Need Help with Decision on New Computer and Photo Processing Program to Install on It: My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is nearing 7 years old and even though it has the i7...

DazedandConfused

My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is nearing 7 years old and even though it has the i7 chip, it is not performing well on photo processing using the free Pixel and Sony's provided Capture One program.

I am looking at purchasing a new computer and know I want a solid state drive. Nothing else is set at the moment as to lap top or desk top or brand/model.

I am 76 and on a fixed income and must remain within a top expenditure of $1300.00 at the most.

I have looked at the entry level iMac desktops and the Asus Zen AiO lap tops and desk tops. I am open to other brands as recommended.

Once the computer is set, the processing program will follow to match the UHH suggestions/recommendations.

Thank all of you that will respond and I know I will receive the info I need to make the correct purchases.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Real close to your price line (@ $1313) is the Dell XPS 15 inch from the Dell Outlet store it is certified refurbished. You can save if you want a slightly smaller screen.

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ArbOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdSc86zs%2foxsEkcABVpLgUdO48SOZHKFWlGi5OMQIV98dQ%2b2i1nIm64VWvVia2RtiFoCYJxtBGFjuRB8DwSX%2fZNpLnrVSWYcik8D%2b%2brsj8uDT46ocxyxCB%2f6iX48xyfvN0jHNAF%2fwoonod0fdxjrKEBwJrvrK69T8nyTFRtO3y7kf

Processor: Intel Core 7th Generation i7-7700HQ Processor (Quad Core, up to 3.80 GHz, 6MB Cache, 35W)
Windows 10 Home 64bit English
512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Class 40 Solid State Drive
16GB DDR4 Non-ECC SDRAM 2400MHz (2x8GB)
15.6inch FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB
Dell Outlet XPS 15 - 9560 Laptop

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

I have to agree with dsmeltz on the Dell XPS recommendation. The screen is excellent, and as configured above should have all the power you need for any post processing software.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Build your own, $1300 buys a lot of parts. Last update for $1000 March 15, 2018
https://pcbuildsonabudget.com/best-gaming-pc-build-for-under-1000-dollars

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Full disclosure time. I have the 13 inch touch screen version and wish I had gone for the 15 inch with or with out the touch screen. I am 64 and the smaller screen is a pain. However, the 13 inch IS more portable.

But I love everything else about the machine!

Also, if you are not in a rush, every week or so under the "DEAL" tab they provide addition discout codes for the XPS line. There do not seem to be any at the moment, but next week there might be. I got an extra 15% off which helped pay for a 1T external drive I use to keep my pictures ( I only keep programs and seldom changed items on my SSD) Using the external does not slow down Lightroom at all once the image I am working on is loaded. The external is also easy to hook up to my desktop when I backup to a larger external drive on the desktop.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

DazedandConfused wrote:

My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is near... (show quote)

I am an Apple guy. The support that you will get from them via a telephone call is amazing. I converted from windows two odd years ago and have never looked back. I now have 3 Apple machines in my house.
This is $200 over your budget, but is new and will come with all the support you need.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1343072-REG/apple_z0uj_mpxr21_bh_macbook_pro_i5_2_3ghz.html

PaulR01 Loc: West Texas

DazedandConfused wrote:

My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is near... (show quote)

Stick with the brand you have been using. ASUS 15.6" Republic of Gamers Strix GL503VD Gaming Notebook
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1356938-REG/asus_gl503vd_db74_i7_7700hq_2_8ghz_16gb_1tb.html
Then add a subscription of photoshop and lightroom cc
Using the version before this and it was the best move I have ever made. Make sure to put your software on the solid state drive. And the photos on the HDD drive.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Don't have much to suggest for the computer, but I would recommend the Adobe LR/PS package subscription for the editing software. IMHO it's reasonably priced for software that is top of the line and you get free updates included. It costs me less than the impulse purchases I make, which on the whole have little lasting value.

There are lots of threads recommending one software package or another. The Adobe photography package works for me. YMMV.

I have a lot of images on my computer and little memory in my head. Lightroom, with its database, makes it a breeze to find images I've even forgotten I took. There is probably some truth to the assertion that Lightroom as an editor can be beat out by other software, but the package LR + PS is unbeatable in my book. I use LR mainly because of the database. I can get 90% of my images edited well in LR, but the other 10% go to PS, which is the king of editors. When I'm finished with it in PS it goes right back to LR and into the database. The handshaking between programs makes this easy.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

DirtFarmer wrote:

Don't have much to suggest for the computer, but I... (show quote)

You will get more capacity, functionality and future expandability if you have a custom system built or build it yourself. I am on a cellphone while travelling so I can't be more specific. You can get a decent computer for around $1000 and a display for $300. Asus makes great motherboards. Apple products are out of your price range and won't offer you any more functionality. The Photoshop/Lightroom bundle is the best deal for a complete photo editing and file mgmt solution and it's only $10/mo.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Gene51 wrote:

You will get more capacity, functionality and future expandability if you have a custom system built or build it yourself. I am on a cellphone while travelling so I can't be more specific. You can get a decent computer for around $1000 and a display for $300. Asus makes great motherboards. Apple products are out of your price range and won't offer you any more functionality. The Photoshop/Lightroom bundle is the best deal for a complete photo editing and file mgmt solution and it's only $10/mo.

If you decide to go desktop, this is probably the best route.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DazedandConfused wrote:

My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is near... (show quote)

You'll get the most bang for your buck with a Dell desktop. A Core i5 processor is fine, along with 16GB of memory. Don't go crazy with an expensive graphics card. Those are for games.

Memory -
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-p
c-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor -
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy

For processing, I would get Affinity. You pay $50 once. With Adobe, you pay $120 (at least) every year.

Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.htmlOthers

Free -
https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-edit-rawtherapee/
https://www.lightstalking.com/free-photography-software/
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-photo-editor
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

DazedandConfused wrote:

My primary computer is an Asus laptop that is near... (show quote)

My PC is entirely self built. I got parts from Newegg (some limited from Tiger Direct back in the day) It is water cooled, has an extremely large power supply, the fastest Pentium processor that was available 4 years ago, My C drive is a 1 tb drive as ALL it has on it is the OS and programs. ALL DATA is on my D: F: G: I and J drives. (E is my DVD/CD drive. K and L are my WD Cloud drives.

I have 32 GB of memory (supports 64) and a 4gb Video processing card. Processor is water cooled and the case has fans over each drive bay and a large water cooled fan/radiator over the center/removable side. I have 4 front usb slots and 8 rear usb slots. I have a 1tb C drive and the rest are 4tb or larger. I am running Windows 10 Professional 64bit.

I strongly recommend Belarc Advisor (a free program that completely inventories everything on your computer including copies of your license numbers, memory slots, drives processor size and speed, everything else. It gives you a complete view of everything on the computer and is invaluable if you need to rebuild or repair.

http://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor

CaptainEd

I narrowed things down to the Dell XPS and a Lenovo Legion (their gaming line) back in December. I ended up choosing the Lenovo as the Dell the way I wanted it configured was over budget. This machine has a 256gb SSD which hold the OS and most programs and a 1tb data drive. It also has a 4k non-touch display and NVIDIA graphics, which Adobe software will take advantage of. Got it through Costco, online as there are more configurations available than in-store, which doubled the warranty through their concierge program. I've been very happy with the machine. Also...16gb RAM minimum!

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

PixelStan77 wrote:

I am an Apple guy. The support that you will get from them via a telephone call is amazing. I converted from windows two odd years ago and have never looked back. I now have 3 Apple machines in my house.
This is $200 over your budget, but is new and will come with all the support you need.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1343072-REG/apple_z0uj_mpxr21_bh_macbook_pro_i5_2_3ghz.html

I agree completely. I'm still getting free support for all my Apple equipment even though they are all well past warranty.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

NoSocks wrote:

I agree completely. I'm still getting free support for all my Apple equipment even though they are all well past warranty.

Just an observation and question. Apple users seem to need a lot of support. Why is that? Everyone I know with a Mac or an iPhone seems to go to the Genius Bar at least a couple times a year. What is going on?