Computer advise: I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t...

SnappyHappy Loc: Chapin, SC “The Capitol of Lake Murray”

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

Hard to go wrong with a Dell XPS computer.

Be sure you get a good monitor to go along with it.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

Nothing. I have the identical Dell XPS15 as my mobile workstation and love the performance. It is Fstoppers workhorse laptop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafVypbEtiM

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

I process the 45MB files off a Nikon D850 on a MacBook Pro 2.7Ghz i7 x 4, 16GB main mem, 512GB main drive, 2.7Ghz Radeon Pro 455 2GB, 15.4" retina display. I do plug in a 24" external monitor and a 4TB external USB drive. I'm getting good performance. This system is far less powerful than the one you are thinking of buying, so I don't see any problems at all.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

If you really think overkill so that the system runs around PCs for years, go for a gaming laptop. These things are heavy duty and last a loooooong time. I have a MSI laptop running 32GB, 2.5 tb SDD drives (5 x 500GB) and two video cards. I purchased it three years ago and it runs faster than anything in the house, including an i7 PC with 128GB and seven SSDs drives (No HDD).
OS Windows 10. Editor of choice: PS CC. Oh, Nikon 850 and D500 for size files. Everything is shot raw.

Note do the drive upgrade yourself to save about 1k or so. Cost of this rig was about 3k.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

That configuration will cost around $2K at the dell outlet
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ArbOnlineSales/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&brandid=2201&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdRyEarfHIHdV4huXOFbIrdVk1H0iHCMx0yGpdHKXRLtzV39w9POOicLRyRIZtiYX7dr33b75HMbtOKHslMyBSfZ8YNCcCNex64UGHlBcxE65BO2Yzcss3UuRqFMgORgaqEOzvl3zy14X1BOk2wOCwZA%2bDH6HU67UaXC0u5b9FVKWSmvJfDnAe6lTj2PDO1Xq4zqDgd5on0AgVRKeHgvjUcfWUhieIcCUl6avwTQ7azXB27DLg4viMpeG41q14cFR59ceRjwaausV

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Sounds great - 8th generation processor and graphic card are gaming quality. Only suggestion might be bumping to 64Gb but that can always be done easily later if needed.

SnappyHappy Loc: Chapin, SC “The Capitol of Lake Murray”

Thanks everyone for the confidence building...it’s on the way...now I’m waiting for the brown truck!

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Stardust wrote:

Sounds great - 8th generation processor and graphic card are gaming quality. Only suggestion might be bumping to 64Gb but that can always be done easily later if needed.

The unit supports 32 Gb max

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

TomV wrote:

The unit supports 32 Gb max

Thanks for update - not familiar with Dell (never buy consumer brand computers) so was just looking at the components. 32 Gb should be plenty now but all files & programs keep getting larger & larger and he was wanting to keep for awhile. I remember when decent quality photos were 150 Kb, now they are 50 Mb.

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

SnappyHappy wrote:

I’m thinking of upgrading my laptop and external monitor. I shoot a Canon 5DSr making 50+mb files, so any kind of merge workflow can get slow before you can say “don’t do it!”. I would like the new system to keep me happy into the foresee able future, so I’m thinking overkill. I’ve got my eye on a Dell XPS15 9570, i7-8750H 4.1 GHz 6 core, NVIDIA 4G 4K Graphics, 32 go RAM with SSD drive and an UltraSharp 4K U2718Q monitor. What am I missing? What should I change? Thanks in advance.

That should work. The 6 core cpu will help with lightroom, the 32 gb ram will help with photoshop files.
OR . . .

You can get a more powerful workstation or gaming computer - this one is very customizable - with your choice of CPU, (2) m.2 slots and (2) 2.5" drive bays, and 4 memory slots that can accept up to 64 gb ram.

https://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9175-clevo-p775tm-g.html?startcustomization=1

or if you want a 30 bit color workflow - you can get an MSI workstation laptop with a Quadro graphics card - but you won't see much of a difference unless you get a 30 bit display and use Photoshop for your final work, and turn on the 30 bit color mode in preferences.

https://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks-gaming-laptops-ct-118-96-98/professional-design-graphics-cad-laptop-series.html

AzShooter1 Loc: Surprise, Az.

b roll wanabee

Desktops are the way to go. Specs look good.
I would add another hd for extra storage. Run your os on the ssd and add a 7200 rpm drive for backup. 4tb will cost less $100.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I have the same computer with a slightly slower CPU. I think mine is something like 3.70 GHz instead of 4.10 GHz. But mine is over a year old now and that CPU wasn't available yet.

nsilberma Loc: San Jose, Calif.

Good decision! XPS is a great computer. Make sure you get the max. memory and as big and fast SSD as you can afford. I would go with at least 1 TB.
The other option would be a monster gaming computer. (lots of$$$).
Enjoy your new buy!