Jeep daddy, I take your points, but let me clarify a bit. First, while you can certainly put the installation ISO for Win 10 on a 16GB thumb drive (I have that as well), once Windows is installed, it will take at least 60 GB of HD space if you include everything. Now if the first SSD died or Windows became corrupted, you COULD use the ISO and rebuild Windows from scratch, but what a pain and the waste of most of a perfectly good day. Instead just point to the mirrored SSD (just change the boot order if necessary, but the computer will just boot from the next drive in sequence anyway, which is the mirror), and you’re instantly back in business with everything as you left it. Easy - right? Takes about a minute.

The same is true of the mirrored HDs. RAID 1 (mirroring) is trivial to set up, you just do it in computer management>storage with a few commands, and once it’s configured, it’s automatic - nothing further required; and if one HD dies, you just point to the other drive, and the exact information is there. Just like the mirrored SSDs. The only downside is the cost of the extra drives, but in terms of redundancy and resiliency, it can’t be beat, and while some do mirror HDs on a consumer machine, very few if any buy a 2nd SSD and mirror the OS so they can instantly recover from a failure, and THAT is one of several advantages of an enterprise/server class machine vs a consumer one (where the machine must work 24x7x365). No extra cost in this case, no extra complexity, just better resilience/reliability. Most of us want to shoot photos like pros, so why not build/administer the computers that store those (invaluable) photos the way pros do it? Make sense?

Cheers.

@irishrover. Thanks for the excellent questions. I will inquire on the VRAM and drive manufacturers on both machines. to all - what would be a good minimum VRAM amount to look for (again - amateur with limited pics per week, but with a good monitor attached).

The RAID mirror setup will protect against a HDD drive failure, but to your point does not protect against a catastrophic event at the house. No matter what core system I have, I need an additional backup method. Have not figured out yet if I want to go physical (and get it offsite) or cloud, but I know I will need to do something. Have seen that many of the professionals here have very elaborate set-ups and protocols, which given it is their living, certainly makes sense. As an amateur, need something, but need a more “tempered” solution.

Hi

Since taking up Digital Photography and joining UHH, I have followed and read most of the threads on new computers. I have followed (and been impressed by) those of you whom have configured and built your own machines. That is beyond me, but it prompted me to have a discussion with a local computer repair shop that reconfigures and builds machines in addition to repairs. Figured it was worth the discussion. They came back with two machines that they build on spec at two different price points, and still being new to this, I thought I would get some thoughts and feedback

Usage. (As this drives my needs)
-Novice Amateur post processing. Am not, and will never, be a professional and don’t need that level of capability
-Most of what I do is sports photog at HS/college level, which means lots of culling from a D7200 and PP to work on exposure, cropping, etc. Much of what I shoot is indoors in dark gyms, which unfortunately results in higher ISO and more noise than I would like which I need to learn to process out.
-I probably process 200 shots from an event, about 80 events per year. Currently 10% keeper rate, but that will hopefully improve as I gain experience.
-This will also become my main “every day” computer for personal (not work) usage.
-will have two monitors, including a 27” benq or similar
-Not interesting in a laptop. Seems like it would either compromise performance, or, if not, then pricey. I have a small travel laptop that I will keep for when I need that option. Will not need to so major PP while traveling, so that will be an OK option.

Options presented. (These happen to be on the shelf, though can be changed/modified and other machines could be built to spec)

Option 1. Rebuilt Dell XPS desktop gaming system. Specs
-Intel core i7 3.2 GHz processor with 16 Gb RAM, expandable to 24
-Nvidia GeForce GTX 480 graphics card, support 3 monitors (2 dvi and 1 micro HDMI)
-240Gb SSD for op sys and programs
-1 2TB HDD for data (though a second one can be added)
-Win 10 64bit
-Price: $950

Option 2. Rebuilt Lenovo thinkstation workstation. Specs
-Intel Xeon 3.2GHz processor with 32 Gb RAM, expandable to 64. Very fast RAM
-Nvidia Quadro 4000 Graphics card, supports 3 monitors (1 dvi and 2 display ports)
-2 240Gb SSD set up in Raid mirror configuration for windows/programs
-2 2TB HDD for data, also in Raid mirror configuration
-price: $1100

Both have multiple USB, wifi, etc. 1 year warranty and local support to get fully configured an up and running.

I think the first is probably all I really need, but I would want to add a 2nd HDD for backup. After I do that, the cost is probably close to the second. Builder says option 2 is a lot more computer for the money and will run very fast for what I need.

Questions for you all
-Opinions on these machines vs stated needs? Either or both overkill?
-What have I forgotten to ask about or check? What would you add (remember - non-professional)
-Are prices reasonable for the specs shown as a rebuilt machine by a 3rd party (their time and that they deserve a reasonable profit)?

Thanks in advance for your guidance