Best Computer for LR4 and Photoshop?

[nighthunter310]

Hi all, I am in the market for a new computer, which I will be using mainly for photo editing (some video, but not much), and I could really use some help.

My current computer is so old, and it's starting to get increasingly frustrating to try and edit my photos with it. So I am looking for a new computer and I want it to be FAST.

Looking to spend no more than about 1200 on it. I know building my own would be best, but I don't have the know-how or time to do so right now.

So could anyone give me advice on what to get? Maybe a link to some good options on Newegg, or similar sites? Looking to stick with PC, not Mac.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

[Gweebs]

I would start be buying a computer with a top spec CPU and a decent hardisk.

Then you can work on the rest as time goes on, better graphics card, more memory etc.

So you definitely need it to be expandable.

[Silverfox1]

I was in the same boat as the OP with an older P4 rig and recently built the below which cost me right around $1500 in parts but well worth it since i can run any software programs on the current market. When alot of us spend 2K plus on 1 lens i see no reason to scrimp on the PC. If you cant build it yourself do some research and check out what Ibuypower.com or Newegg has to offer. Retail units like Dell, HP, & Gateway in your price range will provide you with a cheap video card at best not to mention an inferior power supply.

Case: CM Storm Enforcer Midtower/ USB3.0
CPU : i7-2600K
Mobo: Intel DZ68BC Extreme
Ram : Corsair Vengeance pc1600/ 16gb
Video: EVGA Nvidia GTX 560ti
HDD: SSD 120GB Intel 520 series & 1.5 TB WD Caviar Black
Pwr.Supply: Rosewill Capstone 650watt Gold Rated 80+
CPU Cooler: CM Hyper 212 EVO

Fans: 200mm front intake, 200mm top exhaust, 120mm rear exhaust
NZXT Sentry Mesh 5.25 Bay Fan controller

ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X DVD Burner

LG WH12LS30K 12X Bluray Burner/Player

AFT USB 3.0 Multi-Card reader 5.25 Bay

OS: Windows 7 64 bit

Good Luck whatever your decision,

Regards, Ron

[BufordFZ1]

Definitely an I-7 or comparable AMD
Minimum 1.5tb
Upgraded video card to support 2 monitors (DVI) for future expansion if needed.
Additional cooling
Heavy Duty power supply.


On the Flipside, you could wander over to the MAC world.

[MCAsan]

Consider building an i7 Hackintosh. You can run MacOS X and Windows on the same machine.

Search in your browser and in Youtube for Hachintosh.

BTW, you might want to steer clear of of LR4 for Mac right now. I spent hours on the phone with Adobe trying to get it to invoke Elements as a pixel editor and invoke Nik plugings. No problem with LR 3.6.

[nighthunter310]

Thanks for your input, everyone. Unfortunately building my own is not an option, so I am trying to find one that's good enough on Newegg or a similar site.

Would something like this be good?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227386

[Silverfox1]

Originally Posted by nighthunter310

Thanks for your input, everyone. Unfortunately building my own is not an option, so I am trying to find one that's good enough on Newegg or a similar site.

Would something like this be good?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227386

Personally i would suggest a better video card then the 6850 and additional ram if you plan on running some of the more intense photo & video editing programs that require a more powerful card.

http://www.hwcompare.com/8891/geforc...adeon-hd-6850/

I would suggest the below providing you can live with the case aesthetics since it will definitely allow you to run all the current intensive software programs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227382

Regards, Ron

[nighthunter310]

Originally Posted by Silverfox1

Personally i would suggest a better video card then the 6850 and additional ram if you plan on running some of the more intense photo & video editing programs that require a more powerful card.

http://www.hwcompare.com/8891/geforc...adeon-hd-6850/

I would suggest the below providing you can live with the case aesthetics since it will definitely allow you to run all the current intensive software programs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227382

Regards, Ron

Wow... interesting aesthetics indeed, haha! But I can live with that. It will be somewhat hidden away anyway. Looks like a great machine. And within my budget Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'm pretty good with software, but know very little about hardware, so I appreciate the help.

[DiMAn0684]

Originally Posted by BufordFZ1

Definitely an I-7 or comparable AMD

what AMD is comparable to i7? I'm in no way an Intel fanboy, two last PCs I build are using Phenom II chips, but while AMD can be a great budget choice their chips aren't performing as well as Intel's i7.