Just-Clayton
Senior Member
Looking at a new desk top. What main specs should I be looking at to keep my photo shop programs running smoothly? Right now I have a dying laptop, that I will be sending back on warranty and getting desk top before I do.
Looking at new desk tops. What to get.
- Thread starter Just-Clayton
- Start date
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
- One Description/ Acer
- 3.5GHz AMD A10-7800 processor with 4MB cache
- Windows 10 operating system
- 2TB hard drive
- 12GB DDR3 system memory; expandable to 32GB
- SuperMulti DVD/CD burner/player
- AMD Radeon R7 graphics
- High-defintion audio with 5.1-channel surround sound support
- Media card reader (card not included)
- Has Wi-Fi, 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, 6 USB ports, VGA port, HDMI output and headphone/microphone jack
- Monitor not included
- Includes USB keyboard and USB mouse
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
HP model
- 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-6700T quad-core processor with 8MB cache
- Windows 10 operating system
- 1TB SATA hard drive
- 12GB DDR4 system memory; expandable to 16GB
- Intel graphics
- DVD/CD burner/player
- Media card reader (card not included)
- Has Wi-Fi, 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet, 6 USB ports, HDMI output and headphone/microphone jack
- Does not include monitor
- Includes USB wired keyboard and optical mouse
- Approx. 6-1/2"W x 15"D x 14-1/4"H; weighs 12.5 lbs.
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
Another HP
- 3.7GHz Intel Core i3-6100 processor with 3MB cache
- Windows 10 operating system
- 1TB hard drive
- 8GB DDR4 system memory; expandable to 64GB
- SuperMulti DVD/CD player/burner
- AMD Radeon RX 460 graphics
- DTS Studio Sound
- Equipped with media card reader (card not included)
- Has Wi-Fi, 10/100/1000 Base-T network, Bluetooth, 10 USB ports and headphone/microphone jack
- Does not include monitor
- Includes USB wired keyboard and wired optical mouse
- ENERGY STAR qualified saves you energy and money
- Approx. 6-1/2"W x 16-1/2"D x 15-3/4"H; weighs 23.2 lbs.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
I would start with this.
I'm not an AMD fan, so the Intel processor and more memory would be my startling point. I'm not keen on the i3 in particular (would prefer an i5 or i7), but the clock speed and ability to get this guy to 32GB of Ram tilt me that direction.
I would also investigate adding a SSD drive that you can use for your OS and applications, then use the included 1TB drive for photo storage. Can add an external drive for photo archival.
At least, that's my initial thought.
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Just-Clayton
Senior Member
The last desk top i had was a walmart special and I had to keep rebooting. So, looking for a better one. I built my first one a long time ago, but havent kept up on technology.
I would start with this.
I'm not an AMD fan, so the Intel processor and more memory would be my startling point. I'm not keen on the i3 in particular (would prefer an i5 or i7), but the clock speed and ability to get this guy to 32GB of Ram tilt me that direction.
I would also investigate adding a SSD drive that you can use for your OS and applications, then use the included 1TB drive for photo storage. Can add an external drive for photo archival.
At least, that's my initial thought.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I would start with this.
I'm not an AMD fan, so the Intel processor and more memory would be my startling point. I'm not keen on the i3 in particular (would prefer an i5 or i7), but the clock speed and ability to get this guy to 32GB of Ram tilt me that direction.
I would also investigate adding a SSD drive that you can use for your OS and applications, then use the included 1TB drive for photo storage. Can add an external drive for photo archival.
At least, that's my initial thought.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree with this. The ability to go to 64GB is important. Make sure it had 4 slots for memory. Some only have 2 slots and that costs more for the memory.
My desktop has 2 SSD drives. 1 for the OS and most programs and the other SSD is just for Lightroom and Photoshop. I store the catalogs on this drive also. It has 2 internal Hard Drives just for user files and all photos are stored in External drives.
I also suggest a good Video card. mine has 4GB of memory and is compatible with Adobe. Mine is a nvidia geforce and works to speed things up and will handle multiple monitors.
As cameras bet better and their files grow just buy a desktop that is able to grow with the technology of photography.
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
Here is one with better graphics and SATA drive.
- 2.7GHz Intel Core i5-6400 processor with 6MB cache
- Windows 10 operating system
- 1TB SATA hard drive
- 8GB DDR4 system memory; expandable to 64GB
- SuperMulti DVD/CD player/burner
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics
- DTS Studio Sound
- Equipped with media card reader (card not included)
- Has Wi-Fi, 10/100/1000 Base-T network, Bluetooth, 10 USB ports and headphone/microphone jack
- Does not include monitor
- Includes USB wired keyboard and wired optical mouse
- ENERGY STAR qualified saves you energy and money
- Approx. 6-1/2"W x 16-1/2"D x 15-3/4"H; weighs 23.2 lbs.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
You don't mention a budget but we recently added a Dell XPS 8910 at my house and it's been crushing everything we throw at it with ease, Photoshop included. We went middle of the road at $999. I cloned the factory HDD to an SSD and it now it runs like a scolded cat.
See them here: XPS 8910 Desktop - Intel i7 Quad Core Processor | Dell United States
....
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
I would consider 8GB the minimum amount of RAM for running a Windows 7/8/10 install smoothly and comfortably; for photo processing I'd suggest twice that amount.
And while I agree there's really no such thing as, "too much RAM", there *IS* a point of diminishing returns.
Hope this works, been out of the windozs world for a while.
Asus - G11CD Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 - 512GB Solid State Drive + 1TB
The Mac Pro took a crap this week and really didn't want to throw more money at old tech.
It did last 8 years, didn't need the I7.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Asus - G11CD Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 - 512GB Solid State Drive + 1TB
The Mac Pro took a crap this week and really didn't want to throw more money at old tech.
It did last 8 years, didn't need the I7.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
Looks good. Adobe should love that.
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
Going to go with this one. Son looked at the specs and he just built one just a little faster.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
I like the i5 processor better than the i3, and hopefully the 'little faster' means more than 8GB of memory in which case you are good!
Just-Clayton
Senior Member
jossiesgiant
New member
I'd echo the shouts for an i5 (or even i7) processor wise (and at least 8GB of ram). What I've really found made a huge difference with photo and video editing though was upgrading to a solid state drive. It's a pleasure to click on the photoshop icon now and for it to load up in about a second, rather than waiting for minutes (felt like hours) before I could do anything. My current setup is an i7 with 8GB and upgrading my drive to SSD made an unbelievable difference. It's worth every penny.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
jossiesgiant
New member
Thanks!