Digital Art Build (CPU/ GPU intensive?)

[Confusizzled]

Hi guys, 

 

I'm planning to build a budget desktop (~ 500 CAD) for some entry level digital art work. Pretty much just going to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for digital sketching and painting. I've built a gaming PC before and that is GPU intensive but I'm not sure if photoshop/ illustrator would be GPU or CPU intensive? I'm not working with a lot of money for this build so need to focus money on one. Also if it is CPU intensive what do you guys think of just not using a GPU for now? Also probably will be building this in the new year so ZEN might be out. 

[Xanthe_2871]

4 minutes ago, Confusizzled said:

I'm not sure if photoshop/ illustrator would be GPU or CPU intensive?

CPU intensive. 

 

I would recommend you get a decent CPU, i5 or better., and 8 GB RAM.

[gtx1060=value]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ DirectCanada) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($99.95 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($62.95 @ Vuugo) 
Case: Thermaltake Versa H23  ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ NCIX) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ NCIX) 
Total: $500.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-26 20:42 EDT-0400

since photoshop and illustrator are more cpu intensive, i figured an fx 8350 would be good for your price point, 16gb of ram would be nice if you could put some more money into it, also, you can oc the fx if you want because the wraith cooler is really good for a stock cooler

[gtx1060=value]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ DirectCanada) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ NCIX) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.01 @ Amazon Canada) 
Case: Thermaltake Versa H23  ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ NCIX) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ NCIX) 
Total: $503.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-26 20:44 EDT-0400

 

16gb ram version

[gtx1060=value]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($198.50 @ Vuugo) 
Motherboard: Asus A88XM-A Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($83.50 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($47.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.01 @ Amazon Canada) 
Case: Thermaltake Versa H23  ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ NCIX) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ NCIX) 
Total: $510.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-26 20:46 EDT-0400

 

for my prior builds - just throw in a really cheap gpu for graphics - if you don't have a spare gpu, then use this build