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Custom PC Build

Editing Station PC

A custom productivity and photo editing workstation built for my sister, Madeline, a Jacksonville/Fernandina-area photographer, balancing long-term performance with a clean white aesthetic.

Photo of the Editing Station PC build

Idea

Build a capable photo editing and productivity PC within a $2,000 budget while keeping the system visually aligned with a Bohemian home setup.

Implementation

Prioritized reliable creator-focused parts, reused a spare GPU to control cost, and chose a white Fractal North case to make the system feel intentional in the room.

Project Details

This was a custom PC build I put together for my sister, designed for productivity and photo editing. It started as my brother-in-law's Christmas gift idea for her, and he funded the build with a target budget of around $2,000.

Build Goals

  • Create a responsive workstation for photo editing, general productivity, and long-term use.
  • Keep the total build around the $2,000 target while still choosing parts that would age well.
  • Avoid paying prebuilt workstation pricing for similar performance.
  • Make the system look intentional in the room instead of purely utilitarian.

Hardware and Aesthetic Decisions

  • CPU: Chosen for strong long-term photo editing and productivity performance. Was a MAJOR upgrade from her previous system.
  • CPU cooler: AIO liquid cooling was selected to keep the system quiet under load while also fitting the white aesthetic and providing subtle lighting.
  • Motherboard: A solid, reliable option with good features and future upgrade paths, while avoiding gaming-focused aesthetics.
  • Memory: 64 GB of fast DDR5 RAM was chosen to ensure smooth performance with large photo libraries and multitasking, even as software demands increase over time.
  • Storage: A 2 TB NVMe drive was selected to provide fast access to large photo libraries and editing projects.
  • GPU: I donated an RTX 2070 Super from one of my older builds to keep the budget practical without weakening the overall experience. Because she isn't gaming on this pc, this was a practical choice.
  • PSU: A reliable, fully modular power supply with more than enough wattage to support the current build.
  • Fans: Added extra case fans selected for a balance of cooling performance, airflow, and low noise.
  • Case: White Fractal North, chosen because its white panels and wood-grain front intake fit naturally with her home's bohemian aesthetic.
  • Cable extensions: White sleeved extensions added so the interior matched the case and felt more finished.
  • Budget: Being able to reuse a GPU helped stay around the $2,000 target while still leaving room for strong core components.

Parts List

CPUAMD Ryzen 9 9900X 4.4 GHz 12-Core Processor
CoolerCorsair NAUTILUS 240 RS ARGB 74.37 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
MotherboardAsus X870 MAX GAMING WIFI7 W ATX AM5 Motherboard
MemoryG.Skill Flare X5 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
StorageSamsung 9100 PRO 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
GPUGigabyte WINDFORCE OC 3X GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB Video Card
CaseFractal Design North ATX Mid Tower Case
PSUMSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
OSMicrosoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit
Fans3 x NZXT F120Q (2024) 74.26 CFM 120 mm Fan
CablesAsiaHorse white sleeved PSU extension cable kit

What I Learned

This build was a good reminder that a PC project is not only about raw specs. The final system needed to fit the user, the room, the budget, and the intended workload. It may be more machine than she strictly needs right now, but it should serve her well for years and still came in as a better value than many prebuilt photo editing PCs with similar advertised specs.

I was honored to build it for them, and I had a lot of fun putting together something that felt both personal and practical.