What's a good desktop computer for mostly photography use? The computer I currently use for my photography (which I supplement with an attached Dell U2412m monitor) is about 20 years...

RatGMAN Loc: SE Pennsylvania

The computer I currently use for my photography (which I supplement with an attached Dell U2412m monitor) is about 20 years old and starting to show it's age. I'd like to replace it with a desktop (or under the desk) computer. I run Win10, and would like sufficient memory and hard disk size to not have to be concerned with processing speed and/or storage.

Haydon

You'll need a budget for others to help you, otherwise you will get opinions all over the map.

RatGMAN Loc: SE Pennsylvania

I'd like to keep the expense to no more than $1500, unless that is unrealistic.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

RatGMAN wrote:

The computer I currently use for my photography (which I supplement with an attached Dell U2412m monitor) is about 20 years old and starting to show it's age. I'd like to replace it with a desktop (or under the desk) computer. I run Win10, and would like sufficient memory and hard disk size to not have to be concerned with processing speed and/or storage.

Bill,

Apple 27" iMac with Retina 5K Display. I have it and love it.

Within your budget.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1342558-REG/apple_mne92ll_a_27_imac_with_retina.html

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

RatGMAN wrote:

The computer I currently use for my photography (which I supplement with an attached Dell U2412m monitor) is about 20 years old and starting to show it's age. I'd like to replace it with a desktop (or under the desk) computer. I run Win10, and would like sufficient memory and hard disk size to not have to be concerned with processing speed and/or storage.

If you are used to working with windows do not let anyone tell you that you need an apple computer to do photography editing. Both windows and apple will do the job, and there are plenty of both operating systems that will do the job within your budget. Use what you used to using.

incognito

Have a custom build will get more for your money

sergiohm

https://www.pugetsystems.com

You can customize it to your heart's content, but it is twice your budget but it works!

david vt Loc: Vermont

This subject comes up about every 2-3 months. Lots of long threads. You can get all you need from a search af the archives.

I agree that, if you are comfortable with win10, a switch to Apple products, as good as they may be, may prove more frustrating than helpful for the conversion. I will not say it would not be worth it, but it really depends on your total usage of the machine and total view of applications you are using

Do some digging on old threads

david vt Loc: Vermont

This subject comes up about every 2-3 months. Lots of long threads. You can get all you need from a search af the archives.

I agree that, if you are comfortable with win10, a switch to Apple products, as good as they may be, may prove more frustrating than helpful for the conversion. I will not say it would not be worth it, but it really depends on your total usage of the machine and total view of applications you are using

Do some digging on old threads

tcthome Loc: NJ

Agreat Dell xps system should do the job. Make sure to get at least 16gb of ram, 32 would be better & a video card of at least 4gb. The largest hard drive you can afford ( preferably a nv piec or what ever they are called ). Get a bean monitorthe with the left over money if you can swing it. There monitor for around $600 should be good enough for a hobbyists.

Have fun , Tom

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Twenty years old! Congratulations!

I like a "real" computer - a desktop, but the new laptops are fine. My computers have an SSD for OS and programs and a separate HGST Ultrastar hard drive (3 and 4TB) for data. I've always had Dell desktops, and your has certainly held up well. Get one that has enough room for expansion - memory, drives, extra slots. Speaking of an SSD, if you can get an M.2 drive, I would recommend that. It's a "hard drive" on a card about the size of your thumb. Amazing.

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

Processor -
http://gizmodo.com/dont-waste-money-on-intels-top-processor-1791426602
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
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

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

tcthome wrote:

Agreat Dell xps system should do the job. Make sure to get at least 16gb of ram, 32 would be better & a video card of at least 4gb. The largest hard drive you can afford ( preferably a nv piec or what ever they are called ). Get a bean monitorthe with the left over money if you can swing it. There monitor for around $600 should be good enough for a hobbyists.

Have fun , Tom

Is on my second Dell XPS GREAT machine easy to configure and in you price range

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

mborn wrote:

Is on my second Dell XPS GREAT machine easy to configure and in you price range

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Apple.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I just got a Dell XPS 8930, 16G RAM, 256G SSD boot drive, 1TB SATA data drive, plus 27" monitor for under $1000. Plenty of speed dor my post processing with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Easy access panel to add drives and what have you if needed. I use an external drive to store my RAW files and jpg go onto my hard drive for printing and sharing. Still deciding how to best manage those jpg I store but rarely view. For someone who loves new technology, I am strangely reluctant to use Cloud storage. My new computer came with a free Dropbox offer. Maybe I'll bite the bullet.
To me it makes no sense to fill up my hard drive with data files I don't often open.