PC Advice

[MarkNI]

Not sure if I should be asking here as its not really a photography question so feel free to ignore or delete if its not appropriate!!

I'm thinking of getting a new PC because my laptop is getting on a bit, runs quite slow and I'd quite like to be able to run the adobe cloud based CS photography package.

I have 2 questions, should I go for a desktop or laptop, and do I need to spend a fortune to get something that let me run photoshop and lightroom without falling over?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

[Martyn]

I'm in the same boat Mark, my current pc is very unreliable and slow. I plan to build my own computer. I've decided against a laptop because I want to be able to upgrade components as needed and money allows. This also gives me the chance to use as large a monitor as my wife will allow I can afford.

[ChrisLumix]

Not sure if I should be asking here as its not really a photography question so feel free to ignore or delete if its not appropriate!!

I'm thinking of getting a new PC because my laptop is getting on a bit, runs quite slow and I'd quite like to be able to run the adobe cloud based CS photography package.

I have 2 questions, should I go for a desktop or laptop, and do I need to spend a fortune to get something that let me run photoshop and lightroom without falling over?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

 

If you already have a monitor and keyboard from another computer, you could do worse than get a Mac mini - they're powerful enough to run the software you mention, plus they come with all the usual Apple software goodies, but not with a keyboard or monitor so the price is (comparatively) cheap.

[MarkNI]

Monitor would be a problem. Would a tv be suitable for viewing and processing images? If so a mac mini could be a good shout!!

Thanks for the tip!!

[ChrisLumix]

Monitor would be a problem. Would a tv be suitable for viewing and processing images? If so a mac mini could be a good shout!!

Thanks for the tip!!

 

It's possible - but you'd have to check with Apple what the external connections are (HDMI?) and also look at what your flat screen TV will connect out to. It may be possible, but I wouldn't swear to it.

[MarkNI]

Thanks Chris

[JHFoto]

Buy a machine with the biggest RAM you can afford because Photoshop and the like use a lot of working memory.

[Black Pearl]

A TV will be a big problem as you can't calibrate them (well not easily) and they tend to be super bright, super contrasty and super saturated - all of which are the opposite to what you need to accurately edit photographs.

 

Out of interest why would a monitor be a problem?

[MarkNI]

Wouldn't be a problem, could easily pick one up, but don't have one in the house. I've been using a laptop for years!!

Thanks for the info on the tv!! Not the best solution!!

[colinb]

I'll back BP's point about the TV but if you wish to test your tv and it has either a slot for an xp/sd card or both Tv and laptop have HDMi sockets - I think you might find there is quite a difference between your laptop and Tv.

[Black Pearl]

As to the computer then you want lots of RAM, a decent processor, you can go mad but you don't need to so don't blow budget unnecessarily, a decent graphics card but again you don't need to go OTT as you're processing stills not video or playing games. Use a SSD as your main drive as that makes a BIG difference to the general operating of the system, a run of the mill second drive for general storage then spend money on fast external storage as that is easier to work with. My entire Lightroom library is on an external FW800 7200 spin drive and you'd be hard pushed to tell it wasn't on an internal drive.

 

I went from a laptop to an all-in-one as I need it to have a small footprint and be easily movable - personally for me it is a great solution but not the best value for money in absolute terms.