Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

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Archive 2008 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

Chip Payet
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p.3 #1 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

Reviving this thread to see what changes might be recommended. I was not able to get a new PC back in September, but it looks like I have no choice now.

I'll need to get something quickly, too.

A Mac is unfortunately out of the question due to cost, so must be a PC, and as a Small Business owner who bought a new network from DELL 1 year ago, I get a good discount, so I'll probably go with them.

Jun 04, 2009 at 04:51 AM

tived
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p.3 #2 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

Some of the Dell workstations will fit your bill.

though I still stand by my two previous posts.

good luck

Henrik

Jun 04, 2009 at 02:28 PM

15Bit
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p.3 #3 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

I'd be inclined to go with a Core i7 920 on an overclocking motherboard. I don't know if the Dell's will overclock though.

The previous thoughts on hard disk layout are still valid with the addition of solid state drives as an option. I wouldn't boot an OS off an SSD due to their limited lifetimes, but running one for the photoshop scratch disk could speed things up a lot. Buy the intel SSD - no-one else seems to be able to match them for performance.

Nothing has changed with respect to RAID except that some of the i7 motherboards now have Raid 10 onboard. This is probably not as fast as an SSD, but it will provide you with a decent level of data security and some performance improvement over a single drive. Remember that RAID is not a backup solution.

The Dell 22 and 24 inch monitors have good reviews.

Jun 04, 2009 at 06:42 PM

tived
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p.3 #4 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

15bit,

I am not how and what you do, but I wouldn't recommend over clocking, for people using their computers for work, where they are relying on this machine to 24/7.

It is a different story if you are just doing image editing on a casual basis.

I have had and still have one of my computers overclocked, but it is not my main production machine, and I would advise heavily against people over-clocking their primary machine.

regarding Dell, it was because the OP could get a good deal, not because they may be good at over clocking.

Dell PrecisionTM T7400 is your Mac equivalent - though not as pretty :-)
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx?c=au&cs=aubsd1&id=precn_t7400&l=en&s=bsd
US$4599

Dell Precision T3400 is your middle lower workstation
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx?c=au&cs=aubsd1&id=precn_t3400&l=en&s=bsd
US$2199

you could probably get something cheaper, it would be possible to build something cheaper and faster

good luck

Henrik

Jun 05, 2009 at 01:12 AM

Doug C
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p.3 #5 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

tag for future reference

Jun 12, 2009 at 10:25 PM

tomb18
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p.3 #6 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

tived wrote:
15bit,

I am not how and what you do, but I wouldn't recommend over clocking, for people using their computers for work, where they are relying on this machine to 24/7.

It is a different story if you are just doing image editing on a casual basis.

I have had and still have one of my computers overclocked, but it is not my main production machine, and I would advise heavily against people over-clocking their primary machine.

regarding Dell, it was because the OP could get a good deal, not because they may be good at over clocking.

Dell PrecisionTM T7400 is your Mac equivalent - though not as pretty :-)
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx?c=au&cs=aubsd1&id=precn_t7400&l=en&s=bsd
US$4599

Dell Precision T3400 is your middle lower workstation
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx?c=au&cs=aubsd1&id=precn_t3400&l=en&s=bsd
US$2199

you could probably get something cheaper, it would be possible to build something cheaper and faster

good luck

Henrik
Overclocking is not dangerous nor is it unreliable. You just need to check for stability using appropriate tools. In many years of PC building, my systems have been rock solid, never crashing, even under heavy number crunching and gaming.
My current system runs at 4.2GHz...albeit it is water cooled.

Jun 14, 2009 at 12:10 AM

ajkessler
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p.3 #7 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

I would recommend against dell, unless you really don't want to build it yourself. Dell's are probably good if you're buying their top end stuff (never have, so I can't say for sure), but they've always thrown the cheapest components possible into their middle and low grade stuff.

For the money, you'll do better buying the parts themselves and putting it together. As long as you don't buy the cheapest components possible, you'll have no problem just plugging them all in and having it work just fine, even if you've never done it before.

Jun 16, 2009 at 04:03 PM

Nowhere Man
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p.3 #8 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

These days, it's almost always better to order a computer pre-built. It's hard to beat the prices of the huge manufacturers like Dell. I've had Dell's for years and never had any problems except for one hard drive crash. Otherwise, they have worked great. Sure, their customer service sucks ass, but think about the time it takes to individually order parts, put together a computer, load the OS and troubleshoot any potential driver errors, etc.

If time is money, then I'd say you're way better off buying a pre-built. Just order a computer and be done with it.

Jun 16, 2009 at 04:45 PM

mmurph
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p.3 #9 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

Nowhere Man wrote:
It's hard to beat the prices of the huge manufacturers like Dell.

It also sounds like you would prefer not to build one yourself?

I usually buy a new computer every 2 years. First a laptop, then a desktop, then a laptop, etc., so that I get a new desktop every 4 yerars.

I don't relly like to edit on a laptop, so the desktop is my main editing machine.

I usually look at Dell first. My last 3 purchases have been Dell's. Spend some tim,e watching the deals and building machines to find exactlky what you want. They might have a great deal one week with a 24" monitor, but the machines w/o monitors are expensive, etc.

I have never paid more than $600 for a base machine without monitor. Get a decent processor, a couple gig of RAM, a decent video card, and a decent hard drive. Usually "middle of the pack" is about right on those things. Right now that is 2 or 4 gig of ram, 320-500 gig hard drive, Core 2 Dual or Quad, etc.

Then add another $100 to 200 worth of RAM and $100 to $200 worth of hard drives. I recently bought 3 - 320 gig SATA drives for $30 each. Or you can get a 1TB internal for about $100.

For data storage (images), I usually use 1 internal drive for RAW and 1 for Working files. I then "match" those with external USB drives of the **same size** for backups.

So do your OS drive, your Scratch drive, a RAW drive, and a Working drive internally if you can. 4x320Gb would be OK. Then 2 external 320Gb drives for backup of the RAW and Working. Or 2x500Gb internbal and 2x500Gb external for images.

You can go to exotic things like Barracuda drives, etc., but you quickly get to the point of diminishing returns. You can also easily add some of those later - get a good tower with a lot of room available. Start with a good amount of RAM first, maybe 8gig to 12 gig on a 64bit machine, and see how the machine runs before you throw more money at it.

I also understand that if you buy after Windows 7 is officially announced on June 26th you will receive a certificate for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released in the fall. You might just install taht to start, I hear that it is pretty stable. Your call there!

Good luck.

Best,
Michael

Jun 17, 2009 at 07:59 PM

BluePixel
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p.3 #10 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

tag for future reference

Doug, thanks for the tip.

Jun 18, 2009 at 12:54 AM

mmurph
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p.3 #11 · Build the ideal PC for photo-editing

Here's a sample HP box for $600 that would make a pretty good base unit:

HP Pavilion m9500t Intel Quad-Core Desktop (6GB/640GB/Blu-Ray/HD4650/SPORE Game) $599.99, Jun. 17 12 PM

HP has the HP Pavilion m9500t Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Desktop Computer for a low $599.99 after Coupon Code. Free Shipping. Tax in most.

no monitor; Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz; 6GB RAM; 640GB HDD; Blu-Ray reader & DVD burner; Vista Home Premium; ATI Radeon HD4650 512MB + Spore Game; 1yr warranty

Jun 18, 2009 at 02:35 AM

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