New Computer Advice
May 30, 2015 08:15:33 #
dalematt wrote:
Thanks to everyone for their input. br br I would... (show quote)
Hint:
If you get a Windows 7 system with 6GB of ram, be sure you get a 64 bit windows version, else you will only ever be able to see and use below 4 GB of ram.
32 bit system means access to only 4 gb of installed ram, no matter how much ram the computer has hardware wise.
64 bit chip & Operating System mean access to memory above 4 GB.
May 30, 2015 08:17:16 #
Blurryeyed wrote:
Because I use my computer mostly for processing ph... (show quote)
Blurryeyed... how's it going in Daytona? I'm still under the weather but improving. I have a 72" iMac with an additional 20" screen. Love it. 16 gigs of ram. Cheers, Carl
May 30, 2015 08:24:33 #
Tom Daniels wrote:
Get the Mac 27 and as much ram as you can afford. ... (show quote)
:thumbup: :thumbup:
May 30, 2015 09:11:15 #
dalematt wrote:
My current computer has been having a lot of probl... (show quote)
I've never been happier with doing photo processing than after I got an iMac 27". Just get as much RAM as possible. Also, think about a SSD for OS and Apps and a second drive for storing photos.
Additionally, I'd get an additional external drive for backups.
--Bob
May 30, 2015 09:11:56 #
If you have a modest budget, just about any off-the-shelf PC will run Elements just fine. If it does run slow close any other programs running in the background. I have found that even my modest PC is most often waiting for me, rather than I wait for it. RAW files might take a few seconds to load, but once loaded edit just fine.
May 30, 2015 09:33:57 #
Bob Yankle wrote:
Strangely enough, one of the best machines you can buy for editing photographs is what is referred to as a "gaming" machine .
Yep, my ASUS gamer has 32 GB ram and I recently upgraded to a 1TB SSD. Expensive but worth it.
May 30, 2015 10:19:59 #
See if you can find someone to assemble one for you - then you can get exactly what you want. Jerry recommended some good basics: Intel i7 processor (although I built one with an AMD 8-core processor that is very, very capable), SSD drive (solid-state drive) for the C drive. I have a large HDD onboard for backup as well as an external backup. 16GB RAM is nice - probably not needed so much with an SSD. You want to have a DVD R/W drive, but consider a BluRay R/W drive (about $80) - BluRay discs can store 25GB of files. You also want to get a card reader in a front bay for easy access. You probably don't need a super high-end graphics card if you aren't going to be doing video. You can still get a Windows 7 Operating System if you prefer that...
May 30, 2015 10:35:09 #
stbg1951
Loc: Lewes, DE
Eurolux wrote:
If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, you might opt to go with a "Windows 7" based operating system rather than an "8". The Windows 8 systems are very different than what you have used (translation = hard to learn) and you can easily upgrade to the new Windows 10 operating system when it is released.
Pushing from 6GB to 8GB of RAM would also be noticeably better. If you can manage it. Best of luck.
Pushing from 6GB to 8GB of RAM would also be noticeably better. If you can manage it. Best of luck.
I use a product Start8 from Stardock. It makes Window 8 ack just like Win 7. It's only $4.99. The desktop can be set up just like Win 7 and you have the option to toggle to the standard win 8 interface from the good old start button. Then Ctl-Tab and your back to the Win 7 style interface. Here's he link to see about it.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/download.asp
May 30, 2015 10:46:09 #
travelwp wrote:
Yep, my ASUS gamer has 32 GB ram and I recently upgraded to a 1TB SSD. Expensive but worth it.
Way overkill. A large photo file is 20-40MB - one one-thousandth of your memory capacity. I am not aware of any programs that require so much RAM, and computers use what is called "virtual memory" - if there is not enough RAM, they swap parts of the program back and forth between the hard drive and the RAM - which, when your programs are on an SSD, is a very fast operation. I do photo processing on a laptop with an SSD and 8GB of memory and nothing ever slows down. Most people do not use their SSD to store data files and photos, but have a regular HDD for that purpose, since SSD's are much more expensive than an HDD. So most people will have a 250GB SSD for the operating system and any programs that you want to run fast, and an HDD - like 1TB - for their photos and data files. The system above might be ideal for running fast-action video games, but really is not needed for photo processing.
May 30, 2015 10:46:26 #
OldEarl
Loc: Northeast Kansas
Being somewhat in the same boat I have been exploring the availabilities. At the current time, your minimum (in Windows) should be an i5 with 8 gigs of RAM (or whatever they call it these days). It can be expanded to 32 gig. I am also looking into a partition so I can boot in either windows or Linux. Linux is safer on the net and GIMP and Raw Therapee work better in that platform.
I have been consulting computer savvy friends and have also had advice from every bias in the book. I anticipate using Linux except for my scanner and my tax program which are Windows proprietary. I am pushing back my acquisition of a Df by at least a year, but I think I can do on Provia and the scanner until then.
I have been consulting computer savvy friends and have also had advice from every bias in the book. I anticipate using Linux except for my scanner and my tax program which are Windows proprietary. I am pushing back my acquisition of a Df by at least a year, but I think I can do on Provia and the scanner until then.
May 30, 2015 11:19:29 #
sb wrote:
Way overkill.
I totally agree. It's kind of like, do you need a $7000 camera? does it take better pictures? No !
May 30, 2015 11:40:51 #
dalematt wrote:
My current computer has been having a lot of probl... (show quote)
I have two Gateways and we love them. I've owned several different brands but only had major problems with HP. Good luck
May 30, 2015 14:49:32 #
Our house has 3 i5 processors (CPUs) -- not ideal. Today's i7s have more on-board buffer space than i5s. Faster than RAM, that alone is a reason to get any i7 instead of any i5. If PS and LR have repetitive calculations as I imagine they do, esp. for large .dng files, this is relevant.
May 30, 2015 17:29:31 #
Make sure you get either a HP or Toshiba...get as much ram as you can and at least an 8 gig HD
As far as retoring your computer go to system restore and try that. You will be able to download and repair your files without losing any photo's etc.
As far as retoring your computer go to system restore and try that. You will be able to download and repair your files without losing any photo's etc.
dalematt wrote:
My current computer has been having a lot of probl... (show quote)
May 30, 2015 18:54:48 #
dalematt wrote:
Thanks to everyone for their input. br br I would... (show quote)
For your and everyone else's benefit; I have heard that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for all Windows 7 and Windows 8 users for a year after Windows 10 is released.
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