Hey everyone! I'm in the process of building a new PC for digital art and some casual gaming. I've had my current setup for about 10 years, and while it's done alright for gaming, I'm running into problems with art programs. Specifically, while CSP handles around 200 layers fine, Photoshop is a struggle, crashing occasionally and running really slow — plus, the limited space on my C drive doesn't help. Since I've decided to do a complete rebuild from scratch, I wanted to get some feedback on my current parts list and see if there are any major changes I should consider. Here are my starting specs:
- Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce 1060 6GB
- Motherboard: MSI H110I PRO
- CPU: Intel i7 7700K
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 2 SSDs (C: 222GB, D: 931GB)
- OS: Windows 10
You can check out my planned build here: [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8pdpTM). I plan to reuse my two Tuff Gaming Asus monitors and my mouse. My goal is to create a lasting PC that will hold up for around another 10 years, and I prefer a simple black or white aesthetic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Honestly, you might want to consider a more powerful GPU, especially if you're looking at gaming or doing intensive graphic work in the future. Your 1060 is getting a bit outdated. Also, make sure your RAM is at least 32GB if you're working with heavy art files in Photoshop, as it can eat up memory really fast. For storage, having a dedicated SSD for your OS and another one just for applications can significantly improve performance. Have you thought about a 1TB SSD for your C drive?
You definitely don't need to buy thermal paste separately if you're getting an AIO cooler; it usually comes pre-applied. But hey, don't spend too much on case aesthetics unless you're really into that. A practical case with good airflow is important! About your monitors, make sure they’re at least 1440p; otherwise, your GPU might be overkill for what you'll see. What monitors are you using?
I've got two Tuff Gaming monitors that are both 1080p. They're new, so I plan on keeping them for now.
That makes a lot of sense! I'm already running low on my current C drive space with just basic apps. I'll definitely look into getting a larger SSD.