PC requirements - buying new

HI - first post for me!

I am wanting to spend more time on photography and improve my skills in capture and also in Photoshop. Keen to do photo art as well as just great photos.

My current computer is struggling big time - has only 1GB RAM and hard drive basically full, so I am looking to upgrade.

Any suggestions on must have minimum requirements re processing speed, graphics card, RAM etc. I am tossing up between a desktop or laptop and external monitor. Laptop appeals as for this and other uses I do like the portability within the house, although I know you get more for money with desktop.

Thinking will look at 4GB RAM, either 320 or 500 GB hard drive, and quad processor if desktop, else likely to be duo.

For this type of work, was level of graphics card? 256 or 512mb enough? Not interested in gaming, and a lot are geared towards that it seems.

Suggestions for good brands for external monitor welcome too - say 22 or 24 inch. Can't spend a fortune though.

Thanks
Jo

I'm not the most computer literate... but I'll get it started and others will probbly join in shortly.

What you listed above should be more than enough. My desktop has 2GB RAM, 500GB HD, Quad Core, and I belive it has a 256MB card... not sure though could be 512... But it runs Photoshop, Lightroom, iTunes, Internet Explorer all at the same time with very little to no struggling.

As for the moniters... Dell Ultrasharp's are supposed to be really nice. They're kind of pricy but lots of people seem to like them.

Oh, and Welcome to POTN!

Thanks - I am trying to future proof a little, without going too overboard... but you know what it is like - always nice to get the next model up!

I have been looking at Dell and if end up doing desktop with them would upgrade to the Ultrasharp screen.

Thanks for the welcome - looking forward to contributing elsewhere once I get my equipment sorted and can work on photots without my system crashing anytime a large file approaches.

Quad Core is good for a desktop.

I run a quad core (Q9550) with 4gb of ram + 640mb graphic card. Dell 61cm wide screen monitor. The PC has 9 hard drives (7 SATA and 2 IDE) totalling 4.9tb (4,900gb). It runs Vista Ultimate 64bit.

I can open 100 RAW files (at once) in CS3 from either 40D or 1DS without any problems whilst having other apps running.

My laptop (Toshiba) has a dual core processor + 4gb of RAM and a 512mb grpahic card - it can also open around 100 RAW files in CS3, but is slower than the PC. It has a 320gb hard drive. Laptop runs Vista Home Premium 32bit.

Both computers handle photographic processing with Photoshop CS3 and video processing (Vegas 8 Pro) with ease.

First off, before anyone goes posting anything about what they think you might need, maybe a price range is in order. I understand that you asked for a few suggestions of ideas (which can get alittle out of hand, no offense whitlam, I would love to have what you have) but staying within a cetain price range is more idealistic. So start there and see where it goes. There are quite a few people here that can suggest good parts for what you need them for.

Good idea. I too loved the list of what Whitlam has!

Going on what you seem to get for your money in Aus, seems am looking at up to $2300 for a desktop or for a laptop say $1800 laptop plus $500 for big screen. Total budget max would be $2500, but would love it to be around $2000 if possible.

I guess I want spare capacity but doesn't need to be the best of everything.

Computer prices are cheap right now:

prices available in Perth this afternoon:
Quad core processor (Q9550) - $680
4gb daul channel 1066mhz ram - $240
Nvidia 8800GTS graphic card - $300
Gigabyte X48-DS5 - $300
any 1tb hard drive - $180
+ $150 for Vista Home Premium 32 bit)
cost = A$1850

+ case of your choice
+ monitor of your choice

you could get the whole lot for under A$2500 - and have a very fast system (Vista performance rating = 5.9 for each component), with plenty of storage

Get as low of RAM as possible because A) cheaper bought seperate and B) it's not hard to do yourself in a desktop so it'll save ya a couple hundred probably.

Same with the hard drive, select the largest possible because externals are cheap and ones you can install yourself are cheaper. The beauty of desktops they are easy to change yourself so in the sense of important areas they may constantly need changing at some point.

jo67 wrote in post #5906111
HI - first post for me!

I am wanting to spend more time on photography and improve my skills in capture and also in Photoshop. Keen to do photo art as well as just great photos.

My current computer is struggling big time - has only 1GB RAM and hard drive basically full, so I am looking to upgrade.

Any suggestions on must have minimum requirements re processing speed, graphics card, RAM etc. I am tossing up between a desktop or laptop and external monitor. Laptop appeals as for this and other uses I do like the portability within the house, although I know you get more for money with desktop.

Thinking will look at 4GB RAM, either 320 or 500 GB hard drive, and quad processor if desktop, else likely to be duo.

For this type of work, was level of graphics card? 256 or 512mb enough? Not interested in gaming, and a lot are geared towards that it seems.

Suggestions for good brands for external monitor welcome too - say 22 or 24 inch. Can't spend a fortune though.

Thanks
Jo

You didn't say a lot about your old system. If the HD is full buy a portable/external HD and copy everything across. This will leave you lots of space. You could also stick in another HD. Sometimes an upgrade is more satisfying. I know adding up the total cost of upgrades can be the cost of a new machine but it sometimes works out a lot cheaper and you get a better system for your money. You can change the graphics card to suit... there are also Processor upgrades that are very reasonably priced and easy to instal.

There is no Future Proof in the PC industry unfortunately.

I went the MAC route many years ago having owned PC's. I still have a PC laptop at home for the family. I just prefer the MAC operating system. All a matter of taste really. I have upgraded my MAC over the years and whilst it is not the all singing all dancing model around today it still runs Photoshop CS2, Office, Dreamweaver et al with out slowing down and its only a G4 processor.

Take another look at your old system and see if there is anything that can be done with it before you decide to change it.
Good luck.
Reaperman

What about a 24" iMac?

Let's see.. my take on current technologies:

- Worry about LCD. I find 22 Inch to be pretty good, I found this HP one that turns 90 degs clockwise so I can work on portraits. The right monitor is key, as it is what you will stare at for hours on end.

- PC Priorities: Intel Duo (Quad nice, though not vital), and RAM (As much as you can afford, quantity over quality). SATA Hard Drive.

- Video Card. 256 MB is just fine. Don't go off the deep end for an extra 256Mb video since you will not be working with 'render-on-the-fly' or other Video Intensive applications. Believe it or not, Photo Processing does not place a great burden on your Video Card.

- OS?.. Personal preference. Take your pick on that one.

I would go for an Intel Core 2 with 4GB of RAM over any Quad rig, and use the overhead money for a good LCD and a Huey, the screen calibration tool.

Best of luck.

I ordered my 14.1" laptop with Duo Core 1.6 GHz processors, 2 GB RAM, and 160 GB hard drive, DVD burner, and then bought 2GB more RAM and upgraded myself... mfg wanted $175 extra for 2 GB more RAM ?!?!. Total was $550 for laptop, $35 for extra RAM and I already had a few external drives to compliment the 160GB internal hard drive.

Anyway, runs like a dream, I can run Photoshop and Bridge, more than enough internet browsers, itunes etc. at the same time just fine.

The 14" size is great and lightweight for my sports/PJ shooting style.

Thanks everyone, lots of useful information to get me thinking more. Certainly will suss out if can update existing laptop, then can spend more on a great screen if that is possible. Good to get a sense of the priorities too.

Jo

I highly recommend the Dell XPS systems, the XPS 420 is a very nice system to build up from. (order code RXCWQJ2)

As others have suggested get the minimum memory and disk space. Those you can upgrade yourself post purchase. The Dell Ultrasharps are very very very nice monitors and you get a very good discount when you buy it with a computer. The base system from above is < $1000 without the monitor, the 24" Ultrasharp monitor is another $700.

Thanks - I have looked at Dell's. Have had before - hasn't everyone?! Plus even though there are great non brand systems around I still feel better probably spending a little more and getting a brand with a good reputation and the service aspect helps. I know it is what is inside that counts, but... Great to get raves on the Ultrasharp, can get as upgrade from about $500 on some packages - depending what monitor standard.