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

This is a good place to start to look at optimum configurations.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/

CPU speed, #of cores (up to 8), hyperthreading and drive write speed is important to Lightroom. Current version of Photoshop can also use 8 cores and a fast cpu, but ram is most important to Photoshop. You only need enough video memory to display your image on your screen. I used a 1 gb NVidia card for years with a pair of HD displays (1920x1200) and it was more than adequate. I now use a 4 gb card in the same computer and I can't tell any difference. CUDAs have no value in either PS or LR.

But perusing the Puget Systems website will provide lots of answers backed by bench testing.

linda lagace

tks will check out puget

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

Linda - I'd suggest you look for refurbished tower computers on eBay. Many of them have a 60 day return privilege, so you won't get burned. A lot of them come with 16 gigs of memory, and almost always they come with brand new hard drives and/or solid state drives. They almost always come with Windows 10 professional. I bought a Dell OptiPlex for $250 that has an I7 processor, 16 gigs of Ram, Windows 10 Pro, a new 1 terabyte Seagate drive - for $250 delivered with a 60 day return. Had to add a card reader, a mouse and a keyboard and a wi-fi adapter, The computer is clean and I am happy. You may need to add a graphics card for fancier monitors. But for the money it is hard to go wrong - and the 60 day return privilege protects you.


Good luck!

Bob Locher

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

I built my computer from scratch with a Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM. I'm thinking of raising that to 64GB. You can never have too much RAM.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

CHICKEN!!! Really Linda a few screws and it is done. Cases come with fans and often power supplies installed. Six screws and the MoBo is installed, the memory and CPU plug in, click, and a few cables that can only attach to the matching opposite sex connectors and it is done.

Advantage, you can upgrade easily. Graphics card, for example, you will spend about $15o and get one with 4 gig of fast graphics memory etc.... two years from now it will still be base for doing your work.

If you do not want to do it physically, there is surely a teen in the neighborhood who would love the task.

PS: send the parts to Jerry ... he is snowed in for the winter up there in the Catskills, in NY.

akamerica

It is my long held and successful belief that to acquire all the major components for a computer build from scratch and build and have it built, you achieve a machine that will last many nears. Full original factory components of video cards, mother boards, memory chips and processors give the real deal. Computer mfg like HP, Apple, etc specify an OEM version of each component to dumb down the features available on the original factory video card. It should come with a full HDMI output for your viewing pleasure and picture editing, perhaps on a large 30" OLED TV as your monitor. (I will never go back to the small monitors)

You will pay more but end up with a solid machine for years to come. Who to build? - hire a local repair shop tech to consult on the best motherboard, etc. you shop and buy the parts and deliver for their assembly. This will be a desktop box. Choose and buy your operating system disks suggesting Windows 7-64 that does not have any ad hooks in it. Load your software on an SSD with internal HD for backup, making a clean install WITHOUT all the junk programs preloaded for your "buying convenience" after a free trial. Then they just take up space reminding you to pay and activate. Many are hard/impossible to remove.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

If I had it to over again, I would return to a 27-inch iMac. I had one back in 2010 but had to give it up. I have had 2 Dell All-in-one computers. Have a Dell now but I would much prefer an iMac any day over this Dell.

allanj Loc: New York City

I just purchased a pc directly from Dell. Several phone conversations with Dell representative were very helpful. I have only had it for about two weeks, but so far it’s been great.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You might want to check this ongoing thread: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-563874-1.html.

Also when asking for suggestions for computers or lenses or cameras, it is always helpful to mention a budget maximum.

dino21 Loc: McAllen, TX

Build you own. Not that difficult and you can put in exactly what you want and need. You can put in quality parts and not the low bid for the cheapest parts that most company's put in.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

One place to check build your own is https://www.pugetsystems.com/

kmocabee

Linda, LOTS of suggestions. But since you said that your "wish" computer was pricey, I'll frame my recommendations with that in mind. The 3 things that will make the most difference will be the processor, memory and the hard drive.

For the most bang for the buck, the Intel Core i5-8400 Processor that just came out is getting rave reviews as a high performance bargain. I just got a PC with that one for photo editing and it is really fast.

Get lots of memory - 16 GB is a good target.

An SSD is a must. As others suggest, get at least two drives and run your programs on the SSD and put your data (photos) on the other standard drive.

I got this PC a couple of weeks ago and it is a great bargain. There are others out there comparable to this, which is the Micro Center house brand.
https://www.microcenter.com/product/509022/b674-desktop-computer

Don't worry about the gaming machines - you pay a premium for the graphics card and processor, and from what I read the graphics card won't make a huge difference unless you were doing gaming, video or 3d processing, stuff like that.

RCJets Loc: Virginia

Not completely true. I just wasted over $800.00 trying to increase my RAM for the same reason; my computer was very slow in Lightroom. Since my system only had 4 GB of RAM. I bought 16 GB RAM from B & H and proceeded to install it.

To get to the RAM slots, I had to remove or relocate the CD Drive. After installing the new RAM, and while putting the CD Drive back in, I noticed a wire bundle coming from the CD Drive. The plug on it had 4 wires going into it. The only place to plug it in on the board had 4 pins and was right under where the wires came out, so that's where I plugged it in. MISTAKE! When I tried to turn on the computer, all I got was a flashing blue light in the switch button. The wires coming from the CD Drive was for a floppy drive (not installed) and carried 12 volts. The board voltage was around 5.5 Volts. I had just burned up the board! My computer tech tried everything he could think of to restore it with no luck. He is restoring my computer for about $750, in addition to the $75.00 I paid for the RAM. That was probably ruined as well.

If you decide to try this and something doesn't look right, get help! 'nough said.





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linda lagace

Yikes Thanks for the warning!

linda lagace

tks so much I will check out the link