Mid Range PC for PP?

[[CaliGirl]]

I currently own a Macbook, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB 667 DDR@ SDRAM, 250GB HD, OS X Ver 10.5.6. I use it for everything...I'd like to get into some photo processing and have had my eye on purchasing either Elements 6/7, Lightroom 2, or PS CS4. I'd like to buy a desktop pc that is more suited to handle this type of workload. I am new to all of this, so it will be light at first, but I'd like a system that can grow with my skill level. I am currently stuck in purchasing from best buy since I have a giftcard there for $350 that I'd like to use. Let me know what you all think about this three potential candidates, and if you see something else that would better suit my needs that I did not mention, please let me know :) I am looking to stay under $1000

Any other advice would be greatly oppreciated.

I also have a new Nvidia 8800 GT OC 512MB video card to replace whatever comes OEM.


Option 1.Gateway - Desktop with Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9032316&type=product&id=1218010533213)
$645.99
Product Features

Intel® Core™2 Quad processor Q6600
Featuring 4 processing cores, 1066MHz frontside bus, 2 x 4MB L2 cache and 2.4GHz processor speed per core.
4 complete execution cores in 1 processor
For better multitasking and multithreaded performance. Intel® Smart Memory Access optimizes data bandwidth to accelerate and improve instruction throughput.
Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost
Accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the Media Boost performance on a broad range of applications.
6GB DDR2 memory
For multitasking power, expandable to 8GB.
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media. Also supports DVD-RAM and Labelflash direct-disc labeling.
640GB Serial ATA II hard drive (7200 rpm)
Provides enough storage for all of your data at fast read/write speeds.
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
With up to 256MB shared graphics memory for quality video performance.Option 2.Dell - Studio MT Desktop with Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q8200 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9016986&type=product&id=1218008593628)
$749.99

Product Features

Intel® Core™2 Quad desktop processor Q8200
Features 4 processing cores, 1333MHz system bus, 6MB L2 cache and 2.33GHz processor speed per core.
4 complete execution cores in 1 processor
For better multitasking and multithreaded performance. Intel® Smart Memory Access optimizes data bandwidth to accelerate and improve instruction throughput.
Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost
Accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the Media Boost performance on a broad range of applications.
6GB DDR2 SDRAM
For multitasking power, expandable to 8GB.
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Create custom DVDs and CDs.
750GB SATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
Offers spacious storage options and fast read/write times.
ATI RADEON 3450 graphics
Features 256MB video memory; HDMI output for connecting HD components.Option 3. Dell - Studio MT Desktop with Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q8200 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9017093&type=product&id=1218008672894)
$839.99
Product Features

Intel® Core™2 Quad desktop processor Q8200
Features 4 processing cores, 1333MHz system bus, 6MB L2 cache and 2.33GHz processor speed per core.
4 complete execution cores in 1 processor
For better multitasking and multithreaded performance. Intel® Smart Memory Access optimizes data bandwidth to accelerate and improve instruction throughput.
Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost
Accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the Media Boost performance on a broad range of applications.
8GB DDR2 SDRAM
For multitasking power.
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Create custom DVDs and CDs.
1.2TB SATA hard drive capacity (640GB x 2; 7200 rpm)
Offers spacious storage options and fast read/write times.
ATI RADEON 3450 graphics
Features 256MB video memory; HDMI output for connecting HD components.

[ChasP505]

I like Option #3 because it has 2 hard drives and a decent video card. You want at least a mid-range performance video card instead of integrated graphics.

[[CaliGirl]]

I like Option #3 because it has 2 hard drives and a decent video card. You want at least a mid-range performance video card instead of integrated graphics.


Thanks for the response Chas...I already have an aftermarket video card (Nvidia 8800 GT OC 512MB PCIe 2.0 (http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr88512gtoce.aspx) ) to switch out whatever the pc comes with. I know it's good for gaming, will it be suitable for photo processing as well??

[Faolan]

Most modern Gfx cards will do the job fine for editing, I would keep an eye out for the new Phenom II systems that should be coming out now. Also there's also rumoured price drops for Intel at the end of the month to compete with the new AMD quad cores.