Ok, I understand that what is 'reasonable' to one person isn't necessarily 'reasonable' for another. Currently I'm working from a very average laptop (Duo core @ 2.00Ghz, 4Gb memory, 5400 rpm HD, integrated video card) that isn't winning any speed contests anytime soon. What I'm looking for is a desktop that will offer considerable improvement for batch processing and just plain more speed when working with large files. So far I think the specs that keep me in my budget include:
- a mid-level i5 processor
- 8Gb of memory
- 1TB hard drive
- a basic video card
So, are these specs going to show me a significant improvement? If not, what areas are the most beneficial for photo editing? Thanks a ton in advance 
