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Dell XPS or Alienware
Dec 22, 2017 11:06:58   #
dblack1 Loc: Oxon Hill, Md.
 
in the Dell brand which computer is better for Post Processing?

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Dec 22, 2017 12:08:00   #
Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida
 
Just a personal opinion but I would recommend the XPS. Your can build a totally awesome XPS with killer specs for processing for quite a bit less than the Alienware model. The radical shape and led lights of the Alienware appeal to gamers but don't really add to the photo processing experience. I may be prejudiced but my two computer professional sons just convinced me to go that route and I have one on order.

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Dec 22, 2017 12:17:17   #
dblack1 Loc: Oxon Hill, Md.
 
Thanks for the input

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Dec 22, 2017 12:22:48   #
brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky
 
dblack1 wrote:
in the Dell brand which computer is better for Post Processing?


I have the Alienware 15R3 and it is awesome. It takes 6 seconds for Photoshop to open and be ready for work. I'd buy it again. The XPS models were designed by Dell to compete with the Alienware boxes. It couldn't, so Dell struck a deal to distribute the Alienware machines. Either would be a great choice. I also have an XPS desktop.

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Dec 22, 2017 13:26:36   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
dblack1 wrote:
in the Dell brand which computer is better for Post Processing?


For a laptop? XPS15, with as much RAM as you can afford. See photographer Manny Ortiz's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR-erTQHDEk&t=211s

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Dec 23, 2017 05:49:13   #
Resqu2 Loc: SW Va
 
No matter what name system you get, an SSD Drive is where the speed is. It’s more important than loading up on crazy amounts of ram now days.

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Dec 23, 2017 06:48:26   #
dblack1 Loc: Oxon Hill, Md.
 
Thanks All for the info

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Dec 23, 2017 08:51:57   #
tomad Loc: North Carolina
 
I have the XPS 13 that I use for PP. Works great but the screen is to small. You may want to get a big monitor to connect it to if you go with a laptop.

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Dec 23, 2017 10:35:35   #
stevetassi
 
I would go with the XPS. The Alienware is a gaming machine.

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Dec 23, 2017 14:16:37   #
CaptainEd
 
I just worked through this decision recently, in fact the machine arrived just a couple of days ago. When comparing, I first narrowed the choices to Dell, Alienware, Lenovo and the ASUS ROG series (Republic of Gamers). I didn't find the XPS to be much less expensive, if at all, than similarly configured Alienware machines. There was something else about the XPS line that eliminated it for me....perhaps it held only one drive? I don't remember at this point...

As for the gaming machine vs non-gaming machine angle, gaming machines typically have jacked up performance numbers out of the box, which is why they were on my radar.

I could not find a ROG configured quite the way I wanted with a competitive price, so that one fell off the list. Costco had various Dell Inspiron (I liked the Inspiron 15 7000) and Lenovo configurations on sale, so I just kept watching until one caught my eye....a Lenovo configured with a I7-7700, 512gb SSD, 1tb spinning drive, 16mb of RAM and UHD diplay. Some of the things I learned during the process:

You might want to visit a Costco, Best Buy or other retailer where you can put your hands on the keyboards and look at the displays. If it's not comfortable, you're never going to like it.

I found that I was not fond of the Alienware keyboard layout, which is tuned a bit too much toward gamers for my taste. The Inspiron keyboard was fine even though that model was also considered a gaming machine. The new Lenovo has a different layout than my old one, but the keys feel "familiar" after 4 years with my current machine, so it won on that point. Another one, either MSI or the HP Omen also fell off at that point.

I kept reading that ALL of the machines I was considering, except for the ROG, had weaknesses in the displays. When I went in and compared FHD (Full HD) to UHD (Ultra-HD) side by side, I was sold on the higher resolution. It's not just the pixels, but the brightness and color rendition is a LOT better. I am now wondering if photos I tend to think are too "hot" after editing are caused by the fact that they are edited on lower end screens. I would downgrade other specs to be able to keep the UHD display in the budget. You can add an SSD or storage drive later, you can add memory as well, but you can't change the processor or display.

While I don't game, I do edit video and wanted a good GPU. If you don't mess with gaming or video editing, any GPU beyond base Intel graphics should be fine.

When you transfer things over...I would highly recommend AGAINST PC-Mover. It's is far slower I found than just re-installing applications from scratch as much of a pain as that is.

Good luck with your decision.....

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Dec 23, 2017 15:19:16   #
GC likes NIKON Loc: East Greenwich, Rhode Island
 
I have a DEll XPS desktop that I use exclusively for post processing. I haven't had a hic cup !! I do email and financial tasks on another machine. If you want dual monitors (now or later) be sure you get a video card with two monitor outputs or you will be shelling out later for a NVIDA card. Get as much RAM and storage (especially RAM) as your pocketbook will stand.

I bought mine at B&H. Check them out !!

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Dec 23, 2017 15:29:26   #
srherrmann Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
 
I too just upgraded my computer and screen after I used my Dell Inspiron 2350 Intel Core i5-4210M CPU @ 2.6 GHz and 12 GB RAM in processing the rather large files generated by the Nikon D-850. I went with the Dell Precision T3620 Mini Tower. I did jazz up the base unit to include the Intel Core i7-7700K (Quad Core 4.2 GHz, 4.5 GHz Turbo, 8MB, w/HD Graphics 630) processor and the M.2 1TB PCle NVMe Class 40 Solid State Drive. I also upgraded and went with the NEC PA243W-BK-SV IPS Wide Gamut monitor. I just thought it might be a little cheaper to go with the Precision model and just upgrade it over buying the XPS model. I have had XPS machines before and they are great. I just wanted a dedicated computer for my photography so I left out the bells and whistles for audio and any gaming features. Some people have written that I will not see much if any increase in speed with respect to downloading files but, I hope to see an increase in processing especially for focus stacking, panoramas and such. Good luck with your decision.

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Dec 23, 2017 18:12:47   #
James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
For a laptop? XPS15, with as much RAM as you can afford. See photographer Manny Ortiz's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR-erTQHDEk&t=211s



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