Thinking about upgrading my PC in the next few months to cope with the demands of photo-editing large D800E files using CS6, LR4 and a mixture of plugins. I do use my PC for gaming, but I'm nowhere near as hardcore as I used to be ... and this would very much be a secondary purpose.
I'm wondering about getting an iMac, but will likely wait for the next iteration to be announced before deciding on whether to persist with a Windows/PC system or taking the plunge into the Apple world ( although I do currently use a Mac Book Air laptop ).
It has been approximately 3 yrs since my last PC build and I haven't really kept up to date with the newer hardware out there. I don't have a set budget in mind.
My own thoughts are as follows :
1. I'd be looking to probably stay with Intel processors as I believe they are presently the best.
2. I'd quite like an SSD drive ( ? 256 Gb capacity ) to install the OS, Photoshop CS6, Lightroom 4 and related plugins on.
3. A good GPU as CS6 will take advantage of graphics acceleration for photo-editing. Not interested in a crossfire / SLI setup for hardcore gaming.
4. Good reliable, high capacity internal disk drives for storage. Probably two drives ... one for Steam, other non-photography related apps and general files, and the other drive purely for storing RAW / TIFFS / Jpegs. I think I'd probably want the drive that stores photo files to be 2 Tb ( I might get away with 1 Tb for the other drive ).
5. An optical drive ( yup, still use one sometimes ... but usually back up up stuff to external hard drives ). Undecided on whether to get a blu-ray burner or not. Don't presently use one. I think a DVD burner would suffice - current one is dual layer burner.
6. Memory - just can't get enough for photo-editing. I would want at least 16 Gb - possibly might push for 32 Gb.
7. Would be looking to get a new tower case to put this all in ... something stylish ( as in gun metal finish etc , not like a UFO that has 200 flashing neon lights
).
8. Reliable PSU - have used modular Corsair ones in recent times.
9. Motherboard ... I have no particular preferences with make. But would like one that can take up to 64 Gb of memory just in case I decide to add later down the line. USB 3.0 would be helpful, onboard sound ( haven't bothered with a separate sound card for years ).
10. Already have mouse, monitor, keyboard etc so those wouldn't need to be factored in to the cost.
Would be grateful for your thoughts ...... go on, hit me with the bad news
I'm wondering about getting an iMac, but will likely wait for the next iteration to be announced before deciding on whether to persist with a Windows/PC system or taking the plunge into the Apple world ( although I do currently use a Mac Book Air laptop ).
It has been approximately 3 yrs since my last PC build and I haven't really kept up to date with the newer hardware out there. I don't have a set budget in mind.
My own thoughts are as follows :
1. I'd be looking to probably stay with Intel processors as I believe they are presently the best.
2. I'd quite like an SSD drive ( ? 256 Gb capacity ) to install the OS, Photoshop CS6, Lightroom 4 and related plugins on.
3. A good GPU as CS6 will take advantage of graphics acceleration for photo-editing. Not interested in a crossfire / SLI setup for hardcore gaming.
4. Good reliable, high capacity internal disk drives for storage. Probably two drives ... one for Steam, other non-photography related apps and general files, and the other drive purely for storing RAW / TIFFS / Jpegs. I think I'd probably want the drive that stores photo files to be 2 Tb ( I might get away with 1 Tb for the other drive ).
5. An optical drive ( yup, still use one sometimes ... but usually back up up stuff to external hard drives ). Undecided on whether to get a blu-ray burner or not. Don't presently use one. I think a DVD burner would suffice - current one is dual layer burner.
6. Memory - just can't get enough for photo-editing. I would want at least 16 Gb - possibly might push for 32 Gb.
7. Would be looking to get a new tower case to put this all in ... something stylish ( as in gun metal finish etc , not like a UFO that has 200 flashing neon lights
).8. Reliable PSU - have used modular Corsair ones in recent times.
9. Motherboard ... I have no particular preferences with make. But would like one that can take up to 64 Gb of memory just in case I decide to add later down the line. USB 3.0 would be helpful, onboard sound ( haven't bothered with a separate sound card for years ).
10. Already have mouse, monitor, keyboard etc so those wouldn't need to be factored in to the cost.
Would be grateful for your thoughts ...... go on, hit me with the bad news
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so that was £200 added to my spec, and he didn't spec a budget if I had one in the £1200 range I would have specced an Ivy i7 too 