Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

I’m a Mac guy but a friend asked if a gaming pc desktop is a good choice for pp? It has a fast cpu but a video card rather than a graphics one.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I'm on my second laptop gamer. The first was an ASUS "Republic of Gamers". I would still be using it if I had not physically broken it. I replaced it with a Lenevo Legion. The first cost about $1800 and specs were close to a Mac at $4K when I bought it. The second was $1100 at Costco a year ago.

Both have been very good for Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Elements and Premiere Pro. Both had 1920x1080 screens, Nvidia GPUs, an SSD, a HDD and 16 GB of RAM. Plugging in a bigger, better monitor is an option.

I travel enough that a desktop or office type computer would be limiting.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

In general, the fast CPU, a decent amount of RAM (16-32GB) plus SSD storage is a good fit for PP, but you don’t need the high end video card with 8GB (or more) of VRAM. It won’t hurt, but it’s overkill unless you do a lot of video editing. A decent video card with a GPU and 2GB of VRAM should be fine for PP.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I bought one in 2011. If it could do games on line in real time it could edit photos - I was right, upgraded some parts here and there and when the power circuitry went out last year put in a new MB, power pack, CPU (i9) with new more efficient cooler, bigger SSD "C" drive and transferred my two internal data drives (one just for photos/videos) and when the UC Irvine computer major who checked me out saw the components and we talked about what I was doing the last thing he said as he handed me my bag and receipt = "I'm jealous." My local tech who put it together for me said pretty much the same thing.

robertcbyrd Loc: 28754

I support my wife's online video psychotherapy practice as well and I do my own video and RAW photo processing. All of our machines are MSI gaming laptops that I get used in the $600 - $800 range. All have discrete GPU with SSD main drive and 16 GB to 32 GB RAM. All four machines perform very well.

I also am running Linux Mint dual boot on one of the machines with excellent results.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Ednsb, I hope this gives you insight into PC building. PCs have advantages over Macs price and free and more programs available. DIY building saves money and gives you future updating ability. Also DIY pride.

I agree with TriX. With a lot of research reading the opinions of experienced professional PC builders, and component reviews I would add a few details to his description.
you don’t need the high-end video card with 8GB.: True, the consensus is that NVIDIA card all under $200 with 1050Ti 4 gig @ $140 at the low $ end is fine for photos. Some photo programs work with INVIDIA program langrage. [Google Deepdreams for example]

Fast CPU: While historically Intel has been the leader; the table has been turned and AMD is ahead especially in the function for the dollar. Mine is Ryzen 5 3600. The latest has X added at the 3600 and have few features that add cost with diminishing return.

RAM: The price is rock-bottom at about $100 for 36 gig. Speed, yes why not, mine is 3200. I advise reading the latest review of brands. Remember not all memory is geared to work best with AMD CPUs. Adjusting the MOBO BIOS for your memory is important since the speed is not maxed in the BIOS without setting the BIOS to take advantage of the speed.

Storage: We went from old mechanical to Solid-state [SSD] and now M.2 slot on MOBO for our C Drive. There is a faster type, but it is more expensive; just how fast can you snap your fingers and tell the difference??

MOBO: Mine is MSI Gaming Plus, I wanted an MSI Tamahalk, but the supply was "out of stock." The Gaming Plus is excellent and has provision for those beautiful Mystic Color RGB lighting. Every Circus needs colored lights. Again read a lot of reviews. Make sure to update the BIOS before adding the CPU... yes true read on that.

Power Supply: The need for heavy-duty power supplies is no more altho from what I have read the power consumption from your wall plug is economized from within the Powersupply unit. Mine is a semi-modular 550w. Semi-Modular means major cords to MOBO are attached but the rest are plugin if needed.

Case: Mine has three 5.5" openings for adding DVD reader sized items. One is for DVD, tho optional if needed you can use a USB external. Another slot is for card reading and it too is optional since USB plugins are useable. The important one is for a dual SSD hot swap drawer unit. My SSD for photos in one and the other is used for inserting drives for backup, which I [should but dont] do monthly. Continuous backup is iffy. Consider if you get a virus it is backed up on your continuous backup. An SSD stored in a safe non-static place is just that - safe.

Fans: Colored oscillating Circus lights of course. How many and where, there are lots of pro Tech guys with opinions. Universal tho is more in than out so as to create a positive pressure vs sucking in dust. Besue to add dust filters to the in-fans.

Drivers: Be sure to upgrade, update, your hardware drivers. Corrupted or outdated drivers can cause the Blue Screen of Death!! -- Especially when a W-10 update has a driver eating bug.

When you build your own, you know what to upgrade when the world changes. The building of your computer is easy and foolproof. The plugs on the MOBO being so individualized you can not put item A in slot B.

To me building your own computer is as critical and as much fun as the new lens or camera body. Slow editing is frustrating, fast computer with fast editing is a feel-good need.

Additions or changes to my comments are welcome... old but not too old to learn. Thank you TriX for your base comment that prompted me to think out the subject and reviewing my build.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't see the need for a semi-super computer to process photographs.

Laptops for photo processing -

https://makeawebsitehub.com/best-laptops-for-photo-editing/
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/167185-best-laptops-for-photo-editing
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2017/sep/07/which-is-the-best-laptop-for-photo-editing
http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-laptops-for-image-editing-2016-1329234
https://laptopunderbudget.com/best-laptops-for-photo-editing/

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Jerry, that is the same thing you have said about SUBs. If you are editing in your small Honda Fit with the Laptop plugged into the Cigarette lighter, I can understand the preference for laptops. If a component in a laptop fails you are SOL for repairing, whereas with a desktop heat is better-disapated, dust can be removed and diagnose and self-repair is possible.

Jerry, as always I commend you for being through with references... too few in UHH do that. I have often said if the library of congress does not have what I am looking for jerry is as good if not better than a quick Google search. Without question, Jerry's less annoying than Bing when Jerry pops up it is to the point.

LCD

My one piece of advice is don't buy a laptop and expect it to be the PP workhorse. I was talked into that, and with a high end pricey machine too. Try not to buy one with the vents on the top where things can fall down into the box.The more ports and slots the better.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Actually, I prefer desktops - real computers. The l;inks I have just happen to refer to laptops. I suppose someone asked about laptops for processing, and I did a search.

As for me being less annoying, people have said that about me so often! "Have you noticed that Jerry is less annoying than he used to be?"

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

It's great, but probably overkill in terms of the graphics card.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

With the way things are in today's world of computer program processing, and hardware with so much to choose from, whether build your own or pre-packaged, built by one of the known computer companies, you can get so much stability, power, and reliability these days that to me is a no brainer PC over Mac.

At one time for professional graphic designers, photographers, videographers, etc. , the ease of flow with Macs OS was the standard. Price came with it.

But today, for your money, Macs are nothing but sleek, overpriced machines that you can beat dollar for dollar with an IBM clone.

I build my own gaming PCs, and if it's good for gaming is good for photo editing; an overkill to be honest, but yes, with today's graphics/video cards you can pick the best for your build/applications and make the system a killer for both: gaming and photo/video editing at a price the Macs can touch.

Since I don't have all the fancy components instruments to check that all your hardware will not fail you upon receipt; for my last built I chose all the components and have AVA direct built it for me, because they run the correct stress tests required to ensure that you get a system with components that will not fail you, plus they will do all the tweaking you want for your MOBO/CPU, power supply,
cooling, etc. per your instructions.

bkwaters

I agree completely. Building ones own computer is easy, a lot of fun and allows for photography optimized components. Makes upgrading and repairs simple and quick. My specs are similar to yours. M.2 storage, a lot of RAM and a decent discrete video card are more important than CPU speed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some desktop recommendations for processing. Lots of opinions.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-desktop-computer-for-photo-editing
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-pc-for-photo-editing
https://digitalphotographycourses.co.za/best-computer-photo-editing/
https://www.photoworkout.com/best-desktops-for-photo-editing/