Computer for photo editing (Page 2): /Thanks...

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Computer for photo editing

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Jun 7, 2021 17:28:52 #

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

robertjerl wrote:

If you use "quote reply" we will know who/what you are answering.

/Thanks

Jun 7, 2021 17:40:50 #

10MPlayer Loc: California

I have a Dell XPS-15 that I've been using for several years now. It does everything I need. I use a calibrated 27" Samsung 4K monitor when I'm processing for prints. I will say that my laptop has been in the shop, I think, three time now in its five year life. It's had a sound problem and a video processing problem. I can't recommend Dell's customer service enough. When I've had a problem they send me a box and I ship in it. In about two weeks I've gotten it back good as new. One time they even replaced the battery without me asking. After the first time it went to the shop I made sure to buy the extended service insurance. It has paid for itself several times over. I don't think my experience is typical. Most Dell computers are rock solid. I just got a bad one but the company has made it good as new without any problems.

CHG_CANON wrote:

That's the way to spend someone else's money!! Especially in nonsensical ways. Do you follow that logic for your lenses to cameras too?

I agree. I bought a Samsung 4K monitor for $600 when the 4k first came out and was expensive. I don't see any reason to spend any more than that, especially for processing static photographs. If you're doing high frame rate video, like in gaming, then you need the best monitor your budget will allow. But processing a picture doesn't need all that. A lot of what you pay for is processing speed so you don't get that juddering look in fast moving movie scenes; and you pay for angle of viewing technology. That's not an issue in post processing. The other thing to look for is black point. Better monitors have a better black point, whatever that means. :0)

Like others have said, a gaming computer is more than you need and you'll be paying more for stuff you'll never use unless you're into playing games online. One thing about buying more than you need is that you'll probably never outgrow it. Photo post processing doesn't take as much computer power as gaming. Get a good monitor and a Spyder Pro or other calibration tool and you'll be fine.

Jun 7, 2021 17:54:53 #

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

10MPlayer wrote:

I have a Dell XPS-15 that I've been using for seve... (show quote)

Thanks,

Jun 7, 2021 17:56:54 #

10MPlayer Loc: California

One more thought. My Samsung didn't come with color controls that measure in degrees K. I don't know if they all come with it now but if were buying a new one I'd get one that measured brightness in degrees Kelvin and not just brightness/contrast/color controls. Mine was one of the early ones so I'm sure they are improved by now.

Jun 7, 2021 17:57:18 #

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I too have a DELL XPS 15 laptop. I'm literally typing on it as the battery recharges after taking it out of the shipping box that arrived back from Dell about an hour ago. This is definitely the 2nd time back from repair, maybe the third. I forget from the almost 5 years I've had it. The laptop is out of the original warranty, but I found I could pay about $35 and get them to send a prepaid shipping box that I returned to FedEx and got a $150 estimate for the latest work that replaced the battery that wouldn't charge and fix the lid that didn't close after a drop onto the hardwood floor. This laptop was purchased at the same time as the XPS desktop mentioned above. All the laptop repairs have been about the battery, although this specific model has a problem with an Intel driver that Dell and / or Microsoft occasionally tries to push onto the laptop since Jan 2021. Both these XPS machines have proved to be the best equipment I used / owned since my first laptop in 1994.

Jun 7, 2021 17:59:55 #

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

CHG_CANON wrote:

I too have a DELL XPS 15 laptop. I'm literally typ... (show quote)

I'm going with the Dell Ultra Sharp 27

Jun 8, 2021 05:28:17 #

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Good initial selection. The 1660 is a good mid range card. You will need a good monitor, make sure it comes with at least a 3 year warranty and extend it to 5 if possible. You will eventually use the 8TB so you MUST make sure you have at least another 8TB drive for backup. If cost is a bit of an issue I would replace the 1 x 8TB with 2 x 4TB to allow as a minimum a second drive as a backup.

Jun 8, 2021 06:16:16 #

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

Lots good.
Make sure you calibrate your monitor!!

Jun 8, 2021 06:27:39 #

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

robertjerl wrote:

... I rebuilt the thing using the case (full tower) following specs from Photographylife https://photographylife.com/the-ultimate-pc-build-for-photography-needs
I used the 2019 ultimate build, they now have a newer set of specs from 2020.
Then I upgraded my Asus 27" graphic arts monitor to a BenQ 32" graphic arts/photography monitor.
About $2000 (including my local tech putting it together) for the upgrade because I reused a lot of stuff plus the cost of the monitor.

Robert did well. I built a COVID isolation-inspired computer and of course used last year's gaming components that had dropped in price... still good, but last year. Gaming exceeds the needs of the photo edit needs. Regarding monitors, good is enough, hi-end exceeds the limits of normal visual perception.

NVIDIA graphics cards use program language that is helpful to some Ai programs [eg Google Deep Dreams]. My Nvidia 1050Ti with 4 gigs of DDR-5 memory is sufficient, about $150. In the article referenced by Robert, the section on M.2 NVMe vs SSD is very important.

The Dell mentioned has an M2, but mounted on a card.. why not just use an SSD small drive... M2 on a card as in the Dell is not to one's advantage it is only a marketing trick. My home-built has a real M2 on the MSI motherboard mount. I used the older M2 because the new 5.5 x faster NVMe was so expensive. Price has now dropped and for $120 Intel offers the 670p. My 670p has arrived and I will install it this week. While this, the 670p NVMEe, is not as good at the Hi-End costing more than twice as much, the reviewer [reviewing the 660p] said in normal use there is no perceivable difference; like with hi-end monitors, another situation where looking at specifications is a "bling" a glittering doodad that can not be precieved by the eye in normal viewing.

Jun 8, 2021 06:37:51 #

tcthome Loc: NJ

If I was purchasing this computer, I would go for the 10 core CPU & larger power supply. If money is a concern, Cut back to 1tb on your C dive & maybe less on your storage drive & use some external drives for storage that can be purchased later on, unless you can fill the 8tb drive now.

Jun 8, 2021 08:08:42 #

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

About four years ago I needed a computer for my photography (I also teach photography in a public high school) I bought a Dell Inspiron 7000 gaming laptop. While the monitor is on the small side, comparably, the rest of the machine has performed flawlessly. In the next few months I will be buying a desktop as I am setting up a studio, my first consideration will be a Dell gaming unit, for all the reasons people have listed above. One other thought; my brother (MIT and Microsoft graduate) once told me to buy as much computer as you can afford, you can always grow into it, but if it's limited you'll always grow out of it too soon, better to have more than not enough.

Jun 8, 2021 08:23:09 #