crbuckjr Loc: Naples FL

My desktop PC is old and way too slow. I want a good one mainly for managing and editing photos. I use Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Topaz AI (Denise, etc) have 45 mb images……100,000 images…..etc.

Would like to upgrade to a desktop that will last a while. Want to stay with PC.

Would appreciate knowing about good reviews of such desktops, other sources of help, or specific recommendations.

Thanks much

Chuck

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Denise needs help to figure out what she is doing here... (You still have time to edit the typo...)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I bought this one a couple of weeks ago to replace our 12 year old HP Win 7 box.
It works great! Very pleased.
https://www.costco.com/hp-envy-desktop---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700---windows-11-professional.product.4000159147.html
I added the 2TB HD from the old computer as D: (swapped the data cables with the 1TB internal which is now E:.).
(I did remove McAfee as we have a Norton subscription.)

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Budget?

My old PC got really slow with LR/PS. My wife bought me a MacBook M1, 16" screen. I do like a larger monitor for a desktop but you can add an external monitor for editing work (your old desktop monitor will most likely work). The MacBook runs rings around the old PC when using LR/PS. The downside is that the PC and the Mac have different conventions for normal work (window close/minimize/maximize and action of taskbar icons and general focus management) so you have to get used to it. But if I can do it at age 84, you should be able to.

The Mac costs somewhat more than the PC in general but the new generation Apple silicon are worth it (to me, anyway). And I ran two screens before my desktop died, one for LR and one for PS. Found two screens VERY useful. And two screen installation is plug and play these days, so you can do it with Mac OR PC.

If you're married to PC, I have always had good luck with Dell. Have seen different opinions online (including UHH).

Another thing you might consider is a trackball instead of a mouse. I did that about 30 years ago since my desk rarely had enough space to swing a mouse. I have a Logitech Ergo which has a button for normal operation and fine tracking, useful for more precise editing. It also has two channels so you can switch it between two different machines (so I can run the PC laptop with the MacBook next to each other). The Ergo has two different models and the lower price one doesn't have to 2 channels nor the fine control button. If you use a tablet, it might be better, but I never got the hang of one.

If you consider a Mac, you have to remember that you have to get ALL the features you want at purchase time. They can't be upgraded.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I tried a track ball, once. Didn't like it at all, but I'm deadly with a mouse.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Be sure to get one with optical drives, if that's what you want. When I bought this Dell, I discovered that it's not possible to add an optical drive. I would have had to order it with one. I have the XPS30. My son has the XPS40, and I could add to drives to that.

Some general info -

Memory -
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor -
http://gizmodo.com/dont-waste-money-on-intels-top-processor-1791426602
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

For plenty of RAM, faster GPU and plenty of fast drive space, I would be tempted by this one:

https://www.costco.com/dell-xps-tower---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700---geforce-rtx-3060ti---windows-11.product.4000159899.html

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My new laptop (1 year) doesn't have a CD drive. I bought an external.
The new desktop doesn't have an internal CD either, so I use the external.
Hard pressed to find a computer with a CD anymore.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I hate having to use the external.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

It was fun to see what might be on the top end of possibilities!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1778255-REG/lenovo_30ha001rus_thinkstation_p3_ultra_desktop.html/overview

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Why a desktop? I just got a I9 Lenovo laptop, rocket fast, 32 GB mem and architected for 64, yada yada and I process the same programs as you. The 45MP images suggests an R5? I have a 1 TB SSD C drive and 2 4TB SSD external. One is backup. It goes where I go. If you not mobile then by all means go for the desktop. Being retired and moving around it replaced the dog. Simply food for thought.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Someone may have mentioned this, but having an SSD as the C drive with a large HDD for data is ideal. If you get a new computer, you can simply move the D drive from the old to the new.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Better get used to it...
The card reader in the new desktop only supports SD cards, the new laptop has no card reader either.
And I have memory sticks also, and one CF card in the digital picture frame. So I got an external card reader.....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have desktops and laptops, but I consider a desktop to be a "real" computer. That's old-fashioned thinking, I know, but that's the way I am - old-fashioned. It's easier to get inside a desktop if I want to make changes.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It surely is!
Our desktop is my MAIN computer, having dual monitors, 3TB of HDs, and the HD drive dock.
(And the printer/scanner is right nest to it.)