Upgrade Photo Editing Rig - Options?

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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This is my primary and only rig, I do use it for some gaming but primarily photo editing and internet browsing now. The main thing I want to speed up is photo editing. I have no idea what chips are in vogue right now but I'm guessing I'd have to get a new mobo for whatever new socket they need. Would I be able to keep my current RAM? Rig is:

i56600K @ 4.4, Gigabyte Z170X Mobo, 2x8GB Crucial Vengeance RAM, 500GB Crucial MX200 SSD, MSI R9 390x, EVGA Supernova 850 PS

Budget is $5-700 - prefer to stay at 500 or less - but willing to hear all options. Thanks!

Obviously not scared of overclocking, on air.
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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Get an 8700K (or 8086K, if in budget), and a decent-quality Z370 mobo, and re-use your RAM , SSD, and PSU, and GPU?
 
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aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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what photo editing software you using?
Adobe PS CC?

Because i hear its not properly multi threaded still yet, except some filters.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Photoshop-CC-Multi-Core-Performance-625/

Multi-threaded actions hit a point of diminishing returns after around 6 CPU cores, and most completely stop improving after 8 CPU cores

So given that unless i am wrong i would go with the fastest 6-8 cores possible, and that would be spot on with larry's recommendation of a 8700k or 8086k with a decient z370 board like a asrock taichi.

That would also allow you to recycle everything.
I would however also try to fit / add a M.2 NVme drive like a samsung 970 evo / pro or a WD Black if on budget, as a boot drive, and reinstall windows 10 using UEFI boot.
 
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MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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what photo editing software you using?
Adobe PS CC?

Because i hear its not properly multi threaded still yet, except some filters.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Photoshop-CC-Multi-Core-Performance-625/



So given that unless i am wrong i would go with the fastest 6-8 cores possible, and that would be spot on with larry's recommendation of a 8700k or 8086k with a decient z370 board like a asrock taichi.

That would also allow you to recycle everything.
I would however also try to fit / add a M.2 NVme drive like a samsung 970 evo / pro or a WD Black if on budget, as a boot drive, and reinstall windows 10 using UEFI boot.

I'm using Adobe LIghtroom mostly but will add in some photoshop here and there. But primarily Lightroom.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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I'm using Adobe LIghtroom mostly but will add in some photoshop here and there. But primarily Lightroom.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Lightroom-CC-6-Multi-Core-Performance-649/

Lightoom does not work well with multiple physical CPUs.

pic_disp.php


recommendation still stands on the 8700k or 8086k as they both are the single fastest cores you can get for a cpu at the moment.
 
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richaron

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2012
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Just confirming this is a CPU limited scenario? And OP isn't running out of RAM or something..?
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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Just confirming this is a CPU limited scenario? And OP isn't running out of RAM or something..?

It's not like it's unusually slow, just that I know it could be faster since my chip is like 3 years old and was hoping there were updates enough to cut down my processing by seconds per photo (Exporting and HDR Processing)
 
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Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
Moderator
Dec 11, 1999
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It's not like it's unusually slow, just that I know it could be faster since my chip is like 3 years old and was hoping there were updates enough to cut down my processing by seconds per photo (Exporting and HDR Processing)
From the benchmarks above, I don't think it can be much faster. The cheapest way to get it faster might be to delid your existing CPU and get a better cooler to overclock it more.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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Decided to try an 8700K with a noctua cooler and try to OC it as far as possible. This along with a 1TB Crucial MX500 SSD. And see if I get some increases in editing speeds and general desktop duties. Gaming increases will just be a bonus. I'll be getting all the components tomorrow.

I'll have a nicely overclockable 6600K for sale soon
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
23,322
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Wow got the 8700k for $269 at micro center bundled with the mobo I wanted. Love that store