Author Topic: New desktop - HELP (Read 12152 times)

ChasingMoments · « **on:** May 17, 2011, 10:07 »

Hi All,

So, it's time for me to get a new desktop, the one I'm working on right now is getting a bit too slow ... and it's almost four years old too!

Right now I've got 4gb ram and 2.10ghz processor...PC person. I'm using CS2 + plugins/actions; I do have CS5 but I have not been able to use it because the computer stalls too much with it. Ideally, I'd move to CS5 and improve speed.

I'm quite overwhelmed by all the options out there and basically am wondering about "minimum" ram/speed (haha, as well as monitor suggestions!!!) I'd need...

I'd love any help/suggestions! Pretty please! Thanks!

I know it's too broad of a questions, but even knowing what other people'r using would give me some baseline..

cathyslife · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:57 »

sorry, can't help, I'm a mac

echbart · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:19 »

How much money do you have for this purchase?

ChasingMoments · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:27 »

Quote from: echbart on May 17, 2011, 11:19

How much money do you have for this purchase?

Well, good question

I'd prefer to invest in a machine that'd be solid for a couple of years in terms of speed/performance. Aiming at around $1500... and under

sam100 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:30 »

Acer Aspire X3300
AMD Athlon (tm) X4 630 processor 2.8 Ghz
8 Gig DDR3
1028 mb video card
Boot disk SSD (Kingston) 128 gig
Second Sata SSD (Kingston) 64 gig installed, configured as scratch-disk for photoshop CS4 to use.

This configuration is working light speed.

ps : work with canon 5D mkII

Patrick.

rimglow · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:39 »

Absolutely beautiful work!

Get an iMac. You'll love it.
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC812LL/A?mco=MjIwNTQ2NTA

ChasingMoments · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:47 »

Quote from: rimglow on May 17, 2011, 11:39

Absolutely beautiful work!

Get an iMac. You'll love it.
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC812LL/A?mco=MjIwNTQ2NTA

Thanks! My husband has an imac... so I know it's great, but I'd prefer to stick to PC!

echbart · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:33 »

Patrick configuration!

I would recommend you

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883147691

and as Patrick said additional SSD for scratch-disk PS - should work like magic

aeonf · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2011, 12:42 »

You probably don't need an upgrade actually.

What EXACT CPU do you have ?
What OS do you have installed ?
What exactly do you do with CS2 ? (I figure you are talking about PS only)

sam100 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2011, 13:21 »

Quote from: patrick1958 on May 17, 2011, 11:30

Acer Aspire X3300
AMD Athlon (tm) X4 630 processor 2.8 Ghz
8 Gig DDR3
1028 mb video card
Boot disk SSD (Kingston) 128 gig
Second Sata SSD (Kingston) 64 gig installed, configured as scratch-disk for photoshop CS4 to use.

This configuration is working light speed.

ps : work with canon 5D mkII

Patrick.

ps : forgot to mention, 64 bit motherboard, windows 7 64 bit, photoshop CS4 64 bit

click_click · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2011, 15:57 »

Quote from: echbart on May 17, 2011, 12:33

Patrick configuration!

I would recommend you

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883147691

and as Patrick said additional SSD for scratch-disk PS - should work like magic

You can get almost the same power with a refurbished DELL for $750.

Just bought a XPS Studio 8100, 8GB RAM, 1GB Nvidea graphics, i7 870 (4 cores with HT - 8 threads), 1.5GB HD. It's not the newest CPU but for image processing way too much power anyway.

Since I get a computer every 3 to 4 years I refuse to pay more than $1000 for any computer. These days for image processing these machines are overpowered anyway, unless you do 24-bit, 50 Megapixel RAW processing.

For any prosumer DSLR you can use a computer around $1000 and be more than happy with it.

P.S. I never buy DELL Outlet without a coupon. I save a minimum of $150 every time on top of discounted systems.

ChasingMoments · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2011, 16:50 »

Quote from: click_click on May 17, 2011, 15:57

Quote from: echbart on May 17, 2011, 12:33
Patrick configuration!

I would recommend you

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883147691

and as Patrick said additional SSD for scratch-disk PS - should work like magic

You can get almost the same power with a refurbished DELL for $750.

Just bought a XPS Studio 8100, 8GB RAM, 1GB Nvidea graphics, i7 870 (4 cores with HT - 8 threads), 1.5GB HD. It's not the newest CPU but for image processing way too much power anyway.

Since I get a computer every 3 to 4 years I refuse to pay more than $1000 for any computer. These days for image processing these machines are overpowered anyway, unless you do 24-bit, 50 Megapixel RAW processing.

For any prosumer DSLR you can use a computer around $1000 and be more than happy with it.

P.S. I never buy DELL Outlet without a coupon. I save a minimum of $150 every time on top of discounted systems.

Very helpful post, thanks. I bought from Dell several times and I think I'll look into getting something from Dell again this time! Never heard of dell coupons though...live and learn!

click_click · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2011, 17:00 »

If you are not in a hurry you can just keep an eye on Dell's Twitter Outlet account here:
http://twitter.com/#!/delloutlet

There they post Outlet coupon codes regularly. Sometimes it take a couple weeks until a useful code comes up but I always plan ahead and check their codes for a few weeks to get the best deal.

Also use Google to find coupon codes from the Outlet store. Sometimes customers get personalized Outlet coupon codes that are valid only once. If you're fast enough you can snatch a computer without using an official Dell (Twitter) Outlet coupon code.

I got a $1,700 system a couple years ago for $900 in the Outlet (saved over $200 with coupon) - never regretted it.

However, it also takes time to get to know all their systems and configurations so you can understand quickly which systems to look out for.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2011, 22:23 »

I just got an HP and it looked like I got a lot more for less money than Dell. I also used techbargains.com and it saved some more money, seems reputable to me.

echbart · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2011, 22:56 »

I know i exaggerated with that system - i personally buy hardware pices separately and then put it together myself - much cheaper and you get what you want.

Im not from USA so i dont know from where you normally buy PCs. Here is something from traveler1116 web page suggestion

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/254562

Hope it helps

traveler1116 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2011, 09:59 »

I'm pretty excited, the monitor already came and the pc will be here tomorrow. i7 2nd gen, 16gb ram, 3 gb video nvidia it's a huge step up from my 3 year old refurbished dell laptop.

click_click · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2011, 10:07 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on May 18, 2011, 09:59

I'm pretty excited, the monitor already came and the pc will be here tomorrow. i7 2nd gen, 16gb ram, 3 gb video nvidia it's a huge step up from my 3 year old refurbished dell laptop.

Fasten your seat belts!

aeonf · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2011, 10:45 »

traveler1116: Wow thats quite a beast you got yourself there!

traveler1116 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:05 »

Yep I want to do some video, hopefully this will work.

ChasingMoments · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2011, 20:44 »

Thank you all so much! I am in no rush to get a new desktop asap, so I'll be watching dell outlet & coupons and techbargains and doing some more research on getting the most out of my $$!

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Author Topic: New desktop - HELP (Read 12152 times)

ChasingMoments

cathyslife

echbart

ChasingMoments

sam100

rimglow

ChasingMoments

echbart

aeonf

sam100

click_click

ChasingMoments

click_click

traveler1116

echbart

traveler1116

click_click

aeonf

traveler1116

ChasingMoments

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