Micro Center PC: Hi all, I'm looking for a new PC to add to and then replace a 3 years old HP Envy. The local Micro Center has a house brand PC, PowerSpec G418 for $1,400. It's an...

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

Hi all,
I'm looking for a new PC to add to and then replace a 3 years old HP Envy. The local Micro Center has a house brand PC, PowerSpec G418 for $1,400. It's an Intel i7-6700K (4.0Ghz), Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, 16GB DDR4-3200, Toshiba 1TB hard drive, Samsung 250GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB video card, ASRock Fatality Z170 K6 MB, CoolerMaster, EVGA 750W power supply, 802.11n wireless. The memory can be upgraded up to 64GB but I think that another 16GB ($90) will be enough. It also comes with Win 7 Pro 64-bit media and license (only one OS at a time).
This is really a gaming machine, probably an overkill for photography needs. My main uses are Adobe CC photography plan, i.e. Photoshop and Lightroom. I'll add existing internal hard drives (2TB and 1TB) and connect to existing external hard drives. My images are stored on one internal drive and two external ones. A scanner and printer are on the network.

So, UHH gurus, do you think this is a good machine for my needs, an overkill maybe? Micro Center includes the usual 1 year warranty.

Thanks, Sam

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

If yuo have not already, you should confirm that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is supported by Adobe.
Generally speaking, the specs look about the same the Dell I'm using (minus the SSD) and it works will with LR/PS.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

price is right and the specs match up with what you would need for
a fast PP machine. sounds good to me.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

The Adobe support forum indicates that Photoshop/Lightroom work with the video card. It seems that this card provides no improvement over the 970 version.

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

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

You can save some $$$ on that graphics card - it is way overkill for photo editing - you don't need CUDAs and you certainly don't need 8 GB vram to run photoshop or lightroom. The graphics card is the only thing that makes it a "gaming" machine, and not a photo editing workstation.

This is all you "need"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121855&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-N82E16814121855&gclid=Cj0KEQjw4MK_BRC1n6KTtezikbIBEiQA872hYXNKLoyn8rH7wObzUebJEbBB_Cg8NMR6eZOH-CPHZ5EaAp3x8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

If you have a wide gamut display (30 bit) then you might want to look at an Nvidia K2000 - which will output 30 bit depth to your display. At the moment, only Photoshop supports 30 bit display.

I would get a bigger SSD, preferably an m.2 NVme card - which is 4x faster than a Sata SSD.
I would also suggest liquid cooling and getting 3-4 tb WD Black or Hitatchi Ultrastar spinning drives - fast and reliable and they have 5 yr warranties.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

Sounds about right. The only concern would have been the card compliance with Adobe as one suggested.

Ignore all answers of 'better deals' or 'configuration'. Sounds like you are near one of the last brick and mortar PC chain so go for it, their warranty is in house.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

Thanks for suggesting checking compatibility with PS/Lr. I'm waiting for answers from both Nvidia and Adobe. The tentative answer is yes, it's supported.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

Looks like a good system. Overkill? No such thing.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

The only thing I would do different in this setup (aside from checking compatibility with your software) is to increase the size of your SSD drive to at lease 512G or better yet 1Tb. Keep in mind that you want to load all those large programs onto that SSD and put your working files on the other drives. At 250Gb you may run out of room. Get a spare SSD and keep it as a clone.

ggttc Loc: TN

Just got an Asus Zen book with almost the same specs...but with a 512 SSD...works great for photo editing. And identical in price. Go for it.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I agree with some of the others, that the video card is a little overkill. I'd also check the specs on the Toshiba 1TB hard drive. If it's a 5400rpm model, then have them switch it for a 7200rpm model. Make sure the Windows operating system is on the SSD and that the SSD is the boot drive. Put all photo editing software on your SSD so that your editing will be much faster. Use the new 7200rpm drive while editing your photos, and then store them on other drives when your editing is done.

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

Why overkill? A lot of computers for photography put gaming computers (and their specs) to shame!!

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

The HD is indeed 7,200 RPM. The SSD is the boot drive so Windows lives there. The video card may be an overkill but for this price it may be OK.

jeep_daddy wrote:

I agree with some of the others, that the video card is a little overkill. I'd also check the specs on the Toshiba 1TB hard drive. If it's a 5400rpm model, then have them switch it for a 7200rpm model. Make sure the Windows operating system is on the SSD and that the SSD is the boot drive. Put all photo editing software on your SSD so that your editing will be much faster. Use the new 7200rpm drive while editing your photos, and then store them on other drives when your editing is done.

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

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)

Sam, since it is Microcenter, you can discuss your needs with their techs. And they will build anything you want for you. No need to go with a machine that is optimized for gaming (graphics card) if you can get one that is optimized for photo editing. You are not going to see much of a difference between a 700, 900 or 1000 series Nvidia card. But you will see a difference between a standard gamut card (sRGB) and one that supports 30 bit color and Adobe RGB, provided you have a display that can show wide gamut 30 bit color. Otherwise, save yourself $200 and get a cheaper graphics card - and 2 gb ought to be more than enough. I ran a dual display system using a 400 series Nivida card with only 512 mb - and it was more than fine. When I got a better card, it was not much faster, but when I got a card that supported OpenCL and 30 bit color, there was a modest improvement in speed and a definite improvement in gamut on those pictures that could benefit from being seen on a wide gamut display.

It's lengthy, but a good read -

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/photoshop-cs6-gimp-aftershot-pro,3208.html

unlucky2 Loc: Hemet Ca.

I would suggest usb3 and a wireless card that works on the 5 gig band. Both big helps in moving pic's in and out. Even if you do not presently have an AC router you will soon.

crphoto8 wrote:

Hi all, br I'm looking for a new PC to add to and ... (show quote)