Two build options — which one should I go with?

I need a computer urgently. Primary use: graphic design and the Adobe suite—mostly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Speed is key. I need the apps to launch quickly and the system to boot fast. It will be running all day, so it needs to handle constant uptime. Quiet operation is also preferred.

I have two quotes from different companies and can't decide. The prices are $2567 and $3133. Naturally, I’d prefer the cheaper one, but if the more expensive option is actually better, I'll take it. Can anyone offer an opinion on these?

Quote 1. - $2567
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460
Motherboard: Gigabyte iB85 MBO DDR3, USB3, USB2 Micro-ATX
Memory: 16 GB DDR3 1866 Mhz
SSD: SanDisk X300 256 GB 520/470
Hard Drive: 1TB Toshiba Hard Drive
Power Supply: Corsair VS450
Case: Zalman T4
Windows 10
Monitor: Dell Professional P2414H 24" IPS, Full HD, 178/178 viewing angle.

Quote 2. - $3133
ASRock Motherboard

Samsung 250GB EVO SSD MZ-75E250B/AM

2AEMS-65AC9-M15S - GIGABYTE GreenMax
Plus Power Supply 650W 80+ Bronze
2AEMS-65AC9-M15S

CT102464BA160B - Crucial Memory Module
8GB, 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800, CL=11,
Unbuffered, NON-ECC

MS Industrial ARMOR Case
case without power supply

0120448 - LG Optical Drive SATA Bulk
Black 24x GH24NSD1.AUAA10B

ITL-BX80646I74790 - Intel Core i7-4790
1150 CPU ITL-BX80646I74790

TOS-DT01ACA100 - Toshiba 1TB, 7200rpm,
32MB TOS-DT01ACA100

4260183363088 - VC GAINWARD nVidia
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti, PCI-e, 2Gb
GDDR5/128bit, 1085(1163)/2750MHz, mini
HDMI/Dual-link DVI-D/VGA

Windows 10 Home,
KW9-00139 KW9-00139

AOC LED 21.5" Monitor
E2260SWDAK, 5ms, VGA, DVI, FHD, audio

If they even matter, the first one is root.pc and the second is marazin.rs.

Check out this thread regarding component specs and how much "weight" they actually carry for what you're trying to do. Honestly, it all boils down to your specific needs—basically, how fast do you want this thing to actually run? For the kind of work you mentioned, here’s the breakdown:

1. A processor with as many cores as possible (hardware or software)
2. As much RAM as you can get your hands on
3. Fast storage, meaning an SSD
4. A graphics card with high CUDA specifications

All the Adobe products (along with anything else built for heavy graphic design, CAD/CAM apps, rendering, etc.) know how to tap into a graphics card's CUDA cores and high-speed video memory (GDDR5) to help with general calculations. Basically, the CPU just offloads a chunk of the workload to a powerful GPU, which handles its own math independently. That’s called hardware acceleration. So, when you're running heavy tasks, you aren't just leaning on the CPU and its cores; you're pulling in the GPU and its VRAM too.

Looking at your two setups:

The first build has a quad-core processor with integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4600), which doesn't have its own dedicated memory and has to scavenge from your system RAM.

The second build has a quad-core processor with multithreading. This means each physical core can handle two independent threads, acting like two software cores, giving you 8 logical cores total. Roughly speaking, that makes it twice as capable as the first one.

The second setup also features a dedicated 128-bit GTX 750 Ti with 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory. It packs 640 CUDA cores that act as little sub-processors to assist the CPU, providing a massive boost in raw calculation power.

Bottom line: the second configuration is significantly more powerful on the CPU side, and if you actually utilize hardware acceleration through the GPU, that performance gap widens even more.

These builds aren't optimized at all, and they definitely weren't put together by the kind of specialty shops we usually recommend—the ones that actually carry high-quality gear at decent prices. For instance, the monitor in that second setup is pretty pathetic at 21.5". You’ll get a much better selection (though I didn't say it was the absolute best 😬) with the Dell from the first build; it wins on size, quality, and the fact that it has an IPS panel designed specifically for this kind of work, giving you way more accurate color reproduction.

Both setups use Micro-ATX motherboards with only two RAM slots, poor voltage regulation, and crappy cooling—which is a recipe for disaster if you're running a machine all day long. The Zalman T4 isn't a bad case, but it's a mini tower that can't vent heat away from hot components effectively, and that MS Industrial case is almost certainly going to be loud... etc.

Look, the basics: just tell us what you actually need and what your budget looks like, and one of the proven "builders" here will whip up a proper configuration for you. You'll need a monitor and Windows. Do you also need a keyboard, mouse, speakers...? How much raw power and speed are you looking for? Are you planning on tackling massive projects (now or down the road) that require hours upon hours of rendering? How big are these files or models? Do you need to churn through dozens of iterations in a single day to make decisions, or are you okay with things running a bit slower and letting a heavy render "cook" overnight? Finally, give us a number. Tell us how many bucks you're willing to drop, because as you can see, you can build a rig for $700, $900, or even $1,200... you just have to specify how much muscle you actually need.

If you need this by tomorrow morning, I can pull together some options from Micro Center, the place we usually use to build our rigs. You’ve got three monitors to choose from: two 24" pivots with 1920x1080 resolution, or one 25" with 2560x1080 if you really need that extra screen real estate.😬 All three feature IPS panels.

I’ll keep the initial specs pretty conservative, so once you get back to me, we can figure out how to beef it up:



Don't let the "gaming" labels on the motherboard and graphics card throw you off; those components are just built a bit tougher to handle higher workloads, more heat, and general heavy use. This setup includes a Samsung EVO SSD—which is top-tier right now—a WD Black drive with a 5-year warranty, 16 GB of RAM, and a roomy Zalman case equipped with three quiet 120mm fans. Assembly and shipping are on the house.

First off, thanks for the reply and the clarifications. I’m completely clueless when it comes to computers. 😕

It isn't an absolute emergency, but sooner rather than later would be preferred... And AMD doesn't work for me since I plan on paying via PayPal. I don't need a powerhouse, just the best possible value for my money—say, around $2667. Ideally, everything should be well-balanced.
My workload isn't heavy; no single project exceeds 1GB... at least not yet. I need a monitor and Windows, nothing else regarding peripherals. Space is tight, so the case will have to sit on my desk. Even a 24'' monitor might be too much; it feels oversized. I'm currently using a 17-inch laptop, so the jump seems massive.

Man... this is tricky. If you absolutely can't fit it under the desk, maybe try something like this:



And for the motherboard:

Think that would work?

Are you totally sure about the monitor, though? Usually, people doing this kind of work want the biggest screen possible with the highest resolution just to cram more stuff on the display.

IGN is fine, but did you check the PayPal price? Do you actually have cash sitting in your PayPal account, or are you using a card? If it's a card, why not just pay directly and skip the PayPal fee?

I have some funds sitting in my PayPal account, so there's no point in transferring them to a bank card just yet. I've settled on IGN, so what should I adjust in their current offer? Is the price reasonable, or can I find a better deal if this setup exceeds my actual needs? As for the case, I'm dropping the requirement for a small footprint; it can sit under my desk for all I care. I'd rather prioritize stability over size. Thanks again for the effort you've put into this.

EVGA 500 w GLX Series Retail
Zalman mini tower case black (ZAL-A1)
HDD - Seagate Hard Drive, 2TB, 7200rpm, SATA-6, 64M
SanDisk X300 256GB SSD, 2.5” 7mm, SATA 6 Gbit/s, Read/Write: 520 MB/s / 470 MB/s, Random Read/Write IOPS 91K/57K
LC POWER LC-CC-95 CPU Cooler
2x8GB 2Rx8 1G x 64-Bit PC4-2133 CL15 288-Pin DIMM
ASUS GeForce GTX 750Ti GDDR5 2GB/128bit, 1059MHz/5400MHz, PCI-E 3.0 x16, 2x HDMI, 2x DVI, WINDFORCE 2 x Cooler(Double Slot), Retail
Retail monitor Dell G246HLFbid 24" LED Monitor IPS
MSI B150M PRO-VDH Motherboard, S.1151, iB150, DDR4/2133, PCIe, D-Sub/DVI/HDMI, S-ATA3, G-LAN, 8ch., mATX
Intel Core I5 6400 total

Total: $2529(+5% PayPal fee) IGN

Look, 👍 just go ahead and ask them for a quote on that. Then you'll see if they actually have everything in stock or not...

Great 👍 This is urgent since my laptop is dying on me. I'll need to brush up on computer specs for the future, but right now, I'm completely lost. 😵

Personally, I'd prefer a smaller monitor. What's your take on this one: or maybe this:

....................primary use - graphic design and Adobe software, mostly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.........................................

👍
If that's the case, steer clear of: Micro-ATX motherboards, old socket 1155 setups, and installing Windows 10.
You absolutely need: a decent quad-core Pentium, a motherboard that doesn't run hot, a high-end GPU (ideally an NVIDIA Quadro), an SSD, a reliable power supply, and the best monitor you can afford.

Paul Clark80 said:👍
If that's the case, steer clear: micro-ATX boards, old socket 1155 setups, and don't bother with Windows 10.
You need the essentials: a decent quad-core Pentium, a motherboard with minimal bloat, a better GPU (ideally an NVIDIA Quadro), an SSD, a reliable power supply, and a high-quality monitor.

Reading this just gave me cancer.🕺

Don't go, we'd be lost without you.... 🙂

rustygardener4 said:Personally, I'd prefer a smaller monitor. What do you guys think about this:

Between those two, I'd probably go with the HPejac.....

Just stop trying to play news anchor. Just do your job, and when you actually need something—we're right here... 😬

darkowl72 said:Don't go, we'd be lost without you... 🙂

Between those two, I’d take HPejac any day...

And quit acting like a news reporter. Just do your job, and when you actually need something—we're here. 😬

Same here. Honestly, what would you guys even do without me? You scatter like sheep the second a wolf shows up. ☕

😬

Thanks, everyone. The PC is ordered; should be arriving Thursday or Friday. 👍

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I just developed cancer right after reading this.🕺

Well, I guess that's the only thing you get for free—anything else requires actual work.

Paul Clark80 said:👍
In that case, you should definitely steer clear of: Micro-ATX motherboards, 1155 socket CPUs/motherboard combos, and installing Windows 10.
What you really need is: a decent quad-core Pentium, a motherboard that runs cool (minimal heat issues), a strong graphics card (ideally an NVIDIA Quadro), an SSD, a reliable power supply, and a high-quality monitor.

Hey genius, why don't you clarify which specific quad-core Pentium you mean and what the cheapest Quadro card would cost?

rustygardener4 said:Thanks, everyone! My new PC is ordered—should be arriving this Thursday or Friday. 👍

Price lists don't really matter anymore. It all comes down to whether you actually care about the graphic design side of things or not. There are plenty of solid, budget-friendly NVidia cards out there—both new and used—like the old GTX series that still get the job done. If you're hunting through old Dell desktops, you can often find high-end older rigs that run perfectly on Windows 7. Some people are still rocking those older CPUs to avoid the system requirements of Windows 10.

Paul Clark80 said:It doesn't seem to matter much anymore; you should just browse some price lists. It really depends on what kind of graphic design work you're doing. There are plenty of solid, budget-friendly NVidia options out there, including both new and used GTX series cards. You can even find some powerful older workstations at stores like Best Buy that run perfectly on Windows 7—mostly because people are trying to avoid the overhead of Windows 10 on older 1155 socket processors.

I caught the first half of the post, but the second part was written in pure tech jargon.🎉