Need Help... Photography Post-Processing Computer Build

fusion12

Junior Member
Aug 26, 2012
2
0
0
Hello everyone... I am in desperate need for professional help in building a new system for my photography hobby / business. This computer will be used as a designated workstation for mainly post-processing my images. If anyone can help me with some ideas on parts, as I have never put a system together. Please try to remember I am a newbie, so I may need layman's terms. Thanks in advance.

This is what the Dell guys were going to build me for $1099...

460w Power Supply
Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English
Microsoft® Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook
12GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz - 4 DIMMs
16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW), write to CD/DVD
2TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive + Intel® SRT 32GB SSD Cache
AMD Radeon™ HD 7770 2GB GDDR5
1 Year Premium Protection Package - America's Best Standard Protection
McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months
My Accessories
Trusted ID, ID Safe, 12 Month Subscription, Digitally Delivered
Also Includes
XPS 8500 Fast track config44
XPS 8500, White Chassis w/19:1 media card reader
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3770 processor (up to 3.90 GHz)
No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0+LE
Integrated 7.1 with WAVE MAXXAudio 4
Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
No Monitor
DataSafe 2.0 Online Backup 2GB for 1 year
Adobe® Acrobat® X Reader Multi-Language
Shipping Material, Direct
Dell SRV Software 1703
English/French Documentation
Additional Software
No PDVD
US Power Cord
Dell KB213 Wired Multimedia Keyboard, US-English
Dell Laser Mouse



1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
... post processing large file photos (21mb+)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
... would like to keep under 1k

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
... unknown, I guess US

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
... I am open to suggestions. I don't know much about the differences.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
... No parts used, all new items will be purchased.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
... No interest in overclocking my system. What I buy will be it.

8. What resolution will you be using?
... IPS monitor, 23" or bigger

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
... Within the next 2 weeks

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
... Will need Windows 64bit system to run Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop seamlessly.
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
The Dell guys are overselling you.
Seach these forum for "video" "photo" "editing" threads.
After you've gathered the search results, read through the most pertinent threads for 1 hour.
When that hour is done, you will have a very good understanding of what components would best fit your needs.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Hello everyone... I am in desperate need for professional help in building a new system for my photography hobby / business.

Well, you're kinda screwed coming here. :awe:

Just kidding, though I do have a few more questions:
- Do you need the monitor within the $1000?
- Do you think you would want to put a PC together or would you like a prebuilt?
 

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
Moderator
Dec 11, 1999
16,836
4,816
75
More questions besides Mfenn's:
- Do you need a keyboard and mouse?
- What version of Photoshop is that? CS6, CS5, CS4, or earlier?
 

fusion12

Junior Member
Aug 26, 2012
2
0
0
The Dell guys are overselling you.
Seach these forum for "video" "photo" "editing" threads.
After you've gathered the search results, read through the most pertinent threads for 1 hour.
When that hour is done, you will have a very good understanding of what components would best fit your needs.

I am on it. Reading them now.


Well, you're kinda screwed coming here. :awe:

Just kidding, though I do have a few more questions:
- Do you need the monitor within the $1000?
- Do you think you would want to put a PC together or would you like a prebuilt?

- No, I am up in the air on some different monitors that I am interested in, so I will not need the monitor within my total.
- I would like to build the PC if it is going to be the cheaper way out. I would not mind a prebuilt if the pricing comes out to be the same as piecing it together.

More questions besides Mfenn's:
- Do you need a keyboard and mouse?
- What version of Photoshop is that? CS6, CS5, CS4, or earlier?

- Do not need a keyboard and mouse. I have those available.
- I have CS5 now, with the potential to upgrade to version CS6
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
You can find good deals pretty easily on non-gaming PCs if you watch the Dell Outlet. A thousand bucks will pretty much get you the pick of the litter. I would recommend sticking to the Optiplex and Precision lines as those are enterprise-grade machines and even the outlet specials come with a three-year warranty standard.

A downside to the Outlet is that is is based on what they have in stock in real-time, so I can't really link you a specific machine. However, here's what you should search on:

Product Category: Optiplex and Precision
Memory: More than 4GB
Price: Low to High

To give you an idea of what to look for, right now I see an Optiplex 990 with an i7 2600, 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB drive for $759.

Now, be aware that you are paying a premium for an assembled, tested machine with warranty. The 990 above would part out to:

i7 2600 $295
Basic mobo $60
DDR3 1333 8GB $35
500GB hard drive $70
DVD burner $20
Reasonable PSU $40
Above average case $60
Windows 7 Pro $130
Total: $710

IMHO, the warranty and testing are worth $50, but you may not agree.
 

happysmiles

Senior member
May 1, 2012
340
0
0
Any business will try up sell you.

I do like mfenn's suggestion personally I'd go on newegg and amazon to see their deals, I reckon it's better to get your tower and screen separately unless there is some amazing combo deal.
 

kowalabearhugs

Senior member
Sep 19, 2010
204
8
81
www.mattkowal.net
mfenn knows the way.

You might also consider an ssd for your OS + working files then archive everything on a 500-1TB drive. I have a i7 MBP (i7-2720QM 4c/8thread like the 2600k) that got a serious speed boost from swapping the hd for a ssd. I regularly import&export 10+ gigabytes in Lightroom and a dedicated ssd workspace has saved me much time.

I personally have a 256gb Plextor M3, but the price on those seems a bit high at the moment. Great drive otherwise.

Recommendations:

Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT180A3K5 2.5" 180GB - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167122

Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive - $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148443

SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive - $217
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147135

Also, unless you're doing video editing or processing very large format images I wouldnt worry about getting 16gb of ram. You can always add a 2x4gb kit in the future. So I'd try to get a board with 4 dimms.

100th post. Wooooooooo
 
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