Advice on a new computer
 

I think I need a new computer - the family PC (2003 vintage) is getting clogged with all sorts of rubbish (I think that's the kid's games, but they would say the same about my photos!), and is running ever slower, and the files I am working on are getting ever bigger.
I was considering a laptop, so as to be able to do some photo-editing etc on the move, but need something that will work with 95mb 16bit TIFF files in Lightroom and Photoshop, handle 4Gb downloads of RAW files etc. Ideally I would also like the ability to run a second screen for photo-editing at home, and also burn dvds for back-up on the move. My existing peripherals are mostly USB.
Everything has changed since I last researched computer specs, so any advice on spec and brands to consider/avoid would be welcome!

This was my position until a few weeks ago. An aging windows machine from 2003-ish. I also needed to look at 12Mpx RAW images which took my machine minutes to convert to TIFF even with minor edits. Managing and being patient I finally broke!

Take a look at Apple Mac's which are all exceptionally quick. I have a Mac Pro with Quad Xeon cores which converts the same RAW files in less than 10s and also a Macbook with dual core CPU which is not too far behind the Mac pro in speed. Mac OS X is fairly easy to learn after Windows then there is no looking back!


Want speed and no fuss - buy a Mac!

Pleased to see Steven still pleased with macs. To add my pennyworth my mac Powerbook nearing 6 years old (and the classic portable case still in use) is still going strong and no prob downloading upto 200 x 7MB RAW files. In PS(E4) multi-layer files soon blow up to 50-60MB, but then I use DPP and only go to PS as host for NeatImage or FocusMagic final tweak.

But if you come up with a PC as slim and functional, do let us know.

What is the current spec?

There are many reasons why a PC can run slowly. You might have a nearly full disk, a badly fragmented disk, not enough RAM and maybe other reasons.

Or just too slow a CPU, motherboard and disk!!!!

It would help if you could give us an idea of your budget too. Stephen's Mac may be wonderfully quick, but you may need to be sitting down when you hear the price.

With files that size you must be using a 1Ds.
If your thinking about a Mac visit the Apple store in MeadowHELL (when it reopens), the staff there are very helpful.

Ok - the spec, bearing in mind I'm not very computer literate. Athlon XP 2200+, 1Gb RAM, 40Gb hard drive about 3/4 full (recently defragmented) - I use about 5-10Gb of this for projects in hand, but any longer term storage is off-site in a stand-alone 250Gb hard drive.
I guess the relatively full hard drive wont be helping, but I'm not sure what I can shift (I want to keep the stand-alone drive for photo storage as much as possible).
I run XP Home currently, and would upgrade to XP pro sp2 rather than vista for preference, at least until vista has been running for a while. Although there's lots to be said for macs, I'm not sure that would suit me, as I would like to network with the existing computer at times, and share the stand-alone drive.
Until recently my old machine was fine, but since swapping from a canon 1V with scanned negs (which was slow anyway, and I was probably more selective in the images I worked on!) to a 1DsII (nearly right John) I find the work volume has greatly increased.
Budget? - I want a machine that will remain adequate for some years, so I guess I need to buy at the upper end of the spec range currently available to have 'spare capacity' for the future. Say around £750, with another £250 for a good monitor if I go down the 2 screen route.
Having read Stephen's thread it would seem I need a much bigger disc, about 2Gb RAM, dual core, but I could do with more detailed advice before I shell out the cash!

:D :D :D

Want to download freebee progs get a pc.

I don't consider my pc a slouch but then Foxy has used it so he knows how it compares to his shiny new toy.

Don

PC or Mac I got one of these yesterday and pretty impressed http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...ce=14&doy=27m6

Don

I guess it does depend on how much clutter you aquire. A quick look and in imaging programs alone I have :
PSP7, PSP8, Nikon View, Nikon NC4.4, NX, and Capture Contol, CS2, Rawshooter, Fastone, Iris Space Imaging, Deep Sky Stacker, Registax, Combine ZM and then add Opanda and Image extractor.:) :rolleyes: And for a couple of days I also had Canon DPP and Canon Zoombrowser for training purposes. :D

Don

Gordon,

With £750 to spend, you should be able to get a very nice PC that will keep you going for several years. If you (or others that use this PC) don't do any 3-D gaming, then there's no need to get a high end graphics card. This will keep costs down in that area, freeing up cash to spend on processor/HDD/memory which are the important elements for photo processing.

XP Pro SP2 is a wise choice, though having just started using Vista, there's fixes available for all the niggling problems I found I had. You may find that a new machine comes bundled with Vista now, though you should be able to specify that you want XP instead.

As for £250 for a decent screen, it depends on your definition of decent. See my review of the Viewsonic VP930 flat panel,
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=2452
this was £200 and isn't really up to CRT standards for photo editing. If it's going to be your main screen, I'd spend a bit more than £250, or even better, keep your CRT if you are happy with it.

I was going to suggest building your own, but then i read this and that thought went out the window.... :)

£750 should get you a good PC now as prices are well down. For a 'Mac' you are looking at 3 or 4 times that, but all the arty people swear by them. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It looks as though I should get a desktop rather than a laptop, for value for money, with as fast a dual processor as I can afford, 2Gb RAM and a big hard disc. SCREENS ... hmmm. A bit more research needed there.

Gordon,

Your plan of action given above seems sound. Re: Screens, it depends what the primary purpose/use of the machine is going to be. Whilst I much prefer photo editing on the CRT, I find myself doing more and more "office" type work on the PC with the flat panel, despite it being a slower machine. The VP930 flat panel is very nice for text based viewing, but can't cut it for colours. If you want really good colours for photo editing then I think you are looking at £500 plus £100 for a calibrator. You may find it beneficial to stick with your existing CRT (assuming that's what you have).

If you, or anyone else who's going to use the machine isn't into high-end gaming, then you could do a lot worse than buy from the Dell Factory Outlet here:
http://outlet.dell.com/Emea_Dfo/EuDi...constraint=DIM
Previously I have always built my own PCs from components, having lurked on the Dell outlet site for a while, I came to the conclusion it wasn't worth it. I could buy a complete box with software for less cost than just buying the bits I needed to upgrade my original PC.

I recently bought a Dimension 9200
Pentium Core2 Duo E6300
2GB RAM
2x250GB HDDs (RAID)
DVD-ROM
DVD-RW
nVidia 7900GS graphics card
CF/SD/MS/etc card reader built in
TV Tuner card
Integrated sound and network, 8x USB2
Vista Home Premium
KB, mouse and speakers - no screen
Total cost £438 (after £40 refund for delayed delivery)

There's some deals to be had, but you may have to lurk for a while before a real bargain pops up.

Regards,

Duncan