Cousin Haze

Hi Fellow Hoggers
I am about to take the plunge before i retire and get a PC to enable me to scan and print my many Negatives and do my digital Post Processing. looking for suggestions on RAM and Graphics card requirements. Also on dependable machines and support networks.All suggestions are greatly appericiated.
Thanks! Cousin Haze

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I found that looking a "Gaming" computers gave me the processing power needed. If you intended to use AI software, a good graphics card is needed. And the Gaming Computers happen to be loaded with everything fast.

The current Asus PC I use is now 6 years old and still processes using AI software at a respectable rate. Plus it has many USB ports for everything I want to attach.

On the other hand, I have a newer PC with a faster CPU and weaker Graphics card. And it can't process AI software nearly as fast.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Above, JimH gave the 'tip' in a "gamer config". Here's a link to Adobe's specs: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

Keep in mind your monitor is almost as important as your computer for image editing, so allow budget and a properly sized workspace for a large(er) monitor, if appropriate.

RonMe Loc: San Antonio

I had the same issue a few years ago and needed to replace an old Dell tower. On a whim, I decided to call B&H Photo for their advice and found the person I talked to very helpful. I ended up buying a Lenovo ThinkStation with 32 GB of RAM, and 2 TB HDD. I also purchased a 2TB SSD that I later installed myself. The workstation I bought didn't have blue tooth installed, which I have come to regret. At the end of the day the B&H rep gave me some good ideas I hadn't thought of. For example, workstations often come with a longer warranty. Mine also came with Windows 10 Pro for Workstations.

The bottom line is that it was nice to talk to someone who understood my photography-centric needs and who could offer up suggestions coupled with pros/cons and cost.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Look at micro center products. They have great service and good warranty. You can upgrade specific parts of a offered unit before it ships. Look at their gaming desktops. About 1500.00 should set you up good for several years with the ability to upgrade the motherboard after that if you get a good case and power supply. Make sure you get an nvme.m2 hard drive on the motherboard and then at least a 2 TB SSD drive for storage. Most of their gaming desktops are very expandable. Power spec is their brand.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Gaming computers are a good choice or put together a custom machine.
I have an iBuyPower gamer bought in 2011 for editing and year before last when the power section on the mother board developed problems I went to Photographylife and used their article on building an "Ultimate" photo editing PC, they also have budget designs.
Mine was about $2000 including $250 to my local tech to assemble it all using the full tower of the iBuyPower. I reused the tower, two of the hard drives I had installed, my optical drive, wifi card and the card reader. I also kept my 27" Asus monitor (since replaced with a 32" BenQ) and my mouse and keyboard. And the latest SSD for my "C" drive so the machine has 3 drives: 512 GB SSD "C" for OS and apps, 1TB "D" HDD for general data storage, "P" 6TB HDD for photo and videos. I also added an 8TB high speed HDD external drive for my backup storage

Note their builds do not include keyboard, mouse and monitor, these for for the guts of the PC only.

Here is their Ultimate Build from 2020 - a slight update on the one I followed in 2019 - they don't have a 2021 ultimate = $2000
https://photographylife.com/the-ultimate-pc-build-for-photography-needs

Here is their newest Budget build from this year=$1000
https://photographylife.com/budget-pc-build-photography

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I was in a similar position with my desktop PC, probably older than yours by a few years. It ran PS and AI well until the last couple PS upgrades and it would just hang. Replaced it with a gaming PC like one we purchased for my wife's CAD and office work. I got the gaming version with a newer processor, more robust graphics card and 64gb ram. You are spot on with that recommendation.

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

Ideally you need to disclose what software application(s) you intend to use on the new machine. To some degree that will suggest what you need.

Gaming machines are optimized with fast GPUs (graphics processing unit), LOTS of CUDA parallel processors, LOTS of video ram - and provide high frame rates and resolutions for viewing video/games. Most of that is not necessary if you won't be doing video editing or 4K viewing. The same goes for storage devices - you will pay a small fortune for fast SSDs, when in fact, a modestly fast SSD will be all you really need.

Dependability is not necessarily predictable, though I will say that compared to those sold in the 80s and 90s, today's computers are far more reliable. I would seriously consider a vendor that will custom build what you need, rather than going with something off a shelf.

The last things you'll want to disclose is your expectation regarding performance, and what you are willing to spend.

Otherwise, here are two suggestions, one for Photoshop and the other for Lightroom.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Photoshop-139/Hardware-Recommendations

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Lightroom-Classic-141/Hardware-Recommendations

I would not assume that if a machine is good for gaming it will necessarily be good for image editing. And that the gaming machine would represent the best value.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Please note. Requirements for Adobe are far less strenuous than what would be needed for DxO or the Topaz AI products. If you are not using them now, chances are that you will be using them later. A powerful GPU can make a tremendous difference.

And if you consider gaming PCs, you get all the things that make for good image processing. Lots of RAM. Fast CPU. Fast GPU. More USB ports. Etc... If the gamers like it (and there are a lot of gamers out there) then photo imaging will like it.

Match it up with an appropriate monitor, or better yet, dual monitors. Personally, I don't see how I could do this on a single monitor. And let me give you a clue on whether you need to calibrate the monitors. Set an image to be a solid color and stretch it across the two monitors. Is it brighter on one vs the other? Is the color different on one vs the other? If so, this is a sure sign that they need calibration. In fact, they all need calibration, and it makes a world of difference. For instance, use the puke green background of this Uglyhedgehog site and stretch it across the two monitors. Is the lightness/darkness exactly the same? Is the color exactly the same? Before I calibrated my current monitors, they failed both these tests. After calibration, I am not able to determine any difference. This is the way you want it.

And another clue. You can work on the manual monitor adjustments all day long, and you won't ever be able to make them exactly the same. You need to use a monitor calibrator. They work.

I've gone the gaming PC route my last two times, and it has been the right choice both times. Next time I do it, I will go the gaming route again. And knowing some fanatic gamers, I know just how picky they are for power and speed. If the gamers like it, your images will like it.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Micro Center does custom builds and are very reasonable. Their mid level gaming computers are wonderful for photo editing all you need to add is an extra SSD. If you buy an Nvidia GPU Nvidia has drivers made just for photo editing. They also have a super neat Al program. GauGan2 is an amazing program. No not for editing but check it out. You can say draw almost anything and it will make the drawing almost instantly. Watch their video. Beat stuff. I use affinity Photo for my heavy editing. It allows me to use my 2070 super rtx so my editing is basically instant. It will also allow use of system resources for editing but I'm not that familiar with that. I believe all that was added in the 1.8 update. Anyway check out Nvidia GauGan2. It's a cool toy

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

You stated “PC” so I assume you are looking at only Windows machines. If you are open to Apple then the new M1 chip machines are providing incredible performance. Mine will process photos faster than my son’s mid to upper level gaiming computer. But if you are staying Windows then I agree with the suggestions given about buying gaming computers.

NewEnglandPhotoguy Loc: Chelmsford, MA

Costco Warehouse sells a Dell XPS 8940 for $1599. It's ideal for CS2021. It's got 32GB Memory, 11th Gen Intel 2.50 Ghz, 512 GBB SSD for loading programs fast.1 TB hard drive (I would double this), the graphics card is a NVidia RTX 3600 which handles AI plug-ins very nicely. I use it with a Benq SW270 32" monitor. It was the least expensive PC I could find locally that was sufficiently robust to handle my post processing needs. Highly recommended. BTW this is also available through Dell.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I would also ask YouTube this same question.

Capn_Dave

Dell allows you to customise computers. I just purchased an Alienware R12. Probably overkill but I got a good price. Graphics cards are priced out of sight right now if you can even get one. That is why I went with the Alienware with a 1TB NVMe SSD card along with a 8Tb Seagate Barracuda. I also got the Radeon RX 6800XT with 16 gb ram. Iy is fast and Topas products fly with it. All for 1800 with my military discount.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Gene is right - the extra cost for gaming components is necessary only for special circumstances. Judicious selection of processor and GPU is important, as is sufficient system AND GPU RAM. NVIDIA graphics cards are the best for photo processing; at present, all graphics cards are priced way too high because of chip shortage, but look at their performance evaluations vs price in selection. And choose the best monitor(s) you can afford. You can be certain that as software is upgraded in capability, hardware requirements will advance as well, so plan ahead (always) in terms of expectations for enhancement and ease of hardware component replacement.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City