really up on intel stuff at the moment.... but as you wont really be using the extra 2 corse youll be much better off getting a chip with 2 faster cores instead of 4 slower ones...

Not the best graphics choice, its an old chipset and only 256mb, be better with: http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608619  512mb and also directx 10 ready

q6600 ok choice but as knighty says you might be better with just a dualcore, intel E8400 or E8500  http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608543

IMO

CPU RAM are spot on, Im not a big fan of Gigabyte but they are pretty good quality, maybe look for an Asus equivelent.

I would scrap that gfx card and go for the ATI 4850.

You sorted out a decent PSU to run it all? arguably the most important part of a decent PC.

Quote from: DEViANCEIMO

CPU RAM are spot on, Im not a big fan of Gigabyte but they are pretty good quality, maybe look for an Asus equivelent.

I would scrap that gfx card and go for the ATI 4850.

You sorted out a decent PSU to run it all? arguably the most important part of a decent PC.

 

Quote from: DEViANCEIMO

CPU RAM are spot on, Im not a big fan of Gigabyte but they are pretty good quality, maybe look for an Asus equivelent.

I would scrap that gfx card and go for the ATI 4850.

You sorted out a decent PSU to run it all? arguably the most important part of a decent PC.

Thanks for the feedback

Ive changed the mobo to an asus p5q pro, a few more features for not much more money.

Any reason why I would need, to spend more than double the price on a ati4850. When its going to be used nearly all the time for 2d work?

If you have not bought a mobo yet it is worth a look to check this board they are B grade and are only selling for £58.74.I also ordered one, time to retire my agp board.

Asus P5N-T Deluxe nForce 780i
MSI P7N Diamond nForce 780i

MSI P7N Diamond nForce 780i

Asus P5N-T Deluxe nForce 780i